Pet Shop Boys’ arrangement of the Madness classic, “My Girl”, was originally performed with Suggs and Carl of Madness at last year’s charity benefit, “Can You Bear It?”, for the family of Chris and Neil’s former assistant and close friend, Dainton Connell, who was tragically killed in a car accident.

The EP also includes a medley of Coldplay’s “Viva la vida” and Pet Shop Boys classic “Domino Dancing” which the duo has been performing on their current world tour. This studio version is produced by Stuart Price.

In other Pet Shop Boys news, the band earned a 2010 GRAMMY® Award nomination in the “Best Electronic/Dance Album” category for their album Yes. This is their 5th nomination. They also recently hit number 1 again on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart with their single “Did You See Me Coming”, their tenth number 1 overall and the second number 1 from their latest album Yes. Earlier this year, their single “Love etc” broke the record for the most number 1′s on the chart among groups, vaunting over fellow electro-pop veterans Depeche Mode. By taking the top spot yet again, “Did You See Me Coming” further solidifies the duo’s rarefied position as dance music godfathers. Yes, the band’s first album on Astralwerks and tenth album overall, debuted at an impressive number 32 on the Billboard 200, achieving the act’s highest position on that chart since 1993′s Very debuted at number 20.

Rogers’ annual Christmas Tour has become tradition over the course of the artist’s storied career. Always a highly anticipated treat for the whole family, the production will feature performances of heart warming traditional and original holiday songs from Rogers — many that can be found on his numerous holiday recordings — such as “Let It Snow” “White Christmas” and “O Holy Night” as only the Grammy Award-winning artist can deliver, with the help of local choirs and children chosen to be part of the production in each city. Rogers will also perform classics such as “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Islands In The Stream,” “Lucille,” and “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town.”

“I’ve always loved this season,” remarked Rogers. “I think because people in general, are truly different. Look around…they smile more, they’re more gracious, and generally seem happier. It’s funny how things in your life change as you get older – especially when you have children. All the things that seemed so important before, somehow no longer matter, and those that once felt so trivial, now are the only things that count. My house, for instance, has been decorated for the holidays since before Halloween, so to say my family is ‘In The Spirit Of The Season’ is a bit of an understatement! I promise you the holidays will never be the same for me. And so I say to you, have yourself a Merry, Merry Christmas and know that I wish for you, what I wish for myself – that you spend this and every holiday season with those you love the most.”

This year’s Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hits Tour will be sponsored by World Vision, the Christian humanitarian organization that is working in nearly 100 countries to serve the poor and those in need.

“We are honored to be sponsoring the Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hits Tour this season. It is a tremendous opportunity to be working closely with such a legendary artist as we join forces together to help children and their families around the world,” says Jenny Lockwald, World Vision’s Executive Director for Artist Associates & Sponsor Engagement.

A beloved, universally-known icon of American entertainment, Kenny Rogers is a living legend with an extensive history of success, including 20 platinum, 26 gold records and a Diamond-certified Greatest Hits album that has sold more than 24 million copies worldwide. In the span of nearly five decades, Kenny Rogers has recorded 65 albums, which have sold more than 105 million units worldwide. Rogers is the only artist to chart a record in each of the last six decades and has three Grammy Awards, five Country Music Association Awards, 18 American Music Awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards and 11 People’s Choice Awards. He’s also ranked #8 on the R.I.A.A.’s list of Top Selling Male Artists of all time.

For the latest news and tour updates, please visit Kenny Rogers’ official website: www.kennyrogers.com

Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hits Tour Dates:
November 27 Bossier City, LA Horseshoe Casino Riverdome
November 28 Biloxi, MS Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino
November 29 Fort Pierce, FL Sunrise Theatre
November 30 Kissimmee, FL Silver Spurs Arena
December 01 St. Petersburg, FL Mahaffey Theater at Progress Energy Center
December 03 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
December 05 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort – Arena
December 06 Shippensburg, PA H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center
December 07 Verona, NY Turning Stone Resort Casino – Showroom
December 10 Sandusky, OH The Sandusky State Theater
December 11 Jamestown, NY Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena
December 12 Elmira, NY First Arena
December 13 West Point, NY Eisenhower Hall Theatre
December 15 Youngstown, OH Covelli Centre
December 17 Bloomington, IL US Cellular Coliseum
December 18 Detroit, MI Fox Theater
December 19 Johnstown, PA Cambria County War Memorial
December 20 Lowell, MA Lowell Memorial Auditorium
December 22 Rochester, NY Auditorium Theatre
December 23 Westbury, NY The Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury

Fresh off their Pop and Country chart-topping CD/DVD combo Live On The Inside, superstar duo Sugarland is set to release a 10-track holiday-themed record titled GOLD AND GREEN on October 6, which includes 5 original songs co-written by lead members Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush(*). With the purchase of GOLD AND GREEN, available everywhere, fans will be able to access exclusive content such as downloads and the chance to enter special sweepstakes.

TRACK LISTING:

1. City Of Silver Dreams*
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Holly Jolly Christmas
4. Coming Home*
5. Gold And Green*
6. Maybe Baby (New Year’s Day)*
7. Nuttin’ For Christmas
8. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
9. Little Wood Guitar*
10. Silent Night

Sugarland
GOLD AND GREEN
10.6.09

Lady Gaga is ready to deck the halls this season! Her new track, ‘Christmas Tree’ featuring Space Cowboy, is sure to become a modern holiday classic for years to come!

Brian McKnight’s brand-new Christmas album, ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’. McKnight’s first studio album in two years, the collection features yuletide classics, three originals and superstar guests such as Josh Groban and Vince Gill. McKnight’s sons, Brian, Jr. and Nikolas, join him on the quintessential “Let It Snow.” All the songs are infused with McKnight’s inimitable, effortless eloquence and smooth soul stylings. On ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’, Brian McKnight commented, “This is the most musical fun I’ve had in years.”

With a career spanning nearly twenty years and over 16 million albums sold since his self-titled debut, singer/songwriter/musician/arranger and producer McKnight has had nine Top 100 Albums, twelve Hot 100 singles and twelve Top 20 R&B singles, including the #1 smash “Anytime.” In addition to his successful music career, Brian McKnight has conquered all mediums. McKnight has starred on Broadway in “Chicago”, currently hosts BET’s “Soul Sessions” and can be heard every day on radio station 94.7 The Wave’s “The Brian McKnight Morning Show” in the Los Angeles area.

Tracklisting:
~ The Christmas Song
~ Silver Bells
~ Let It Snow (featuring Brian McKnight Jr. & Nikolas McKnight)
~ Christmas You and Me (featuring Vince Gill)
~ I’ll Be Home For Christmas
~ Silent Night (featuring Noel Schajiris)
~ The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
~ Adeste Fideles
~ Who Would Have Thought
~ Angels We Have Heard On High (featuring Josh Groban)
~ Christmas Medley
~ Bless This House (featuring Take 6)

Reunited pop/rock outfit Sixpence None The Richer has put the finishing touches on its first Christmas album.

“The Dawn of Grace” is due Oct. 14; album opener “Angels We Have Heard on High” and can be streamed exclusively on Billboard.com

The 10-track set includes eight traditional Christmas songs and two originals, “The Last Christmas” and “Christmas for Two.” Jars Of Clay’s Dan Haseltine guests on “Silent Night.”Sixpence None The Richer played its first show in four years during South by Southwest in March, and has a handful of dates on tap this summer, beginning July 2 at the Cornerstone Festival in Marietta, Ill.

The group is expected to hit the studio in the coming weeks to work on a new album, due early next year.

Here is the track list for “The Dawn of Grace”:

“Angels We Have Heard on High”
“The Last Christmas”
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
“Silent Night” (featuring Dan Haseltine of Jars Of Clay)
“Riu, Riu, Chiu”
“Carol of the Bells”
“Christmas Island”
“River”
“Christmas for Two”
“Some Children See Him”

Sixpence on Tour:
July 2 – Cornerstone Festival 2008 Bushnell, IL

August 14 – Flevo Festival Apeldoorn, Netherlands

August 15 – Revo Festival Germany

August 16 – Glow Festival Harsens, Denmark

August 30 – Revelation Generation Frenchtown, NJ