Crow reaches new heights

New York — Sheryl Crow has performed across the country — but never across the country during one show.

On May 4, Crow is to perform on board a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Los Angeles marking the launch of United’s partnership with Sony’s new Connect Online Music Service.

Sony Connect plans to have more than a half-million songs available for download for 99 cents; albums will cost $9.95. With United’s “Music for Miles” program, frequent flier customers will be able to earn miles when purchasing downloads, as well as buy music with miles. The Web sites will launch later this spring, a vice president of UAL Loyalty Services said.

Free the music

Los Angeles — Island Def Jam expects to sign imprisoned rapper Jamal “Shyne” Barrow to a $3 million record contract this week, a source familiar with the negotiations said.

Shyne, now serving a 10-year term for his role in a New York nightclub shooting involving Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, was expected to finalize the deal by the end of this week, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The label plans to produce the album with material Shyne recorded before he began serving his sentence, the source said. The prospect of other releases from prison — some rappers have recorded albums over the phone or in visiting rooms — was unclear.

Shyne is not slated to be released from the state prison in Dannemora, N.Y., before 2009.

Rodman fined for DUI

Las Vegas — Former NBA star Dennis Rodman pleaded no contest to drunken driving in an October motorcycle crash outside a Las Vegas striptease club.

Rodman, 42, wasn’t required to appear for Monday’s plea. His lawyer, Karen Winckler, entered the plea on his behalf.

A judge fined Rodman $1,000, ordered him to serve 30 days of home detention, and required him to use a device in Nevada that will measure his blood-alcohol content before he can start his car for the next year to prevent him from driving after drinking alcohol.

Sneak peek at Darth Vader

Los Angeles — Fans can get a first look at the new Darth Vader costume from the 2005 “Star Wars: Episode III” prequel on the upcoming DVD collection of the original trilogy.

The original three “Star Wars” films debut for the first time in digital format on Sept. 21.

The Darth Vader featurette promises an interview with creator George Lucas discussing how Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker became the fearsome space villain.

Besides the three movies, the DVD collection also will include documentaries about the history of the laser-sword lightsabers, an exploration of how some of the famous alien creatures were inspired and created, and a playable Xbox demo for the upcoming video game “Star Wars: Battlefront.”