The last weekend in April and first weekend in May marks the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. This year’s impressive line-up (which is available on their official site) includes the one and only Bonnie Raitt. Raitt rose to fame in the late 1970’s and remained there with hits like “Nick of Time” and “Something to Talk About”. Over the course of her career, this soulful American-blues singer has released more than a dozen albums. Her last album, in 2005, however marked the start of a 7 year hiatus from recording. Raitt enjoyed time off as an audience to the musical community. But, Southern Celebrity Gossip is happy to report that Bonnie is BACK with a brand new album to accompany her appearance at this year’s Jazz Fest. The new album, “Slipstream” features the soon-to-be hit single “Right Down the Line”. You can watch the video of this song on youtube. Everyone is excited for the singer’s show at Jazz Fest, and for her re-entry into writing and performing. Raitt is quoted saying, “you can be off only so long when you have this in your blood."

For more on this story, visit NOLA.com.

    This past weekend, the HBO Series TREME hosted a benefit to raise funds for three of the area’s nonprofit organizations. Specifically dealing with musicians here in the Crescent City, the gala, “My Darlin’ New Orleans” took place on March 31st. In attendance at the event was the entire cast of the hit show, including local celebrities Wendall Pierce and Khandi Alexander.

NOLA.com reports that “the past two such events have raised more than $175,000 total to benefit organizations that provide support and safety-net services to the people who fuel the culture that the series spotlights.” The three charities selected this year were Sweet Home New Orleans, the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and The Roots of Music. Sweet Home New Orleans provides financial assistance to some of the area’s musicians, and the Clinic provides medical care. Roots of Music is an organization that makes after school music programming available to local kids- making sure that the tradition of New Orleans’ music lives on to the future generations.

Aside from the fundraiser itself, there is no doubt that the HBO series has been good to our city. Particularly on rebuilding the culture here that was affected by the storm. Mobley, from Sweet Home New Orleans comments “It's sort of a fascinating case, … I think that it has helped interest more people who could be part of the culture in becoming part of it. I think it's interested more people who are outsiders to learn more about it, to be engaged with it.”

While we don’t yet know the dollar amount raised on Saturday, we can be sure that the television series did not disappoint! For the full story, please visit NOLA.com.

NOLA local and rap star, Lil’ Wayne owns property in Kenner, along with his many residences around the country. But it appears that music sensation isn’t exactly winning the neighbor of the year award. Wayne was recently cited for having an unkempt lawn in front of his 10,000 square-foot mansion. The complaint mentioned “tall grass” and “weeds” which violated the code enforcement policy. This is not the first citation the musician has received, writes NOLA.com. “The most recent code violation was at least the fifth that Kenner says it has discovered at Lil Wayne's place. In 2007 and 2008, the city put liens totaling $3,635 against his property for previous citations for "grass, weeds, litter and stagnant pool," according to court records.” Lil’ Wayne (born Dwayne Carter), is originally from New Orleans, but does not spend too much time in the city because of his career. The home he has in Kenner is actually on the market currently, and is listed at 1.7 million dollars. The Insider Track reports, “Listed as a "celebrity" mansion, the house has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, two half baths and a "beautiful, spacious open floor plan. Among the house’s amenities are a four-car garage, a theater and movie room, an entertainment bar, a pool house. The master suite has a fireplace with his and her baths and a steam room sauna and Jacuzzi.”. With all that luxury, this Southern Celebrity Gossiper thinks that Lil’ Wayne can spring for the costs of lawn maintenance!

For more on this story, visit NOLA.com.

_     Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are the king and queen when it comes to country music. The two have been married for the past 15 years and have three children between them. Faith Hill, a Mississippi native, has over two dozen music awards under her belt since she first captured the spotlight in 1993. So what does she credit as the inspiration behind most of her success? The singer opened up to People Magazine this month about how her husband is her inspiration “every day in many, many ways”.

McGraw, originally from Start, Louisiana, moved to Nashville when he was in college to pursue his career as a singer/songwriter. Since that time he has earned world-renowned success. Currently, McGraw is releasing his latest album “Emotional Traffic” on January 24th. The original launch was delayed after some legal difficulties with his former record label. But, now things are back on track! (Pardon the pun). The country super-star has also announced that he will begin a 20 city tour along with musician, Kenny Chesney, starting in June of 2012.

With his incredible library of music, as well as this new album which he calls “his best ever”, it is no wonder that his Faith is impressed! But in addition to his professional triumphs, wife Faith Hill also divulged his personal accomplishments as well. She says, “I’m inspired by watching him as a father and husband… He keeps his family first and wants to experience all the phases with his girls.” Despite the recording, performing, and other celebrity appearances, this Louisianian finds time for family, and his equally famous wife.

 For more on this story you can read the article through TasteofCountry.com

_ When this Southern Celebrity Gossiper hears the name “Lenny Kravitz,” she thinks one thing: eclectic. This artist has been rediscovering himself, redefining his genre, and redecorating his real-estate since he first rocketed into the public spotlight. This diverse background has certainly not gone unnoticed- nor unrewarded. Currently, the singer/songwriter/composer/designer owns several homes, and spreads his time between Miami, New York, and New Orleans. This French Quarter home has been featured in countless magazines showing off the unique historic charms of the building, and also the owner’s flair for decorating.

 Kravitz attributes a lot of his success to his ability to stay “in between”. Throughout his life, because off his parents, his up-brining, his talents, and even his real-estate, he has always been straddling different identities- which are what make him so accessible to the public. He says that he is part black and part white, mostly Christian but also Jewish, a musician and a designer, a New Yorker and a New Orleanian. Most recently, French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand paid tribute to this evolved sense of identity. Lenny Kravitz was awarded the Legion of Honor because he “freed [him]self of the barriers between black and white sound." Over the years, Kravitz has been able to transcend typical stereotypes and create art that relates to everyone. We’re happy that he decided to mix a little Cajun in there for the rest of the world to share!

 For more on the ceremony in Paris, visit luxist.com

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 For pics of Kravitz’s French Quarter pad click here!