Former "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell told newly crowned winner of the show's 12th season Candice Glover that she would be "a lounge" singer the last time he cut her from the show.

The determined songstress who describes herself as a "church girl" used the confidence-crushing critique, however, as fuel to power her to an inspirational win three years later.

Her debut album, Music Speaks, scheduled for release by Interscope Records on July 16, is already available for pre-order on iTunes. more >>

Candice Glover, a "powerhouse" soul-songstress likened to popular singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, was named the winner of the 12th season of Fox's "American Idol" singing competition on Thursday night.

It seems the third time proved the charm for the 23-year-old St. Helena Island, S.C., native who had previously tried and failed to reach the finals in auditions for the ninth and 11th seasons of the competition, according to one report.

She became the first female singer to win the competition since 2007. more >>

While English musician David Bowie was the first to record the launch of fictional astronaut Major Tom in his song "Space Oddity," real-life Canadian astronaut, Commander Chris Hadfield, gave Major Tom his first real taste of space this week, and fans are loving his recording better than the original.

The gravity defying video recorded on board the International Space Station was published by Commander Hadfield on YouTube on Sunday with much deference to Mr. Bowie.

"With deference to the genius of David Bowie, here's Space Oddity, recorded on Station. A last glimpse of the World," Hadfield tweeted with a link to the video. more >>

Hillsong Live will be releasing their 22nd live recorded album, Glorious Ruins on July 2, and for the first time it will be recorded in two locations.

The dual locations are London, England and Sydney, Australia. Having two locations was instrumental to the vision of the church's plan, to spread the message around the globe, according to The M Collective.

"Ruins can speak of crushing defeat or perhaps of something abandoned, but the good news today is that the ruins come to life," explains Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church Brian Houston in a press release. "Through Jesus Christ what we look at is ruins that become glorious." more >>

Lecrae is scheduled to perform at this year's Rock the Bells hip-hop festival that will also feature veteran acts such as the Wu-Tang Clan and Rakim.

The line-up for the festival was released today along with the dates as Rock the Bells will kick off at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California on Sept. 14 and 15.

"We have curated a multi-generational line-up that includes the best and brightest artists in the genre," said Chang Weisberg, owner and founder of Guerilla Union the company that puts on Rock the Bells. "It's is not great hip-hop music. It's great music, period. It's a collection of artists who represent, respect and recognize everything that Rock the Bells ... has accomplished in its storied history" more >>

A video of a fun-loving married couple from Burbank, Calif., who surprised the Tonight Show's fictional "Pumpcast News" with their made for TV rendition of two hit songs from the 1980s at a gas pump, has turned the duo into the latest Internet stars and revived the popularity of the songs.

The video, published on YouTube last Thursday had been viewed more than 7.5 million times on Monday while Bon Jovi's "Livin on a Prayer" and the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" have been experiencing a bit of a revival because of the couple's act. One YouTube video of "Livin' on a Prayer" is now pushing nearly 60 million views while another of "Sweet Dreams" is closing in on 20 million views.

Actor Tim Stack, who plays a fictional news anchor for the fake news station that only airs on gas station pumps, is usually the one doing the surprising on the "Pumpcast News" segment of the "Tonight Show," but it was the couple, Will and Monifah Sims, who surprised him this time around with their uninhibited show. "Whoever you are, you can make me a star. I'm ready for my spotlight," said Monifah, a fitness trainer, in a clip that began with her husband Will singing to himself at the gas pump, and snowballed into an impromptu and surprising Karaoke show when Stack stepped in and promised a free tank of gas. more >>