Fantasia Barrino is released from a North Carolina hospital
Fantasia Barrino has been released from the hospital, according to her manager Brian Dickens.
The 26-year-old “American Idol” champion has been hospitalized since Monday night after she overdosed on aspirin and a sleeping aid, according to a statement Dickens issued Tuesday.
“She has been lifted up by the outpouring of love and support from her fans, ” Dickens wrote in a new statement. “She is more committed than ever to her daughter and her work because they are her heart, her soul and inspiration.”
Read more at the LA Times
Jennifer Lopez Still in Running for ‘American Idol’
Gossip Cop has learned from our rock-solid insider that “negotiations are still going with Jennifer, ” and that today’s reports of the star’s demands thwarting a deal “are wildly exaggerated.”
But as of now, Lopez is absolutely still in the running, despite rumors.
They broke the initial story…
Read more at Gossip Cop
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According to peeps who went to Kris Allen’s private radio gig today in Cleveland, Ohio, the music video for “The Truth” will premiere on Monday. Also, he reportedly told fans that info about his Fall tour schedule will be released in the next few weeks.
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Tonight’s Lopez Tonight, 11 pm on TBS, features Jennifer Hudson’s fiance, David Ortunga taking part in tonight’s WWE Karaoke. Jennifer will make an appearance, so tune in…
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Via IdolsNow: “It may be August, but KATHARINE McPHEE recorded “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” today for her forthcoming holiday album.”
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Lil Rounds tweets that she’ll be releasing a single, “Hello Twitter World!! I will be releasing my new Hit Song 911 next month or it may be a little sooner than that but I’ll keep u guys posted!”
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More Headlines after the JUMP…
Curt Smith of Tears For Fears wooed as ‘Idol’ judge
Interesting tidbit from Rodney Ho at the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
And proving how far afield “Idol” went seeking judges, today I was interviewing Curt Smith, lead singer of Tears For Fears today to promote the duo’s August 26 appearance at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. Even HE talked with “Idol” producers about becoming a judge. Though open to the idea, he doubts he’s among those seriously in the running.
Who hasn’t TPTB asked to be Idol judge? Read more at the AJC.
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Both Adam Lambert and Daughtry will perform in Singapore for the 2010 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix, running September 24-26. Performance dates to be announced.
More information at Singaporegp.sg
Jesus at Austin ‘American Idol’ Audtions
AUSTIN, Texas – Thousands of people, most of them between the ages of 15 and 29, stood in line outside the Frank Erwin Center in Austin for their chance to be next winner of “American Idol.”
FOX 26 Morning News reporter and “American Idol” expert Ruben Dominguez met several of the patient people who tried to overcome the Texas heat, including an ‘entertainer’ named Jesus who most likely is not eligible to audition for the competition since he appears to be more than 29 years old.
See the video at FOX26
KIDZ BOP Launches National KIDZ Star USA Talent Search for Kids and Teens
NEW YORK, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ — KIDZ BOP, the #1 kids’ music brand in the US, today announced the launch of the first annual KIDZ Star USA Talent Search, a national talent competition for kids and teens ages 15 and under. The online talent search is hosted on KIDZ BOP’s leading social networking and video sharing website and gives aspiring young singers a shot at fame, right from home. Now through August 31st, kids can upload a :90 second performance video to KidzStarUSA.com to compete for a chance to win a recording contract, a starring role in their own music video and a special appearance in the next KIDZ BOP TV commercial. A panel of celebrity judges, including Jason Castro, American Idol semi-finalist and Atlantic recording artist, and Sherry Kondor, award-winning pop music producer and manager of artists such as Jesse McCartney, will mentor the contestants and help select the winners. Additional Judges will be announced shortly. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote online for their favorites to help determine the semi-finalists and grand prize winner. In the first weeks of competition, almost 10, 000 kids have submitted video entries to KIDZ Star USA.
Read more at PRNewswire.com
NL Interview: American Idol’s Andrew Garcia Wants Album Like Chris Brown, Duet With Adam Lambert
Taking songs by girls and flipping them was Andrew Garcia’s thing when he competed on season 9 of American Idol. No one could forget his brilliant acoustic remix of Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up.” Seriously, no one for could forget it and they wouldn’t let Andrew forget it, either.
Even when he had a good performance, it was that magical moment that set the bar so high for the California native that the light of each performance after seemed dim. That was until Andrew re-imagined Chris Brown’s pop masterpiece “Forever” (strangely enough on an R&B theme night) and got his groove back.
Read more at Neon Limelight
Adam Lambert Supports Art and Music in Classrooms
Season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert’s Glam Nation tour isn’t just about performing – it’s also about helping students across the country. Throughout the tour, Adam is asking fans to “Glam A Classroom” through DonorsChoose.org, an online charity that connects individuals looking to make a difference with classrooms in need. To date, Adam’s fans have contributed nearly $60, 000 to art and music classroom projects, reaching more than 57, 000 students in need.
Read more at American Idol.com
Days before her hospitalization, Fantasia Barrino vowed to get ‘back to herself’
Barrino has never held her tongue, and a sit-down interview last week after the taping was no different.
“For awhile I thought it was almost over, ” she bluntly said of her recording career. Her second album had lackluster sales, compared to her post-“Idol” debut. “I thought maybe people didn’t want to hear what I’ve had to say or hear my music. To have an album out now … I know how long we fought for it. This album I went through a lot of things. I’m happy that it took so long, because I feel like I can’t do anything without a testimony. Without it being real.”
Read more the LA Times
What’s Next For Fantasia After Overdose? PR Expert Weighs In
In the day since former “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino was rushed to a North Carolina hospital after an apparent suicide attempt, reaction from her fans has been mixed. Some have expressed their support for the singer, while others have criticized her for being “selfish, ” given that she is the mother of a 9-year-old girl.
While that criticism might seem harsh, it’s certainly par for the course, according to public-relations executive Howard Bragman, who has overseen the career rehabilitations of Isaiah Washington and Naomi Campbell. Barrino can’t worry about what some of her fans might think of her right now, he said, because she has to focus on her own health. And no matter how bad things seem right now, the forgiveness will come.
Read more at MTV
Fantasia’s Life Is Still No ‘Fairy Tale’: A Timeline
Catapulted to superstar “American Idol” status in a few short months, then distracted by men, family trouble and alleged money problems ever since (culminating in an apparent suicide attempt Monday), Fantasia Barrino could easily be the subject of more than one “Behind the Music” episodes at the young age of 26.
Let’s take a look at the highs and lows of Fantasia’s career.
Read more at MTV
Jeff Probst talks ‘American Idol’ (video)
“They’re blowing it up…”
Not as bad as it sounds! Probst says that every reality show gets to the stage where drastic changes need to be made. He also predicts a bright future for X Factor.
Watch the Video at the Hollywood Reporter
The Reality Makeover That Failed
Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance began its seventh season by radically reinventing itself—but the changes haven’t worked and, going into its finale Wednesday, viewers have fled.
At the beginning of its seventh season, So You Think You Can Dance attempted something no competition show of its age has ever done: an extreme makeover.
Over its first five seasons, So You Think You Can Dance grew to become the best network competition series despite having a fraction of American Idol’s audience and debuting every year immediately after its Fox sibling. But when the show was given a high-profile fall run for the first time last year, it stumbled. After that misstep, So You Think You Can Dance executive producer and head judge Nigel Lythgoe—who was recently re-hired to produce and re-work American Idol after a two-season absence as its showrunner—announced he would overhaul SYTYCD, as it’s often called, when it returned in late May.
Read more at the Daily Beast
EXCLUSIVE: Jane Lynch confirmed for ‘SNL’
Ryan Murphy confirmed exclusively to THR that “Glee” star Jane Lynch will host NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” in October of this year.
“I notified her by accident, ” Murphy told THR at the “Eat Pray Love” premiere in New York. “‘Saturday Night Live’ called to say, ‘Would you give us Jane for a week in October?’ We just don’t do that, but for Lorne Michaels, I said yes.”
Read More at the Hollywood Reporter
