Christina Aguilera. Lady Sovereign.

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Harry Connick, Jr., has not been able to catch up on sleep since wowing critics in the Broadway production of The Pajama Game. The charming star has two new releases on his hands. First he has the big band tribute Chanson du Vieux Carré and then the colorful collection of odes to New Orleans Oh, My Nola. Proceeds from both will benefit the New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village. While some may know Connick best as Leo on Will & Grace, the musician turned actor is embarking on a tour with a stop at The Chicago Theater on March 15-16. Has it really been 12 years since he was in the movie Copycat?

The Queen of Soul is not about to give up her throne. Aretha Franklin surveys her territory once again with the new album A Woman Falling Out of Love. Recorded in Detroit, Woman is co-produced by the living legend and is supported by its many guests. Featured are gospel stars Shirley Caesar, Karen Clark-Sheard and the Detroit’s Clark Sisters, as well as Fantasia on the duet Let Me Put You Up On Game and country crossover Faith Hill. As heard in the film Bobby, Never Gonna Break My Faith with Mary J. Blige will be on this new set, too. Whereas stage versions of Mama Mia! and Hairspray are being turned into movies, Franklin’s 1999 autobiography From These Roots is being worked into a musical.

I love it when people ask me about songs that are licensed for commercials, movie trailers or TV shows. Somebody insisted Christina Aguilera sings a version of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy for a cell-phone ad. The WWII inspired number is actually the Beautiful singer’s Candyman pulled from last year’s Back to Basics. She may have sung Ain’t No Other Man, but Aguilera sure shows off her sweet tooth with this suggestive Candyman. The Verizon Wireless LG Chocolate ad uses the few refrains that have soda-shop friendly lyrics.

Also heard in a Verizon Wireless spot for LG Chocolate is Lady Sovereign’s Love Me or Hate Me. This rap ditty is also the theme for reality TV show The Bad Girls Club and challenges views of women in the music industry. Taken from her debut album Public Warning, this Lady is a tomboy favoring a ponytail and track suits. The pint sized rapper is the first non-American female rapper on Def Jam Label, wowing hip-hop royalty Jay-Z, LA Reid and Usher at her audition. The British MC has a razor sharp tongue, give a listen to Sad Ass Strippa, her response song to Jentina’s Bad Ass Strippa.

Since going public with her battle with breast cancer, Kylie Minogue has taken some well-deserved time off. Don’t think the Australian pop princess will be out of the limelight for very long. The diva from down under is releasing another live album Showgirl: Homecoming Live. Recorded in Sydney on the second night of her comeback tour, this double disc set contains her hits (Better the Devil You Know, Can’t Get You Out of My Head), new material (White Diamond) and her take on Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Minogue’s tours remain light years ahead of her counterparts’ by altering her songs’ arrangements, performing treasured album tracks alongside her staples and delivering an elaborate stage show. As a salute to Madonna, Minogue sets Burning Up afire by throwing in the rap from Vogue. Also on Showgirl, Bono fills in for Robbie Williams on the duet Kids.

The DVD companion to Showgirl is slated for a late March release and a proper follow-up to her album Body Language is expected for later this year. Some of the most celebrated artists influenced by the ’80s are contributing songs to be considered for the final track listing such as The Scissor Sisters, Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama, Shakespear’s Sister) and the U.K.’s hottest pair Boy George and Amanda Ghost.

Also releasing live material to sate her fans is Madonna. Madge’s brilliant reworking of Erotica steams up the live disc in this Confessions Tour DVD/CD pack. Don’t worry, the controversial crucifixion reenactment during Live To Tell stands on its own here. Always looking forward, Madonna’s next effort is rumored to be a mix of R&B, dance, and rock. This sounds like an updated version of Bedtime Stories and Music – both of which contain her last number one hits (Take a Bow and Music). There is also early buzz circulating that Madonna is eying 2008 for another world tour.

Jay-Z’s has his hide in trouble—well, at least his clothing line, Rocawear, is. Per a release by the Humane Society of the United States, Rocawear’s Hunter Jacket is labeled incorrectly. The fur on this jacket is not faux, but rather raccoon dog fur. Rocawear seems designed for controversy: Pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Page is suing Jay-Z and his line for copyright infringement for using the wrestler’s trademark diamond cutter hand gesture. Beyonce’s boyfriend came out of retirement last year with Kingdom Come—now only if he would retire this particular jacket.