There will be plenty of fireworks this weekend, but they'll be on stage as the Essence Music Festival heads back to New Orleans, once again bringing out top-notch entertainment.

The festival, celebrating its 17th anniversary, is focusing on an entire “weekend of transformation,” and started things off today with a “transforming your life” theme, including appearances from Steve Harvey and Iyanla Vanzant.

In addition, said the president of Essence Communications Michelle Ebanks in a statement, the fest is going to pay honor to the “roots of R&B,” and will feature more than 40 performances, including sets from Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, New Edition, Kanye West, Jill Scott, Chaka Khan and Trey Songz.

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"Thor" is set to wield his hammer once again. According to Entertainment Weekly, the god of thunder is slated to return in a sequel already scheduled for July 26, 2013.

Deadline reports that Chris Hemsworth is on board to reprise his role as the mythological warrior (hopefully his costume won’t be too tight, this time) but not director Kenneth Branagh.

Although Marvel Studios didn’t comment as to what's up with Branagh and “Thor 2," EW notes that he didn’t seem to be thinking about a sequel at the film’s premiere.

“You hear about people saving things for film two or three,” he told the magazine. “I don’t understand that at all. I put it all in there if I thought it’d help the film be better. You can think of stuff for two or three later, if you get the chance to do them. But you won’t if one isn’t good enough.”

"Thor 2" will arrive just months after "Iron Man 3," which will bow on May 3, 2013.

On Thursday, a small group of journalists were introduced to SuperHeavy, the eclectic new supergroup featuring Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Damian Marley, Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart and "Slumdog Millionaire" composer A.R. Rahman.

The five global music stars gathered in Studio A at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood to explain their surprise collaboration.

"I got a call from Dave," Stone recalled. "He said, 'Hey Joss, Mick and I want to make this band. Do you want to come and have some fun?'"

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What's in a name? According to Paul "DJ Paulie" Lis, his career.

The South Windsor, Connecticut DJ filed a lawsuit Thursday against MTV and other companies that have promoted Paul "DJ Pauly D" Delvecchio alleging that the "Jersey Shore" star has misappropriated his name, according to the Hartford Courant.

Lis, who's been going by the stage name since 1973 and also has it trademarked, says that Pauly D's climb to fame has eclipsed his ability to get his own version of "Paulie" out there.

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Looks like Justin Bieber's next album will have all the right stuff—the teen idol's tunes will be inspired by '80s boy bands like New Kids on the Block.

Music producer Jim Jonsin, who is working with the singer on his upcoming album, tells MTV the songs will have an old-school flavor.

"For Bieber, I think I want to reach back to New Edition, those days," he says, adding that he also hopes to emulate another Beantown band. "I want to try to do something like that — 'Please Don't Go Girl,' New Kids on the Block — because the girls would go crazy."

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It’s been two months since the world paused to watch the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge marry, but royal fever is still raging.

While we’ve always been a little (perhaps begrudgingly) infatuated with the monarchy across the pond, our interest lately has been piqued with even the tiny details –- the desire to dress like Kate Middleton had buyers in such a frenzy they once crashed a website for hours.

But today, the royal cup overflows. Not only do we have another wedding on our hands, but it’s also what would’ve been the late Princess Diana’s 50th birthday. Let the royal chatter begin:

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Celebrities aren't immune to the tough calls of parenthood, and for Jada Pinkett Smith, being a parent has meant giving up her dream of being a rock star.

"I had to make choices," Smith, who is mom to actor Jaden and singer Willow, tells the August issue of Redbook. "Believe me, I would still be on the road with my band, Wicked Wisdom, and making as many movies as I can a year, and doing all sorts of other things if I didn't have the responsibility of a family."

But, she goes on, "I have children with their own talents and dreams, and I know I have to be standing next to them for that journey."

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Thursday night's episode of "So You Think You Can Dance" left this viewer puzzled.

The choice for which female contestant to eliminate seemed obvious – after a sub-par performance on Wednesday night and a solo that was anything but "dance-for-your-life" worthy, it looked like Ashley was on her way out.

Don't get me wrong, I've sung Ashley's praises on this blog before (her performance in last week's jailhouse routine alone...), but this was just not her week. The other two, Miranda and Caitlynn, had excellent performances and terrific solos.

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Playing Frodo in the "Lord of the Rings" movies was a career highlight for Elijah Wood. In fact, the actor says he became a bit depressed when filming on the trilogy ended.

"I was 18 when I traveled to New Zealand, and I was about 20 when I left," he tells New York Magazine's Vulture. "Coming home, I just remember everything feeling kind of foreign. I didn't really know what to do with my time. It was really bizarre. I was more exhausted than I've ever been in my life. I remember feeling like I didn't want to do anything for a while."

Wood adds that he also "just didn't have any perspective on my life anymore, what that was about. It's kind of an unsettled feeling. It's like existing in a place and then being ripped out of it when that place was your home, it was your everything to you for a long time. Sixteen months is a long time."

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Save the date! The citizens of Pine Valley will officially say goodbye when "All My Children" airs its last episode on Friday, September 23.

The long-running soap opera premiered on ABC in 1970 and former cast members including Josh Duhamel, Carol Burnett, Leven Rambin, and Eva La Rue, are expected to return to the series prior to the finale, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

"The final episodes will celebrate the stories of the families that fans have grown to know and love over the years," the network said.

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