MTV.com News — MamaSox has had her ups and downs, but the season-nine crown seems to be hers to lose.By Eric Ditzian Crystal Bowersox Photo: FOX As Crystal Bowersox heads into inspirational-songs week on "American Idol," she's the one contestant who seems... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — Alice Echols is both an academic and a writer, in fact her Janis Joplin biography Scars of Sweet Paradise is one of my favorite music books for its deeply-researched history of the singer. With Hot Stuff: Disco and the... more info

Topix — Music photographer Jim Marshall, who spent more than a half-century capturing rock-and-roll legends including the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin at work and in repose, has died. more info

All About Jazz — Rock and jazz photographer Jim Marshall died in his sleep Tuesday. Cause of death was unknown. He was 74. The stocky, pugnacious Marshall was best known for his iconic pictures of such rockers as the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin ... more info

MTV.com News — On 'American Idol,' Bowersox earned big praise for singing Janis Joplin's posthumous hit.By Kyle Anderson Crystal Bowersox performs on "American Idol" on Wednesday Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX Once again, one of the highlights of Tuesday night... more info

VH1 News — Crystal Bowersox took on Janis Joplin's posthumous hit "Me & Bobby McGee" during last night's "American Idol." more info

MTV.com News — Katie Stevens gains confidence with help from Miley Cyrus.By Sabrina Rojas Weiss Crystal Bowersox on "American Idol" Tuesday Photo: Fox With Tuesday night's (March 23) broad theme of #1 Billboard hits to choose from, "American Idol" contest... more info

MTV.com News — Disney superstar has kind words (and words of warning) for the top 11.By Katie Byrne Miley Cyrus on "American Idol" Tuesday Photo: Fox While previous "American Idol" mentors have included Barry Manilow, Randy Travis and Diana Ross, the show... more info

Rolling Stone — In her new memoir, Just Kids, Patti Smith tells of a night in New York when she saw Kris Kristofferson — an Oxford-educated, ex-Army songwriter struggling to make it in Nashville — sing his tune “Me and Bobby McGee” for Janis Joplin, who soon... more info

MTV.com News — Top 10 women are hit and miss, with Lilly Scott and Katelyn Epperly also scoring praise from the judges.By Gil Kaufman Crystal Bowersox on American Idol Wednesday Photo: Fox "American Idol" needed a shakeup, and on Wednesday night (March 3... more info