AP - The Essence Music Festival wraps up its 14th year with musical performances Sunday in the Louisiana Superdome, headlined by Grammy Award-winner Mary J. Blige and comedian Chris Rock but that was not the only draw for thousands of festival goers.

AP - The opening note of Bernd Alois Zimmermann's "Die Soldaten" has to be the most moving in opera when heard in David Pountney's production: The 974-seat bleacher containing the audience slowly starts to roll down train tracks in the Park Avenue Armory's Drill Hall, passing over a football field-length runway where most of the action takes place.

Reuters - Things are starting to get "a little bit" sentimental around the Bon Jovi camp as the New Jersey rockers enter the home stretch of their 2007-08 world tour, according to guitarist Richie Sambora.

Reuters - For some actors, winning an Emmy seems to be simple. For Ted Danson, it took eight seasons to win one for "Cheers."

AP - Christie Brinkley, testifying Monday at her divorce trial, said it was a "nightmare" to put on a brave face and throw a birthday party with 30 kids after learning that her husband had an affair with a teenager.

AP - Despite the astonishing success of the stage musical "Mamma Mia!," ABBA has ruled out any reunion tour.

Reuters - Lehman Brothers cut the stock ratings on Monday of Walt Disney Co, Time Warner and other top entertainment companies, fearing the television and film industry could suffer the same battering as the music business.