Roberts returns to work at ‘GMA’

2/21/2013

Five months after undergoing a bone marrow transplant, Robin Roberts is back on television in the morning.

Roberts said Wednesday she’d been waiting 174 days “to say this, good morning America.”

The morning-show host is recovering from MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease. She looked thin with close-cropped hair but was smiling broadly, back at work on Good Morning America at ABC’s studio in New York City.

Roberts was welcomed back in a taped message from President Obama and his wife, Michelle, former ESPN colleagues, and Magic Johnson.

ABC announced Roberts will interview the first lady later this week, to be shown next Tuesday.

ABC didn’t miss a beat with her absence, continuing in first place in the ratings after overcoming NBC’s Today show last spring.

Bonnaroo lineup

Paul McCartney will perform at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee in June along with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Mumford & Sons, Bjork, and Wilco, festival organizers said on Tuesday.

“Top to bottom, this is one of the strongest lineups we have ever had,” Bonnaroo spokesman Jeff Cuellar said.

Bonnaroo is among the top live music gatherings of the year. Up to 100,000 fans flock to the annual festival in Manchester, Tenn., to see singers, comedians, art, and films.

The 2013 concert lineup announced on Tuesday also includes R. Kelly, Wu-Tang Clan, David Byrne & St. Vincent, ZZ Top, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Gov’t Mule, and Dwight Yoakam.

Tickets for the festival go on sale Feb. 23 on bonnaroo.com.

UN Day Concert

The United Nations Day Concert: “A Message of Peace” will premiere at 7 p.m. Saturday on BET, Centric, VH1 Soul, VH1 Classis, and Palladia. The musical celebration took place at the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters in New York last October.

“It was a great night,” said Stevie Wonder, who hosted the concert. “People not only sang about it but their spirits were committed to see peace. In this society we are living in, there’s a need for peace for all nations throughout the world.”

Performers included Wonder, Sting, Janelle Monae, Wyclef Jean and Elle Varner.

Susan Sarandon and Malcolm Jamal Warner also appeared.