Adele has confirmed she has co-written and performed the theme to the upcoming James Bond movie "Skyfall." The singer was initially unsure whether she wanted to take the project, according to news posted to the official James Bond website Monday. "There's a lot of instant spotlight and pressure when it comes to a Bond song," she was quoted as saying. "But I fell in love with the script. ... It was also a lot of fun writing to a brief, something I've never done which made it exciting." The song was written by Adele and Paul Hepworth, who co-wrote her hit "Rolling in the Deep." It was recorded at London's famed Abbey Road Studios.
The song will be available on Adele's official site on Friday, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the release of "Dr. No," the first Bond movie. The track was available for pre-order at iTunes starting Monday.
The film, Daniel Craig's third Bond adventure, opens in Britain Oct. 26 and in the U.S. Nov. 9. The cast includes Javier Bardem, Albert Finney, Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris.
Junot Diaz wins 'genius' grantFiction writer Junot Diaz has won one of the "genius" grants awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. In addition to considerable prestige, the award means big money: Diaz will be one of 23 honorees to receive $500,000 over five years. Diaz, who teaches writing at MIT in Cambridge, Mass., won the Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for his novel "The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao." Reached Monday afternoon via e-mail, Diaz said, "Hate to sound Hollywood but this one is for my community, whose sacrifice and courage made me possible," referring to the Dominican immigrant subculture in which he grew up. What will he do with that substantial wad of cash? "I want to write my monster book," he said. "That's what this fellowship will do."
KRISTIN TILLOTSON
WILLIE TELLS MORE: Willie Nelson has proven to be one of America's most prolific songwriters. Turns out he's no slouch when it comes to memoirs, either: He has a new one due in November. Nelson will release "Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die" on Nov. 13. Publisher William Morrow says the American music icon will tell never-before-heard stories about his life, family, music, politics, Texas, religion and favorite recreational activity.
DOUBLY REGAL: Helen Mirren is returning to the role of Queen Elizabeth in a new play about the monarch's relationship with British prime ministers. The actress won an Academy Award in 2007 for her performance as the British monarch in "The Queen." She will play the queen again in "The Audience," a play by Peter Morgan that imagines private meetings between the queen and the prime ministers of her 60-year reign.
