Neil Diamond has been holed up at the Arc Angel, the L.A. studio he's called home for more than three decades, working on his new album, 'Home Before Dark.' Before he plays it across the U.S., Diamond has an unlikely engagement: A two-night appearance on 'American Idol.' The show will introduce the songwriter behind the Monkees' 'I'm a Believer,' UB40's 'Red, Red Wine' and Urge Overkill's 'Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon' (not to mention his own 'Sweet Caroline' and 'I Am...I Said)' to a new generation of music devotees.

The release of the sublimely intimate, Rick Rubin-produced 'Home' -- which features a duet with the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines -- reminds us where else fans should be able to catch a glimpse of Diamond: In the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Spinner caught up with the legendary singer-songwriter to talk about everything from Frank Sinatra to the mysteries of songwriting.

How was working with Rick Rubin for the second time different from the first?

It was pretty easy both times, although it was probably more [a process of] getting to know each other the first time. Maybe I was a little more nervous the first time working with these musicians, the first time working with Rick. You put yourself in somebody's hands and you really don't know what they're going to do. But as it progressed, it became apparent that it was going to be comfortable and it was going to be good. This one was a lot easier. There were less songs. I knew the musicians. We'd done an entire album together. You get to know people pretty good working that close.

Did that relaxation influence the album?

It did influence the writing, but I'm not really sure how. See, I hadn't written an original album .... I started really with the 'Tennessee Moon' album, co-writing all the songs. It was intentional to work with a lot of different writers in Nashville. I had a lot of fun. That started to get the barnacles and rust off of my writing chops. Then, 'Three Chord Opera' was maybe all mine. That continued that process of the rust falling off. And '12 Songs' took me just a little bit further. I was flying with this one. It's about as good as I can get as a writer. I was in the groove. I knew what I wanted and when I heard something that I liked, I knew when to follow up on it.

• The New Kids on the Block are reportedly staging a comeback. The former teen idols' long-dormant official site has been resurrected in anticipation of the official announcement, which a source tells PEOPLE magazine is to come in the next few weeks.
  

• Dixie Chicks violinist Martie Maguire announced on Sunday that she and her husband are expecting their third child at the Nobility Artists and Filmmakers Dinner in Austin. The couple already have three-year-old twins Eva Ruth and Kathleen Emilie. (Courtesy of WENN)

• Ringo Starr has apologized to Regis Philbin after walking off the set of 'Live With Regis and Kelly' last week, when the former Beatle was told to cut his performance of his latest single, 'Liverpool 8,' to below three minutes. (Courtesy of WENN)

• Miley Cyrus left the stage midway through her Saturday concert in New Orleans, telling the audience that she felt unwell. The 15-year-old teen phenom stayed backstage for a few minutes before coming back to finish her set. "Thanks, you guys," she told the audience. "I feel a lot better, but I'm going to sit this one down."

Annie Lennox certainly has a lot to say. Whether on the phone for more than an hour from her London home or on last year's stellar 'Songs of Mass Destruction' collection, the former Eurythmics singer and platinum solo artist holds little back regarding her views on societal ills, the biggest issues facing the world today and her opinions on art. At 53, and a free agent in the music game, Lennox has a lot of deciding to do. Yet the Scottish singer refuses to slow down as long as she feels she can make a difference, something she is trying her hardest to do with the ambitious 'Sing' project, a combination of music and film she has personally created to highlight the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Lennox spoke to Spinner about where she goes from here, her efforts to educate the world on what's going on in Africa, and her early memories of Amy Winehouse and how she knew the singer would be a star.

Did you write the album mostly in London?

It's a London-based album. To be honest with you, if you're writing, it doesn't really [matter], 'cause you just have to be alone with yourself or if you're writing with others. I don't. I wrote it by myself. But if I'm working with others, it doesn't make any difference.

The reason I ask is that for some artists the environment does make a difference.

There used to be a wonderful recording studio [AIR Studios] on the island of Montserrat. It was built by George Martin, who produced all the wonderful Beatles albums, and he built this amazing studio, and a lot of bands recorded there. We recorded the Tourists there in the '70s. It was such a beautiful island ... Montserrat subsequently suffered from volcanic eruptions and half the island is covered in volcanic ash, but that's another story. At that time it was still very beautiful. We were working there and I hated it. I didn't hate the studio, but I just felt very torn. It was so beautiful outside I was like, "What the hell am I doing in this beautiful studio?" I just wanted to go and lie down in the sun, 'cause you never get sun here. It was torturous [laughs].

'Goodbye Earl'
--Dixie Chicks (1999)

Victim: A wife-beating husband
Weapon: Tainted black-eyed peas
Gory Details: In this vengeful tale, conspirators Wanda and Mary-Anne feed Earl one final, fatal dinner. Wanda then has to get rid of her no-good husband's no-good corpse, and who better to help her bury him by the lake than her best friend? Karma's a bitch.

Toby Keith vs. Dixie Chicks

Fightin' Words: "I'm not ready to make nice" ('Not Ready to Make Nice,' Dixie Chicks)

Natalie Maines said Toby Keith's song 'Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue' made country music sound "ignorant." Keith said Maines was a lame songwriter. When she trashed the Bush administration, he toured with a backdrop depicting Nat with Saddam Hussein. She wore a T-shirt to the ACM awards that read "FUTK," and no one believed it stood for Freedom, Understanding, Truth and Knowledge. "I think it was bad for everybody involved," Keith told a reporter. At least Fox News got some mileage out of it.

Judges' Decision: Chicks in late-round surge

Britney's VMA performance is finally confirmed, with Criss "Mindfreak" Angel designing the onstage illusion. Not the one coming over the PA system. That's another illusion entirely. Can we get an "Amen," Ashlee? [Popeater]

Yung Joc is the new Jenny Craig [Post Chronicle]

Babies are the new handbag. [Dlisted]

Lily Allen doesn't play well with others. Even her Madgesty. [AZ Central]

The country music industry isn't particular about which Chicks they diss. [Tennessean]

Ani DiFranco spices up an old 'un. Watch closely to spot the following: makeshift maracas, a baby monitor and DiFranco's righteous baby girl, Petah. [MySpace]

'Travelin' Soldier'
Dixie Chicks (2002)

Girl meets boy. They fall in love. Boy goes to Vietnam War. Boy dies. His name is read at a war heroes tribute, and "nobody really cared." --Dahlia McMann

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