Playlist

Well, it's actually one note, but Pearl Heart is all about three-part harmony. Anyway, the female trio delivered a sweet rendition of Restless Heart's poignant "I'll Still Be Loving You." That song remains one of the most beautiful country-pop ballads of the last 20 years. How wonderful to hear it again sung by members of today's young generation.

Photo: Pearl Heart (Courtesy of nbc.com).

Don't mean to sound like a cheerleader, folks, but Arlington's Melissa Lawson is by far the most talented singer-performer on Nashville Star. She was relaxed, zesty and hitting all the right notes during her rendition of Martina McBride's "This One's For the Girls." For her take on Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide," she was warm and real. There's something authentic about her that translates very well on television. She's a country singer deep down inside, where it counts most. Big honorable mention goes to Lytle, Texas' Gabe Garcia, who showed rocking power and range during Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive" and then did his honky-tonking best on George Strait's "The Fireman." Alyson Gilbert, who had the least amount of viewer votes, was eliminated. Next week should be fierce as the competition continues with just eight finalists.

Photo: Melissa Lawson (Courtesy of nbc.com).

Hey, y'all! Take a peek at our New Music Tuesday disc debuts before they hit the paper tomorrow. We've got Big Blue Ball by various artists, Los Lonely Boys, Earlimart and Shinedown.

Sugar Hill Records, the respected imprint for bluegrass and old-time roots music, continues its Americana Masters Series with the releases of Ricky Skaggs: Best of the Sugar Hill Years and Doc Watson: Best of the Sugar Hill Years, both in stores July 8. Each CD features radio hits, fan favorites and frequent concert tracks.

Photo: Ricky Skaggs (Mark Humphrey).

Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx -- better known as electrifying R&B trio Labelle in the '70s -- are back together again and ready to record as well as perform onstage. The always innovative and explosive group will take the Essence Music Festival platform Saturday, July 5, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Also, Labelle's first studio album in 33 years will be released Sept. 23 on Verve Records. Producing are Lenny Kravitz and the legendary team of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. Gamble and Huff worked with Labelle during the making of Laura Nyro's 1971 album, Gonna Take a Miracle, which features the trio adding their vocals to the respected singer-songwriter's tunes. Miss Patti also collaborated with Gamble and Huff during her solo tenure at Philadelphia International Records in the early '80s.

Photo: The cover of 1974's Nightbirds, Labelle's most successful album (Courtesy of amazon.com)

From Associated Press:

Tom T. Hall and the Statler Brothers were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame with a musical tribute.

Spokeswoman Tina Wright says the two-hour ceremony was held Sunday at the hall.

This year's two other inductees - Emmylou Harris and Ernest "Pop" Stoneman - were formally inducted in April.

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