Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina are set to debut on the Orpy between 7:30-8:30 CDT. You can listen online HERE.

OFFSTAGE: Idol Stars Ready for Videos

“They really let people see your personality while you are singing the song, and hopefully they can even see what you are feeling when you’re singing that song,” he told me. And Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina, who was walking the carpet with him, finished his thought by adding, “When you hear a song, and then see the art that goes with it, it lets you creates all different types of emotions.”

Read more at CMT.com

David Cook’s guitar player, Neal Tiemann tweets, “I got to play guitar with the kids and staff of PS22 in Staten Island.” Check out the twit vid. David had reached out to the world-renowned choir in May and it looks like all parties made it happen!

Live From CMA Fest: The Frogmen Talk To Lauren Alaina

Live From CMA Fest: The Frogmen Talk To Lauren Alaina

Lauren Alaina stopped by and talked a little American Idol and new music with the Frogmen.

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Read more at KfrogRadio

Crystal Bowersox performs a “secret show” at the Orpy today

@opry: A big thanks to @crystalbowersox, @BrianWalkerLive, and all who came out today! Great show! http://say.ly/Wnqp5N

‘Idol’ winner Taylor Hicks to perform at State Games opening ceremony

Taylor Hicks, a favorite son of Alabama whose singing earned him the Season Five “American Idol” crown, will be the featured performer at the opening ceremony of the Rocky Mountain State Games on Friday, July 29 at 7 p.m.

The talented singer and songwriter will entertain the crowd and the athletes who will march in the evening’s parade of competitors.

The celebration will feature the traditional parade of athletes, a BMX performance by the Yellow Design Stunt Team, gymnastics and taekwondo sport demonstrations, and the lighting of the State Games cauldron by a special celebrity athlete.

Read more at the Gazette.com

Checking in with Taylor Hicks – Playing Great Gigs for Great Causes

Following back-to-back sold-out shows last month at Coos Bay, Oregon’s Mill Casino, an exhausted Taylor Hicks confessed, “I don’t even know where on the map I am right now.” That’s not to say Hicks is indifferent to his Oregon fans – far from it. It simply means that Hicks goes wherever the gigs take him. And for a musician with such a strong work ethic, that translate into a great deal of traveling.

While the rain-soaked Oregon audience may have been yearning for some sunny weather, Hicks was quick to point out how much worse it could be. Having seen his part of the country so mercilessly battered by severe storms, Hicks will be participating in fundraising concerts to help provide relief.

Read more at blogcritics

Simon Cowell on the ‘X Factor’ Shakeup

“Who else are we going choose?” Cowell said about having the Pussycat Doll singer join as a judge after Cole’s exit. He jokingly added about Scherzinger, “She would have killed me if I had chosen anyone else. I literally would have been killed.”

As for Cole’s departure, Cowell said, “I hope we’re going to be friends going forward. She’ll be mad at me for a while, but I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Read more at ExtraTV

The X Factor: Moving On From Judges-Gate

It’s time to move on from the drama over the sudden shift in judges on The X Factor. So says Simon Cowell of British pop singer Cheryl Cole’s sudden replacement by Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, originally slated as the show’s co-host. “It’s about the contestants, they’ve got no interest in us bickering,” Cowell told TV Guide Magazine at the show’s auditions in Newark, NJ on June 9.

Audition rounds already taped that include Cole will be aired when the show premieres in September. “I mean it’s reality TV, there’s no point in lying about it,” Cowell said. “But you know, we didn’t kill anyone.” The bruhaha came about after Cowell offered to switch Cole back to the UK version of The X Factor; when that didn’t work out, he offered her the U.S. slot back, but Cole said no. Hard feelings have evidently arisen. Added Cowell, “I miss her as a friend.”

Read more at TV Guide

Interview: Nasty Nigel – ‘Simon Cowell just wants to be loved’

I think the The Voice [another new US talent show, based on a Dutch hit] must have upset their plans because all of a sudden Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green are judges in it.”

Does he think Cowell will try to be as different as possible on The X Factor? “No. I think Simon’s going to calm down. He’s wanted to be loved for a number of years now. He’s not the cold Simon he used to be. He’s a warmer one.”

Read more at Telegraph.co.uk