Headlines: Fantasia, Joshua Davis, Justin Guarini, Jennifer Hudson

Tonight on Big Brother, Another Houseguest will be evicted LIVE at 9/8c PM on CBS

Singin’ in the Rain Delays Broadway Arrival – A Broadway revival of the song-and-dance musical Singin’ in the Rain, shepherded by producer Harvey Weinstein, will not arrive on Broadway this fall, as originally reported. Representatives for Weinstein Live Entertainment confirmed to Playbill.com that the project was still on track for Broadway, but a new target season was not revealed. The revival is announced to star Dancing with the Stars’ Derek Hough as Don Lockwood, the role made famous on screen by Gene Kelly. – Read more at Playbill

Rod Stewart, Jennifer Hudson & More Added to ‘Beat Bugs’ Beatles Kids Series – Rod Stewart, Jennifer Hudson, Aloe Blacc, Robbie Williams, Frances, The Lumineers and Tori Kelly have been added to the list of those covering Beatles songs in Beat Bugs, the new Netflix animated series premiering Aug. 3 that will feature songs of the Fab Four sung by contemporary artists. The full lineup was announced today during a Netflix panel at the Television Critics Association meeting. Also, reps revealed the series’ second season will premiere in the U.S. Nov. 18 and Australian viewers will get both seasons at once on the free-to-air Seven Network. – Read more at Billboard.com

Joshua Davis set to record soulful new studio album with Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin while relishing the Michigan summer – Since his impressive third-place finish on “The Voice” in 2015, Davis has kept busy touring the country, writing songs — and now — preparing to enter the studio in August to record a new album with producer Steve Berlin, saxophonist and keyboard player for Los Lobos. “Los Lobos has always been a huge inspiration for me. They’re pioneers in roots rock and American music; they made some really groundbreaking albums,” Davis said. “Steve is a wonderfully creative guy, so I’m excited. Most of my stuff has been self-produced in the past, so it’s gonna be interesting to work with somebody else, but I couldn’t imagine anyone better.” The album which Davis said he hopes to release on Valentine’s Day next year tackles new themes for the songwriter, lyrically documenting the “hopeful side of things.” Musically, it will have a “bare bones, raw and organic” essence. – Read more at LocalSpins.com

Fantasia Special Airs on BET Tonight

Justin Guarini, Michele Ragusa and Euan Morton to Lead New Musical CAKE OFF at Bucks County Playhouse – Broadway, television and film star Justin Guarini returns to Bucks County Playhouse when he joins Tony nominee Euan Morton, Barrymore winner Michele Ragusa and newcomer Aidan J. Lawrence at Bucks County Playhouse for “Cake Off,” a new musical by Sheri Wilner, Julia Jordan and Adam Gwon. “Cake Off”, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch, will preview on August 19, with opening night August 20 and run through September 10, 2016. – Read more at BroadwayWorld.com

James Durbin declares independence with ‘Riot on Sunset’ – “I’ve put out music before,” said Durbin, 27, in reference to his previous two albums on the Wind-Up label. “Those albums were constructed and put together and produced by other people. I love my other records, but this album feels like it’s mine.” Durbin wrote, or co-wrote, seven of the album’s 12 tracks. It was recorded locally at Rocker Studios in Santa Cruz with Durbin’s own band. The video for the album’s first single “Smackdown” was shot at the Kaiser-Permanente Arena.
“Riot on Sunset” is a deft blend of big crunchy rockers and soul-searching ballads, many of which work as a kind of catharsis for a tough youth, said Durbin. “Sunday is Gone” was inspired by his first-ever visit to the grave of his father, who died when Durbin was a pre-teen. – Read more at Santa Cruz Sentinel

Kellie Pickler interview – She said doing so many shows can become a bit of a blur. “It can become monotonous,” Pickler acknowledged. “It bleeds all together. But every place I go has a different energy. Every show has its special moments and people you meet. People say and do things you’ll never forget.” She said it can be a challenge to freshen up songs she has been singing for years. (Pickler has no choice but has to sing hits such as “Red High Heels” and “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful.”) “You almost go on autopilot,’ she said. “That’s why you throw in other songs and covers. There’s new music and you can rotate songs around.” – Read more at AJC.com

Zayn’s ELLE Cover Has Landed – On his decision to leave One Direction: ‘At that time in my life I felt I had done everything I could do there and I just needed to change it up. It didn’t feel brave. I just don’t have it in me to feel fully secure in anything I do. I always strive towards something better. It’s why I think sometimes I come across the wrong way, a bit distant. I’m just stressed out trying to control how I’m perceived. I think about things a lot.’ – Read more at Elle

Phillip Phillips promises ‘a lot of jammin” in Charlotte – Q. Can you talk about your change from writing music in New York and moving to Nashville? A. I wrote almost all the songs in Nashville for this next record. I got to make so many new and wonderful friendships writing there, and it’s just more my vibe. It’s a little slower-paced, but you’re concentrated on working and trying to write the best music you can. I want to keep writing there for years to come. It’s close enough to home, it’s in the South and it’s on the East Coast. I’m an East Coast guy, I’m a Southern dude. It’s just more my vibe and it’s far enough away that I can concentrate as well. – Read more at the Charlotte Observer

About mj santilli 34851 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!