Phillip Phillips: "I came close to dropping out" of 'American Idol' to get surgery. Phillip Phillips , a 21-year-old pawn shop worker from Leesburg, GA, was crowned American Idol's eleventh-season winner during Wednesday night's live finale broadcast on Fox.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Donna Summer, whose music dominated the 1970s disco era, died of cancer on Thursday at age 63, leaving a legacy of hit singles like "Love to Love You Baby," "Last Dance" and "Bad Girls." Following are some reactions from celebrities and music industry professionals. – "Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Donna Summer. A five-time Grammy Award winner …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Donna Summer, whose music dominated the 1970s disco era, died of cancer on Thursday at age 63, leaving a legacy of hit singles like "Love to Love You Baby," "Last Dance" and "Bad Girls." Following are some reactions from celebrities and music industry professionals. – "Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Donna Summer. A five-time Grammy Award winner …

Adam Yauch, the gravel-voiced co-founder of Grammy-winning hip-hop giants the Beastie Boys, died after a three-year battle with cancer, the band's publicists said.

Nominations for the 2012 American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards, announced Tuesday, include: 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.” Read full article >>

In one of late night host Jimmy Fallon's signature bits Tuesday night, "Slow-Jammin' the News," President Obama urged Republicans in Congress to vote to keep interest rates on student loans from doubling on July 1.

The Band singer and drummer Levon Helm is in the final stages of cancer, according to a note posted on his website Tuesday by his wife, Sandy, and daughter, Amy. The Band singer and drummer Levon Helm is in the final stages of cancer, according to a note posted on his website Tuesday by his wife, Sandy, and daughter, Amy.

Millions of Americans nationwide jumped on the 1940 census website to search their family history in its newly revealed records — so many that servers were immediately overwhelmed, officials said.

Paramount had reason to warm up to the idea: It currently has only four movies scheduled for all of 2013, and no comedy franchises scheduled at any point.

Mexico earthquake history shows that the same faults that caused Tuesday's Mexico earthquake can produce even bigger events, like one that struck in 1985.