Attention voters of America: Sheryl Crow will sing to you for free — if you can get your voting-resistant friends to register. Well OK, she won’t be performing a private concert in your living room or anything, but she will be giving away her new album, Detours, to the first 50,000 people who register three friends at Rock the Vote.

Crow has been involved with Rock the Vote since its inception 18 years ago. Her new album fits perfectly with this giveaway because the songs are about the war in Iraq, the environment and Hurricane Katrina. Crow hopes it will promote awareness of these matters and at the same time hopes her gratis contribution will tempt people into registering.

Sheryl has made the process of winning her album very simple. Go to the Rock the Vote’s website, log in and rat out invite three people whom you know are not rocking their rights at the polls to sign up to vote. If all three of them accept your invite and register, then you are the price of a CD richer. Don’t you just love democracy?

So right now you might be saying, Reese, I don’t know anybody that’s over the age of 18 and not registered to vote — can I get some free Sheryl Crow music anyway? And I say to you, yes! Those already registered can head to the website and sign in to get a free download of Sheryl’s new politically-inspired song, Gasoline. You can add it to your Election Day playlist and listen to it while you are claiming your political voice and voting for our next president. … continue reading

The protest song is dead. Long live the protest song! While the days of folkies in overalls riding the rails and singing about union jobs may be long gone, a new crop of protest songs has emerged in the last few years that hint that the synergy of music and politics may not be gone for good. One of the most recent, high-profile entrants into the political arena is Sheryl Crow.

Lest you think that all Sheryl wants to do is have some fun, her new album Detours is a potent mash-up of the political and personal. Her latest video is for her joyous yet pointed “Out of Our Heads.” It is unquestionably one of the most upbeat protest songs I’ve heard since Edwin Starr’s funkalicious “War.” The video features politicians, celebrities and everyday folks flashing the peace sign. You’ll want to flash your own peace sign, not to mention tap your toe, throughout. I particularly like how the image of President Bush is followed by the lyrics “you have blood upon your hands.” Subtle — no. Accurate — yes. … continue reading

Of course, Sheryl isn’t the only artist of late to meld politics with her art. Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, The Beastie Boys, John Mellencamp and, heck, even Eminem have protested our current political climate in song since the Iraq War started.

Celebrities have power. (This should be no surprise to you.) They get ushered to the front of lines at clubs and in Disney World, they make more money filming one movie for a few months than I will ever see in my lifetime, and they have “people” — people that cook for them and clean for them and even drive them around. Sometimes, it’s shocking what money and a recognizable name gets these people.

But amidst all the glitz and glamour, there are the occasional celebrities out there who use their power and presence for good. While news of Oprah’s charity or Angelina Jolie’s support of cause X and Y on any given day is abundant, there is a rising trend of Tinsel Town’s finest testifying in hearings before Congress on behalf of their pet causes.

Sheryl Crow was the most recent to do so when, in late May, she spoke before the congressional subcommittee on health about the need to pass the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act. The act would provide $200 million towards researching the environmental factors contributing to breast cancer.

This wasn’t a new arena for Crow, though. Last year, she spoke at a press conference about the same bill that was highly attended by many members of congress (including Hillary Clinton). In her most recent trip to Washington, D.C., the breast cancer survivor had this to say: “I don't live in a political world, and while this might seem like a political discussion, until you are [one of] the one in seven women diagnosed with breast cancer, you will never know how not political this is.” You tell ‘em, sister! … continue reading

Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac recently told Billboard.com that the band is "looking at the idea of touring sometime in the first half of 2009," with the potential of featuring both new material and a new female bandmate. And it might just be Sheryl Crow!

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I just took a look at the current issue of TV Guide (yes, the actual paper version; it's awesome) and felt like I was reading a bunch of AfterEllen.com headlines in the listings for tonight. Lovely ladies everywhere!

First, don't forget: Top Chef starts tonight (Bravo, 10/9c), with three — count 'em, THREE — lesbian contestants. Read Dara Nai's interview with those three here, and read blog posts about Padma Lakshmi here. And check back next week for Dorothy Snarker's recap!

Before that, tonight's episode of America's Next Top Model (The CW, 8/7c) features former winner Jaslene and a visit to the meat-packing district. Check out TV Guide's interview with Paulina Porizkova here.

On Law & Order (NBC, 10/9c), Lara Flynn Boyle guest stars as a reporter who gets entangled in a murder investigation. She'll always be Donna from Twin Peaks to me.

Two AfterEllen.com faves are on the talk shows tonight: Charlize Theron is on Letterman, and Sheryl Crow sings from Detours on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Finally, it may not be obviously lesbianish, but I'm expecting occasionally great things from Lewis Black's Root of All Evil (Comedy Central, 10:30/9:30c). Black and various guest comedians will compare "things from life," asking which is more evil — e.g., . Kim Jong Il or Tila Tequila? Yes, that's one of the examples Black gives. And one of his examples of not-at-all-evil is Mary-Louise Parker. For a show that's essentially 30 minutes of ranting, that sounds pretty promising.

I've always taken Sheryl Crow for granted. When I stumble across a song of hers while switching radio stations in my car, I always let the radio rest there on her voice. I sing along and enjoy her singles until either a commercial interrupts or some other song I don't like nearly as much comes on, prompting me to start the channel-changing game again. But that's it. I know all the lyrics to most of her more popular songs, but I've never owned a Sheryl Crow album. But that will change soon: Crow's new album, Detours, debuts on February 5, and with its release, I intend to change my ways.

Crow has the kind of voice and musical spirit that are homespun. You feel what she feels, and when it's good, it's good, and when she's down and blue, you're down and blue too, yet you listen anyway because the music draws you in. When she left Las Vegas, you did too, and when she says that every day is a winding road, you don't doubt her.

The first official single from Detours is "Love Is Free." The song is inspired by both the natural catastrophe and the human catastrophe of the lack of immediate federal response to Hurricane Katrina. "Love Is Free" sounds ready for radio, even though the subject matter may not be so top 40. Here's the video: … continue reading

If you're a friend of Jen, you should be looking forward to the next gift-giving occasion.

According to TMZ, Aniston spent over a thousand dollars on three Kaloo stuffed toys to welcome Sheryl Crow's adopted son, Wyatt.

I'm not sure how she managed to drop $1K on toys that max out at around $150 each, but I guess sales tax can be a bitch.

Compared to what Victoria Beckham spent for her kids' Christmas gift, though, a thousand bucks is small change. The Beckham bunch got a 9-foot Treetent, one of Neiman Marcus' fantasy gifts for 2007. The tree house, which hangs from a limb, features a hardwood floor, a round mattress that can sleep two adults or four kids, and adjustable "planetary landing steps." Catalog price? A cool $50,000. … continue reading

I haven’t been to an all-day concert in years. Eight years, to be exact, when the final Lilith Fair came to town. The sun, the music, the women in tank tops ... it was lesbian heaven. Now, in what’s being described as a latter-day Lilith Fair, Sheryl Crow, Avril Lavigne and Fiona Apple are teaming up for a new all-female musical event called Girlfrenzy.

Girlfrenzy is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, Calif. It features an all-day slate of well-known and up-and-coming women artists including Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles and Antigone Rising. A portion of the profits will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The concert finds Crow, a breast cancer survivor, returning to music after a short break following the adoption of her son, four-month-old Wyatt Steven. Before that she was touring for the environment with Laurie David, extolling the use of one square of TP per restroom visit. So if you see her, congratulate her on the adoption — but you might want to pass on the handshake.

For Lavigne, one of Lori’s Hot Rocker Chicks, Girlfrenzy will be her first U.S. show after three October concerts in Mexico. Lavigne has had an up-and-down year. The Best Damn Thing hit No. 1 on U.S. charts in April, but she’s been busy defending herself against allegations of plagiarism. You know, I’d like to know for sure who wrote "Girlfriend" so I can curse the right person when I can’t sleep because the refrain is stuck in my head. … continue reading

I love it when my favorite things intersect — like, say, when Heart appears on The L Word, or '80s stars sing a Dreamgirls song. It always surprises and delights me. But I've never been more surprised than I am by the notion of stars of The Sopranos appearing on Sesame Street. They'll drop by for a holiday special, as will Jennifer Hudson, Sheryl Crow and Alicia Keys. Celebrities will help Elmo count down the days to Christmas.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts) and Steve Schirripa (Bobby Baccalieri) "will shed their tough-guy image from their years on Sopranos in a skit in which they will play Bert and Ernie with guidance from the real Muppets." … continue reading

Summer is almost upon us, and you know what that means. Well, if you're me, it means a jacked electric bill because of my incessant need for air conditioning.

But summer also means summer concerts. In the coming months, you can catch Queen Latifah, Nelly Furtado, Norah Jones, Cyndi Lauper's True Colors tour, Bjork, India.Arie, and, of course, the Indigo Girls.

Every time a performer hits the road, a contract is written between the artist and the venue. The best parts of these contracts are the riders: the list of performers' demands to make the road seem less hellish. Whether it be fresh flowers, obscure beer or clean socks, you'd better believe they get what they want.

Courtesy of the Smoking Gun, here are a few highlights from some female artists' tour riders. (For clearer images and full riders, click the artist's name or the rider excerpt to go to the Smoking Gun site.) … continue reading

Rocker Sheryl Crow is embarking on a (biodiesel-powered) bus tour of college campuses to “to urge college students to become part of the movement to stop global warming and demand solutions from themselves, their schools and their country.” Crow will perform songs and speak about climate change, and will be joined on the tour by global warming activist Laurie David.

 

The tour kicked off yesterday at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and will conclude on Earth Day, April 22, at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. (President Bush's home state of Texas was chosen as the starting place for the tour because it leads all U.S. states in fossil fuel emissions.) … continue reading