With just one day to go before the biggest night of music — the Grammys — there are so many things to look forward to.

From the live performances to the red carpet, AJ Hammer of Showbiz Tonight counts down the top five things we can’t wait to see on Sunday.

No 5: Ed Sheeran – Not only is the British singer up for Best Song this year, but he is also set to have an “opportunity of a lifetime” duet with Elton John.

No 4: The Battle of the Rock Bands — Newcomers Alabama Shakes and Mumford & Sons will be battling it out against rock establishments The Black Keys, Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen in the ultimate war for Best Rock Performance.

No 3: Rihanna and Chris Brown — All eyes will be on the on-again, off-again couple just days after the pair attended a probation court hearing for Brown. Will anyone even pay attention to Rihanna’s performance with Sting and Bruno Mars?

No 2: The Battle of the Pop Giants — Female powerhouses Adele, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepsen and Kelly Clarkson will be fighting against one another for Best Pop Solo Performance. Who do you want to win? Leave us a comment and let us know.

No 1: – Alabama Shakes – These overnight sensations could end up on top as this year’s Best New Artist.

For more on the top five things we can’t wait to see at the Grammys, check out the video, above. Then tell us: what are you most looking forward to on Sunday’s big show? 

It’s another picture perfect moment for Lady Gaga.

Taking to his Twitter account, celebrity photographer Terry Richardson released a series of never-before-seen snapshots featuring the pop superstar mingling backstage with rock legends Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen during the final performance of the Stones’ anniversary tour in Newark, N.J., on Dec. 15.

The “Born This Way” singer joined Wood and his fellow bandmates Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts for a rousing rendition of one of the group’s biggest hits, “Gimme Shelter.”

“I had a life dream to be transported in a time machine to 1973 NJ, beer + badboys. Someone heal me it happened + then I sang with the Stones,” Gaga Tweeted after the show.

Showing off her fit physique, Gaga also posed for number of solo photos while decked out in a variety of outfits, including a seductive racing stripe catsuit.

This isn’t the first time the close friends have collaborated on a photo shoot. In 2011, the duo released Lady Gaga x Terry Richardson, a photo book chronicling Gaga’s momentous year — from Lollapalooza, the Grammys, her Monster Ball tour and everything else in between.

The numbers are in.

Friday’s hour-long NBC telethon for Hurricane Sandy victims raised nearly $23 million, the network and the American Red Cross confirmed the next day.

Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together featured performances from New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, New Yorkers Christina Aguilera, Billy Joel and guests Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon and Kevin Bacon.

“We are incredibly grateful and humbled by this outpouring of support for those who are suffering as a result of Superstorm Sandy,” American Red Cross Chief Marketing Officer Peggy Dyer said in a statement.

“Our preliminary results of nearly $23 million raised are an extraordinary example of how the American people pull together in times of disaster. Their generous donations will go directly to those in need, and we urge the public to continue to give.”

Hurricane Sandy tore up the east coast on Monday night, leaving millions without power as homes were destroyed and major areas were forever reshaped.

The death toll has since climbed to more than 110, with New York hit the hardest, according to Reuters.

Victims and areas affected by Hurricane Sandy will receive some help from some of the music industry’s biggest names on Friday.

NBC Universal announced on Thursday morning that it will hold a one-hour telethon that will include performances from New Jersey natives Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, New Yorker Billy Joel, Christina Aguilera and Sting.

Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together will be hosted by The Today Show‘s Matt Lauer, with appearances by Jimmy Fallon and Brian Williams.

In addition to NBC, the telethon will broadcast simultaneously on Bravo, CNBC, E!, G4, MSNBC, Style, Syfy and USA. Viewers can also tune in online at NBC.com.

Non-NBC Universal networks will also be allowed to broadcast the event, which will donate its funds to the American Red Cross.

Since hitting the East Coast on Monday night, Hurricane Sandy has left millions without power. The Associated Press reports that the death toll has climbed to at least 74 people in the U.S.

Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together will air Friday at 8PM ET.

“We take care of our own,” goes the refrain of a recent Bruce Springsteen song. A shared vision of an America where that’s actually true is why he’s endorsing President Barack Obama for re-election, according to a message the musician wrote to his fans.

On Wednesday, The Boss posted a letter on his website detailing why he wants the commander in chief to serve four more years.

“Right now, there is a choice going on in America, and I’m happy that we live in a country where we all participate in that process,” the 63-year-old rocker wrote.

“For me, President Obama is our best choice because he has a vision of the United States as a place where we are all in this together.”

What else did The Boss have to say about the country’s current boss?

Springsteen is urging his fans and voters who are still undecided to choose Obama on Nov. 6 because it’s simply a different election from the one in 2008. Unlike last time (and despite daunting obstacles), Obama has a record of achievement to run on this time, the musician wrote.

“Through grit, determination, and focus, the President has been able to do a great many things that many of us deeply support,” Springsteen wrote, citing several Obama achievements over the last four years, including working to create jobs, passing guaranteed health care for most Americans, rescuing the auto industry, protecting the rights of women and the LGBT community, bringing troops home from Iraq and taking out Osama bin Laden.

“Right now, there is a fight going on to make this a fairer and more equitable nation. For me, President Obama is our best choice to get us and keep us moving in the right direction,” he continued.

On Thursday, the Boss showed his support for Obama at a campaign event with former president Bill Clintonat Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio, a swing state in this election.

While Springsteen has been a political activist for decades (playing concerts for such causes as the anti-nuclear movement), he spent much of his career staying out of presidential politics. He famously bristled when President Ronald Reagan tried to co-opt his song “Born in the USA” for his 1984 re-election campaign. But in recent years, the Boss has come out to support Democratic presidential candidates with rallies and concerts.

For more of Bruce Springsteen’s support letter for Barack Obama, check out the musician’s website. What do you think of The Boss’ comments? Share your thoughts below.

Newly-minted Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan has been vocal about his love for the music of Rage Against the Machine. Alas, the affair is strictly one-sided. In an op-ed essay published Thursday at RollingStone.com, Rage guitarist Tom Morello made clear that the band, known for its left-leaning lyrics, has little love for the right-wing Ryan or his running mate, Mitt Romney.

Morello wrote that he’s amused by Ryan’s fandom, since “he is the embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades.” Wondering which Rage tune might be Ryan’s favorite, Morello wrote, “Is it the one where we condemn the genocide of Native Americans? The one lambasting American imperialism? Our cover of ‘Fuck the Police’? Or is it the one where we call on the people to seize the means of production?” As for any rage in Ryan, Morello wrote that he sees only “A rage against women, a rage against immigrants, a rage against workers, a rage against gays, a rage against the poor, a rage against the environment…. This unbridled rage against those who have the least is a cornerstone of the Romney-Ryan ticket.”

As Morello noted, the Rage-Ryan dispute is only the latest in a long line of politicians trying to co-opt a pop act’s cool factor, only to find that the musician or band wants no association with them. In fact, it’s not even the first such dispute this week; on Monday, the Romney campaign ran afoul of the Silversun Pickups for unauthorized use of the band’s song “Panic Switch.”

Which bands and singers have dissed the politicians who love their music?

As in the Silversun Pickups incident, a politician’s unrequited love for a musician’s work manifests itself in a song played at a campaign rally, followed by a cease-and-desist letter from the musician, outraged that a tune played without permission might be heard as an endorsement — or a missed chance to earn royalties.

Ronald Regan and Bruce Springsteen
The trend started in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan, running for re-electon, glommed onto Bruce Springsteen’s anthem “Born in the USA,” a chart-topping hit that year. Springsteen was miffed, suggesting that the Reagan campaign had picked the song for its (ironic) title and rousing music, without listening to the lyrics, about a bitter, desperate, jobless Vietnam veteran. (Not exactly the “Morning in America” message the campaign was trying to convey.) Rival Democratic candidate Walter Mondale seized on the controversy, saying that Bruce may have been born in the U.S.A., “but he wasn’t born yesterday” — marking the only time in Mondale’s public life that anyone remembers him telling a joke.

Bob Dole and Sam & Dave
In 1996, R&B legend Sam Moore objected to Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole’s use of the Sam & Dave classic “Soul Man” at campaign stops, where it had been rewritten as “Dole Man.” The Dole campaign pulled the tune after a threat of legal action. Moore was an equal opportunity objector; in 2008, he successfully urged Democrat Barack Obama’s campaign to stop using Sam & Dave’s “Hold On! I’m Coming.”

George W. Bush and Tom Petty
In 2000, Tom Petty threatened to sue the George W. Bush campaign for using “I Won’t Back Down.” The GOP campaigners backed down. Petty performed the song in Al Gore’s honor the night he backed down and conceded the election to Bush. Petty also threatened litigation in 2011 when Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann used his iconic tune “American Girl.”

Orleans and John McCain
John Hall, of ’70s band Orleans, complained when Bush used the band’s familiar “Still the One” at campaign events in 2004. By 2008, Hall had been elected as a Democratic Congressman from New York when Republican presidential candidate John McCain started using the song. Hall got him to yank it.

John McCain and Van Halen, John Mellencamp, Foo Fighters and Jackson Browne
In fact, McCain was a serial offender when it came to using songs without permission. Among those who objected were Van Halen (over the song “Right Now”) John Mellencamp (the songs “Our Country” and “Little Pink Houses,” which he’d licensed to Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards), Foo Fighters (“My Hero,” another song whose bitter lyrics the candidate apparently overlooked) and Jackson Browne (who sued for $75,000 over the use of “Running on Empty” and eventually won a settlement).

Sarah Palin and Heart
McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, made use of Heart’s classic-rock track “Barracuda,” since that was her high school nickname. The core of Heart, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, complained, but Palin kept using the song. “I feel completely fucked over,” said guitarist Nancy. Singer Ann issued a statement saying, “Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women.”

Mike Huckabee and Boston
Also in 2008, Boston guitarist/songwriter Tom Scholz complained about Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s use of “More Than a Feeling,” a song that the bass-playing Arkansas governor would perform with his band, the Capitol Offenders. Barry Goudreau, the Boston guitarist who’d left the band in the 1980s amid a bitter legal battle with Scholz, would sometimes sit in with the Offenders.

Other spats: Aerosmith slapped down Virginia GOP Congressman Eric Cantor for his use of “Back in the Saddle” as an anthem for Tea Party Republicans in 2009. In 2010, Don Henley got California Republican Senate candidate Chuck DeVore to stop using parody versions of his “The Boys of Summer” and “All She Wants To Do Is Dance.” That same year, Henley’s Eagles bandmate, Joe Walsh, got the Illinois Republican Congressman who shares his name to stop sharing his song “Walk Away.” Also in 2010, power trio Rush got Senator Rand Paul to stop using its songs “Tom Sawyer” and “The Spirit of Radio.” Like the Canadian band, the Kentucky Republican is a big fan of novelist Ayn Rand and her Objectivist philosophy, but Rush’s lawyer said that the group’s objection was entirely about copyright infringement, not ideology.

The best 2010 songwriter smackdown came from Talking Heads’ David Byrne, who sued Florida Republican Senate candidate Charlie Crist over his unauthorized use of “Road to Nowhere.” Byrne won a settlement that included cash and a forced apology by Crist. On YouTube.

Watch Charlie Crist’s apology to Talking Heads here.

With this year’s presidential race heating up, so have the legal threats from aggrieved musicians. ’80s band Survivor took action against Republican candidate Newt Gingirch, complaining that he’d been using “Eye of the Tiger” without permission for at least three years. Cyndi Lauper complained about a Democratic National Committee ad with a negative message about Romney. She added that she was no supporter of Romney; she merely didn’t want her comforting song “True Colors” associated with such negativity. (The DNC yanked the ad.) And hip-hopper K’Naan called upon Romney to stop using his “Wavin’ Flag,” though he also offered the song to Obama, should the President want it.

The funniest or most pathetic (take your pick) case of unrequited love between a musician and a politician is the one revealed this summer, involving Bruce Springsteen and the governor of his home state, Chris Christie. The New Jersey leader has attended more than 120 Springsteen concerts and shouts along to all the lyrics, but despite all his attempts to set up an introduction, the Boss has declined to meet him. Perhaps the famously liberal songwriter wants to avoid another “Born in the USA” incident with a conservative politician, but Christie has insisted that they could find common ground. “We disagree on a lot less than he thinks,” the snubbed Republican said in a must-read article in The Atlantic about his one-sided man-crush. Sadly, a sitdown between the Boss and the Governor seems about as likely as one between Paul Ryan and Tom Morello. But oh, to be a fly on the wall if such a meeting ever did come to pass…

Willow Smith, you’ve officially hit the big-time.

Jimmy Fallon immortalized Smith’s smash-hit single “Whip My Hair” on his show Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, performing the tune in his oft-adopted guise of whiny-voiced Canadian rock legend Neil Young. And he had a little help, in the form of Bruce Springsteen, who’s apparently reverted back to his scraggly Darkness at the Edge of Town look.

Check out the results of this historical collaboration in the video below. Do you think Fallon and his buddy did the song justice? Render your verdict in the comments section.

The 2010 Emmy Awards opening skit began with a tribute—of sorts—to music legend Bruce Springsteen.

During the Emmys’ opening skit—which included the sublime visions of Jon Hamm and Betty White freak-dancing and Jane Lynch soiling host Jimmy Fallon and 30 Rock actress Tina Fey—an Emmys cast of literally dozens offered their take on the Springsteen classic “Born to Run.” Bruce probably wasn’t envisioning a Jane Lynch boob grab when he wrote the tune, but hey—times change.

Check out video of this year’s Emmys opening number below. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section.

More Emmys 2010 Highlights: Kim Kardashian Pics | Heidi Klum Pics | January Jones Pics | Kelly Osbourne Pics | Kate Gosselin Pics | Jane Lynch Pics | Eva Longoria Pics | Maria Menounos Pics | Anna Paquin Pics | Jon Hamm Pics | Sarah Hyland Pics | Jimmy Fallon Pics | Cory Monteith Pics | Lo Bosworth Pics | Stephanie Pratt Pics | Carrie Preston Pics | Tina Fey Pics

On occasion, Lady GaGa takes some time off from shocking the general populace with her fashion choices long enough to support a good cause.

The Pantless One gave it her all for the environment at New York’s Carnegie Hall on Thursday night, pitching in for Sting‘s annual concert for The Rainforest Fund. Interestingly, the most eyebrow-raising aspect of GaGa’s performance was the choice of songs; the “Bad Romance” chanteuse belted out the Journey chestnut “Don’t Stop Believin’” with Elton John, Sting, Shirley Bassey and Bruce Springsteen, and also took to the piano stool for a poignant rendition of the Ben E. King classic “Stand by Me.”

Check out the charitable awesomeness in the videos below:

Did Rihanna lift the look for her “Russian Roulette” cover from a professional wrestler? -Wonderwall

Shayne Lamas goes off on her former stepmom Shauna Sand. -The Frisky

Bruce Springsteen‘s cousin has been found dead. -Gabby Babble

Stephen King talks about Under the Dome. -PopEater

Marc Anthony is sweating it out. -Celebslam

Gwyneth Paltrow‘s favorite band Coldplay racked up serious statue numbers at last night’s 51st annual Grammy Awards.

The British band won for Best Rock Album, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals. 

They celebrated their win with a medley performance of their songs “Lost” and “Vida La Vida”, accompanied by esteemed rapper Jay-Z, a friend of lead singer Chris Martin and his wife Paltrow.

Another big winner, proving that old dogs can learn new tricks, was ex-Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant.

His album with Allison Krauss, Raising Sand, won three Grammys including Best Album.

Lil’ Wayne stomped home with four Grammys including Best Rap Album for Tha Carter III.

Brit singer Adele took home Best New Artist (as well as Best Female Pop Vocal), and dueted with Grammy winners Sugarland on her signature song Chasing Pavements.

Here’s a list of the major winners:

Album of the Year: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand

Best Rap Album: Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: John Mayer, “Say”

Record of the Year: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, “Please Read This Letter”

Best New Artist: Adele

Best Rock Album: Coldplay, Viva la Vida

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, “Rich Woman”

Song of the Year: Coldplay, “Viva la Vida”

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group: Sugarland, “Stay”

Best R&B Album: Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson

Industry Icon Award: Clive Davis

Best Rock Song: Bruce Springsteen, “Girls in Their Summer Clothes”

Best Metal Performance: Metallica, “My Apocalypse”

Best Hard Rock Performance: The Mars Volta, “Wax Simulacra”

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Kings of Leon, “Sex on Fire”

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: John Mayer, “Gravity”

Best Alternative Music Album: Radiohead, In Rainbows

Best Pop Vocal Album: Duffy, Rockferry

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Coldplay, “Viva la Vida”

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Adele, “Chasing Pavements”

If Jennifer Hudson kicked off Super Bowl XLIII on a touching note, then Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band‘s halftime show provided a raucous, upbeat release for the eager crowd.

The composed, assured Pittsburgh Steelers had the Arizona Cardinals down 17-7 by the time The Boss took to the halftime stage at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

And that’s when Springsteen, wife Patti Scialfa, longtime guitarast Steven Van Zandt and the rest of the band ripped through a high-octane 12-minute performance that included timeless favorites “10th Avenue Freezeout” and “Born To Run.”

Recent Golden Globe winner Bruce then unleashed the new song “Working On a Dream,” the title track from his latest album that was released on Tuesday.

Finally the Tampa stadium was treated to a rowdy performance of “Glory Days” that included fireworks and comical ad-libbing from Springsteen and Van Zandt during an instrumental break.

Bruce recently wowed Washington, D.C., at Barack Obama’s inaugural We Are One concert.

He and the E Street Band will begin a world tour on April 1. The first stop on their trek is in San Jose, California.

It’s that time of year again; one the most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts of the year, which is almost considered a national holiday, is upon us! No, it’s not the Oscars! It’s Super Bowl Sunday, which is also is the second-largest food consumption day in the nation, following Thanksgiving.

And to commemorate this day, let’s take a look back in time at what turned out to be biggest key play in Super Bowl history. During Super Bowl XXXVIII, which took place on February 1, 2004, Justin Timberlake fumbled a play with Janet Jackson midway through the game.

TiVos across America went into overdrive and the Federal Communications Commission quickly called it a “classless, crass and deplorable stunt.” CBS made halftime performers apologize before they would consider allowing them to appear on the Grammys. Timberlake said okay; Jackson didn’t.

The fallout: An FCC probe into what many are still calling the most titillating game in Super Bowl history.

Relive the moment that sparked myriad heated debates, fines and rules, and instantly secured itself a place in Super Bowl legend:

The FCC mandated that non-cable TV channels cannot air “obscene” material at any time,  or “indecent” material between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. They defined “obscene” as describing sexual conduct “in a patently offensive way” and lacking “serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.”

This year’s halftime show promises to be, well…less titillating, with a performance by rock legend Bruce Springsteen.

Even so, his halftime appearance has gotten a lot more attention than any game-related story line. The Boss was very coy at a press conference in Tampa, divulging that he didn’t know a lot about football and that one of the main reasons he agreed to do the show was to promote his new album.

Up until a few days ago, a number of betting sites were actually taking bets on what Bruce and the E Street Band would be playing in their 12-minute set.

Those bets are now closed, but check out this partial playlist.

Barack Obama won’t officially become the 44th President of the United States until Tuesday, but that didn’t stop a galaxy of stars from celebrating the changing of the guard on Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial for the We Are One concert in Washington, DC, on Sunday, MTV.com reports.

Actor Denzel Washington opened the festivities with a speech imploring the crowd to remember the event’s theme of unity, while Tom Hanks paid tribute to Abraham Lincoln.

But it was the music that was the true stand-out of the gathering.

Bruce Springsteen riled up the crowd with a performance of his post-9/11 anthem “The Rising.” Springsteen was the first in a long procession of musical talents to perform for Obama, 47. Mary J. Blige belted out an impassioned rendition of “Lean on Me,” followed by Jon Bon Jovi dueting with Bettye LaVette on the Sam Cook classic “A Change Is Gonna Come.” John Mellencamp performed his hit “Ain’t That America,” while Sheryl Crow and the Black Eyed Peas‘ will.i.am collaborated on Bob Marley‘s “One Love.”

Usher, Shakira and Stevie Wonder came together to deliver a performance of Wonder’s  “Higher Ground,”‘ while U2 cranked out “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and “City of Blinding Lights.”

The Dublin quartet was followed by Obama himself, who discussed the challenges that the nation faces and the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Lincoln.

Country singer Garth Brooks and Beyonce Knowles, who’ll be singing during the first dance for President-elect Obama and his wife Michelle at his inaugural ball on Tuesday, also performed.

Though details on the event have yet to be finalized, one thing is for sure: President-elect Barack Obama‘s inauguration will be a star-studded affair.

One of the many events the Presidential Inaugural Committee will be sponsoring is “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial,” which will be a 90-minute concert beginning Sunday at 2 p.m. HBO will air the historical performances at 7 p.m. that evening.

Scheduled to appear at “We Are One”: U2, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Bruce Springsteen, Usher, Will.I.Am, John Mellencamp, Shakira, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, John Legend, Heather Headley and Sugarland‘s Jennifer Nettles.

MTV reports that many of the artists will perform covers of songs with historical importance, to note the fact that Obama, 46, is taking office in a difficult time in the nation’s history.

Historical passages will be read by Denzel Washington, Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx and Martin Luther King III.

“It’s not a celebration of victory; it’s about the country coming together for the future we’re going to face,” says the event’s executive producer, George Stevens Jr.

“There’s a sense of history about it. Much of the music will be in the context of that history. The Lincoln Memorial is a kind of sacred site.”

Among other events, the Lincoln Memorial is notable for being the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s August 23, 1963, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom rally, where he delivered his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech.

The New York Daily News reports that Super Bowl organizers have scored a huge coup when it comes to the entertainment this year.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have been announced as the headlining act during the halftime show. This is in keeping with the recent strategy to have more standard and “family friendly” acts during half-time.

The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers have been the more straight-up rock acts who have kept their shirts on in recent years.

Alas, vomit recipient Janet Jackson and Italian stallion Justin Timberlake‘s “wardrobe malfunction” during the Superbowl in 2004 ruined it for all who want to see nudity.