CMA fest proceeds going to flood relief
NASHVILLE, May 7 (UPI) -- The Country Music Association says it'll donate half the proceeds of its CMA Music Festival to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for flood relief.
This is in addition to CMA's already established annual donation of 50 percent of the net proceeds to Metro Nashville Public Schools for music education through the Keep the Music Playing program.
In total, 100 percent of the net proceeds of the event will be given to benefit Nashville's public school students and Middle Tennessee families in need.
The CMA described its music festival as "Nashville's signature music event, drawing 56,000 people from the region as well as every state in the nation and visitors from 26 countries around the globe, while bringing in more than $22 million in direct visitor spending to the local economy."
The festival is to run June 10-13 and will feature performances by Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Alan Jackson and Kellie Pickler.
"This year with all the downtown businesses, as well as our tourism industry, suffering huge losses due to flood damage, it is vitally important to the Nashville business community that CMA Music Festival continues as planned," Steve Moore, CMA chairman of the board, said in a statement Thursday. "CMA is proud to step up and help our area by donating half of the CMA Music Festival's net proceeds to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to help its flood relief efforts while we continue our important commitment to children and music education."
"CMA has always been a great supporter of Music City through the Association's Keep the Music Playing initiative," added Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. "This added contribution to aid in flood recovery efforts will be incredibly helpful and demonstrates the great partnership that exists between the City of Nashville, CMA Music Festival, and the Country Music industry."
Report: Sheen, CBS still in negotiations
LOS ANGELES, May 7 (UPI) -- U.S. actor Charlie Sheen is still in negotiations with CBS regarding his future on the hit sitcom "Two and a Half Men," a source told E! News.
Sheen recently wrapped his seventh season on the show and has no deal in place to return for an eighth.
The actor reportedly is asking for as much as $2 million an episode for next season.
"Charlie thinks he'll probably get $1.2 or $1.3 million in the end," the insider told E! News.
Sheen's personal life also has been making headlines lately.
He was arrested in December after his wife, Brooke Mueller, told police he assaulted and threatened her. He has denied the allegations, and both he and Mueller have since spent time in rehab dealing with their various addiction issues. They have also said they are working together to save their marriage.
Stewart to co-star in Kerouac picture
LOS ANGELES, May 7 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Kristen Stewart has joined the cast of Walter Salles's film version of Jack Kerouac's 1957 novel "On the Road."
Stewart is best known for her work in the "Twilight" movie franchise.
The Hollywood Reporter said she will begin working on "Road" this August, alongside co-stars Sam Riley and Garrett Hedlund.
Hedlund is to play character Dean Moriarty, Stewart his wife Marylou and Riley Kerouac's alter ego Sal Paradise, the entertainment industry trade newspaper said.
"We are enormously proud to be collaborating on one of the last great cinematographic adventures of the 20th century to be brought to the screen," France's MK2 producers Nathanael Karmitz and Charles Gillibert said in a statement.
Janney set for 'Lost' guest appearance
LOS ANGELES, May 7 (UPI) -- Emmy Award-winning actress Allison Janney will be seen on an upcoming episode of the U.S. supernatural series "Lost," ABC said.
Janney is best known for her work on TV's "The West Wing."
ABC said she will appear as a character described only as "woman" in Tuesday's installment of "Lost."
In the episode called "Across the Sea," the network said, "The motives of John Locke are finally explained."
No other details were given about the episode other than it will also feature guest appearances by Mark Pellegrino as Jacob and Titus Welliver as the "man in black."
The show is to wrap up its sixth and final season May 23.
