In a backstage office at the Staples Center, Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich cued up a song on his computer and listened as Zac Brown, Elton John, Mavis Staples, Mumford & Sons and the Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard ran through a raw, ragged, heartfelt version of the Band's classic song "The Weight." The number was arranged by T Bone Burnett, and will pay tribute to the late Band drummer/singer Levon Helm at Sunday night's Grammys.

"If this doesn't bring the house down on Sunday, there's something wrong," said Erhlich as the final bars of the glorious performance faded.

Once a showcase for stars doing their latest hits and nominees performing the songs that got them there, the Grammys have morphed over the years into an extravaganza that is often centered on moments like "The Weight" – unexpected songs,...

Musicians are a sorry lot who destroy lives and can't manage their money or their relationships, said Bruce Springsteen as he accepted the MusiCares Person of the Year Award on Friday night in downtown Los Angeles. 

But, he added, they're also a glorious fraternity who make life worth living.

In his speech, which came about midnight after a long and stirring show in which musicians like Mumford & Sons, Elton John, Neil Young, John Legend and Alabama Shakes performed his songs, Springsteen offered appreciation to the Grammy charity MusiCares for its help with musicians in need of aid.

"Thank you MusiCares for taking care of musicians, because we are bad...

Kim Nguyen’s “War Witch,” Canada’s entry in the Oscar foreign-language sweepstakes, is the very definition of an international film: It’s in French, set in Africa and made by a Canadian director with a Vietnamese name (courtesy of his father).

Further solidifying this film’s sense of internationalism, it’s influenced by films like Brazilian Fernando Meirelles’ “City of God,” Brit Andrea Arnold’s “Fish Tank” and American John Cassavetes’ work.

Shot in Congo-Kinshasa, the film tells the wrenching story of a teenage girl forced to kill her own parents and become a child soldier -- but while it doesn...

Charlize Theron, Daniel Radcliffe, Channing Tatum, Robert Downey Jr. and Shirley Bassey are among the participants who have been added to the 75th Oscars show in the last two days, according to announcements from show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

But the bigger Oscar news is this: Academy members can finally vote.

A full 29 days after Oscar nominations were announced on Jan. 10, the Academy opened the polls for final voting on Friday morning at 8 a.m., ending a long wait in which Academy members had to sit back and watch organizations like the Producers Guild, Directors Guild and Screen Actors Guild crown the year's best.

Members can vote online beginning Friday morning and ending Feb. 19...