Madonna defends Pussy Riot, Chavela Vargas dies

2012-08-06 89

Madonna has spoken out in support of Pussy Riot band members - who are on trial in Moscow for storming the altar of a church and belting out an anti-Vladimir Putin song. Madonna called a potential jail sentence a tragedy and said that art should never be censored. The singer was in Moscow for an up-coming concert as part of her "MDNA" tour.

As for the members of Pussy Riot - they arrived in court on Monday for the start of the second week of their trial. A verdict is likely this week - the trio could face up to seven years in jail if convicted.

Sharon Osbourne has announced that says she's quitting "America's Got Talent." The star - and wife of Ozzy - said she's quitting in protest after her son Jack was fired from a new military-themed reality show, also due to air on NBC network. Execs from the show claim Jack Osbourne was never actually hired in the first place.

Finally, iconic Mexican singer Chavela Vargas has died. Vargas was a charismatic performer with a voice that critics hailed as tailor-made for singing Mexico's traditional songs. She also broke gender stereotypes early in her career, often dressing as a man, smoking cigars and carrying pistols. She was 93.