Andy Whitfield, who plays the title role in Starz Original series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," announced Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and will begin treatment immediately in New Zealand. Whitfield discovered the cancer during a routine checkup as he prepped for the sophomore season. Andy's doctors have stated his condition is very treatable, and was detected in its early stages. 

"I'm receiving excellent care, and am feeling strong, positive and determined with an army of support behind me," says Whitfield. 

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Andy," says Chris Albrecht, Starz’s president. "His health, of course, is our primary concern. He has our complete support during this difficult time."

The second season was scheduled to begin shooting shortly in New Zealand, but has been postponed to accommodate Andy's treatment.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand" has been a breakout success for the Starz network. The first season finale airs Friday, April 16th.

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Miami has been listed as one of the cities for a Maxwell and Jill Scott 20-city U.S. tour which kicks off on May 21st in Cleveland with additional dates to be announced through June.

Maxwell, who won two Grammys for his BLACKSUMMERS’NIGHT, the first installment of his BLACKSUMMER’NIGHT trilogy, which was released last July, is certainly known for his soulful brand of singing. The artiste will release the follow-up albums BlackSUMMERS’night and blacksummers’NIGHT in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

The sassy neo-soul artiste, Jill Scott, is expected to perform songs from her 10-year music career and concert-goers will get a sneak peek of songs from her upcoming album The Light Of The Sun, which is due out this summer.

While the remaining tour dates have not yet been announced, other stops include Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York.

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Haitian artiste and philanthropist, Wyclef Jean has been handpicked to honor Jamaican reggae icon Jimmy Cliff at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame slated for March.

The organization praised Cliff for his work on The Harder They Come, the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, which it said changed the music forever.

According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website, “Very few single albums can be said to have changed music forever. Jimmy Cliff's The Harder They Come is one. The album – and the movie that spawned it – introduced reggae to a world-wide audience and changed the image of the genre from cruise ship soundtrack to music of rebellion and inspiration.”

The organization also pointed out that Jimmy Cliff was indeed the first international reggae superstar and that he “created the model that Bob Marley would soon follow” with hits like ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’, ‘Sitting Here In Limbo’ and ‘Many Rivers to Cross’.

“A beautifully gifted singer and a uniquely influential songwriter, Jimmy Cliff has made a profound impact on rock and pop music all over the world for 40 years,” it said.

Rock group Genesis, Sweden's ABBA, The Stooges and David Geffen will also be inducted at the ceremony slated for March 15 in New York.

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