Headlines: Melanie Amaro, Sia on Survivor

LUKAS GRAHAM TO PERFORM ON THE “2016 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS” – Billboard and dick clark productions announced today that Lukas Graham will perform on the “2016 Billboard Music Awards.” Also added to the star-studded show are presenters Kate Beckinsale, Priyanka Chopra, Laverne Cox, Mark Cuban, JoJo Fletcher from ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” Lucy Hale, Halsey, Heidi Klum, Kelly Rowland, Seal, Tyrese and Zendaya. The award show will broadcast LIVE from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT on ABC. via dc productions press release

Superstar Performers Revealed for 2016 CMT Music Awards – Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett are on the first list of performers at the 2016 Music Awards, it was announced Thursday (May 19). The never-before-seen performances will take place during the fan-voted awards show premiering live from Nashville on June 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Shelton will be joined by Country Music Hall of Fame members the Oak Ridge Boys for a loud performance of “Doin’ It to a Country Song,” a track from his new album, If I’m Honest. Playing his current hit, “Wasted Time,” Urban will be joined by Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris, tourmates on his Ripcord World Tour 2016. Additional performers will be announced at a later date. – Read more at CMT.com

Melanie Amaro Roars Back To Life With New EP ‘Nice Nasty’ – Now, with a fresh slate, Amaro is expected to release her long-awaited Nice Nasty EP very, very soon. “I’ve been focusing on the new music and trying to really find my sound and start fresh. Being able to be a part of the creative process of making music has been great,” she says. “[With this new EP,] I needed good people around me. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do this on my own. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to make it very far doing it all on my own, either. That played a major role in me wanting to push myself even more. I didn’t want to fail myself and I also didn’t want to fail those people who believed in me, my fans, my family, close friends, my team.” – Read more at Popdust

‘American Idol’ winner visits troops for book signing – McCreery said it is a privilege to have the chance to see Soldiers during his tour. He had two grandfathers who served our nation, one in the Navy and the other in the Air Force. “(The Soldiers) do a lot for us,” said the multi-Platinum-selling singer. “The least I can do is come out here and thank y’all for everything you do.” – Read more at Fort Hood Sentinel

‘American Idol’ Alum Brandon Rogers Talks Eclectic New Album, Following Jennifer Hudson on Finale: ‘I Was Terrified’ – American Idol season six alum Brandon Rogers was one of the more than 50 finalists from the show’s 15 seasons invited to perform on the series finale April 7, though he candidly admits, “I don’t know why I was asked back.” But, Rogers quickly adds, “It was fortuitous for me, because I happened to be working on a project at the time and it was a good reintroduction to the world. They gave me a big solo right after Jennifer Hudson, and I didn’t suck. I was terrified. It was, ‘Let’s have the highest note that Brandon can hit ever immediately following Jennifer Hudson!'” – Read more at Billboard

Life after American Idol: Sonika Vaid – “Idol has really changed my life in the sense that I have made so many connections with so many amazing vocalists who share the same passion as me. There are so many opportunities that have come my way,” she said. To think, she didn’t like her chances going into her Denver audition. “I was like oh, I’m second to last, they’re just ready to cut everyone at the end of it, because they’ve probably filled all their spots or something like that. But going in there I sang my heart out,” she said. The judges agreed especially Harry Connick Jr. who said “I think you can win.” “I went home and I practiced as hard as I could,” Sonika said. – See the Video at FOX 25

Jeff Probst reacts to Sia crashing the Survivor reunion show – ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Okay, I have to ask you about that Sia moment at the reunion show. You literally had a pop superstar bum-rushing the stage! Tell me about that. Also, how can she see through that wig? JEFF PROBST: Oh man, this one may take some time for me to fully unpack. Here’s the short story. Sia and I are friends. We met through Survivor, specifically through John Cochran, whom Sia befriended the year he won. That’s another story entirely. But here’s the most salient fact regarding Sia: I honestly don’t think of Sia as a pop star, even though she is a global phenom. I know her as my friend who is so passionate about the rights of all humans and animals. Whether it’s LGBTF organizations or a random chicken on Survivor, Sia is someone who really cares deeply about equal rights and being a good person regardless your status in life. She’s a really kind soul who happens to write amazing music. – Read more at Entertainment Weekly

Jeff Probst answers Survivor: Kaôh R?ng finale burning questions – ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Okay, I always ask you every season to evaluate the winner. So how does Michele’s game stack up for you and do you think the jury made the right choice? JEFF PROBST: You know me well enough to know that at this point in our run, I won’t contradict a jury. Because I have learned over the years that part of winning is winning over the jury. Michele did that. She earned it. From a big picture view, I think Michele had a lot of momentum going into the vote. She really turned it on at the end. She kicked the afterburners on at the right time! – Read more at Entertainment Weekly

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X: Jeff Probst gives intel on NEXT season – ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What sort of theme do you have cooked up for us for season 33 and why? JEFF PROBST: Survivor: Millennials vs Gen X. It will hook you quickly because you will identify with one group or the other. The differences between the two groups are quickly apparent, and the Millennials often left me challenging my own way of looking at the world. There is so much appealing energy from the Millennials, and yet often that energy leads to quick decisions that aren’t always well thought out. With Gen X, you see a tendency to overthink and get stuck in one way of thinking, which can prevent mistakes, but can also hold you back from seizing opportunities. I feel really confident the audience is going to enjoy the season very much. – Entertainment Weekly

About mj santilli 34830 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!