Today’s Idol Appearances:

• Fantasia performs at Japan Billboard Live, Osaka, Japan
• Allison Iraheta takes part in a live chat, part of Tone’s emerging artists series. Live chat HERE at 6 pm ET.
• Tim Urban is the special guest when the “Idol Across America” mobile van visits Seaport Village in San Diego, Jan 26, 10 AM – 2 PM PST.

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Crystal Bowersox tweets, “@ryanseacrest very happy to go see the kids at egelston hospital. Thanks Ryan, for all you do.”

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Jennifer Hudson will be booked as a guest on the final season of the Oprah Winfrey Show. Time and Date to be announced. If you are “inspired” by Jennifer’s weight loss, you can be a guest on the show.

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More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

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Steven Tyler Hitting On Teenage Idol Contestants: Revolting, Not Amusing

When a 62-year-old man openly hits on a 16-year-old girl — in any context — it’s disturbing. When he does it smack in the middle of one of the few family-friendly hits on primetime network TV, it’s downright disgraceful. And that’s precisely why I’m hoping that executives at Fox, 19, and Fremantle Entertainment will put the kibosh on new (and otherwise quite terrific) American Idol judge Steven Tyler’s tendency to make lascivious comments toward the show’s young female contestants. (Fox officials declined comment on this story.)

Read more at TVLine

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Miranda Lambert, Reba, Carrie Underwood Among Artists Honored At ‘Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country’

Country superstars Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride Jennifer Nettles, Reba and Carrie Underwood are among the artists scheduled to appear and be honored at GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT: SUPERSTAR WOMEN OF COUNTRY, a new concert special produced by dick clark productions to be broadcast at a later date on the CBS Television Network. The special will be taped at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 4.

GIRLS NIGHT OUT: SUPERSTAR WOMEN OF COUNTRY is a special tribute concert featuring an A-list lineup of performers paying respect to today’s most incredible country music female artists, all of whom will be honored with unique accolades from the Academy of Country Music for special achievements in their careers. More talent announcements are forthcoming. Ticket sales from the special will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy.

Carrie Underwood will be recognized for being the only female in the Academy’s history to ever win Entertainer of the Year twice—first in 2008 and again in 2009. (She is the reigning Entertainer of the Year, as the ACM Awards recognize the previous calendar year’s work.)

Read more at TV By The Numbers

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Steven Tyler’s daughter: He’s saving ‘American Idol’!

He joked that he might be one young lady’s long-lost father, based on their similarly plush lips. He kind of creepily admired several young ladies’ appearances, commenting on their clothes and how great it made them look. But hey, he made viewers laugh and brought some much-needed fun to the judges’ table.

But don’t worry. Tyler’s joking is all harmless fun, his daughter Mia told Life & Style magazine. “We’re a very sarcastic family.”

“He’s the funniest man I know,” the model turned photographer added. “He’s saving the show because it was kind of boring before. There’s only so many times you can watch Simon be mean to people.”

Read more at MSNBC

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‘Idol’ Fall Girl — Hospitalized with Busted Ankle

The woman who took that NASTY fall down a flight of stairs on last week’s “American Idol” had to be hospitalized for an injury she suffered in the fall … TMZ has learned.

It all went down in Jersey last September — 16-year-old Nia Drummond flunked her “Idol” audition … and as she made her exit, accidentally tripped and fell down a flight of stairs … an embarrassing accident that aired on “Idol” last week for millions to see.

We’re told Drummond was rushed to a nearby hospital immediately after the nosedive — where she was treated for a sprained ankle.

Read more at TMZ

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10 fearless ‘Idol’ predictions

Season 10 of “American Idol” has already been full of surprises, and more are reportedly in store. Does that mean it will be an unpredictable year? Heck no! Here’s a fearless forecast of 10 things to expect from the show this season.

1. This will be a kinder, gentler ‘Idol’
OK, I’m kind of cheating with this first one. “Idol” producers have already said the show intends to be less mean without cranky Simon Cowell to lean on for its snark.

It’s a smart decision because it eliminates some of the distraction that the change in judges was expected to provide. If there is no mean judge this season, there is no comparison to be made between newbies Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez and Simon. Given that the acerbic Brit is one of a kind (and thank heaven for that), it made sense to change things up when he left.

Read more at MSNBC

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New season of ‘American Idol’ features two Mainers

Two Maine residents have now been confirmed as participants on the hit FOX Network talent show.

Jessica Cunningham of Portland, who was on the show last year, was confirmed Tuesday by the show’s publicists as a contestant on the new season of “American Idol,” which began airing Jan. 19.

Last week, publicists confirmed that Danielle Pease, a 15-year-old high school student from Winthrop, has made it onto the show.

Read more at the Press Herald

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Asheville ‘American Idol’ contestant Caleb Johnson shares scoop

It’s one of the top-rated shows on TV, watched by millions, and out of hundreds of thousands who audition, Erwin High graduate Caleb Johnson made the cut.

At just 19, Johnson tried out in Austin, Texas, and after singing Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage,” all three celebrity judges gave him the thumbs up and a ticket to Hollywood.

Contractual obligations forbid Johnson from speaking about anything past the auditions, so it remains to be heard what the process is like during the show’s Hollywood week and beyond — and, of course, how far he gets. Johnson took some time out to answer the questions that he could. Here’s a little insight into our local celebrity.

Read more at Citizen-Times

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Jennifer Lopez Calls ‘American Idol’ A ‘Natural, Fun Experience’

“It’s just been a very natural, fun experience for us, and I think that’s what’s coming across. But we’re also very serious about what we’re doing, and I think people get that too. Like, we’re not just phoning it in. We actually care about this, we care about the process, we care about music, we care about artists, and you’re getting all that,” she said. “And that’s pretty much how we handle it every day. I’m having a good time.”

Read more at MTV

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David Archuleta answers more fan questions for SWRV

Do you have any plans to pursue more acting?

What’s the worst road trip you’ve ever been on?

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Catching Up With ‘Idol’ Contestant Katie Stevens

With the 10th season of “American Idol” in full swing, Connecticut residents may be curious about Katie Stevens, the Middlebury native who finished eighth last season.

Since the show, Stevens — an avid Twitter updater and fan of the new judges panel on “Idol” — has toured the country, turned 18, graduated high school and packed her bags for the West Coast.

Now living in Los Angeles, Stevens says she is working on an album and “writing with a couple of people who are up-and-coming.”

Read more at Courant.com

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Sir Anthony Hopkins Wants to Be an ‘American Idol’ Judge (VIDEO)

“It’s like the American dream, isn’t it?” he explained after Jimmy Kimmel showed footage of Hopkins cheering on Adam Lambert from the ‘Idol’ audience. “I want to get on the show and become a judge,” he said on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ (weeknights, 12AM ET on ABC). “[But] I couldn’t be tough on them.”

Watch the video at TV Squad

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Behind The Scenes: Jennifer Lopez’s New Music Video, ‘On The Floor’

Hundreds of dance hopefuls showed up in Hollywood to dance their hearts out with J.Lo in the upcoming music video for her new single, “On The Floor” and Access was inside the audition room as for all the hot action!

Via Access Hollywood

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Aiden Grimshaw to secure Syco record deal?

Aiden Grimshaw has apparently been told that he will secure a deal with Simon Cowell’s record company if he performs well on the upcoming X Factor tour.

Ninth-placed Grimshaw was a late addition to the tour lineup, after it was initially reported that only the top eight contestants would appear at the arena shows.

According to The Sun, the 19-year-old has now been informed that he will sign to Syco at the end of the tour if he manages to impress fans during the gigs.

Read more at Digital Spy

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Will Dianna Agron Tackle The Super Bowl For ‘Glee’?

While promoting her new movie, “I Am Number Four,” Dianna Agron chats with Access about her plans for the Super Bowl. Also, was the cast “rambunctious” when they stripped down to their underwear in an upcoming episode? Plus, Dianna talks about Anne Hathaway’s guest appearance on the show.

See the Video at Access Hollywood

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Matthew Morrison Reveals Details From ‘Glee’s’ Underwear Episode

“We did this thing where, one of the characters is singing for the first time… and in order to get over their nerves, they have to see people in their underwear to make them feel better, more confident, about… singing,” Matthew told Access Hollywood as he joined some of his cast members and show creator Ryan Murphy, to shoot an upcoming cover for The Hollywood Reporter.

Beyond Lauren’s first vocal performance, plenty of more developments are in the works for series, including the much talked about potential Jennifer Lopez cameo. According to Matthew, he’d like the newest “American Idol” judge to visit his set with a net on her noggin.

“I think she’s awesome. I’ve actually talked to her before about it,” Matthew told Access. “At one point we were talking about her being a lunch lady… in a hairnet, and stuff… kind of, ‘deglamorize Jennifer Lopez.’”

Read more at Access Hollywood

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Matthew Morrison’s Solo Album: A Preview

Promising a mix of originals and cover songs (one revealed recently by Sir Elton John, who told Parade that he and Morrison had recorded a duet), Morrison recorded tracks for the album in Los Angeles, New York City and London, and collaborated with several writers including Steve Kipner (The Script, Cheryl Cole), JC Chasez, formerly of N Sync, and Britain’s Eg White (Adele, Duffy). “When I started the process, I had a vision of what I wanted it to be, and it’s now completely different,” he says. “I went into it wanting a Justin Timberlake-meets-Michael Buble kind of feel, but what came out of it was something more raw.”

Mercury Records president David Massey, who signed Morrison soon after Glee premiered in 2009, says he hears a little Jason Mraz, too. Maybe it’s the ukulele Morrison plays on one song. “It’s going to be an eclectic album,” says Massey. “There’s a lot of charm it and Matthew did some great songwriting.” Adds Morrison: “I have such respect for the songwriting process now.”

Read more at The Hollywood Reporter

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Kings of Leon Drummer Suggests Ryan Murphy Go ‘Buy a New Bra’

While singer Caleb Followill was quoted trying to ratchet down the tension with Murphy (“This was never meant as a slap in the face to Glee or to music education or to fans of the show”), drummer Nathan Followill is having none of this measured-response business. Nathan just tweeted, “Dear Ryan Murphy, let it go. See a therapist, get a manicure, buy a new bra. Zip your lip and focus on educating 7yr olds how to say fuck.”

Read more at New York Magazine

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PICS: ‘Glee’ Cast Gets Zombified

See more photos at ET