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Sir Elton John was not yet a star—or a knight—when he played a week-long stint in 1970 at the Troubadour club in West Hollywood. Sitting in the audience one night, with his long silver hair and glasses, was Leon Russell, an American singer-pianist whose star was already rising, having written major hits for Joe Cocker and The Carpenters. John later met Russell and they toured together, a great thrill for the English musician, who regarded his American counterpart as a musical idol. As fate would have it, the Rocket Man’s career soared, while Russell’s crash landed. Now Elton is injecting some jet fuel into his hero’s career, by collaborating with him on The Union. John hopes the recording, w...

His musical identities and styles have changed over the years, beginning as pop singer Johnny Cougar and then John Cougar, before shifting into heartland rocker John Cougar Mellencamp and finally Grammy winner John Mellencamp. Throughout this evolution, he had a string of hits like “Jack and Diane” and “Wild Night.” He also became a passionate activist, co-founding Farm Aid with Willie Nelson and Neil Young and campaigning against George W. Bush. Mellencamp has enjoyed an equally rich and variable personal life, having fathered five children from three marriages. Currently married to former supermodel Elaine Irwin, with whom he has two sons, the Hall of Famer recently announced that he’s “do...

It couldn’t have been easy growing up in the shadow of her famous father. Lisa Marie, Elvis’ daughter with Priscilla, struggled through three marriages to musician Danny Keough, with whom she had two children, superstar Michael Jackson and actor Nicolas Cage. Now happily married to guitarist Michael Lockwood, with whom she has twin girls, the 44-year-old singer has just released the authentic sounding Storm and Grace. Says Presley: “It’s me without any attitude or anger at a time of rediscovery.” Produced by T-Bone Burnett, Storm and Grace reveals an artist baring her soul and embracing her Southern roots. Mixing country, folk and blues, Presley delivers moody confessionals like “Over Me” an...