Madonna will reportedly hit the road in support of her album Hard Candy beginning in September. The UK's Daily Mirror claims that the Queen of Pop is in final negotiations with organizers who are sorting out dates for the tour. A source tells the paper that the choreography on the shows will be "more spectacular, demanding and physical than ever before."

Hard Candy will be released on April 29th behind the success of its first single featuring Justin Timberlake, "Four Minutes."

• In addition to Justin Timberlake the disc features collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and Nate "Danja" Hills.

Mariah Carey is poised to have another Number One album on her hands. According to billboard.com, her latest release, E=MC2, had a big first day -- with approximately 154,000 units sold. Big first day sales could bump the current Number One, British star Leona Lewis.

• Carey's last release, The Emancipation of Mimi, debuted at Number One in 2005 with 404,000 copies in its first week.
• The 38-year-old singer recently sang her new single "Bye-Bye" on American Idol, which is a song about the loss of her father.
• Carey recently surpassed Elvis Presley to claim a record 18th Number One single after "Touch My Body," the first song off her new album.
• As for her album, the "E" stands for "Emancipation"; "MC," for Mariah Carey; and the "squared" refers to the duplication of her career-reviving album, The Emancipation of Mimi.

Springsteen posted a tribute on the site that reads: "Danny and I worked together for 40 years -- he was the most wonderfully fluid keyboard player and a pure natural musician. I loved him very much... we grew up together."

Springsteen and the E Street Band have postponed tonight's (April 18th) concert in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and tomorrow's (April 19th) show in Orlando. Replacement dates will be announced shortly.

Springsteen had announced on November 21st that Federici would be sitting out the upcoming leg of Springsteen's European dates to take time off to receive cancer treatment. Federici's last full E Street Band concert took place in Boston on November 19th, on the last night of the first leg of their tour. Word of Federici's long-rumored fragile health spread quickly after the show, at which Federici was unusually spotlighted numerous times during the concert and the curtain calls.

Federici made a surprise appearance with the band less than a month ago during Springsteen's March 20th concert in Indianapolis, where he joined the band for selected numbers in the show, including "The Promised Land," "Spirit In The Night," and "Fourth Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)," which featured Federici on his first instrument, the accordion. Federici also appeared for the encores, including "Backstreets," "Kitty's Back," "Born To Run," "Dancing In The Dark," and "American Land," which featured he and E Street pianist Roy Bittan on dual accordions.

It's unclear if Charlie Giordano of Springsteen's side project the Seeger Sessions Band, who had been subbing for Federici, will be named as his permanent replacement.

A statement was issued saying "The Federici family and the E Street family request that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund; more details on the Fund will be forthcoming."

Funeral services have yet to be announced.

• Federici, who was nicknamed "Phantom" due to a comical scuffle with the law during a 1970 riot at a Springsteen show, had been playing with Springsteen since 1969 -- longer than any other musician in the E Street Band. Federici backed Springsteen in such pre-fame bands as Child, Steel Mill, the Bruce Springsteen Band, and Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom.
• Federici's organ, accordion, and glockenspiel work were hallmarks of Springsteen's sound, evoking the heart and soul of the New Jersey shore and the characters from the central Jersey scene whom Springsteen chronicled in his early works.
• Federici's organ was spotlighted on Springsteen's first Top Ten hit, 1980's "Hungry Heart."
• In 1999 Springsteen saluted Federici during his induction speech to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, saying, "Danny Federici, the most instinctive and natural musician I ever met and the only member of the band who can reduce me to a shouting mess. I love you Danny. Your organ and accordion playing brought the boardwalks of Central and South Jersey alive in my music. Thank you."
• In a recent interview with Backstreets magazine, Federici spoke about the importance of his relationship with Springsteen: "Bruce has been supportive throughout my life. I've had my ups and downs, and I've certainly given him a run for his money, and he's always been there for me."
• Federici, who had been a recovering alcoholic for over 25 years, was driven to rehab by Springsteen himself during the early part of the Born In The U.S.A. sessions.
• He released two solo albums, 1997's Flemington, which was named after his hometown in New Jersey, and 2005's Out Of A Dream.