Gloria Estefan Nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame

Gloria Estefan has the write stuff of legends…

The 62-year-old Cuban singer/songwriter and former Miami Sound Machine member has been nominated for the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Gloria Estefan

Estefan, a three-time Grammy winner and three-time Latin Grammy, has penned numerousinternational chart-topping hits in English and Spanish, including  “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3,” “Don’t Wanna Lose You,” “Here We Are,” “Coming Out of the Dark,” “Con Los Años Que Me Quedan,” “Mi Tierra” and “No Me Dejes de Querer.” 

Additionally, Estefan has penned songs for other artists, including “Let’s Get Loud,” performed by Jennifer Lopez, and “Whenever Wherever,” performed by Shakira. Additionally, she co-wrote “Reach,” one of two official songs of the 1996 Atlanta Games, with Diane Warren.

In all, 24 acts are in contention for the 2020 class. In addition to Estefan, performing nominees include Patti SmithJourneyVince Gill, the Isley Brothers, former Eurythmicsmembers Annie Lennoxand Dave StewartMike LoveBread’s David Gates and Steve MillerThe Neptunes, the creative, innovative production-songwriting duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, rap icons Outkast and rock pioneers R.E.M.Mariah Carey, who co-wrote 17 of her 18 No. 1 hits and earned her first Songwriters Hall nomination last year, is up for the prize again. 

The Songwriters Hall gave The Associated Press the list of nominees Tuesday (Nov. 5), a day ahead of its official announcement.

Non-performing solo nominees are William “Mickey” StevensonRick NowelsSonny CurtisJerry FullerTony MacaulayBob McDill and Roger Nichols. Non-performing songwriting duos nominated include the late Tommy Boyceand Bobby Hart,Lynn Ahrensand Stephen FlahertyL. Russell Brownand the late Irwin Levine, and Kye Flemingand Dennis Morgan.

Songwriters are eligible for induction after writing hit songs for at least 20 years. Six songwriters, or songwriting groups, will be officially inducted at the Hall’s 51st annual Induction & Awards Gala in New York on June 11, 2020. Eligible members can vote for three non-performing songwriters and three performing songwriters until December 16.

Lovato to Perform for Logo TV’s “Trailblazers” Special

Demi Lovato is preparing for a trailblazing performance for gay rights…

The 21-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress is set to perform for Trailblazers, a Logo TV special set to tape Monday, June 23 in New York City and air Thursday June 26 at 9:00 pm EST/PT to commemorate the one-year anniversary of when the Defense of Marriage Act was overruled.

Demi Lovato

Lovato will join a list of confirmed performers that includes Sia and A Great Big World, Michael Stipe, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Pete Wentz.

No word on what song Lovato will perform on the Logo TV special.

The “Trailblazers” event will honor activist Edie Windsor, DOMA litigator Roberta Kaplan, NBA star Jason Collins and Netflix hit series Orange Is The New Black (including stars Laverne Cox and Lea DaLaria) for their efforts in advancing the LGBT community.

Former R.E.M. singer Stipe will also appear to honor Ugandan gay rights activist and refugee John “Long Jones” Abdallah Wambere as an “International Trailblazer” for his work with Spectrum Uganda Initiatives, which advocates for LGBT rights and provides health and education services

Additional stars set to present or make special apperances include Daniel Radcliffe, Jared Leto, Kylie Minogue, Ariana Grande, Rita Ora, Tegan & Sara and Against Me! frontwoman Laura Jane Grace.

Archuleta Releases the Music Video for His “Everybody Hurts” Cover

He may have recently started his two-year Mormon mission… But David Archuleta’s presence will still be felt in the music world.

The 21-year-old Honduran/Spanish-American singer has released the music video for the next single from his just released BEGIN. album, a cover of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts.”

David Archuleta

Archuleta croons his heart out while covering the classic song, which was originally released by R.E.M. in 1992. In the clip, the American Idol runner-up can be seen singing in a recording studio alongside an orchestra and producer Kurt Bestor.

Archuleta’s studio scenes was shot the day before he left for his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints mission in South America.

The Jed Wells-directed clip also includes a touching scene of a father on his daughter’s wedding day, a female soldier missing her son and a young couple who must be separated when one of them has to move out of town.

After releasing the video on his official YouTube channel, Archuleta posted a note for his fans say he’ll make more music after completing his two-year mission.

“I hope you know that I never wanted to leave you guys without music, and will continue when I get back,” he states.

“Everybody Hurts” is one of the covers on Archuleta’s latest album BEGIN., which was released on August 7. Other covers include Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.”

Archuleta’s Latest Album Begin. Debuts on the Billboard Charts

He may be participating in a long-term Mormon mission, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have brand new David Archuleta music to hold you over…

The 21-year-old Honduran/Spanish American singer and former American Idol runner-up, who announced last December that he was devoting two years of his life to a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has released his latest album, which debuts on the Billboard 200 this week at No. 28.

David Archuleta

Entitled Begin., the album is a collection of 10 cover songs and one original, “Broken,” which was co-written by Archuleta. He recorded the album before starting his mission in South America.

The remakes include R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts,” Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush’s “Don’t Give Up” and Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.”

David Archuleta's Begin Album

Signed to RCA after his success on Idol, Archuleta is now on the independent Highway Records imprint, owned by Desert Book, the publishing arm of the LDS church.

That qualifies Begin. to appear on Billboard’s Top Independent Chart, where it debuts at No. 5. The album makes an even higher bow on the Top Internet Albums chart, entering at No. 3. That equals Archuleta’s previous highest peak on the survey, when his self-titled debut album entered at No. 3 in 2008.

Begin. is Archuleta’s fifth album to appear on the Billboard 200. He has had one album debut on the chart every year since 2008.