Indian sitarist dies

Sitarist* and composer Ravi Shankar, who helped introduce the sitar to the Western world through his collaborations with The Beatles, died in southern California on December 11, his family said. He was 92.

Shankar, a three-time Grammy winner who made legendary appearances at the 1967 Monterey Festival and at Woodstock, had been in fragile health for several years. He had suffered from upper respiratory* and heart issues over the past year and underwent heart-valve replacement surgery last week at a hospital in San Diego, south of Los Angeles.

‘Lincoln’ gets 13 nominations

Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” landed a record-breaking 13 nominations* for the Critics Choice Movie Awards on December 11, ahead of musical “Les Miserables” and comedy “Silver Linings Playbook.”

The Critics Choice Movie Awards are handed out by the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), which represents more than 270 television, radio and online critics. Winners will be announced in the California beach city of Santa Monica on January 10.

Top-earning women in music

Pop star Britney Spears edged past Taylor Swift to claim the title of top-earning woman in music after bringing in an estimated US$58 million from her album, endorsements and a perfume in the past year, Forbes* said on December 12.

Country-pop singer Swift, 22, was a close second with an estimated US$57 million paycheck thanks to her tour — which made more than US$1 million each night — a contract with CoverGirl cosmetics, her own line of fragrances and her new album “Red.”

Clarkson engaged

Kelly Clarkson, who became the first contestant to win “American Idol” a decade ago and went on to several chart-topping* successes, is now engaged* to her boyfriend, the singer said in a Twitter message on December 16.

“I’M ENGAGED!” Clarkson said on Twitter. “I wanted you all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night!” (SD-Agencies)