Christina Aguilera's "Back to Basics" tour will kick off Feb. 20 in Houston. The Pussycat Dolls will join the singer for her North American dates, while Danity Kane will also be along for the ride on all the U.S. stops.

Usher has been sidelined from his final performances in Chicago due to a case of strep throat, his manager said Thursday. The star became ill last week and has not appeared onstage since, leading hundreds of disappointed theatergoers to demand their money back.

Freddy Fender was released from a hospital and resting at his south Texas home Thursday, but friends and family stating that the Grammy-winning musician remains gravely ill. Fender had been receiving treatment for cancer at an Oklahoma hospital, but was transferred to a San Antonio facility last week due to a blood infection.

T.I., Busta Rhymes, and Chamillionaire leads the field in nominations for the inaugural BET Hip-Hop Awards airing on Nov. 15.

Justin Hawkins, the lead singer of the Darkness, has quit the band in order to focus on a solo album and continue his drug rehab. The remaining band members are claiming to be "in total shock" in a posting on their official Website.

Oprah Winfrey and Bono are teaming up in Chicago to promote "Red" items from Gap, Converse, Emporio Armani, Motorola, and Apple Computer...including a special-edition iPod...from which a portion of the proceeds will go toward the Global Fund, an organization that fights AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa.

China's Culture Ministry is nixing a concert by Jay-Z later this month, claiming the rap artist's lyrics contain too much "vulgar language."

Diddy is teaming with Burger King to promote the number-two fast-food chain's efforts to reach out into the entertainment, music, and fashion world. The rap mogul said the company shares his "passion for being tastemakers and giving the people what they want."

Barbra Streisand delivered a rant against President George W. Bush during her concert at Madison Square Garden Monday night, then telling a fan who objected to her tirade to "shut the f--k up."

Phil Spector's murder trial, which has already rescheduled several times, pushed back again from January to March.

Bono & Co. made a surprise jump from Island Records to Mercury Records Monday, though the label swap still keeps them under the Universal umbrella.

Babyshambles have postponed the final five dates of its British tour to allow frontman Pete Doherty to return to rehab. Surprisingly, no arrest preceded his decision to check into a facility this time around.

Madonna visited her third Malawi orphanage in as many days, though continuing to deny reports that she has or is planning to adopt a child during her trip to Africa.

Dixie Chicks, Pussycat Dolls, and Nelly Furtado have been tapped to perform at the 2006 American Music Awards Nov. 21. Jimmy Kimmel hosts the show, airing on ABC.