There have been loud murmurs that Paula Abdul has signed a $4.5 million contract to appear on the US version of Simon Cowell’s X Factor. Simon allegedly flew his former American Idol judge’s panel seatmate out to the UK to meet with the X Factor production team. A source said “Simon flew Paula to London and wined and dined her relentlessly over the course of several days, even introducing her to everyone who works on X Factor. But what really clinched the deal was Simon’s pledge that she wouldn’t have to deal with all the nonsense and infighting that she hated on Idol.”
I may have found the reason as to why Adam Lambert loves to wear black. In a recent radio interview, the openly gay singer revealed that he was a fat kid, saying “When I was in high school I was 250 pounds and that creates some stuff…some body image stuff, some confidence issues, and I got a lot of my confidences from validation I got as a performer.” I for one am glad that he managed to pull himself together to lose weight. If he didn’t, he may have ended up as a contestant on Biggest Loser instead of American Idol.
American Idol alum Allison Iraheta has a new song out called ‘Friday I’ll Be Over U’. The song is the first single off of the singer’s debut album. Allison talked to PopEater about making the song saying “I worked with [Swedish producer] Max Martin, and he pulled it out of his magic box. He came up with an awesome song and sent it to me and we cut it and it was just amazing. He definitely knows how to put himself in other people’s shoes.” I can’t deny that the song is good and infectious but I would have expected something more on the rock side rather than pop coming from Allison.
American Idol runner up Adam Lambert is featured on the cover of the new issue of Rolling Stone. And as it was previously reported, the singer has finally come out of the closet! Adam said “I don’t think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear I’m gay. I’ve been living in Los Angeles for eight years as a gay man. I’ve been at clubs drunk making out with somebody in the corner.” He also said that he decided to wait to come out in Rolling Stone because it would be cooler. Adam also talked about why he waited to come out, being open about his sexuality backstage at Idol and he even revealed that he had a crush on American Idol champ Kris Allen! It’s a very interesting read and everything I was hoping for when he did decide to come out.
American Idol champion Kris Allen recently gave a little insight as to the kind of album he wants to make. The singer said “‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ — that’s the kind of stuff I want to do, stuff that has that feel, that kind of moves people. I’m not a man of many words. I’m not very expressive or emotional but it comes out in my music. It’s the way I express how I feel.” I couldn’t have asked for a better sound from him. That song really cemented his mark on the show and I believe it’s that style of music that will allow him to survive in the music industry.
Former American Idol finalist, MICHAEL JOHNS will be performing his new single “Heart on My Sleeve” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show next Monday, May 25th. The Aussie vocalist will be releasing his first post-Idol solo album, Hold Back My Heart on June 23rd. Encouraged by his mentor David Foster, who invited Johns to appear on his star-studded David Foster And Friends PBS special in December 2008, Johns chose the road less traveled, and for the first time in his adult life, went to work on an album with no deal in place. “Foster always said that the secret of his success is to look at whatever lane is open in the music industry and take it,” Johns recalls. “And the way my record combines old and new, I could open for Alicia Keys one night and John Mayer the next, it’s right in the middle.” Songwriter Diane Warren, who penned the knee-buckling ballad “Heart Is Weak,” was another key endorsement. “There’s nothing more validating than having these heavyweights behind you,” says Johns. “It’s like screw winning American Idol when people like David Foster and Diane Warren are saying you have the real thing here.”
With an album completed and ready to turn in, Johns had the rare freedom to shop it around, and when Downtown Records, home to Gnarls Barkley, Cold War Kids and Santigold, showed interest in a licensing deal, he jumped at the opportunity to finally control his own fate. “I think we’re in the most exciting period of music ever, because there’s so many ways to do it,” he says. And like most of his plans thus far, Johns is thinking big for his future. “The live show is going to be great,” he says excitedly. “I might even take it old school with different bands in different towns — almost like what Chuck Berry and all those guys used to do.”
Tune in to see Michael Johns on The Ellen DeGeneres Show next Monday, May 25th. Check your local listings for times.
Ryan Seacrest recently premiered Cobra Starship’s new single ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ on his radio show. the song was co-written by American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi and features ‘Gossip Girl’ star Leighton Meester. The song sounds very similar to Rihanna’s ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ and the interlude sounds a bit like Gwen Stefani’s ‘Hollaback Girl’. I’m not quite sure whether or not I like Leighton as a singer. Her voice seems pretty processed and mediocre at best. If she wants me or anyone for that matter to take her singing seriously, she’s going to have to do a wonderful show live.
The American Idol contestant who didn’t get to go home as a hero yesterday said the following at her exit-interview: “I stayed true to myself.” Alison Iraheta also added these words when asked about her confidence on Wednesday night: It was pretty weird. I’ve been in the bottom three before. When it was down to me and Danny Gookey, it was like, ‘It’s either him or me.’ And it was me. I’m glad I got the opportunity to perform on that stage.” Yep… either her or him… excellent deduction, dear Watson! Wouldn’t Alison Iraheta have felt a lot better had she got the opportunity to perform on that stage until the end?
It seems that the American Idol contestant will be going back home with the proverbial tail between the legs as she got voted out last night. Even though the judges seemed to be quite fond of Alison Iraheta’s duo with Adam Lambert, it seems that Janis Joplin’s “Cry baby” turned out to be her swansong. Now it’s an all male again and the other three contestants will be flying home next week… supposedly to be greeted as heroes. Too bad for Alison Iraheta… the voters were apparently not on her side, the judges have no saves left. Well, she left with a bang so to speak.
The new kink on American Idol seems to be drawing more and more opinions from former contestants. One of them, Brooke White, shared her impressions on the new ice-breaker from the show, putting it in relation to the fact that Alexis Grace got canned from the show: “It probably would’ve been very difficult for me to pull off a poised performance. I would’ve been scared out of my mind. I would’ve felt very vulnerable in that moment. I would like to think I would have done my best, but, most likely, the feelings of the moment would have taken over. Yes, it’s entertainment, but it’s still someone’s life. It’s harder than anything anyone at home can imagine.” I don’t think “entertainment” and “someone’s life” really go together. You’d think that Brooke White might have learned that by now since she was the fifth finalist of the seventh season. Surely the time expired from that moment unto this might have changed Brooke White’s perspective on entertainment.
American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino is denying reports that Idol judge Simon Cowell bailed her out financially, helping avoid the foreclosure of one of her two North Carolina homes. She said “That’s not true. I’ve been working hard for five years. Don’t believe everything you hear.” What work is she talking about? But anyway, it is sort of hard to believe that Simon might actually have a heart. So okay, I’ll buy her story for now. I’m still wondering who would loan her money though. It’s not like they have a guarantee that they’d get paid considering her work history.
Tune in tomorrow morning, February 12th, to Live With Regis and Kelly to see ten lucky girls vying for a date with Taylor Hicks! The American Idol alum is participating in the show’s “Dating With The Stars” contest which will score one winner a date with the soulful singer. The audience will then vote on which three ladies can compete to win a date with Taylor on Thursday, February 19th.
Taylor Hicks is currently touring with Grease, performing select solo dates and gearing up to release his album, The Distance, on March 10th.
Taylor Hicks’ new single, “What’s Right Is Right,” is available at all digital retailers today! The track will appear on Hicks’ forthcoming album, The Distance, which is set for release on March 10th.
The American Idol Season 5 winner is keeping plenty busy on the road playing the role of Teen Angel on a national US tour of Grease. In addition to the Grease performances, he will be headlining shows in select markets. Check out confirmed dates below, and head over to iTunes to download ’What’s Right Is Right” today.
Please visit taylorhicks.com for more info.
Upcoming Taylor Hicks Tour Dates
Headlining Show in tour market
Jan. 20-Feb. 1 Proctor & Gamble Hall Cincinnati, OH
**Jan. 24 20th Century Cincinnati OH
Feb. 3-8 Hippodrome Theatre Baltimore, MD
**Feb. 7 Rams Head Live Baltimore, MD
Feb. 24-March 1 Music Hall Tucson, AZ
March 3-8 Civic Theatre San Diego, CA
**Mar. 5 Belly Up San Diego, CA
March 10-22 Pantages Theatre Los Angeles, CA
**Mar. 18 Roxy Theatre Los Angeles, CA
March 24-April 19 Golden Gate Theatre San Francisco, CA
April 21-26 Keller Auditorium Portland, OR
April 28-May 10 Orange County PAC Costa Mesa, CA
May 12-30 5th Avenue Theatre Seattle, WA
June 2-7 Fox Cities PAC Appleton, WI
June 9-28 Fisher Theatre Detroit, MI
July 7-19 Kimmel Academy Music Philadelphia, PA
July 21-26 National Arts Centre Ottawa, CANADA
July 29-Aug. 2 Broward Center Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Aug. 11-16 The Fox Atlanta, GA
Aug. 18-23 Tampa PAC Tampa, FL
Aug. 25-30 Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN
Sept. 1-6 Bass Hall Ft. Worth, TX
Sept. 8-20 Hobby Center Houston, TX
Sept. 22-27 BJCC Birmingham, AL
Sept. 29-Oct. 1 Durham PAC Durham, NC
Oct. 12-18 The Long Center Austin, TX
Oct. 20-25 Bob Carr PAC Orlando, FL
Oct. 27-Nov. 1 Times Union Jacksonville, FL
Nov. 3-8 Barbara Mann PAC Ft. Myers, FL
Nov. 10-15 Kravis Center West Palm Beach, FL
Nov. 17-22 Landmark Richmond, VA
Dec. 1-6 Ovens Charlotte, NC
Dec. 8-13 King Center Melbourn, FL
Dec. 15-20 Chevrolet Theatre Wallingford, CT
Dec. 22-23, 26-27 Civic Center Des Moines, IA
Kellie Pickler is starting to become a regular on the blogs list. The 22-year old American Idol alum recently wrote a blog entry about her new pet – a monkey! She wrote “The ‘Pickler Family’ has gotten bigger….(and no I didn’t have a kid)…I adopted a Marmoset Monkey! She is the cutest little thing. She is so tiny, only weighs 3 ounces right now. I’m not sure exactly what I am going to name her….so maybe you guys can help me out. I’ll post a picture of her and you guys can comment on what you think I should name her….she is so sweet and she has the best personality. I absolutely love her!!!….and I love you guys too….xoxo pickler ”
Former American Idol star Fantasia Barrino has last-minute deal with financiers saved her North Carolina house which she bought in 2007 from going under the hammer via an auction block.
Fantasia Barrino, the winner of the reality talent show American Idol in 2004 purchased the six-bedroom house in Charlotte, North Carolina in March 2007 for $1.3 million. But thanks to the great American dream she could not manage her finances as expected and bumped into financial trouble in 2006 after she was forced to borrow more than $68,000 from Broward Energy Partners to pay her taxes.
That’s really the root cause of the US financial mess and as other world leaders have said the developing countries have had to bare the brunt of mistakes committed in the US.
Just cause making videos & music may have put stress onto you U still gotta control ur life I mean you are another human being trying to figure out what life has in store for you and being famous is added responsibility that weak shoulders like those of Fantasia might have found hard to handle the sudden riches pouring her way.
American Idol is welcoming a fourth judge in the form of Kara DioGuardi. The 37-year old will sit alongside Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson and will use her background as a songwriter/producer in the upcoming eighth season of the show which will premiere on January 2009. The show’s executive producer Simon Fuller says “We are turning the heat up on ‘Idol’ this year and are thrilled to welcome Kara to the judges’ table. She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America’s most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show.” I bet they’re doing this to get the ratings up from last season. The producers must be hoping for some catty fights between the women like how it goes on X-Factor.
She might have been booted off the American Idol stage for her ties to the world of bondage but reject Frenchie Davis didn’t have a chance of having that happen again. In fact, it probably got her into her most recent gig. The season 2 loser performed at a Toronto street fair last week but this wasn’t any local balloon festival or groundbreaking. Frenchie actually performed at a leather and fetish fair! I think the safe word to describe her taking this gig is “desperate”. Oh well, at least it sets her apart from the others who are pretty much nameless faces to me.
I don’t know who he’s trying to fool but I have to admit, he got some attention. American Idol reject David Hernandez pretended to be a straight guy this past weekend. The former stripper and bartender at gay clubs started macking on some desperate blonde in San Diego. The girl is allegedly a fame-seeking briefcase chick on ‘Deal or No Deal’. Why would she stick with David when he’s not even famous? The two stuck close to each other and even made out openly in public. Could you say desperate and completely fake? I bet they were the ones who leaked the pictures of their holiday together.
Reese Witherspoon paid a visit to the New Orleans Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom School where at-risk children have the chance to become community leaders. The actress’s experience will air on the American Idol special ‘Idol Gives Back’ on April 9 on FOX. Of the experience, Reese said “Once you have children in your life, you can no longer close your eyes to people… who are in a similar situation.”
The American Idol special raised over $75 million for charity last year. Here’s to hoping that they will be able to raise more money to help more people this year.
After High School Musical stars Lucas Grabeel and Monique Coleman showed up for the Australian Idol finale, it seems they’ve fallen in love with Australia – or maybe not. They were actually there to continue promoting the release of High School Musical 2 Extended Edition to Disney DVD.
If you’re over summer and already into the holidays, you can rock around the Christmas tree with Lucas and Monique on ‘A Disney Channel Holiday’ CD where they sing ‘Let it Snow’ and ‘Christmas Vacation’ respectively. Co-stars Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu along with Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers and The Cheetah Girls are also featured on the disc.
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