music news

Miley Cyrus plans to write memoir

Miley Cyrus, the 15-year-old teen idol better known as "Hannah Montana," plans to write a memoir about her journey to stardom, the Disney Book Group said on Tuesday.

The book, to be published by Disney-Hyperion Books and scheduled to hit bookshelves next spring, will trace her life from her roots in the Southern United States to Hollywood celebrity and will feature photographs from her famous family.

Cyrus is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, who rose to fame with 1992's "Achy, Breaky Heart. In recent years, Miley has rocketed to her own stardom as "Hannah Montana" on the Disney Channel's TV show of the same name about a girl who leads a double life as a teenager and singing sensation.

"I am so excited to let fans in on how important my relationship with my family is to me," Cyrus said in a statement. "I hope to motivate mothers and daughters to build lifetimes of memories together, and inspire kids around the world to live their dreams."

"Hannah Montana" ranks first among TV series on U.S. cable television for children aged 6 to 14 and reaches more than 164 million viewers worldwide, according to Disney.

Last year's "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds" concert tour was a sensation, and a recent Disney movie of that tour was a box-office hit.

Disney Book Group and Disney-Hyperion Books are part of the Walt Disney Co.

Jay-Z and Beyonce Make Marriage Official

Putting an end to intense media speculation regarding their marital status, pop singer Beyonce Knowles and beau Jay-Z quietly signed a marriage license last Friday in Scarsdale, New York, Usmagazine.com reported.

Turns out the longtime couple did indeed say "I do" on Friday, April 4, after "applying for a marriage license" on April 1, Scarsdale Town Clerk Donna Conkling told Us.

"They did not have a large entourage," and took the license home with them making way to what we already know that followed, "Did they or didn't they tie the knot on April 4?"

After the ceremony, Beyoncé and Jay-Z mailed the signed license back, "We received it on Friday," Conkling said, adding that "We do have public information on our marriage applicants, and that's one of the things we can confirm."

While the two artists still haven't issued any statement concerning their nuptials and so far have refused to even wear wedding rings, their wedding took place well within the 60-day period the license was valid for. However, their officiant exceeded the state law requiring the document to be filed within five days of the vow swap, but will most likely go without being penalized as the fine is frequently waived for new couples.

The glamorous musical couple, who have been dating since 2002, reportedly exchanged vows in front of guests including family members, actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Beyoncé’s Destiny’s Child gal-pals Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland at Jay-Z's New York apartment.

Marriage rumors have swirled before, such as the alleged December 2006 wedding in a luxurious Caribbean resort that never took place.

Could 'Idol' Star Lose Her Winning Voice?

A vocal chord injury could permanently strip "American Idol" season six winner Jordin Sparks of her singing voice if she does not abide by doctor's orders and rest, several throat specialists told ABCNEWS.com.

Scarring from a vocal chord injury could make a difference for a professional singer, said Dr. Peter Catalano, chairman of the department of otolaryngology at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass. "It may change your ability to sing certain types of songs or potentially, if it's really bad, affect your ability to sing altogether."

Sparks was diagnosed with an acute vocal chord hemorrhage, an injury similar to a blood blister that results from the overuse of vocal chords. The condition is most often seen in people who use their voice professionally, such as attorneys, teachers or, as in the "American Idol" case, singers.

Numerous crooners, including Elton John, Steven Tyler (lead singer of Aerosmith) and Jessica Simpson, have reportedly had their careers temporarily sidelined by vocal injuries.

Richie Sambora pleads out DUI case in California

Richie Sambora struck a deal with prosecutors Tuesday just hours after they filed drunken driving charges against him, pleading no contest to one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.

In turn, the district attorney agreed to drop a second charge — driving under the influence of alcohol — against the Bon Jovi guitarist, said Farrah Emami, a district attorney spokeswoman.

Sambora was sentenced to three years of informal probation, three months of first-offender alcohol awareness class and court fees. He also cannot have any measurable amount of drugs or alcohol in his system while driving during his probation.

The legal-limit charge refers to a blood-test measurement, whereas the under-the-influence charge is generally based on a more subjective determination of the driver's condition. Both are routinely filed in drinking and driving cases and carry similar penalties.

The 48-year-old musician was pulled over in Laguna Beach on March 25 after he was allegedly seen swerving and straddling two lanes. District attorney's spokeswoman Farrah Emami said Sambora's blood-alcohol level was .13 percent; the legal limit is .08 percent in California.

Sambora did not attend the hearing at the Orange County Superior Court, where his attorney, Blair Berk, entered the plea on his behalf. Berk confirmed the plea deal but declined to comment further.

Two children and a woman were in the car. The children were released to the woman's custody, and none of their names have been made public.

Police had asked the district attorney to file misdemeanor charges of child endangerment against Sambora as well, but Emami said prosecutors didn't have enough to make the case.

"The charge of DUI in itself indicates you have endangered yourself and others," she said. "There would have needed to be additional aggravating circumstances to charge that."