“Once” Dominates the Tony Awards

Tonight, the best of Broadway was celebrated on the 66th Annual Tony Awards hosted by the always brilliant Neil Patrick Harris. He, and the show, were excellent with wonderful performances from all the nominated musicals (big ups to Newsies, Once, Ghost, Follies, Porgy & Bess and Ricky Martin with Evita for my favorite numbers) and clips from the nominated plays. The musical adaptation of the Oscar-winning film Once was the big winner with 7 trophies included Best Musical and Best Actor for Steve Kazee who had the best and most emotional speech of the night. Audra MacDonald also gave a very emotional and lovely speech as she won her 5th Tony for Porgy which also won best Revival of a Musical. Taking the Featured Actor in a Musical wins were Nice Work if You Can Get It stars Judy Kaye and Michael McGrath… On the play side, Clybourne Park took home best play while best revival went to Death of a Salesman and its lauded director Mike Nichols. Other big winners included the wonderful Judith Light for Featured Actress in a Play, Smash’s Christan Borle for Featured Actor in a Play, Nina Arianda for Lead Actress in a Play and the hilarious James Corden for Lead Actor in a Play. Take a look at all the winners below and head to the Tony website for more on this fantastic show and the wonderful theatre of Broadway.

2012 Tony Award Winners~

Best Musical
Nominees: Leap of Faith; Newsies; Nice Work if You can Get it; Once
WINNER: Once

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Nominees: Audra McDonald (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess); Cristin Milioti (Once); Kelli O’Hara (Nice Work If You Can Get It); Laura Osnes (Bonnie & Clyde)
WINNER: Audra McDonald (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Nominees: Nina Arianda (Venus in Fur); Tracie Bennett (End of the Rainbow); Stockard Channing (Other Desert Cities); Linda Lavin (The Lyons); Cynthia Nixon (Wit)
WINNER: Nina Arianda (Venus in Fur)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Nominees: James Corden (One Man, Two Guvnors); Philip Seymour Hoffman (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman); James Earl Jones (Gore Vidal’s The Best Man); Frank Langella (Man and Boy); John Lithgow (The Columnist)
WINNER: James Corden (One Man, Two Guvnors)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Nominees: Danny Burstein (Follies); Jeremy Jordan (Newsies); Steve Kazee (Once); Norm Lewis (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess); Ron Raines (Follies)
WINNER: Steve Kazee (Once)

Best Revival of a Musical
Nominees: Evita; Follies; The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess; Jesus Christ Superstar
WINNER: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

Best Play
Nominees: Clybourne Park, Other Desert Cities, Peter and the Starcatcher; Venus in Fur

WINNER: Clybourne Park
Best Revival of a Play
Nominees: Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman; Gore Vidal’s The Best Man; Master Class; Wit
WINNER: Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman

Best Original Score
Nominees: Bonnie & Clyde (music by Frank Wildhorn and Lyrics by Don Black; Newsies (Music by Alan Menken and Lyrics by Jack Feldman); One Man, Two Guvnors (Music & Lyrics by Grant Olding); Peter and the Starcatcher (Music by Wayne Barker and Lyrics by Rick Elice)
WINNER: Newsies (Music by Alan Menken and Lyrics by Jack Feldman)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Nominees: Elizabeth A. Davis (Once); Jayne Houdyshell (Follies); Judy Kaye (Nice Work If You Can Get It); Jessie Mueller (On a Clear Day You Can See Forever); Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Ghost the Musical)
WINNER: Judy Kaye (Nice Work If You Can Get It)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Nominees: Michael Cumpsty (End of the Rainbow); Tom Edden (One Man, Two Guvnors); Andrew Garfield (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman); Jeremy Shamos (Clybourne Park)
WINNER: Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher)
Best Direction of a Play

Nominees: Nicholas Hytner (One Man, Two Guvnors); Pam MacKinnon (Clybourne Park); Mike Nichols (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman); Roger Rees and Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher)
WINNER: Mike Nichols (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman)

Best Direction of a Musical
Nominees: Jeff Calhoun (Newsies); Kathleen Marshall (Nice Work if You Can Get It); Diane Paulus (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess); John Tiffany (Once)
WINNER: John Tiffany (Once)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Nominees: Linda Emond (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman); Spencer Kayden (Don’t Dress for Dinner); Celia Keenan-Bolger (Peter and the Starcatcher); Judith Light (Other Desert Cities); Condola Rashad (Stick Fly)
WINNER: Judith Light (Other Desert Cities)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Nominees: Phillip Boykin (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess); Michael Cerveris (Evita); David Alan Grier (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess); Michael McGrath (Nice Work If You Can Get It); Josh Young (Jesus Christ Superstar)
WINNER: Michael McGrath (Nice Work If You Can Get It)

Best Choreography
Nominees: Rob Ashford (Evita); Christopher Gattelli (Newsies); Steven Hoggett (Once); Kathleen Marshall (Nice Work If You Can Get It)
WINNER: Christopher Gattelli (Newsies)

Best Orchestration
Nominees: William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess); Bill Elliott (Nice Work If You Can Get It); Martin Lowe (Once); Danny Troob (Newsies)
WINNER: Martin Lowe (Once)

Best Book of a Musical
Nominees: Newies (Harvey Fierstein); Nice Work if You can Get it (Joe DiPietro); Once (Edna Walsh); Lysistrata Jones (Douglas Carter Beane)
WINNER: Once (Edna Walsh)

Best Costume Design of a Play
Nominees: William Ivey Long (Don’t Dress for Dinner); Paul Tazewell (A Streetcar Named Desire); Mark Thompson (One Man, Two Guvnors); Paloma Young (Peter and the Starcatcher)
WINNER: Paloma Young (Peter and the Starcatcher)

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Nominees: John Lee Beatty (Other Desert Cities); Daniel Ostlin (Clybourne Park); Mark Thompson (One Man, Two Guvnors); Donyale Werle (Peter and the Starcatcher)
WINNER: Donyale Werle (Peter and the Starcatcher)

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Nominees: Bob Crowley (Once); Rob Howell and Jon Driscoll (Ghost the Musical); Tobin Obst and Sven Ortel (Newsies); George Tsypin (Spider-Man Turn off the Dark)
WINNER: Bob Crowley (Once)

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Nominees: Gregg Barnes (Follies); ESosa (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess); Eiko Ishioka (Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark); Martin Pakledinaz (Nice Work If You Can Get It)
WINNER: Gregg Barnes (Follies)

Best Sound Design of a Play
Nominees: Paul Arditti (One Man, Two Guvnors); Scott Lehrer (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman), Gareth Owen (End of the Rainbow), Darron L. West (Peter and the Starcatcher)
WINNER: Darron L. West (Peter and the Starcatcher)

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Nominees: Acme Sound Partners (The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess); Clive Goodwin (Once), Kai Harada (Follies); Brian Ronan (Nice Work If You Can Get It)
WINNER: Clive Goodwin (Once)

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Nominees: Jeff Croiter (Peter and the Starcatcher); Peter Kaczorowski (The Road to Mecca); Brian MacDevitt (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman); Kenneth Posner (Other Desert Cities)
WINNER: Jeff Croiter (Peter and the Starcatcher)

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Nominees: Christopher Akerlind (The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess); Natasha Katz (Follies); Natasha Katz (Once); Hugh Vastone (Ghost the Musical)
WINNER: Natasha Katz (Once)

Actor’s Equity Association Award
WINNER: Hugh Jackman
Isabelle Stevenson Award
WINNER: Bernadette Peters
Regional Theater Award
WINNER: Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D.C.
Special Tony Award For Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
WINNER: Emanuel Azenberg

“Once”, “Porgy and Bess” and “Nice Work if You Can Get It” Lead the Tony Nominations

The best of the New York Theater world were honored this morning with the announcement of the 2012 Tony nominations. Leading the charge was the film to musical adaptation of Once with 11 nods followed by the revival of Porgy & Bess and the new Matthew Broderick musical Nice Work if You Can Get It with 10 a piece. However, Broderick was one of many notable star snubs including Bernadette Peters (Follies), Ricky Martin and Elena Roger (Evita), Angela Lansbury (The Best Man), and everybody and pretty much everything about Spiderman Turn off the Dark.… On the bright side, there were a lot of new names among the contenders like Jeremy Jordan (Newsies), Steve Kazee (Once) and Cristin Milotti (Once). For more on the snubs, surprises and all the shows, head to Broadway.com and check out all the nominees below. Then watch the show on June 10 on CBS hosted by the incredible Neil Patrick Harris (who has previously won an Emmy for hosting this telecast by the way).

2012 Tony Award Nominations

Best Play
Clybourne Park
Other Desert Cities
Peter and the Starcatcher
Venus in Fur

Best Musical
Leap of Faith
Newsies
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Once

Best Revival of a Play
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Gore Vidal’s The Best Man
Master Class
Wit

Best Revival of a Musical
Evita
Follies
The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Jesus Christ Superstar

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

James Corden – One Man, Two Guvnors

Philip Seymour Hoffman – Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
James Earl Jones – Gore Vidal’s The Best Man
Frank Langella – Man and Boy
John Lithgow – The Columnist

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Nina Arianda – Venus in Fur
Tracie Bennett – End of the Rainbow
Stockard Channing – Other Desert Cities
Linda Lavin – The Lyons
Cynthia Nixon – Wit

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Danny Burstein – Follies
Jeremy Jordan – Newsies
Steve Kazee – Once
Norm Lewis – The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Ron Raines – Follies

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Jan Maxwell – Follies
Audra McDonald – The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Cristin Milioti – Once
Kelli O’Hara – Nice Work If You Can Get It
Laura Osnes – Bonnie & Clyde

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Christian Borle, Peter and the Starcatcher
Michael Cumpsty, End of the Rainbow
Tom Edden, One Man, Two Guvnors
Andrew Garfield, Death of a Salesman
Jeremy Shamos, Clybourne Park

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Linda Emond, Death of a Salesman
Spencer Kayden, Don’t Dress for Dinner
Cella Keenan-Bolger, Peter and the Starcatcher
Judith Light, Other Desert Cities
Condola Rashad, Stick Fly

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Phillip Boykin, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Michael Cerveris, Evita
David Allen Grier, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Michael McGrath, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Josh Young, Jesus Christ Superstar

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Elizabeth A. Davis, Once
Jayne Houdyshell, Follies
Judy Kaye, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Jesse Mueller, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ghost

Best Direction of a Play
Nicholas Hytner, One Man, Two Guvnors
Pam MacKinnon, Clybourne Park
Mike Nichols, Death of a Salesman
Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Direction of a Musical
Jeff Calhoun, Newsies
Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Diane Paulus, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
John Tiffany, Once

Best Book of a Musical
Lysistrata Jones
Newsies
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Once

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Bonnie & Clyde
Newsies
One Man, Two Guvnors
Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, Evita
Christopher Gattelli, Newsies
Steven Hoggett, Once
Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty, Other Desert Cities
Daniel Ostling, Clybourne Park
Mark Thompson, One Man, Two Guvnors
Donyale Werle, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Bob Crowley, Once
Rob Howell and Jon Driscoll, Ghost the Musical
Tobin Ost and Sven Ortel, Newsies
George Tsypin, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark

Best Costume Design of a Play
William Ivey Long, Don’t Dress for Dinner
Paul Tazewell, A Streetcar Named Desire
Mark Thompson, One Man, Two Guvnors
Paloma Young, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Follies
ESosa, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Eiko Ishioka, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark
Martin Pakledinaz, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Jeff Croiter, Peter and the Starcatcher
Peter Kaczorowski, The Road to Mecca
Brian MacDevitt, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Kenneth Posner, Other Desert Cities

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Christopher Akerlind, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Natasha Katz, Follies
Natasha Katz, Once
Hugh Vanstone, Ghost the Musical

Best Sound Design of a Play
Paul Arditti, One Man, Two Guvnors
Scott Lehrer, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Gareth Owen, End of the Rainbow
Darron L. West, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Acme Sound Partners, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Clive Goodwin, Once
Kai Harada, Follies
Brian Ronan, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Orchestrations
William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Bill Elliott, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Martin Lowe, Once
Danny Troob, Newsies
* * *
Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-competitive Categories
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Emanuel Azenberg
Regional Theatre Award
The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C.
Isabelle Stevenson Award
Bernadette Peters
Special Tony Award
Actors’ Equity Association
Hugh Jackman
Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre
Freddie Gershon
Artie Siccardi
TDF Open Doors
* * *
Tony Nominations by Production
Once – 11
The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess – 10
Nice Work If You Can Get It – 10
Peter and the Starcatcher – 9
Follies – 8
Newsies – 8
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman – 7
One Man, Two Guvnors – 7
Other Desert Cities – 5
Clybourne Park – 4
End of the Rainbow – 3
Evita – 3
Ghost the Musical – 3
Bonnie & Clyde – 2
Don’t Dress for Dinner – 2
Gore Vidal’s The Best Man – 2
Jesus Christ Superstar – 2
Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – 2
Venus in Fur – 2
Wit – 2
The Columnist – 1
Leap of Faith – 1
The Lyons – 1
Lysistrata Jones – 1
Man and Boy – 1
Master Class – 1
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever – 1
The Road to Mecca – 1
Stick Fly – 1
A Streetcar Named Desire – 1

Glee + Ricky Martin = Muy Caliente!

Tonight, Grammy winner Ricky Martin proved that he is sexy and he knows it. Guest-starring on Glee as a rival Spanish teacher, Martin was incredibly sexy, funny and gave a wonderfully well-rounded and even moving performance (nice monologue about his immigrant parents’ struggle!). It all bodes well for his upcoming turn in Evita on Broadway next month. I have to say he has a good shot at being remembered for this guest role at the Emmys later this year too. Your first proof was his “Sexy and I Know It” number that hit the web last week. Now, take a look at my favorite number from the night, the simply sensational “La Isla Bonita” by Ricky and Naya Rivera (Santana). They take Madonna’s classic top 5 hit from 1987 to new bilingual and brilliant heights.

Glee- “La Isla Bonita” (Ricky Martin & Naya Rivera)

Ricky Martin is Sexy and He Knows It!

Grammy Award winner Ricky Martin has always been labeled a sexy superstar, and now he’s declaring it on national TV. You see he’s about to guest star on Glee as a new Spanish teacher and his introductory number to the glee club kids is LMFAO‘s recent # 1 smash “Sexy and I Know It”. The clip for the song just hit the web and Ricky turns it out! It looks like another great episode for the show and if Ricky follows the lead of other wonderful Glee guest stars like Kristin Chenoweth and Gwyneth Paltrow, he could grab an Emmy nomination… Speaking of entertainment awards, Ricky may find himself up for a Tony Award for the much-anticipated revival of Evita that is set to hit Broadway on March 12th. Martin will play Che alongside Olivier Award nominee Elena Roger as Evita and Tony winner Michael Cerveris (Assassins) as Peron. This will be Ricky’s second stint on the Great White Way after performing in Les Miserables in the 90′s.  For more on that show, head here and watch Ricky Martin bring some Latin flavor to Glee this Tuesday 2/7 on Fox.

Glee~ “Sexy and I Know It” (with Ricky Martin)

Ten Songs that Should Have Been Hits in 2011

Every year, there are a ton of great songs that just never quite become hits. Whether they don’t have any radio support, are too specifically targeted to one demographic, too artistic, too frothy or are from artists that may be considered past their prime (at least according to radio and execs), there are always so many gems that deserved to be hits. So, with that in mind, here is a list of ten of my favorites songs released over the past year that should’ve hit it big….

First two honorable mentions..
“Secret Love”- Stevie Nicks
“I’ll Survive You”- BC Jean
…and now the list

Top Ten Songs that Should’ve Been Hits in 2011:

10. “The Best Thing About You is Me”- Ricky Martin & Joss Stone: this mid-tempo pop confection just didn’t fit with all the dance records that hit it big this year. It’s a shame AC radio didn’t support it more because it’s the perfect song for a summer day with a wonderful message. And the Jump Smokerz dance mix is incredible.

9. “When You Loved Me”- Richard Marx: this 80′s/90′s pop powerhouse is still making great music. Whether writing Grammy winning songs for Luther Vandross or hits for the likes of Nsync, he always has great melodies and moving lyrics. Check out this song that hit the AC top 20 but couldn’t cross over anywhere else.

8. “Bright Lights, Bigger City”- Cee Lo Green: I have no idea why this one didn’t hit. It’s got a great groove and followed the massive chart topper “Forget You”. He should’ve sang it on The Voice every week!

7. “Desperate Girls and Stupid Boys”- Kimberly Caldwell: this season 2 American Idol finalist has become more known for hosting tv shows than her pipes, but she made a great debut album that finally hit stores earlier this year. Unfortunately, despite almost hitting pop top 40 radio, this great single had to settle for being a moderate dance hit. Kimberly deserved better! Seriously, this song is totally delightfully addictive.

6. “Inside These Lines”- Trent Dabbs: this gorgeous moody rock ballad got some notice this summer in a featured dance on So You Think You Can Dance. If only Hot AC radio had picked it up, it could’ve been a smash… And it so belongs in a Grey’s Anatomy montage.

5. “The Story”- Sara Ramirez: covering Brandi Carlisle’s emotional masterpiece for the Grey’s Anatomy musical episode, Ramirez just killed it. The Tony winning actress/singer gave a breathtaking performance in the episode and this song was the highlight. While it spent a few weeks on the digital sales chart and briefly made the Hot 100, radio never got behind it. Why? I seriously love this song!… Well, at least she has a Tony and a job on one of the biggest shows on TV.

4. “Don’t Turn Out the Lights”- NKOTBSB: one of two new songs on their combined hits album by boy band super groups New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, “Lights” was instant pop perfection. Apparently radio programmers thought of it as more of a novelty. With little support it peaked just outside the Hot 100. Despite this great track not getting its due, the group had the last laugh with a huge summer tour that grossed over $45 million.

3. “This Time”- Pia Toscano: my favorite contestant from this year’s American Idol was surprisingly booted far too soon. But she had the last laugh grabbing a record deal within days. It yielded this awesome first single that just missed the Hot 100. She has the look and an incredible voice, but it looks like she is still having trouble connecting to a mass audience. We’ll see if that changes when her debut album hits stores this winter.

2. “Collide”- Leona Lewis: after making a huge impression with her massive global smash “Bleeding Love” and successful debut album, Lewis has struggled to remain a player stateside. This first single from her upcoming third album was a # 1 in England and much of Europe but it fizzled on the pop charts here. It did hit the top of the dance charts though. I hope radio gets behind this talented artist’s new record when it drops in March or April. If ti’s as good as this fabulous track, we’re in for an awesome collection.

1. “Run”- Sugarland with Matt Nathanson: one of my favorite songs of the year period, “Run” is a wondrous blend of rock, country and pop by two fantastic artists. The song still could be a hit. After it was performed at the CMA Awards in November, it landed on the Hot 100 at #53 and started to garner country and Hot AC airplay. It has stalled a little since, so I’m worried. But the song, which came out this summer is simply brilliant and damn this performance below is just incredible. I deny you to not love this song!

Nicki Minaj tops Ricky Martin and Christian Rock!

Ok, that headline may have been a little, um, suggestive, for some… but Nicki Minaj really did top Ricky Martin and Christian rockers Red on this week’s Billboard Album chart. She sees her Pink Friday album finally hit # 1 after 11 weeks bouncing around in the top ten. Forced into runner-up status were Red with their latest, Until We Have Faces, and Ricky’s mostly Spanish language new record, Musica+Alma+Sexo… The rest of the top ten saw re-entries from Jason Aldean (powered by his smash duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson), Eminem (who goes into this weekend’s Grammys with the most nominations), Rihanna (riding high on her 3rd hit from Loud, “S & M”) and Pink who’s hits collection just topped a million albums sold. Helping Pink’s cause is her second # 1 new smash from the album, “Fuckin’ Perfect” which is on fire on the charts. Take a look at the full top ten below and head to Billboard for all your chart needs.

Official Billboard Results for Week ending 1.31.11

1. Nicki Minaj, “Pink Friday” (last week~ 3)
2. Red, “Until We Have Faces” (DEBUT)
3. Ricky Martin, “Musica + Alma + Sexo” (DEBUT)
4. Bruno Mars, “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” (lw~ 5)
5. Rihanna, “Loud” (lw~ 13)
6. “Kidz Bop 19″ (lw~ 9)
7. Jason Aldean, “My Kinda Party” (lw~ 12)
8. Taylor Swift, “Speak Now” (lw~ 7)
9. Pink, “Greatest Hits . . . So Far!” (lw~11)
10. Eminem, “Recovery” (lw~ 16)

And here’s Ricky Martin’s English language single from his new album, “The Best Thing About You is Me”

Ricky Martin’s new Video!

Ricky Martin continues his comeback with the release of his first video in some 7 years! …. His new album Music+Soul+Sex (Musica+Alma+Sexo) set for release on Feb. 1 and you’ve heard a couple of the new songs, “Shine” and this one “The Best Thing About Me is You” which also features vocals by fellow Grammy Award winner, Joss Stone. Check out his super positive and inclusive message of love in hiss new video below, and head to his website here for all things Ricky. Both singles are out now on iTunes too by the way.

Ricky Martin (with Joss Stone) “The Best Thing About Me is You”

New Ricky Martin Music that Shines!

Grammy winner Ricky Martin is back with a new album, Music+Soul+Sex, due out Feb 1, 2011 and I’ve got another new taste of it for ya. After debuting his duet “The Best Thing About Me is You” with Joss Stone on Oprah earlier this year, the official first single “Shine” just hit the web and is available on iTunes. Check out a live performance of this great dance pop track below from the 12th Annual Home for the Holidays Special, and for more Ricky news and music, head here.

Ricky Martin “Shine”

New Ricky Martin Music!

Grammy Award winning Latin pop superstar Ricky Martin made waves earlier this year when he came out as a proud gay man. He wanted to finally confirm those rumors so he could set a good example for his twin sons about not living a lie. Kudos to Ricky who explores that coming out process and his career in the entertainment business in his new autobiography Me (out in stores on Nov. 9). He even sat down with Oprah Winfrey yesterday to talk about the book, his life, and his new music. With an album due in early 2011, Ricky just released two new singles, English and Spanish versions of the song “The Best Thing About Me is You”. It’s a lovely duet with Natalia Jimenez on the Spanish version and Grammy winner Joss Stone on the English version. Both singles are available now on iTunes and Ricky and Joss performed a wonderful version on Oprah’s show. Check it out below and for more news on Ricky’s new book and album, head to his website here.

Ricky Martin & Joss Stone “The Best Thing About Me is You”

Ricky Martin follows in Madonna’s footsteps

Ricky Martin has a lot in common with Madonna. Both are pop music superstars, humanitarians and Grammy winners. Both are parents and both have a lot of gay fans. Now, they are about to have one more similar trait. They will have both starred in Evita. As you recall, Madonna won a Golden Globe for her performance of Eva Peron in the film musical of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic Evita. Now, Ricky Martin will be taking on the lead male role, Che, in the upcoming Broadway revival of the Tony award-winning show. In the new production directed by Michael Grandage, Martin will star alongside Olivier Award winning actress Elena Roger who will recreate her performance as the title character from the West End revival. And don’t fret, Martin certainly has the chops for the role. After all, he starred as Marius in Les Miserables back in the 90′s on the Great White Way. I’m excited to see this new update and how Ricky stacks up against previous actors like Antonio Banderas and Mandy Patinkin who have tackled the role, but unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until 2012 to see the final product. Until then, enjoy this clip of Martin doing “A Little Fall of Rain” from Les Miserables and check out his competition with Antonio Banderas and Madonna doing the “Waltz of Eva and Che” from Evita.

Ricky Martin w/Frances Ruffelle “A Little Fall of Rain”

Antonio Banderas & Madonna “Waltz for Eva and Che”