Idol Headlines for 2/25/09

Nick Mitchell defies ‘American Idol’ norm

The judges have bought the schtick so far. Will America?

Mitchell à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  or perhaps Gentle? à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  is scheduled perform for viewer votes Wednesday for the first time. The crowning of such a jester has left many in the “Idol” audience wondering: Who the heck is this guy?

Bob Appleby, a friend and former classmate who started the “Brookfield Loves Nick Mitchell” group on Facebook, said Mitchell is “a natural entertainer.”

Associated Press

Michigan piano man Matt Giraud tries for ‘American Idol’ finals

Listen up, Michigan. You’ve got a candidate in the “American Idol” top 36 who’s about to sing for his future.

Matt Giraud, 23, has ties across the region and state. He grew up in Ypsilanti, played drums at the Detroit World Outreach church in Redford, and lives now in Kalamazoo Township, where he performs at local clubs.

Tonight, the soulful singer-songwriter is part of the second group of “Idol” semifinalists competing for a slot in the finals.

Freep.com

American Idol’s Langseth is Minnesota’s last chance at fame

Jesse Langseth, youngest sister of Johnny Lang, will be performing her solo tomorrow night in hopes of making it into the Top 12.

The Pioneer Press profiles Langseth so we finally get some background on our homegrown lady.

Langseth was last seen on the show during the elimination round for the Top 36. She had to do a “sing-off” with another contestant to secure her spot.

Citypages.com

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

It’s another Minnesotan’s turn on ‘American Idol’

With bikini calendar girl Casey Carlson jettisoned last week, all of Minnesota’s “American Idol” hopes rest with Minneapolis singer Jesse Langseth.

Langseth, the 26-year-old sister of blues prodigy Jonny Lang, performs live tonight on the FOX-TV talent show. She is among the contestants trying to advance to the final 12. That dozen will learn their fate the next night, also telecast live.

Star Tribune

Early favorite Gokey is in a tough position on ‘Idol’

Danny Gokey is an early favorite to win this season’s “American Idol,” which is a tough position to be in.

Just ask David Archuleta.

Gokey is a favorite not just for his vocal talents but for his personal story. And, believe it or not, he’s already getting criticism in some quarters for “using” his personal story to advance his career.

Gokey, 28, lost his 27-year-old wife, Sophia, last July. (She died during surgery intended to correct a congenital heart defect.)

Deseret News

‘American Idol’ Wannabes Norman Gentle, Adam Lambert, Megan Corkrey Up Next

The next round is filled with singers who’ve flown mostly under the radar to date, plus a few drama queens who have managed to get their share of the spotlight since the first auditions. First on that list, of course, is Nick “Norman Gentle” Mitchell, 27, the spangly shirt-and-headband-wearing pride of Brookfield High School à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  which also spawned season two’s 10th-place finisher, Julia DeMato. The comedian/singer is one of the most unlikely “Idol” top-36 contestants to date, and it remains to be seen if his funnyman shtick will fly with voters after he charmed the judges in Hollywood.

MTV

Who’s got Danny Gokey fever?!

Then thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Danny. Our forefathers did not grant the American people freedom of the press so the Milwaukee media could stand idly by and let the public to sleep on Danny. For those that donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t follow national election news, “Danny” is 28-year-old church music director Danny Gokey, who recently was named to the top 12 on American Idol. (Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll attempt to move deeper into the competition starting tonight.) Andà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ OMG!à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s totally from here, just like Gene Wilder, the Violent Femmes, the Fonz statue, and the mom from Malcolm And The Middle. You, me, or Fox 6 could totally hang outside of Gokeyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s house like a jilted ex-lover turned stalker if we wanted.

Decider.com

Ex-American Idol Finalist Says Adam Lambert Should Be Kicked Off Show

This week they spoke with Mikalah Gordon. She told them she liked the addition of the new judge, Kara DioGuardi. She liked Norman Gentle (as long as he stayed true to his quirky self). And she decided to love Tatiana Del Toro (as opposed to hating her) and her dramatics.

But, she told “Eye On Idol,” Adam Lambert should be sent home because of his prior experience in “Wicked.” She thought Lambert was talented, she said, but he came to “American Idol” with a fan base and she didn’t see any difference between his situation and that of Joanna Pacitti, the Top 36 finalist that was given the boot and replaced just before the Final 12 elimination rounds.

Associated Content

Real men watch (and gamble on) American Idol

Season 8 of American Idol is already in full swing, with Simon and the rest of the judges close to paring the list to the Final 12. Be a man and drop some coin on the outcome.

Basketball has treated me like she were a woman scorned as of late. And like any jilted lover, she brought pain into my life. I know how to take a hint, and will be giving her some time to calm down. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll revisit her come mid-March. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll take her to a Dance in hopes that her sweet lovins return to me.

Until then, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll stick to what I know best with MMA. Right around the corner is another game that Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve had a high success rate with à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ American Idol.

Live shows are currently airing to cut the contestant pool down to the Final 12. I have been wagering on the show for two years, and was able to spot the eventual winner early on in both seasons in Jordin Sparks and David Cook.

SBR Forum.com

Melinda, Phil, Gina and Chikezie to tour

Feel like spending spring break with some Idols? You could, if youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re near a stop on the American Stars in Concert: Spring Break tour, which brings together four Idols from the past two seasons of American Idol. The tour, which starts March 15 in Ft. Pierce, Fla., features Season 6ers Melinda Doolittle, Phil Stacey and Gina Glocksen, as well as Season 7à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Chikezie. The shows will include solo, duet and ensemble performances. Tickets will be available at the venues and via Ticketmaster.com.

USA Today

Brooke White: “I Wouldn’t Have Made It On This Season” of Idol

TVGuide.com: Why, because of the new format?
White: Well, I guess they’re going back to the first few seasons with the Wildcard Round. I didn’t watch the first few seasons; I started watching later with, like, Season 5, and that was the other format. I dunno à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  it may be a little harder now because they had groups in Hollywood Week. We didn’t have groups in Hollywood Week. I just got to do my thing and I don’t know how I would’ve done this year or in a group … Groups are hard because you have to work together and if you don’t get along, they can sense that and then you’re done. It’s so much more dramatic now. So I’m just thankful to have made it through last year à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  and I was sick too and that was hard. I’m doing this campaign now called “I Don’t Want to Miss” to educate people about the flu and how to prevent it.

TV Guide

Kelly Clarkson Wants You Back … Maybe

Kelly Clarkson is not over you, but she’s moved on. This much is clear on her new album All I Ever Wanted, a breakup record that isn’t so much about breaking up with anyone in particular as it is about breaking up with everyone in the entire world.

This is because, in some way, we’re all her exes. We have all kicked her to the curb in favor of someone new (Katy Perry?), moved on with our lives and convinced ourselves we are happier without her. This may or may not actually be the case à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  we still haven’t deleted her from our cell phones, still see her name lurking there on our IM list and sometimes, when it is very late at night and we are very drunk, we have to try very hard not to send her a text message. These things are complicated.

MTV

Kelly Clarkson Gets Warm Reception in the UK

Looking as if her time overseas is paying off, Kelly Clarkson has grabbed up the number one spot in the UK midweek sales for her new single à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“My Life Would Suck Without Youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ .

The former American Idol winner is currently living it up in London, as she was spotted heading to a BBC Radio One interview earlier today (February 24).

celebrity-gossip

Bo Bice is not your typical rock star

Bo Bice is not snotty, for one. He was asked to perform his song, Blades of Glory in the blockbuster hit of the same name back in 2007 by his friend, Ben Stiller.

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“It was hilarious to be sitting in front of a piano in a powder blue suit making a music video for a song that was going to be in a movie with Will Ferrell and Jon Heder,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  says Bice.

King of Prussia Courier

Carrie Underwood: LAX Hottie

Joining the mass exodus of celebrities leaving Los Angeles post-Oscars, Carrie Underwood was spotted heading for the security checkpoint at LAX International Airport yesterday (February 23) afternoon.

The à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Jesus, Take the Wheelà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  songstress looked to be having a good time as she prepared to depart, smiling as she tried to manage her carry-on luggage.

celebrity-gossip

Clay Aiken: Can Family Help Save His Music Career?

Clay Aiken may have been dropped from his record label, but there’s no need to worry just yet. The American Idol crooner has some major family connections in the music biz.

You see, his son’s uncle is mega-producer David Foster. David’s sister, Jaymes, gave birth to Parker Foster Aiken in August.

“Clay is family,” says Uncle David, who has produced Grammy-winning hits for superstars like Whitney Houston, Madonna, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand. “And because Clay is family, if he needs my help, I’m happy to help him.”

E Online

The new Melinda Doolittle: Proudly old-fashioned

Melinda Doolittle had many reasons to let nearly two years pass between the end of her “American Idol” stint and the beginning of her solo recording career. The Season 6 third-place runner-up spent time mulling over the styles that she’d already mastered during years spent as a background singer: She could handle gospel, standards, blues, rock and R&B, and had a hard time choosing which of those would be her focus. In addition, she needed to put together a management team and find the right record label.

Doolittle wasn’t waiting for Barack Obama to be elected. But the timing works in her favor. Like the nation’s newly minted champion of hope, Doolittle has a particular gift for conviction.

LA Times

Stars Attend World Premiere of Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience

The Jonas Brothers weren’t the only young celebrities on the red carpet. Friends such as Demi Lovato and Jordin Sparks attended the screening, as well.

Click on the following photos to see who else was there:

Hollywood Gossip.com

Are You the Next ‘American Idol’?

If you’ve always felt you could be the next “American Idol,” ET has the inside scoop on how to make your dream a reality — sort of!

If you have been itching to perform in front of Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell, Konami Digital Entertainment has made it possible with the release of Konami’s Karaoke Revolution ® Presents: American Idol Encore 2! And, if you hit all the right notes, you might even get a few kind words from the Brit Wit himself. Your singing ability actually determines what the judges have to say about your performance.

You can karaoke with friends and family — or in front of the judges — using the brand new co-op head-to-head mode (Xbox 360 and PS3 only) to 40 hit songs ranging from the ’70s to today and on four new stages, including the finals stage from the 2008 season of “American Idol.”

ET Online

‘American Idol’: The 11 Most Shocking Flameouts

They started out strong in the competition, but wonky song choices, fashion missteps, and vocal deficiencies ended these front-runners’ ‘Idol’ aspirations

Entertainment Weekly

Simon Cowell could lose  £15m

EVEN X Factor chief SIMON COWELL isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t immune from the worldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s economic troubles.

The music mogul is terrified he could lose millions in a property venture that has hit the buffers in Barbados.

Si has sunk  £15million into buying a villa on the islandà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s proposed  £280million Clearwater Bay development, which will feature a five-star hotel.

But construction was halted last week and a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“strategic reviewà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  is taking place.

A pal of Simonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s admitted: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a big problem. Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s got a lot of money tied up over there and doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know yet whether heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s going to get it back.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

The Sun.co.uk

Just a joke: Cowell has no deep-freeze plan

LOS ANGELES (AP) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  A spokeswoman for Simon Cowell says reports that the “American Idol” judge wants to be frozen after death are greatly exaggerated.

Cowell was making a tongue-in-cheek remark at a dinner in London two weeks ago with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other guests, spokeswoman Lisa Dallos said Tuesday.

But the cryogenics comment that Dallos said was meant as a joke was trumpeted in a number of news reports as a serious plan by Cowell, a music industry executive and TV producer (“America’s Got Talent,” Britain’s “The X Factor”).

Associated Press

PAULA: FOURTH JUDGE IS MISTAKE

PAULA Abdul isn’t too keen on the addition of fourth judge Kara DioGuardi to “American Idol” this season.

It’s nothing personal, she says – just business.

“Kara and I have known each other for years and we get along great,” Abdul tells the March 9 issue of OK! magazine.

“But we tried four judges before and it doesn’t work.”

NY Post

‘So You Think You Can Dance’ to return on May 21

The season 5 premiere of Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance has been set for a two-hour episode on Thursday, May 21, and another 120-minute show on Wednesday, May 27. Cat Deeley will return as host; judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy will be back, too. Auditions are currently underway and will continue through March in Denver, Memphis, and Seattle.

Entertainment Weekly

DWTS’ Cheryl Burke Gained Weight After Quitting Birth Control

Dealing with the incessant scrutiny over her body last year was “tough,” Cheryl Burke says in a new interview.

The Dancing With the Stars celeb, 24, blames her weight gain on stopping birth control.

“I decided over the summer to stop taking birth control pills. I did it thinking that I was going to lose more weight for the season,” she tells the latest issue of TV Guide. “But it actually did the opposite. It made me gain weight.”

See stars who have gotten scary skinny

She denies she is an emotional eater. “If anything, when I am stressed or emotional, I don’t eat,” she says.

She still doesn’t know who spread those rumors that she had a fling with her married former partner, Drew Lachey, but she thinks it was someone on the DWTS tour.

US Magazine

‘Dancing with the Stars” Cheryl Burke Goes Solo

“Dancing with the Stars” two-time champ Cheryl Burke shot her first solo TV Guide Magazine cover — and only ET was behind the scenes.

“We are going for a sexy look — a changed woman,” Cheryl, who has lost weight since being taken to task in the media last year for her weight gain, tells ET.

As a result, she says she totally understands what Jessica Simpson has had to endure since unflattering photos of her have been plastered in print and on the Internet. .

ET Online

ETA:

Meet the Faces of Round Two: Allison Iraheta

We spoke by phone Friday with young Allison Iraheta. The spunky 16-year-old will be facing the voters Wednesday night as the semifinals go to round two. Below are excerpts from our conversation.

LA Times

Meet the faces of Round Two: Mishavonna Henson

We spoke by phone Friday with Mishavonna Henson. The self-assured and hilarious 18-year-old will face the voters Wednesday night as the semifinals go to round two. Below are excerpts from our conversation.

LA Times

Interview with birthday girl Kimberly Caldwell

In anticipation of her 27th birthday today, “Idol Tracker” got down to business with Kimberly Caldwell. With her TV career as crazy as ever and a new album on the way (preview below), it seems this season 2 contestant has a lot to celebrate.

LA Times