Odds & Ends: Shakira, Martina McBride And Rascal Flatts

Shakira Goes To Oxford

Colombian singer Shakira joined an eclectic list of previous speakers, including the Dalai Lama, Michael Jackson and Stephen Hawking, when she addressed Oxford students today.

The 32-year-old singer, who is also a UNICEF ambassador, stressed her belief in education for all.

“I was born in Colombia, growing up in the developing world where education is perceived as a luxury and not as a birthright,” Shakira told the students.

Apparently the singer had a very dedicated audience, including hundreds of students who waited in the rain to see her.

While talking about her charity organization tasked with building schools for Colombia’s poor children, the artist said her singing career has helped her charity work.

“I think those two paths have been so parallel in my life,” Shakira said. “My career gives me an enormous opportunity to communicate issues that I believe strongly should be communicated.”

Rascal Flatts To Act Naturally

Country band Rascal Flatts will appear in an episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” scheduled to tape in January.

The script calls for the band to portray themselves, which shouldn’t be too much of a stretch.

But this isn’t the first time the band has appeared on episodic television. Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney appeared on “Yes, Dear” in 2006.

McBride Reschedules

Blaming that ol’ devil known as a “scheduling conflict,” Martina McBride has rescheduled three of her “Shine All Night” tour dates.

The Greensboro, N.C., engagement originally scheduled for Dec. 10 is now scheduled for April 30.

The Columbia, S.C., date has changed from Dec. 11 to May 2. Likewise with Duluth, Ga., which was scheduled for Dec. 12. McBride’s revised schedule now shows her playing Duluth May 1.

For more information, please click here for the Martina McBride Web site.