The second issue of the Luke McBain comic book series, based on Trace Adkins (booking agent)' likeness and persona, will be released on Dec. 16 by 12 Gauge Comics. The first issue of the four-part series was released in early November and sold out at the distributor level in two days. Luke McBain's character is an innocent ex-con who returns to his Louisiana hometown after 14 years to take care of business at his family's timber mill, only to find it in trouble.

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Reba McEntire's red dress that she wore during a performance at the 1993 CMA Awards is currently the subject of a spotlight exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. McEntire wore the instantly famous gown, with sequins and a plunging neckline designed by stylist Sandy Spika, during a duet performance of "Does He Love You" with Linda Davis. McEntire later said, "I got more press off that dress than if I'd won entertainer of the year." The exhibit will conclude on June 13.

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Rolling Stone readers love Green Day (booking agent) ... a lot. In the magazine's Decade-End Readers' Poll, the Berkeley-bred punk/pop trio grabbed the #1 spot for Best Single, Best Album and Top Artist of the '00s.

As the #1 single, readers picked the ballad "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," one of two Green Day tunes that made the cut, along with "American Idiot" (#13). The rest of the top five were Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," U2's "Beautiful Day," Britney Spears' "Toxic" and Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together."

Also getting love in the top 15 were Kanye West (booking agent), Avril Lavigne (booking agent), My Chemical Romance (booking agent), Kelly Clarkson (booking agent), the White Stripes (booking agent) and Coldplay (booking agent).

A number of acts notched two albums on the list of the decade's top releases. While Green Day took the #1 spot with American Idiot, Radiohead landed at #3 (Kid A) and #5 (In Rainbows). U2 scored a twofer at #6 (All That You Can't Leave Behind) and #15 (No Line on the Horizon), and Kelly Clarkson hit #8 (All I Ever Wanted) and #11 (Breakaway).

The top 20 also featured discs from Jay-Z (booking agent), Lady Gaga (booking agent), Beyoncé (booking agent), Avril Lavigne (booking agent), Christina Aguilera (booking agent), My Chemical Romance (booking agent) and Justin Timberlake (booking agent). A notable absence was Eminem, who was deemed the top-selling artist of the '00s by Nielsen SoundScan but failed to get a single mention on the RS readers' albums list.

Green Day topped the Artist of the Decade list, followed by Radiohead (booking agent), U2 (booking agent), Coldplay (booking agent), the Black Eyed Peas (booking agent), Justin Timberlake (booking agent) and Bruce Springsteen (booking agent). Slim Shady finally worked his way in on that list, dropping into the #8 slot, just ahead of the White Stripes' Jack White, Jay-Z (booking agent), Kings of Leon (booking agent) and Fall Out Boy (booking agent).

Despite having last year's biggest album and becoming hip-hop's reigning superstar, Lil Wayne checked in at a modest #18, coming in behind the Arcade Fire (#13), M.I.A. (#14), Wilco (#15), Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst (#16) and Bob Dylan (#17).

Rolling Stone readers' top singles of the decade: 1. Green Day, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"
2. Beyonce, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
3. U2, "Beautiful Day"
4. Britney Spears, "Toxic"
5. Mariah Carey, "We Belong Together"
6. Kanye West, "Stronger"
7. My Chemical Romance, "Welcome to the Black Parade"
8. Avril Lavigne, "Complicated"
9. Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone"
10. White Stripes, "Seven Nation Army"
11. Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling"
12. Coldplay, "Viva la Vida"
13. Green Day, "American Idiot"
14. Christina Aguilera, "Beautiful"


Top albums:

1. Green Day, American Idiot
2. Kanye West, Graduation
3. Radiohead, Kid A
4. Avril Lavigne, Let Go
5. Radiohead, In Rainbows
6. U2, All That You Can't Leave Behind
7. Britney Spears, Blackout
8. Kelly Clarkson, All I Ever Wanted
9. Jay-Z, The Blueprint
10. Lady Gaga, The Fame
11. Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway
12. Beyoncé, I Am ... Sasha Fierce 13. Christina Aguilera, Stripped
14. My Chemical Romance, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
15. U2, No Line on the Horizon
16. Mariah Carey, The Emancipation of Mimi
17. Justin Timberlake, Futuresex/Lovesounds
18. Coldplay, Viva la Vida
19. Bruce Springsteen, The Rising

Top artists:

1. Green Day (booking agent)
2. Radiohead (booking agent)
3. U2 (booking agent)
4. Coldplay (booking agent)
5. Black Eyed Peas (booking agent)
6. Justin Timberlake (booking agent)
7. Bruce Springsteen (booking agent)
8. Eminem (booking agent)
9. Jack White (booking agent)
10. Jay-Z (booking agent)
11. Kings of Leon (booking agent)
12. Fall Out Boy (booking agent)
13. Arcade Fire (booking agent)
14. M.I.A.  (booking agent)
15. Wilco (booking agent)
16. Conor Oberst (booking agent)
17. Bob Dylan (booking agent)
18. Lil Wayne (booking agent)
19. My Morning Jacket (booking agent)
20. Beyoncé (booking agent)
21. Kelly Clarkson (booking agent)
22. My Chemical Romance (booking agent)
23. Kanye West (booking agent)

Last week, a new Eminem song called "Elevator" hit the Internet, on which the rapper may or may not have used an anti-gay slur in a lyric about Adam Lambert (booking agent) (and Clay Aiken and Lance Bass).

"Sorry, Lance, Mr. Lambert and Aiken ain't gonna make it/ They get so mad, when I call them both fake/ It's all these f---ing voices in my head, I can't take it/ Someone shut that f---ing baby up, before I shake it," he apparently raps on the tune — with the "Fake/ It's" combination sounding a lot like a common anti-gay slur.

In the time since, fans of both artists have weighed in on the lyric in question, Em's label has declined to comment on it (or confirm what he was actually saying) and gay-news sites like Towleroad.com have decried it as "boorish" and "homophobic." But, aside from a pair of Tweets, we hadn't heard much on the matter from Lambert himself.

But Tuesday night, on the red carpet for the launch of online music service Vevo, MTV News had a chance to ask Lambert about "Elevator," the lyric in question, and whether or not he felt Eminem crossed a line with either. Turns out, he's not taking any of it personally. In fact, he said the whole thing was a pretty smart business decision by Mr. Mathers.

"Well, you know, he used a word that's not necessarily very nice, but I'm sure he's got some sort of justification for it. And I'm not going to take it personally. It's cool, Eminem!," Lambert said, giving a sarcastic thumbs up. "If you get mentioned in an Eminem song, you're doing something right. And I'm sure he was planning on creating some controversy, because he's a smart guy."

"Elevator" is one of several new songs from Em's upcoming album, which hits stores on December 21.

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"The Boss" is backing gay marriage in the Garden State.

Bruce Springsteen (booking agent) posted a statement on his Web site urging support of the gay marriage bill that's up for a vote in New Jersey's Senate on Thursday.

Springsteen wrote that he's long believed in and has "always spoken out for the rights of same-sex couples."

The native son says he agrees with Gov. Jon Corzine that marriage equality is a civil rights issue.

Gov.-elect Chris Christie is a big Springsteen fan. The Republican has said he would veto the bill.

A state Senate committee approved the bill by one vote on Monday.

Democrats concede the measure may fall short of the 21 votes needed to pass the Senate.

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R. Kelly (booking agent) is writing more chapters, only this time, it's not for his "Trapped" saga, but for a new memoir.

The 42-year-old singer, writer and producer says in a statement issued Wednesday that he is working on an autobiography with David Ritz that will "tell it like it is."

He has a lot to talk about. He's one of the best-selling recording artists in history but also one of the most controversial.

The book promises to go through all his drama, including child pornography charges that ended with an acquittal.

The autobiography is untitled right now, just like his new CD. It's scheduled for release by Tavis Smiley's SmileyBooks in 2011.

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Kenny Chesney (booking agent), Miranda Lambert (booking agent) and Sugarland (booking agent) have been announced as the headliners for Country Thunder USA music festival taking place July 22-25 in Twin Lakes, Wis. Four-day general admission passes are $99.

Additional performers include Jason Aldean (booking agent), Luke Bryan (booking agent), Eric Church (booking agent), Kevin Costner & Modern West (booking agent), Billy Currington (booking agent), Gloriana (booking agent), Randy Houser (booking agent), Jo Dee Messina (booking agent), John Michael Montgomery (booking agent), David Nail (booking agent), Collin Raye (booking agent) and Sawyer Brown (booking agent), among many others.

 

Twelve artists on the Universal Music Group Nashville roster will perform at a private luncheon at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Feb. 24 during Country Radio Seminar (CRS), an annual industry event sponsored by the Country Radio Broadcasters Inc.

Performers will include Gary Allan (booking agent), Easton Corbin (booking agent), Billy Currington (booking agent), Vince Gill (booking agent), Mallary Hope (booking agent), Julianne Hough (booking agent), Jamey Johnson (booking agent), David Nail (booking agent), the Randy Rogers Band (booking agent), Sugarland (booking agent), Josh Turner (booking agent), and Lee Ann Womack (booking agent). This marks the first time the Ryman will serve as an official CRS venue.

iTunes' top 10 selling singles and albums of the week ending Dec. 7, 2009:

Singles:

1. "Bad Romance," Lady Gaga (booking agent)

2. "Tik Tok," Ke$ha

3. "Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)," Jay-Z

4. "Fireflies," Owl City

5. "Replay," Iyaz

6. "Meet Me Halfway," Black Eyed Peas (booking agent)

7. "Sexy Chick," David Guetta

8. "Whatcha Say," Jason DeRulo

9. "3," Britney Spears (booking agent)

10. "Party in the USA," Miley Cyrus (booking agent)

Albums:

1. "My Christmas," Andrea Bocelli

2. "The Fame Monster (deluxe)," Lady GaGa

3. "I Dreamed a Dream," Susan Boyle

4. "The Fame Monster (standard)," Lady GaGa

5. "Battle Studies," John Mayer  (booking agent)

6. "Untitled," R. Kelly

7. "The Swift Holiday Collection," Taylor Swift  (booking agent)

8. "Let it Snow!" Michael Buble

9. "Rated R," Rihanna  (booking agent)

10. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack," various artists

Wynn Las Vegas officials say they're in preliminary talks with Beyonce (booking agent) to bring the superstar singer back to the Las Vegas resort.

Wynn Resorts spokeswoman Jennifer Dunne says there's no deal yet, despite published rumors of a lucrative, long-term contract.

Beyonce (bee-AHN'-say) appeared at the resort from July 30 through Aug. 2 this year while filming a concert DVD. Her shows helped boost visitation to Wynn and its sister Encore Las Vegas resort during a typically slow tourist season in Las Vegas.

Beyonce sang in the Encore Theater, where country star Garth Brooks plans to play a series of solo acoustic shows starting on Friday. Brooks' deal puts him in Las Vegas 15 weeks a year for possibly the next five years.

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