Pictured (L-R): Martina McBride, Carole King, Jennifer Hudson. Photo: Ethan Miller

Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Martina McBride, Carole King, Jennifer Hudson, John Fogerty, Mavis Staples, and Pat Monahan are on the line up for a PBS Special titled From Dust To Dreams: Opening Night at The Smith Center For The Performing Arts. The Las Vegas event hosted by Neil Patrick Harris will air on PBS Fri., Sept. 21 at 9 pm ET/PT.

Never-before-seen duet and collaborations include Monahan and McBride singing “A Song for You,” and Staples and King performing “You’ve Got a Friend.” Powerhouse trio Hudson, McBride and King also sing “Natural Woman,” and Nelson and Haggard perform a rendition of “Pancho & Lefty.” Harris is slated to showcase Haggard’s “Ramblin’ Fever.”

“We set out to celebrate the best of the American creative spirit whether it was classical, Broadway, rock, dance or soul on the occasion of the opening of a world class performing arts center,” comments Emmy winning director and producer Michael Stevens. “It’s not every day that you get the chance to see such a range of artists all at the peak of their respective talents.”

Produced by George Stevens Jr., the program is part of the ongoing “PBS Arts” initiative, highlighting the performing and visual arts.

Watch clips of the show below:

Ken Paulson

Most Americans believe the government should prosecute people who pirate music and movies online according to a new survey conducted by the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University. Released July 17, the survey shows 59 percent favor prosecuting pirates, 33 percent are opposed, and nine percent “don’t know.”

The public is more ambivalent about the use of copyrighted material on social media. 44 percent of those surveyed said people should be able to post copyrighted material online without paying rights fees “as long as no money is being made.” 42 percent said posters should not have that right.

“Using content for personal and hobby use is consistent with the legal doctrine of fair use, allowing us to use copyrighted material in limited, generally nonprofit ways that don’t significantly affect the market for the original content,” explained Ken Paulson, president of the First Amendment Center.

“At this country’s birth, the nation’s founders guaranteed free speech and art through the First Amendment and ensured compensation for authors and creators through a copyright clause in the U.S. Constitution and federal law. These were complementary principles, which together helped ensure that a then-young nation would be a capital of creativity, ” added Paulson. “As illegal downloading has flourished, the right to create remains unabated, but the right to be paid for your work has been seriously damaged.”

The 2012 national survey of 1006 adults was conducted in June by telephone by the PERT Group, and directed by Dr. Kenneth Dautrich.

Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, and Shawn Camp will participate in the first annual 2012 Woofstock at the Fontanel Mansion with all proceeds going to benefit Bonaparte’s Retreat, a dog-rescue organization.

The public is invited to the mansion on Sat., Aug. 18, from 11 AM-4 PM for a festival including performers Harris, Miller, Camp among others. Vendors include booths for Bonaparte’s Retreat, Woofstock, the Nashville Humane Association, as well as different rescue operations, pet services, veterinarians, and artists for several animal-centered activities.

There will also be an invitation only vegetarian dinner taking place Fri., Aug. 17 for guests and dogs at The Studio, featuring a silent auction of clothing and jewelry from local artists and a performance and autograph segment with Harris.

Tickets are available for Saturday’s events with a $20 donation, collected at the gate. Children twelve and under are free. Click here more information.