NEW YORK (AP) — Missy Elliott, one of rap's greatest voices and also a songwriter and producer who has crafted songs for Beyonce and Whitney Houston, is one of the nominees for the 2019 Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Elliott is the first female rapper nominated for the prestigious prize and could also become the third rapper to enter the organization following recent inductees Jay-Z and Jermaine Dupri.

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A pop star-turned-lawmaker is in "a lot of pain" after being beaten while in custody, the deputy speaker of Uganda's parliament said Wednesday, as dozens of top musicians including Angelique Kidjo and Chris Martin condemned the "vicious" treatment.

Pressure was mounting on the government to free Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, who has emerged as an influential critic of longtime President Yoweri Museveni after winning a parliament seat last year.

NEW YORK (AP) — Mariah Carey, the artist with the most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, is one of the nominees for the 2018 Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Carey, who co-wrote 17 of her 18 No. 1s, earns her first nomination for the prestigious prize. The Songwriters Hall gave The Associated Press the list of nominees Monday, a day ahead of its official announcement.

The Pretenders, "Alone" (BMG)

Chrissie Hynde reverts to her Pretenders moniker on "Alone," a soulful production helmed by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and starring her tough-as-nails vulnerability.

Hynde's wonderful voice, one of rock's best, can weaken knees even by reading a phone book. While the album sports all kinds of modern-retro sounds, her vocals propel the fast ones and elevate the ballads with her usual empathy and authority.