Longtime Boyfriend

sugarland's Jennifer Nettles celebrated more than just Thanksgiving this past weekend: the country star tied the knot with longtime beau Justin Miller.

According to People, the 37-year-old singer married Miller in a Tennessee chapel on Saturday (Nov. 26). Kristian Bush, Nettles' Sugarland band mate, was reportedly in attendance at the intimate ceremony.

Nettles and Miller had been dating for over two years. The former model appeared in the music video for the band's 2006 single, "Want To."

Sugarland will perform at the "Grammy Nominations Concert Live!" ceremony on Wednesday (Nov. 30) and host the CMA Country Christmas special on Thursday. Sugarland was recently named in a lawsuit filed by survivors of the Indiana State Fair stage collapse in August, which seeks unspecified damages for breach of reasonable care to the victims of the tragedy.

Focus on 'Transition'

justin Bieber's growing up, but vocal producer Kuk Harrell says he's not ready for "the adult game" just yet.

"The only conversation we've had about Justin's album that we're about to do is it's really important that it's the proper transition because we've seen him [with] 'Baby,' now we're watching him grow up," he told MTV News. "There's a record in between."

However, he said the 17-year-old star's current release -- the Christmas album "Under the Mistletoe," which bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 -- is an "important" preview of what fans can expect from the next album.

"It gave everybody the opportunity to hear him, see him and get used to his voice changing," Harrell said. "That was a huge thing going into this album. We were able to get a running start on where he's at vocally 'cause it's a natural thing. When his proper album comes out, everybody's going to really be looking at that."

Bieber's next album, dubbed "Believe," is expected next summer. His manager, Scooter Braun, told the Hollywood Reporter last month that the teen star would be taking a hands-on approach to his new material.

"He's pretty adamant about writing a lot of [the album]," Braun said. "And he played me some stuff that he's been doing on his own. He wrote this amazing song that sounds like a Jodeci record. I'm really excited for him. This kid can sing his ass off. He's coming into his own."

LL Cool J to perform with Furious Five

LL Cool J, Common, Lupe Fiasco and Rick Ross are working on a special performance for The Grammys Nomination Concert.

The stars will join the Furious Five members Melle Mel and Scorpio for a rendition of The Message.

Their performance of the 1982 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five hit will take place during a live show on Wednesday.

The one-hour show will reveal the nominations for the 54th annual Grammy Awards which will take place on February 12 2012.

LL Cool J has already signed up to host the event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Usher, Sugarland and Ludacris have been announced as performers. Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry will be on hand to present awards to some of the lucky winners.

It was recently announced that The Message would be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, 30 years after the track was recorded.

The track's hook "It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under" is well known across the world of hip-hop. The single has been sampled by artists such as Ice Cube on his 1993 hit Check Yo Self and P. Diddy who used it in Can't Nobody Hold Me Down in 1997.

The Grammy Nominations Concert Live - Countdown to Music's Biggest Night will air on November 30 on CBS.

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The New Orleans Suspects, Flow Tribe and more music for Friday and beyond

ex-Radiators bassist Reggie Scanlan and Neville Brothers drummer Willie Green — as well as keyboardist Joe Krown’s Trio, with Walter “Wolfman” Washington on guitar and Russell Batiste on drums.



The New Orleans Suspects feature, from left, Willie Green, CR Gruver, Jake Eckert, Kevin Harris and Reggie Scanlan. They perform at Tipitina's on Friday, Nov. 25, 2011 with the Joe Krown Trio.
Pianist Michael Wolff and percussionist Mike Clark kick off a two-night stand at Snug Harbor as the Wolff & Clark Expedition, with Chris Severin on bass.
Flow Tribe brings its brand of good-time funk to the Maple Leaf Bar.
South Louisiana guitarist Tab Benoit plugs in at Ruby’s Roadhouse in Mandeville.
Kermit Ruffins stages what purportedly will be his final late-night set at the Blue Nile.
The avant-jazz Illuminasti ensemble, featuring Mike Dillon and James Singleton, is upstairs at the Blue Nile.
Paul Sanchez is teamed with Alex McMurray at Chickie Wah Wah early, followed by an unplugged set from guitarist Jimmy Robinson, singer Susan Cowsill and drummer Russ Broussard.
The Molly Ringwalds kick off two nights at Southport Hall.
The Help features ex-Cold singer Barbara Menendez at Carrollton Station.
The Iguanas hold court at Irvin Mayfield’s I Club in the JW Marriott.
Drummer Shannon Powell powers a trio at Hermes Bar inside Antoine’s Restaurant.
The ever-popular Bucktown All-stars fire up at Rock ’n’ Bowl.
Trombonist Rick Trolsen is on early at the Old Point Bar, followed later by Gal Holiday.
Singer-songwriter Andrew Duhon is at the Oak Wine Bar & Bistro.
Lightnin’ Malcolm is paired with Cameron Kimbrough at d.b.a.
Hear the Eric Traub Trio at Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar.

SATURDAY, Nov. 26
Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole time-travel across the spectrum of southwest Louisiana music. The ensemble draws on traditional French and Spanish melodies, West African rhythms, classic reels from the Cajun and Creole canons, and bluegrass and string band chestnuts, even as Watson churns out original compositions on his double-row Hohner accordion. Watson, a Texas native who first came to prominence in the Cajun/Creole music world as a member of the Pine Leaf Boys, self-produced his new album with Bijou Creole, “Le soleil est levé.” Expect to hear music from the new CD and more at Chickie Wah Wah on Saturday.
Also, Tab Benoit returns to Rock ’n’ Bowl.
Carrollton Station hosts an all-star ensemble of ex-Radiators guitarist Dave Malone, Papa Grows Funk keyboardist John “Papa” Gros, guitarist/vocalist Eric Lindell and gutiarist Jimmy Robinson.
Fondly remembered local honky-tonk band The Plowboys reunites at Le Bon Temps Roule.
Cyril Neville is at Irvin Mayfield’s I Club in the JW Marriott Hotel.
Singer John Boutte is on early at d.b.a., followed by Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Roadshow.
Trumpeter Kermit Ruffins swings at Tipitina’s.
Pianist Michael Wolff and percussionist Mike Clark spend a second night at Snug Harbor.
The Treme Brass Band is featured at the Maple Leaf.
Dash Rip Rock hits the Rivershack Tavern.
Lil Red & Big Bad do blues at Big Al’s Deckbar on Jefferson Highway.
Clive Wilson explores the Legacy of Louis Armstrong at Preservation Hall.
Trumpeter Leroy Jones leads a quartet at Hermes Bar inside Antoine’s Restaurant.
Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone, Paula Rangell, Fingers Taylor, Ben Maygarden and others are featured for a big harmonica blowout during the free Blues Christmas at the Covington Trailhead show in Covington, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Later on Saturday, Rangell and her band, the Pontiacs, play at Landlubbers Pub in Slidell. The Soul Rebels Brass Band funks up the Blue Nile.
Trombonist Rick Trolsen fronts his Gringo do Choro ensemble at Dos Jefes. Billy Iuso hits the Oak Wine Bar & Bistro.

SUNDAY, Nov. 27
Gleason Gras takes over Champions Square outside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with Better Than Ezra, Papa Grows Funk, Kyle Turley, Paul Varisco & the Milestones, Theresa Andersson and more.
The Hi-Ho Lounge hosts Mardi Gras Indian practices by the Skinz & Bonez and 7th Ward Creole Hunters.
Bassist Jim Singleton leads a quartet at Snug Harbor.
Mas Mamones does the late set at d.b.a.
The Joe Krown Trio features Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Russell Batiste at the Maple Leaf.
The Yat Pack and the Wiseguys team up for a Sunday evening gig at Rock ’n’ Bowl.

TUESDAY, Nov. 29
The Columns Hotel hosts the New Orleans Guitar Masters featuring John Rankin and Phil DeGruy at 8.
The Bridge Trio does modern jazz at Snug Harbor.

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 30
The ’80s metal survivors of L.A. Guns rock One Eyed Jacks.
Alex McMurray hosts his Old Timey Revue at d.b.a. early, followed by Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters.
Catch Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes at the Maple Leaf.
Irvin Mayfield’s NOJO Jam features the music of Charles Mingus at the Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta.
Defeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra swing at Snug Harbor.
Singer Meschiya Lake and pianist Tom McDermott team up at Chickie Wah Wah.
The Devil Wears Prada headlines the House of Blues.
Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. joins the Topcats at Legends in Metairie.

THURSDAY, Dec. 1
Rootstock aims to re-create a night at a south Louisiana roadhouse: Cajun music, dancing and beer. The event, featuring the Lost Bayou Ramblers and Corey “Lil Pop” Ledet & His Zydeco Band at Rock 'n' Bowl, benefits the nonprofit Louisiana Folk Roots organization, which perpetuates indigenous south Louisiana music and culture. Rootstock also serves as a coming-out party for the new CD “En Français: Cajun ’n’ Creole Rock ’n’ Roll,” on which various bands remake classic rock and pop songs in French, and for two new beers from Bayou Teche Brewing’s LA-31 series. On “En Francais,” the Lost Bayou Ramblers cover the Who’s “My Generation” and Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll,” translated as “Moi J’aime Rock ’n’ Roll.” Lil Pop Ledet takes on “Roadhouse Blues” and “Hey Joe.” Elsewhere on the disc, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys cover “Down by the River,” Feufollet revisits Big Star’s “In the Street,” and Isle Derniere remakes Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” as “L’Homme en Fer.” The Rootstock show at Rock 'n' Bowl kicks off around 8 p.m.
Also, trumpeter Maurice Brown is back in town for two sets at Snug Harbor.
Saxophonist Loren Pickford visits Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar.
Trumpeter Jeremy Davenport logs his early evening Thursday gig at the Davenport Lounge in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto headline the House of Blues.
Next door, The Parish of the House of Blues hosts a CD release party for “The Sounds of Daniel Bashta.”

Mastodon Singer-Bassist Troy Sanders on the Ways of ‘The Hunter’

Taylor Swift Wins American Music Awards Artist Of The Year

LOS ANGELES — Taylor Swift was crowned artist of the year at the American Music Awards for a second time.

"This is so crazy!" the country superstar said after beat such contenders as Adele, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to capture all three awards that she was nominated for at Sunday's ceremony, including artist of the year, the show's highest accolade that she previously claimed in 2009.

"I ended up writing the record by myself, so the fact that you would honor it this way, you have no idea what this means to me," said Swift after winning the trophy for favorite country album for "Speak Now." She was also awarded the prize for favorite country female artist.

Nicki Minaj, the pink-loving hip-hop diva, won two awards Sunday. She kicked off the 39th annual fan-favorite ceremony by sporting a pair of speakers on her much-talked about posterior and was later honored as favorite rap/hip-hop artist, besting a group that included mentor Lil Wayne, and won favorite rap/hip-hop album for "Pink Friday."

"There's so much love in this room," beamed the pink-haired Minaj.

Adele had been the night's leading nominee with four nods, but didn't have much of a presence at the show: She was absent from the ceremony because she is recovering from recent throat surgery. Adele tied Swift with three awards: favorite pop/rock female artist, adult contemporary artist and pop/rock album for "21."

Other winners included Maroon 5 as favorite pop-rock band/duo/group, Blake Shelton as favorite country male artist, Lady Antebellum as favorite country band/duo/group, Beyonce as favorite soul/R&B female artist, Rihanna for favorite soul/R&B album for "Loud" and Hot Chelle Rae as new artist of the year.

The ceremony inside the Nokia Theatre in an unusually rainy Los Angeles was drenched with 17 musical performances.

Justin Bieber got in the holiday spirit among a forest of neon lights with "Under the Mistletoe," and Kelly Clarkson, wearing a glittery red gown with her hair swept to the side, delivered a swinging rendition of her hit "Mr. Know It All" as back-up dancers dressed as 1930s-era photographers snapped the first-ever "American Idol" champion.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony shared custody of rapper Pitbull, who joined the former couple in a pair of separate performances. Lopez performed essentially a live version of a car commercial starring the "Idol" judge set to "Papi" – with the car onstage – before launching into her hit "On the Floor." Pitbull later returned to the stage and joined Anthony for "Rain Over Me."

Lopez expressed surprise when she won the favorite Latin music artist award.

"It's been up and down and just exciting and overwhelming and so many things," Lopez said of the last year.

Several artists delivered stripped-down performances: The Band Perry crooned an emotional "If I Die Young," a pink-haired Perry accompanied herself on guitar for "The One That Got Away" and a platinum-blonde Chris Brown simply sang "All Back" before being joined by a troop of helmet-clad back-up dancers for a flashy interpretation of "Say It With Me."

There were collaborations, too. Lopez joined a glowing-in-the-dark will.i.am for his new single "Hard." Christina Aguilera dueted with Maroon 5 on their "Moves Like Jagger," and then Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine teamed with Gym Class Heroes for their hit "Stereo Hearts." Bieber joined LMFAO in animal-print pants for the show's finale, which ended with everyone on stage – including David Hasselhoff – stripping down to smiley-face underwear.