WASHINGTON – The White House reverberated like a long-ago basement sound studio in Detroit on Thursday as the likes of John Legend, Seal, Jamie Foxx, Nick Jonas and Sheryl Crowe channeled their inner Motown before Michelle and Barack Obama. Musical pioneers Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder joined in for the celebration of all things Motown.
Obama called it “the soundtrack of the civil rights era,” and credited Motown’s tight lyrics, catchy melodies and deep soul with helping to “blur the line between music that was considered either black or white.”
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Foxx, Seal, Legend and Jonas launched the East Room concert celebrating the Motown sound with a high-energy medley in which the four took turns as backup dancers, complete with some smooth dance moves to the likes of “Get Ready,” “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “Can’t Get Next to You” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”
Not to be outdone, the trio of Natasha Bedingfield, Jordin Sparks and Ledisi took a Supremes-esque turn singing “Stop! In the Name of Love.”
Legend delivered a soulful rendition of “Heard It Through the Grapevine” that left Foxx, who also served as the program’s host, to joke that nowadays the story was more likely to be “heard it through my Twitter.”
“I’m going to tweet it right now,” he joked.
Obama and the singers paid homage to the genuine Motown greats in the lineup: Robinson and Wonder.
Actress Sharon Stone gets restraining order
LOS ANGELES – Sharon Stone obtained a restraining order Thursday against a man who Los Angeles police say was found in her home this month, claiming the home was given to him by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Bradly Gooden, who a police detective described in court filings as delusional and possibly schizophrenic, was ordered to stay 100 yards away from Stone’s house and her three children. The actress’ filings say Gooden was found trespassing at her home on Feb. 11 and police placed him on a psychiatric hold.
He was released earlier this week, according to the filings.
Cowell show auditions to kick off next month
LOS ANGELES – Auditions for Simon Cowell’s “The X Factor” are due to kick off next month in Los Angeles.
Fox TV announced Thursday that the audition at the Los Angeles Sports Arena will be held March 27. Next up is Miami on April 7, followed by Newark, N.J., on April 14, Seattle on April 20 and Chicago on April 27.
“The X Factor,” based on Cowell’s British-born hit series and debuting on Fox this fall, is open to both solo singers and vocal groups. It allows a broader age range for contestants than “American Idol,” Cowell’s previous home. Singers who are 12 years old as of March 1 are eligible and there is no upper age limit.
At stake is a $5 million recording contract.
Sheen remarks halt taping
LOS ANGELES – CBS and Warner Bros. Television say they are ending production on this season of “Two and a Half Men” in the wake of incendiary remarks by star Charlie Sheen.
In a statement Thursday, the network and studio said they were basing their decision on the “totality of Charlie Sheen’s statements, conduct and condition.”
Earlier Thursday, the studio and Sheen’s publicist had said the show would resume production next week after a hiatus intended to allow Sheen to seek rehabilitation.
But in a rambling, often vitriolic radio interview, Sheen blasted “Two and a Half Men” producer Chuck Lorre, along with other targets including Alcoholics Anonymous.
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