Odds & Ends – Nick Cannon, Stevie Van Zandt and BamaJam

Mariah Carey says husband Nick Cannon is suffering from “mild kidney failure,” Stevie Van Zandt has a new day job, and BamaJam announces its 2012 plans.

Nick Cannon Hospitalized

In yet another example that things don’t always go as planned, Nick Cannon and his wife Mariah Carey were supposed to be vacationing in Aspen, Colo. That is, until Cannon ended up in the hospital.

Carey tweeted that her husband is suffering from “mild kidney failure” and posted a photo showing her by Cannon’s side in the hospital.

Photo: Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey comforts husband Nick Cannon in an Aspen hospital.

Although Cannon’s representative confirmed that the singer/actor/comedian/producer is hospitalized, no other details were given.

Little Stevie’s New Television Gig

Apparently there’s more to life than hanging out on E Street for guitarist Steve Van Zandt. Having already played mobster / strip club owner Silvio Dante in HBO’s “The Sopranos,” Van Zandt is once again portraying a wise guy, but this time’s he’s doing it for Netflix and Norwegian television.

In the original Netflix series “Lilyhammer,” Van Zandt plays mobster Frank “The Fixer” Tagliano who enters the federal witness protection program after ratting out his boss. A sports fan, Tagliano moves to Lillehammer, Norway, where the 1994 Winter Olympics took place. However, Tagliano pronounces the town’s name as “Lilyhammer.”

Of course, life isn’t all peaches and cream for Tagliano as he settles into his new surroundings expecting “clean air, fresh white snow and gorgeous broads.” If it were, then there wouldn’t be a story. Instead, we have an eight-episode series.

Airing on Norwegian television, “Lilyhammer” will make its U.S. debut on Feb. 6 when all episodes will be available for streaming via Netflix.

BamaJam Returns

The country music festival known as BamaJam returns to Enterprise, Ala., this year after taking 2011 off.

The new dates for BamaJam are June 14-16 at the BamaJam Farms.

But it’s not like the festival wanted to be absent in 2011. That decision was made after organizer Ronnie Gilley pleaded guilty to government corruption charges in May of last year.

After copping to charges that included conspiracy, bribery and money laundering, Gilley testified that he conspired with others to bribe legislators into passing pro-gambling legislation. His sentencing was originally scheduled for November 2011, but that was pushed back until spring of this year, according to the Dothan Eagle which notes the original federal vote-buying trial involving nine defendants resulted in acquittals on several charges.

However, the defendants will face other charges in a trial beginning this month and Gilley is expected to be a witness for the prosecution.

Photo: AP Photo / Dothan Eagle

BamaJam Music and Arts Festival, Enterprise, Ala.

Meanwhile, along with announcing its new dates, BamaJam is touting the addition of new executive producer Rendy Lovelady. No lineup has been announced. Artists that have played past BamaJams include Taylor Swift, Brooks & Dunn, Jason Aldean and Kid Rock.