Blake Shelton and NBC are putting together a benefit for Oklahoma tornado victims. Shelton told reporters about the fundraising effort after Tuesday night’s episode of “The Voice.There’ll be no Guns N’ Roses reunion at this weekend’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. Axl Rose says he won’t attend and is declining his induction into the hall.
The seminal band is to be inducted in Cleveland on Saturday. There was some hope that the original unit would reunite. It disbanded in acrimony in the 1990s.
But in a letter to the hall released Wednesday, Rose said he won’t be at the ceremony and would “respectfully decline” induction.
Urban to join Opry
Keith Urban was slyly dropping hints about the surprises he had in store at the All For The Hall benefit concert this week, but little did he know the night’s biggest surprise was aimed at him.
Vince Gill and members of Rascal Flatts, The Oak Ridge Boys and Diamond Rio surprised Urban with the announcement he will officially join The Grand Ole Opry this month, a revelation that clearly took the Australian country star by surprise.
As for Urban’s surprises, he brought Merle Haggard and childhood hero Don Williams on stage, fittingly trotting out a couple of inductees for the sold-out crowd at the fundraiser to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum on Tuesday night in Nashville, Tenn.
Buffett to perform
Jimmy Buffett will replace Pearl Jam singer and guitarist Eddie Vedder in the May 3 lineup at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Vedder canceled when he postponed his 15-city U.S. solo tour because of nerve damage in his right arm stemming from a back injury earlier this year.
Summer events
We are seeking submissions for our Summer Events Guide, listing activities from May 27 to Sept. 2. The guide includes festivals in Indiana and Ohio, concerts, stage performances and art exhibits. Send listings to Terri Richardson at The Journal Gazette, 600 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802; email trich@jg.net or fax 461-8648. Include event name, date, time, location, cost and a contact number. Deadline to receive items is April 27.
Happy birthday
Among celebrity birthdays today: Actor Ed O’Neill is 66. Actor Dan Lauria is 65. Talk-show host David Letterman is 65. Singer-actor David Cassidy is 62. Actor Andy Garcia is 56. Singer Vince Gill is 55. Actor Nicholas Brendon is 41. Actress Shannen Doherty is 41. Actress Claire Danes is 33. Actress Jennifer Morrison is 33.
