Arch MUSIC NEWS for 8/22/12

Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger and Avril Lavigne are engaged to be married, despite the fact that few even knew about their six-month relationship. Lavigne and Kroeger first got together back in February when they met up to co-write a song for Avril’s upcoming album. Kroeger reportedly popped the question with a 14-carat diamond earlier this month. This will be his first trip down the aisle, and the second for Lavigne. She previously tied the knot with Sum 41′s Deryck Whibley, but that marriage ended in divorce in 2009. Lavigne also made headlines for dating reality TV star Brody Jenner, but the pair parted ways earlier this year.

Taylor Swift will hit the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, September 6, for the debut live performance of a new song from her upcoming fourth studio album, Red, which will be released October 22^nd.  Swift joins previously announced performers Green Day, P!nk, Alicia Keys and One Direction for the show, which will be hosted by comedian Kevin Hart.

Michael Jackson‘s 1987 album “Bad” is getting a concert salute. A variety of music stars will play a special show commemorating the 25th anniversary of the disc. Participants will perform tracks from the late pop superstar’s legendary album along with some of their own hits. The 25th anniversary concert honoring Michael Jackson’s “Bad” is also set for a significant date. The show will take place at Gotham Hall in New York City on August 29th, which would have been Michael’s 54th birthday. The event will serve as the finale of the Pepsi and “Billboard” 2012 Summer Beats Concert Series, and continue Pepsi’s year-long tribute to the album.

Soundgarden has announced the title of the band’s new album. It’s called “King Animal” and will mark the reunited grunge band’s first studio album since 1996′s “Down on the Upside.” It has a tentative release date of November 13th.

A trio of Grammy-winning women is next to be featured on “VH1 Storytellers.” Pink, Alicia Keys and Taylor Swift will be in the interview chair of the long-running music interview program, set to return to VH1 in November. In a statement Pink said, “I have always loved Storytellers and, as a songwriter, how much fun it is to be able to tell your stories.” The ladies will share their stories of their musical journeys back-to-back. Swift’s episode is set to air November 11th, Keys’ episode will air on November 12th and Pink’s episode is scheduled for November 13th.

Uh-oh! Mariah Carey is reportedly not in a sharing mood. Sources tell TMZ.com the R&B diva hung up on a conference call with “American Idol” producers after getting wind that hip-hop star Nicki Minaj may be close to inking a deal to join the show. Carey was reportedly under the impression that she would be the only woman on the panel. Outside of a source-based report published by “Us Weekly” on Monday, there has been no official confirmation about Minaj’s involvement with the show and more names are popping up as possible panelists.