Newton-John Tells the Press to Back Off, Tyson Releasing New Album With New Voice, more

Olivia Newton-John has (politely) told the press to back off their relentless questions for John Travolta in the wake of his son, Jett's death. "I think it's time to leave people alone when they are grieving. And I just send him a lot of love. It's the worse thing that can happen to a parent. I send love to him and Kelly."

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Canada's Ian Tyson is readying a new album, his 14th for Stony Plains records, titled Yellowhead to Yellowstone. The singer/songwriter (Four Strong Winds, Someday Soon) wrote eight of the albums ten cuts, reflecting his life as an Alberta rancher and on growing older (he is now 75). It also shows off a distinct change to his voice.

“A couple of years ago,” says Tyson, “I played a big outdoor show in Ontario. I fought the sound system — and I lost. I knew I’d hurt my voice, and it was recovering slowly when I was hit with a bad virus, which seemed to last forever. My old voice isn’t coming back, the doctors told me, so I’ve had to get used to this new one. Audiences seem to pay more attention, now, to the lyrics and the stories in the songs. And while I’ve lost some of the bottom end of my voice, the top range, oddly enough, is still there.”

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Nils Lofgren is celebrating more than a half-time performance with the E-Street Band at the Super Bowl. He's also performing for the first time with his new hips which he received back in October.

"I'm coming along. I've lost the cane. I've lost the limp. I'm doing rehab. I'm just trying to be a good rehab patient. I've never had to be this cautious, 24-7 with my body, so it's a new adventure for me, But I've been assured that if I do the rehab right, in 10 to 12 months my body'll grow in, around and through these (hips) like roots and vines and lock 'em in as good as they're gonna get."

He's also assembling the new album Tough Stuff: The Best of the All-Madden Team Band which will be comprised of music he composed over the last ten years for the All-Madden Team announcement broadcasts.

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Taj Mahal was named International Artist of the Year at Canada's Maple Music awards while guitarist Amos Garrett received the lifetime Blues with a Feeling Award. The big winner of the night, though, was the late Jeff Healey who received seven awards.

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Boy George has a new job! He's working in north London's Pentonville Prison's canteen serving food to the other inmates for the sum of $8.30 per week.

Word is that the singer is terrified of being in prison because he believes he will be killed over her sexual orientation.