BackinMemphis

Photo: Meskerem Mitiku-Cotton; courtesy of Cashman Photo Lisa Marie Presley, husband Michael Lockwood and twins Harper and Finley attended the 7pm show of Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil at ARIA Resort & Casino on Friday, May 18th. On the heels of her performance of her new hit single “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” on American Idol, Lisa Marie was in Las Vegas to be a presenter at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Lisa Marie looked slim and classy in a black dress and jacket while Michael sported a fur hat adorned with feathers. This is Lisa Marie and Michael’s second visit to the show and they both remarked how great the show is with all of the recent changes and additions. She shared her compliments with the cast when she went backstage to meet them. The twins’ favorite part of the show was the “jumping guys” – the show’s superhero acrobats. Source: NewsNow Entertainment

As longtime Scientologist LISA MARIE PRESLEY amps up for her upcoming national tour, she’s cutting ties with the controversial church, say sources. Elvis’ little girl, now 44 and a mom of four, is set to hit the road in support of her latest album, “Storm & Grace,” which insiders say contains songs critical of Scientology. “Lisa Marie removed all mention of Scientology from her website, and the lyrics to some of her songs have caused major speculation that she’s cut off all communication with the church,” revealed a source. On one album track, she sings about being “transgressive” and “suppressive” while asking: “Am I a disruption to your corruption?” Sources familiar with Scientology explain that that “transgressives” and “suppressives” are code words for negative people who are enemies of the church. Insiders say there's concern among Scientology leaders that Lisa Marie's departure from the church will spark other celebrity defections from ranks that include To...

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Lisa Marie Presley continues her media tour to promote her new album, Storm & Grace by appearing TONIGHT on  ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live on 5/22. Set those DVRs!

Lisa Marie delves into religion, fame and relationships with lyrics aimed both at others and Presley herself. She has spoken out in support of the Church of Scientology in the past. On the new album, she seemingly says goodbye to it in one song, "So Long."

Bobby Brown performed last night on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Brown debuted a new song he wrote about life since Whitney Houston's death in which Bobby says he "messed up pretty bad" and begs his late ex-wife "Don't let me die." Some lyrics include: "I didn’t realize that every breath I took was from you ... You were my air.” "I guess I messed up pretty bad ... I didn’t know who you were ... I didn’t know what we had. Now I’m stuck living in the past ... trying to get the pieces back ... but I guess now you’re gone." Bobby Brown's new album drops in June which is only 4 months after Whitney died.

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Pastor Marvin Winans' SUV remains missing as of Thursday morning and so do the men who punched, kicked and robbed the famous gospel singer. Winans was pumping gas Wednesday afternoon at a Detroit Citgo station on the corner of Linwood and Davison when at least two men ambushed him. The carjackers took his deep purple Infiniti QX56 SUV, a couple hundred dollars in cash and his watch. The legendary pastor is well known in Detroit and for his family's gospel music. Winans recently gained attention when he gave the eulogy at Whitney Houston's funeral . He told 7 Action News that he did not believe his attackers recognized him. Pastor Winans said he felt something was wrong when he came out of the gas station's convenience store. He said several men followed him out and assaulted him while he was pumping gas. They robbed him, punched him and even ripped off his pants. Pastor Winans says he's OK, but is more saddened that it has come to this...

(CBS/AP) Disco queen Donna Summer has died, a family spokesperson told the Associated Press. She was 63. Her family released a statement Thursday saying Summer had died and that they "are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy."' Summer had been living in Englewood, Fla., with her husband Bruce Sudano. TMZ first reported the news, noting Summer had died in Florida on Thursday after a long battle with cancer. Insiders told TMZ she was recently working on music for a new album. Known as the "Queen of Disco," Summer was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in Boston, Mass., in 1948, as one of seven children. She was raised on Gospel music The five-time Grammy winner rose to fame in the 1970s, scoring hits with "Last Dance," "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls." She co-wrote the single "Love to Love You Baby" in 1975, and went on to co-write several other hits, including "She Works Hard Fo...

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Pastor Marvin Winans was robbed and carjacked at a Detroit gas station Wednesday afternoon. Winans was at the Citgo Gas Station at Linwood and the Davison when he was robbed. The carjackers robbed him and took his deep purple Infiniti QX56 SUV. The license plate number on the vehicle is 0DRT73. Detroit Police are searching for the suspects. He was not hurt in the incident, but was roughed up. Pastor Winans told Action News he felt something was wrong when he came out of the gas station's convenience store. He says four men followed him out and assaulted him while he was pumping gas. They robbed him, punched him and even ripped off his pants. Pastor Winans says he's ok, but is more saddened that it has come to this. “This kind of nonsense just has to stop… it’s just the savageness of what’s happening in the streets. We just have to take a look at ourselves and say this has to stop,” said Pastor Winans. The legendary pastor most recently gave t...

"Memphis needs to have some love again, you know, where the music counts," she said during an interview Monday. "I just really became determined at some point that people need to come here and make more music and bring this back to life."

The Chisca hotel is known to Elvis fans as a historic Elvis site. In July 1954, for the first time in history, radio airwaves carried the voice of Elvis Presley. The broadcast came from The Chisca and changed the world forever. This was the largest hotel in Memphis at the time. It was built in 1913. It wasn’t a luxury hotel like the Peabody; it was an accommodation for the middle class. Many other historic events occurred at The Chisca hotel. From 1949 to 1956, WHBQ radio’s DJ Dewey Phillips broadcast his legendary show, “Red, Hot and Blue” from the mezzanine level of The Chisca. “Daddy-O-Dewey,” as Mr. Phillips was popularly known, was the first DJ to give Elvis a chance. Phillips played Elvis’s “That’s All Right, Mama” three days after Sam Phillips recorded it at Sun Records Studio. The Chisca Hotel has been vacant for years. It's owned by the Church of God in Christ, which has let the building fall into disrepair. Memphis City Councilman Edmund Ford is proposing a two m...

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SHE may be counting down to B Day, but Dubliner Imelda May showed no sign in Paris last night of putting her feet up just yet. The 37-year-old Liberties singer, who is six months pregnant, performed a full set as part of her Mayhem tour, having played a stormer in prestigious London’s Royal Albert Hall last week. “There’s a little bit more of me tonight,” the singer joked with the audience as she proudly showed off her bump, draped in a figure-hugging, hot-red dress with leopard-print bodice. However, her impending rockabilly baby doesn’t hinder the Dubliner’s performance one iota who was joined on stage throughout by her guitarist husband Darrel Higham. The couple, who are married ten years, announced in February that they are expecting a baby. Apart from a craving for oranges, the Liberty Belle has had a smooth pregnancy and has pledged to continue touring during her pregnancy. She has played dates across the UK in recent weeks with sold out performances in Cardi...

Most people remember David Keith from the film, An Officer and a Gentleman , but Elvis fans remember him from the 80's film, Heartbreak Hotel . Keith is now working to fight child porn and abuse in the US. He is in Memphis tonight to speak about the delicate subject. David Keith - Heartbreak Hotel On a sidenote : I attended the film premiere of Heartbreak Hotel in NYC back in the late 80's. My family and I were sitting in front of David Keith . My Mom kept insisting he was Patrick Swayze and there was no talking her out of it. She turned around and said, "Are you Patrick Swayze?" And Keith said, " No, ma'am I'm David Keith. It's a pleasure to meet you." I was so embarassed that I slid down in my seat for the entire film. Afterwards, we got to meet the cast and David was very nice. Although, Heartbreak Hotel is a lesser known "Elvis related" film, it's fun. If you haven't seen it, you can pick up a copy on Amazon reas...

Legendary Bass Player "Duck" Dunn Dies: MyFoxMEMPHIS.com

Lisa Marie Presley fans @ Sun Studio Regena Bearden with Lisa Marie Lisa Marie Presley filming @ Sun Studio Sun Studio in Memphis says the CD signing tonight for Lisa Marie Presley was a great success. Be sure to catch her tomorrow morning on ABC's Good Morning America!

Lisa Marie Presley records @ Sun Studio Lisa Marie Presley recorded at Sun Studio Sunday night in Memphis. Sun says this is the first time a Presley has done this on that floor since 1955! Lisa Marie Presley & band recording at Sun Studio  LMP also recorded a few extra songs for Sun Studio Sessions! Coming soon!

Kay Hodges On Sunday, May 13, 2012 - Mother's Day Elvis fan Kay Hodges passed away during the night in her sleep. Kay was a life long Elvis fan who traveled to Memphis for Elvis Week since the beginning. Brian B It was back in the 80's when a Young fan from New York traveled to Memphis on his own. Kay took him under her wing, looked out for him and embraced him as her son. And the two stayed in touch. They would see each other in Memphis during Elvis Week each year. Kay became his "Memphis Mom" and Brian was her "Memphis son".  This year, they looked forward to seeing each other once again in Memphis during Elvis Week 2012. But Sunday Brian got a call he wasn't expecting, Kay's husband Don called to tell him, " Kay was with Elvis now." Don went on to tell Brian how much he meant to Kay, that he was part of the family and how much he himself appreciated the fact that while he did not go to Memphis with Kay, he was grateful knowing...

Lisa Marie & Tucker Lisa Marie Presley traveled back home this weekend. She was at Graceland in Memphis where she took this photo in the barn with rescue horse, Tucker. LMP is back in Memphis to record at Sun Studio for Good Morning America debuting her new album, Storm & Grace which airs tomorrow morning.

If your plans for Elvis Week 2012 in Memphis include a stop in Las Vegas to catch the final season of Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil , you’re in luck! Viva ELVIS will run through August 31, 2012 so reserve your seats today before the final shows sell out. Viva ELVIS is a tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley and combines nostalgia, modernity and raw emotion as the backdrop for the exhilaration and beauty of his music. The show highlights an American icon who transformed popular music and whose image embodied the freedom, excitement and turbulence of his era. Tickets for Viva ELVIS start at $65 and are subject to availability. Purchase your tickets today to see Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil at the ARIA Resort and Casino . Also, check out our Viva ELVIS photo gallery and learn more about the events and special guests during Elvis Week 2012 !

Elvis fans celebrating the Aloha from Hawaii 40th Anniversary will get the opportunity to meet Elvis co-star and internationally renowned pianist Ginny Tiu, who will be performing during the opening breakfast at the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon on Friday, January 11, 2013. Ginny made her national debut as a 5-year-old piano prodigy after appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Her showbiz career soon took off and she made the rounds of the major network variety shows such as "The Perry Como Show" and "The Tonight Show." Tiu chose the big screen over politics, after delaying a performance for President John F. Kennedy so she could perform alongside Elvis in the hit movie "Girls!Girls!Girls!" Eventually Ginny performed for President Kennedy while her sister Vicky filled in as Elvis' co-star in "It Happened at the World's Fair." Tiu has traveled around the world and toured in Europe, Asia, and South America, but calls Ha...

American Idol's live results show airs Thursday, May 17 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. Host Ryan Seacrest will announce the Top Two finalists who battle it out in the Grand Finale. In addition, Lisa Marie Presley will perform "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet," from her new album "Storm & Grace," and Season Eight runner-up Adam Lambert performs his new song, "Never Close Our Eyes." Set those DVRs! Source: BackinMemphis

Little Richard will be filling for Jerry Lee Lewis' concert dates. Lewis suffered a broken leg on March 30, 2012. He is unable to travel for 3 to 6 months. Little Richard will replace Jerry Lee at the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival and at BB King's in NYC. Little Richard turns 80 this year. His last appearance at Memphis in May was in 2006. We wish Jerry Lee a full recovery. And we look forward to seeing Little Richard at BB King's in NYC in June.

On Tuesday, May 15th, Lisa Marie Presley kicks off the release of her new album, Storm & Grace direct from her hometown of Memphis, TN. The King of Rock & Roll's daughter will perform live at the legendary Sun Studio .The segment will feature her performing the lead single, "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet." on ABC's Good Morning America. LMP will also be signing CDs at Sun Studio the night before, Monday, May 14, 2012 at 7 PM. Source: BackinMemphis

On March 30, 2012 the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis broke his leg. Due to his injury, he has had to cancel his performances including Memphis in May and his appearance at BB King's in NYC. Dr. Jeffrey Traina with the Community Orthopedic Clinic stated that due to the break and subsequent surgery, “Mr. Lewis will need to be non-weightbearing to his right lower leg for at least six week. He will be unable to perform or travel from three to six months. Source: BackinMemphis

Set your DVRs! Lisa Marie Presley will perform on American Idol on May 17, 2012 on FOX.

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It’s time for folks in Memphis to cut back on the barbecue — their city is the nation’s fattest, new rankings show. Memphis topped No. 2 San Antonio, Texas, and No. 3 Richmond, Va., on a list of the 10 most obese cities compiled by The Daily Beast Web site. Some 29.7 percent of Memphis residents are obese, and 12.4 percent are suffering from diabetes, the numbers show. That’s well above the national averages. Gallup poll data on which the Daily Beast rankings are based say 26.1 percent of Americans are obese, and 10.9 percent have diabetes. Memphis’ fatness levels are also significantly worse than the Big Apple’s, which didn’t even make the Daily Beast’s ranking. Some 21.5 percent of Big Apple residents are obese, and 9.7 percent have diabetes. The data show that 56.7 percent of Memphis residents regularly eat produce — about in line with the national average. It’s unclear if the produce data include the ingredients for the fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches that w...

Dublin's distinctive rockabilly singer Imelda May has become the new face of the embattled credit union sector in Ireland. Herself a longtime member of a credit union, May is fronting a new ad campaign due to start shortly on TV and radio. Her father Tony, a former credit union volunteer, also features in one of the 30-second TV adverts. Mandy Johnston, the Irish League of Credit Unions' Head of Communications said: “We are delighted to have Imelda on board. Imelda and her family have been long involved with the movement and for us represent the very essence of the credit union.” The Irish League of Credit Unions is the representative body for over 494 credit unions, They have a total of three million members. Source:  Business Post - BackinMemphis

 Matthew Roberts, a 44 year old LA musician was in search of his birth parents. When he tracked down his birth mother, she told he told he was the son of Charles Manson . She said her pregnancy was the result of an orgy with Manson. He was unable to get a DNA sample from Manson who is on death row. Last month, Manson's grandson, Jason Freeman came forward to provide a DNA sample. Jason is the son of Charles Manson Jr. who changed his name to rid the Manson name but the pain was too great and he eventually committed suicide. The DNA test proved that Roberts, although bearing a striking resemblance to Manson is NOT Charles Manson's son. His search for his birth father will start again.

Lisa Marie Presley has been announced as one of the presenters for this year's Billboard Award show. The show airs live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on SUNDAY, MAY 20 (8:00–11:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.  Other presenters include Wiz Khalifa, Luke Bryan, Robin Thicke, Brandy, Monica and Miley Cyrus. They join previously announced presenters Taio Cruz, Gavin DeGraw, Gladys Knight, Julianne Hough, Natasha Bedingfield and Jeremy Sisto , along with musical acts Kelly Clarkson, Linkin Park, Nelly Furtado, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Justin Bieber, LMFAO and The Wanted . In addition , Stevie Wonder will be honored with the Icon Award at the 2012 Billboard Award show. Source: BackinMemphis

A teenage girl has been arrested on charges of starting a fire in a Germantown hotel room Sunday. Now, investigators are pursuing a connection between that girl and last week's blaze that destroyed the former Cordova home of the late Isaac Hayes. Sunday's incident took place in a room inside the Homewood Suites at 7855 Wolf River Boulevard. Germantown police were called Sunday morning after the fire was reported. The 15-year-old girl was arrested and taken to Juvenile Court, according to Germantown police. Officials with the various departments involved in the case were being extremely tight-lipped Monday night, however, and would not specify the connection between the two events. Hayes' former home at 9280 Riveredge in south Cordova caught fire last Wednesday. The 7,205-square-foot house was owned by Kenneth and Doris Peters. Fire investigators have responded to several calls at both the Riveredge home as well as another house owned by the Peterses a...

Mother Dolores Hart – a former actress who became a Benedictine nun, and was recently profiled in the Academy Award-nominated HBO documentary “God is the Bigger Elvis” – will receive the 2012 Christopher Life Achievement Award during its 63rd annual Christopher Awards ceremony on Thursday, May 24th. As part of the annual Christopher Awards which recognize books, films and TV/Cable programs that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit,” the organization also presents special Awards to worthy individuals and achievements, one of which is the Life Achievement Award. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Dolores Hart enjoyed a successful acting career that led her to co-star in movies with Robert Wagner, Anthony Quinn, and Elvis Presley. She became the first actress to kiss Elvis in a movie, and portrayed St. Clare in the film “Francis of Assisi.” Though she enjoyed her time and work in Hollywood, Hart felt an even stronger spiritual call from God that led her to give up the ac...

Liberace's Former Lover Details Secret Romance As Liberace's larger-than-life story is set to hit the big screen in 2013, Scott Thorson, a former lover of the flamboyant entertainer, gives insight into the fascinating world of the late performer. ET's special correspondent Christina McLarty sat down with Thorson, currently known as Jess Marlow, who became lovers with Liberace at the tender age of 16. In 1988, he wrote the book Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace in which he detailed his life with the famous singer. He is presently working on a follow-up. "It was strange-- it was kind of like a father/son relationship," explains Thorson. "But we had sex." The now 54-year-old reveals that Liberace insisted that Thorson undergo plastic surgery to look like him during their then-secret romance, which lasted five years. "He had a doctor fly from Beverly Hills …And he had a big portrait on the wall of himself. [Pointing to the pictu...

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The family who owns the mansion that was ravaged by fire Wednesday night lost another home to fire more than one year ago. Those fires are now part of the same investigation. It was just after 6 p.m. when Chopper 5 captured the exclusive video of the massive house fire on Riveredge Drive in unincorporated Cordova. At least 11 engine companies and more than 70 emergency workers battled the flames. Despite the efforts, the home, which was once owned by the late great soul man Isaac Hayes, was a total loss. "We got our guys up close to the seat of the fire but the fire load was just too great, a lot of hot gases up inside the house," said Brent Perkins, Memphis Fire Department. All that is left of the 7,200 square foot estate is a burned out shell. Hayes paid $1.3 million for the estate in 2002. It fell into foreclosure by the time the current owners, Kenneth and Doris Peters, bought it for about $324,000 almost exactly one year ago. The Peters are not strangers to t...

According to WMC-TV crews on the scene, there were three people at the home when the fire started. They were able to make it out and were not injured. Chopper 5 is above the fire in Cordova right now. Huge flames are visible from the air. The fire is so big Shelby County fire called both city and county resources to help contain it. The $1.4 million home was foreclosed on after Isaac Hayes' death. The Shelby County Fire Department confirms that this is the former home of Hayes. Source: WMC-TV Memphis/BackinMemphis

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy Here's part 1 of Bobby Brown 's first interview since Whitney Houston 's death. Part 2 airs tomorrow on NBC's Today Show, in the 8 o'clock hour.

Here's a song stuck on repeat on my iPod - A tribute to the great Carl Perkins from Drive By Truckers. Enjoy! It's Catchy!

video platform video management video solutions video player   Zsa Zsa Gabor ’s daughter and husband are attempting to settle a dispute over the 95-year-old actress’ care and finances outside of court, attorneys told a probate judge Wednesday. The two sides will meet with a retired probate judge in late June to try to mediate their issues without the need for a lengthy court fight. Gabor’s daughter Constance Francesca Hilton has asked that a conservatorship be created to oversee the actress’ medical care and ensure that her assets are being properly protected. The petition is opposed by Frederic von Anhalt , Gabor’s husband of 25 years and her caretaker.  Hilton appeared for a brief scheduling hearing Wednesday but did not speak. Attorneys said they would report the results of the mediation at a hearing on July 11. Hilton and von Anhalt have sparred for years and each has accused the other of financial mismanagement related to Gabo...

The 7,200 square foot mansion that used to belong to Isaac Hayes is on fire. The $1.4 million home was foreclosed on after his death. Huge flames are visible from the air. It is unknown if anyone is living in the home.   Hayes was a musician and legend at Stax Records . He was also known for being the voice of "Chef" in SouthPark . He died of a heart attack inside the mansion. Source: Memphis Ch 5/ BackinMemphis

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Charles “Skip” Pitts, the longtime Memphis guitar player whose distinctive riffs helped define soul and make Isaac Hayes’ “Shaft” theme cool, has died. He was 65. Pitts is responsible for the unforgettable wah-wah guitar sound on Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft,” the ‘70s Blaxploitation film that remains a memorable moment in American popular culture — mostly due to the enduring popularity of the song. Tim Sampson, communication director with the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, says Pitts died Tuesday after a long struggle with cancer. Schooled by neighbor Bo Diddley while growing up in Washington, D.C., Pitts had a long, historic run in Memphis. He played with Hayes for nearly four decades, worked as a session musician for Stax Records and logged time with many significant soul acts. Source: AP/NY Daily News/BackinMemphis