You might want to check out my Idol Finale Week Facts AND Rumors thread: Pia Toscano is rumored to be duetting with Charice, Steven Tyler is rumored to be performing “Dream On” with a Full Orchestra and the tidbit below, which is confirmed. Check out the thread HERE. I’m adding to it all the time.
More ‘American Idol’ Finale Performers Revealed
A production source tells The Hollywood Reporter that in addition to U2’s Bono and The Edge (who are performing with the cast members from Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), show judge Steven Tyler will be singing onstage.
And, he’ll be in good company. According to the source, the Aerosmith frontman will be joined by Carrie Underwood, Lady Gaga and Beyonce who will perform a group medley along with contestants Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina.
Read more at THR
‘American Idol’s’ Nigel Lythgoe predicts the winner will be ‘the one with the most votes’
But of course, someone had to ask him about the upcoming “Idol” finale. Nigel says the winner will be “the one with the most votes.”
He does think that “Idol” has gotten back on track, comparing it to the way “SYTYCD” has kept its format consistent.
“American Idol” got to much into “focusing on judges instead of the contestants, ” says Lythgoe. “I thought, ‘These are mistakes being made in front of my very eyes.’ Would I have done that if I were there? … I do think the public or your viewers or your fans need to know where they are. More importantly, keep the show up to date, keep it relevant and keep it entertaining. If you continue to do that, you maintain a successful show.”
Read more at Zap2it
Scotty McCreery could be most popular ‘American Idol’ ever, says Nigel Lythgoe
“If Scotty wins, I believe he could be the biggest ‘American Idol’ selling artist of all time, ” Lythgoe tells Zap2it.
“Whoever it is, the fact is, it’s America’s vote.”
Read more at Zap2it
Rasmussen: Scotty McCreery favored to win ‘American Idol
Scotty McCreery’s the heavy favorite to win American Idol this week, but there’s still room for Lauren Alaina to make a move, according to a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Rasmussen surveyed 668 American Idol viewers, nearly half of whom think the 17-year-old from North Carolina will take the title Wednesday. And where does Scotty have the biggest advantage?
Read more at USA Today’
‘American Idol’ Owner Faces Lawsuits Over Planned Sale
NEW YORK – American Idol owner CKx Inc. on Tuesday said it is dealing with several lawsuits that argue that the company in its recent agreement to be acquired by private equity firm Apollo Global Management for $511 million failed to secure a high enough price tag for its shareholders – or, as the company summarized in a regulatory filing, “to obtain fair consideration for CKx’s stockholders.”
In a regulatory filing, CKx, which through its 19 Entertainment also produces So You Think You Can Dance and also owns rights to the name and likeness of Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali, mentioned that “three lawsuits have been initiated on behalf of a putative class of public stockholders of CKx.”
Read more at the Hollywood Reporter
Exploring the Strange Relationship between Bob Dylan and American Idol
Yet despite this disparity, Dylan and his music have crossed paths with American Idol at several points throughout the show’s ten-season run. Covers from contestants, comments from the judges, even a rumored gig on the show itself—the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s presence has been felt on Idol more times than you might think. Here’s a list of some of the more interesting examples of the overlap between the two fixtures of American popular music.
Read more at Popdust
‘American Idol’ Season 10’s Other Winners And Losers
Though it has ruled the TV for much of the past decade, there were no guarantees that “American Idol” would lord the airwaves when season 10 kicked off in January. But with a champion about to be crowned in the battle of the country teens between Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, we thought we’d convene a panel of experts to sift through this year’s other winners and losers.
Read more at MTV
‘American Idol’ Finale Song — The Nic Cage Connection
Nicolas Cage has a surprising connection to a song on the “American Idol” finale tonight — because TMZ has learned, the actor’s brand new daughter-in-law wrote the tune three years ago.
The name of the song is “Like My Mother Does” co-written by Nikki Williams — who married Cage’s son Weston last month in Tennessee.
Read more at TMZ
NAIMA ADEDAPO ON THE AMERICAN IDOL FINALE, THE JUDGES, AND THOSE AMAZING EYES
The countdown to the American Idol Finale showdown is in progress and our very own Chris Leary is at the Nokia talking to many of the Idol contestants. Check out Chris’ interview with Naima Adedapo. She talks about her experience, what she thinks of the judges, and runs us through the essentials she’s got on her “Going on American Idol Tour must have list”
See the Video at Fox All Access
PAUL MCDONALD ON HIS SECOND GIRLFRIEND AND THE AMERICAN IDOL FINALE
As the American Idol Finale festivities continue, our very own Chris Leary caught up with American Idol contestant Paul McDonald (aka ”pearly whites”). McDonald talks about his American Idol ride, and the trials of trying to sneak his girlfriend and second girlfriend onto a plane. Check it out, and then be sure to catch the ultimate singing showdown when Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina battle it out on stage – tonight on American Idol 8PM ET/PT on FOX.
See the Video at FOX ALL ACCESS
‘American Idol’ finale: Who cares?
“It’s been a really strange season, ” said MJ Santilli, who runs one of the most popular blogs among “Idol” fans, MJ’s Big Blog. “I think a lot of the early buzz (was) around the judges, but I never got a sense of a lot of buzz around some of the contestants.”
Worse than a lack of buzz has been the backlash regarding contestants who were cut early (remember Pia Toscano?) and the final pair — aspiring country singers Lauren Alaina, 16, and Scotty McCreery, 17.
Exclusive: Brad Paisley: “I’d Never Be On The Voice!”
US: How do you like hosting numerous Country Music Shows with Carrie Underwood?
BP: Carrie and I have a duet on this new album. We are really good friends and get along fantastic. There is not a finer singer or person in our industry. She’s got such class. Award shows can be long, they’re high pressure and they’re tedious and boring if they’re not done correctly. I like the creative aspect of it.
Read more at US
Kris Allen Re: Scotty, Lauren, Memorial Day Concert, ‘Glee’ and His Next Album/Matt Damon Put Young Co-star Colin Ford At Ease
“American Idol” Season 8 winner Kris Allen shrugs off the fact that his two favorites for this year’s winner — Haley Reinhart and Casey Abrams — didn’t make it to the final showdown.
“It is what it is. The people in the finale are great, too — Lauren and Scotty. I can’t imagine going through what they’re going through at that age, so kudos to them, ” adds the 25-year-old performer, speaking of 16-year-old Lauren Alaina and 17-year-old Scotty McCreery.
Read more at ArcaMax
Anthony Fedorov Headlines as Joseph At The King Center 6/18-19
Former American Idol contestant, Anthony Fedorov, will be headlining in the title role of Joseph when the dazzling family favorite, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat comes to the King Center in Melbourne, Florida on June 18th and 19th.
Read more at Broadway World
David Archuleta – Season 10 Idol Finale
Fox wins broadcast season; CBS tops in viewers
Fox is projected to win the broadcast season among the coveted adults 18-49 demographic for the seventh consecutive time.
CBS can also claim a victory: The network wrapped up 2010-11 as the most-watched broadcaster, a title the network has held eight out of the past nine years.
Read more at EW
‘Glee’: Matthew Morrison ‘kind of scared’ filming New York season finale
I hadn’t done much filming in New York, ” he tells Zap2it. “I did an episode of ‘Sex and the City’ way back, but the atmosphere [of the ‘Glee’ finale] was a little freaky. It kind of scared some of us. We performed at open places like Central Park and Lincoln Center, and it was just very exposing. There were thousands of people there — but when they yelled ‘Action!, ‘ everyone was very quiet and respectful of our process. That’s a real testament to New Yorkers.”
Morrison is especially happy the Season 2 “Glee” wrap-up lets him perform “Still Got Tonight, ” the second single (after “Summer Rain”) from “Matthew Morrison.” He reflects, “Sometimes, I get asked what’s similar or different about me and Will. I knew right out of high school that I needed to be in New York, and I did everything in my power to get there.
Read more at Zap2it
‘So You Think You Can Dance’s’ Mary Murphy: Kirstie Alley ‘could never make it’
Mary Murphy, who returns to the judge’s table on “So You Think You Can Dance” when the show launches on Thursday (May 26), admires Kirstie Alley’s unlikely longevity, but says the “Dancing with the Stars” competitor probably wouldn’t last long on the FOX dance competition show.
“They’re two completely different things, ” said Murphy in a Tuesday interview. “Kirstie Alley could never, unfortunately make it, on ‘So You Think You Can Dance.'”
Read more at Zap2it
