Today’s Idol Appearances: More at IdolStages
Alex Lambert performs at Smith’s Bar and Grill in New York City
Brooke White and Syesha Mercado perform at the Lake Forest Summer Concert Series, Orange County, CA
Bucky Covington performs at the Country Fest, Eau Claire, WI
Fantasia performs at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, Barbados
Jennifer Hudson performs at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Festival
Ruben Studdard performs at the Nashville Dinner Theater
Registration begins today for American Idol 11 auditions in St. Louis! Check out the release form and registration at Americanidol.com. Registration runs through the end of day Monday. Auditions take place on Tuesday, June 28.
Meet & Greeters who talked to Kelly Clarkson at her appearance at the Houston Galleria have her single pushed back from July to August and her album from September to October.
Idol Season 3’s John Stevens posts an update on Facebook, “Hi Everyone, I’ve been very busy with the Beantown Swing Orchestra in New England. We are currently recording multiple albums for future releases. The first of the releases will be an album of original tunes and new arrangements of old standards arranged by Danny Fratina. It will be released this summer and was recorded live with the 18piece big band . It has been an incredible experience. More updates to come!” John, a graduate of the Berklee College of Music has been living in the Boston area, performing solo and with the Beantown Swing Orchestra.
J.Lo: No ‘Idol’ worship
Fox’s “American Idol” has catapulted Jennifer Lopez’ career from lukewarm to red hot in the space of a season.
And the “Jenny from the Block” singer (photo) may use that new found muscle to flex it during her upcoming contract talks.
Whether she returns to AI is anyone’s guess. Negotiations haven’t started in earnest for next season, but On The Money spies are telling us the opening figure in talks could approach $20 million — roughly $8 million over last year.
Lopez — who was ridiculed for signing with AI –made a shrewd move signing for one year, while her fellow judge Steve Tyler inked a three-year deal for a reportedly $6 million per.
The hard-line chatter is that Lopez will take time off to focus on her movie projects and TV shows as well as her music to advertising if the money is not right.
Read more at the New York Post
Jennifer Lopez: Disneyland with the Twins!
Jennifer Lopez takes her 3-year-old twins, Max and Emme, out for a day of fun at Disneyland on Saturday (June 25) in Anaheim, Calif.
The 41-year-old entertainer rode on the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride with Emme, who held on tightly to a lollipop and even let mom steal a bite.
See the photos at Just Jared
‘American Idol’ seeks a star in St. Louis
“American Idol” supervising producer Patrick Lynn says returning to St. Louis was a no-brainer after finding Underwood here and meeting other interesting characters.
“We loved everything about St. Louis, and we had a great time, ” Lynn says. “When we pick a city, we look at where we haven’t gone and where we want to return to, and St. Louis was always a top choice. It wasn’t at the top of the list because every city is at the top of the list. But it was on the list.
“We love the city and we can’t wait to get there. And we love the whole look of the Arch.”
Read more at St. Louis Today
‘Idol’ is looking for ‘lightning in a bottle’
• How many people are you looking to audition in St. Louis?
We don’t have a quota. … But we keep a count of the people that go through, and we never cut off the line. The last person to audition in New Orleans in Season 3 was Fantasia Barrino. Carrie Underwood was somewhere in the middle.
• Does finding Carrie Underwood in St. Louis put pressure on the St. Louis auditions?
It does put pressure on us. We found such great characters there the last time, and we want to be able to bring it again, the next “American Idol.” So it’s the kind of pressure you want. We want to do well this year.
Read more at St. Louis Today
Dr. Dre Makes Surprise Appearance, Presents Diddy With ASCAP Award (Video)
Dr. Dre made a surprise appearance at the 24th ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards on Friday, presenting the ASCAP Founders Award to Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Friday’s event was attended by hundreds of songwriters, recording artists and music industry execs, including Ne-Yo, Jimmy Iovine, Sylvia Rhone, Letoya Luckett, American Idol’s Jacob Lusk, Naima Adedapo, Dirty Money, Foxy Brown, Kelly Rowland, among others.
Read more at Hollywood Reporter
Carrie Underwood Learned Angels From Guy Sebastian Version
Carrie Underwood says she learned to sing ‘Angels Brought Me Here’ for American Idol by listening to the Guy Sebastian version.
Sebastian became the first Australian Idol after signing the song on the final night of the first season of the show.
Carrie says it was a hard song to learn. “I’d say it suits him better though. This is a hard song, ” she tells Undercover.fm.
Carrie Underwood didn’t know of Guy or the song when she was given it. She said it was picked for her. “At the very end the judges or producers pick different songs for us and that was the one that was picked for me. I didn’t know it at the time but I got to go back and listen to him sing it and learn it off that, ” she said.
See the video at Undercover.fm
‘Glee’ a victory in the culture war
By Bill O’Reilly
Although they have not made it an especially big deal, some conservative Americans object to the Fox program “Glee” because it is a politically correct extravaganza that often deals with sexuality among teenagers. This season, actress Gwyneth Paltrow provided some sizzle that awakened any parent in the room, I’ll tell you that.
But there is a social upside to the show. Gays, physically challenged people and overweight kids are all put in a positive light compatible with the show’s liberal tone.
Read more at Boston Herald
