Idol Headlines for 8/29/08

Concert review: ‘American Idols Live’

“American Idols Live,” the live “victory lap” for David Cook, David Archuleta and the rest of the “American Idol” season 7 finalists, proved on Thursday that the hierarchy of those final 10 singers was hardly a case of luck or chance. Everyone on the Ford Center stage had degrees of strong talent, but as the three-hour concert pressed forward and the Jumbotron counted down to the winner, it was clear why some went home earlier than others.

And while Archuleta, Syesha Mercado, Jason Castro and others delivered distinctive and well-received performances, Cook schooled them all. When he was on stage, the Kansas City, Mo. rocker who relocated to Tulsa two years ago occupied that uncommon space where a performance feels like a bond between him and 15,000 new friends, and that quality made the difference between being an “Idol” and a star.

NewsOK

More Idol Headlines After the JUMP…

‘American Idol’ tour has a little something for everyone

“American Idol” fans with short-attention spans should find relief in the show’s national concert tour this time around. Unlike past years, this summer’s coast-to-coast American Idols Live! Tour consists of “mini concerts and not a lot of group numbers,” reassures third-place finisher Syesha Mercado.

Performing in the order they were eliminated on TV, the top ten contestants from season seven of “American Idol” will each perform three to five songs at Cleveland State University Wolstein Center Thursday.

Cleveland.com

American Idol Tour to stop in Kansas City tonight, Saturday

People will get a chance to see the American Idol Tour when it comes to the Sprint Center in Kansas City tonight and Saturday.

All 10 performers featured on the tour had to sing their hearts out to impress à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢sà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  trio of well-known judges: Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

Now, future contestants will have to impress one more.

Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi, who has written songs for artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Pink, Christina Aguilera and many others, will be joining the judgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s panel for à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢sà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  upcoming eighth season.

This change to the countryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s most popular television program has many questioning how the new judgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s presence could affect the show. But regional fans donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t seem to mind all that much.

St. Joes News

Carrie Underwood Dials Up Two Platinum Ring Tones

Hold the phone — three-time Grammy winner and two-time, reigning ACM and CMA Female Vocalist winner Carrie Underwood has added yet another achievement to her long list. Last year, the American Idol Season Four champ’s smash hit, “Before He Cheats,” sold one million ringtones, making her only the second country artist in history to have a song RIAA certified as a Platinum Mastertone. Carrie now becomes the first country artist ever to have two songs hit Platinum Mastertone status with the Grammy-winning “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

American Idol

Jennifer Hudson to be Feted during New York Fashion Week

On Thursday, Americaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s favorite dream girl, Jennifer Hudson, will play a supporting role when she sings the National Anthem before Barack Obamaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s highly anticipated speech at Denverà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Invesco Field. In just a few short weeks, however, the powerhouse vocalist will be the star of a very special evening hosted by none other than Vogue Editor-at-Large, Andre Leon Talley.

Fashion Week Daily reports Talley will be throwing a cocktail party for his favorite American Idol Jennifer Hudson on Tuesday, September 9 in the penthouse of the newly-redesigned Morgan’s Hotel. The cause of celebration will be Hudsonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s self-titled debut album, which is slated for release on September 30.

Gay Wired

Hey Ruben Studdard Even American Idols Have to Pay Uncle Sam

Apparently “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard doesn’t feel like he needs to pay his taxes. And the IRS is not happy.

He owes more than $193,000 in state and federal taxes. Much of it was due for 2003 — the year he won “Idol” and signed a $1-million contract. He was also awarded $2 million a couple of years ago after he sued his former business manager for misappropriated funds.

LA Times

Stardom beckons for Rumer Willis and Katharine McPhee

You might assume that a successful Hollywood career is a safe bet for Rumer Willis and Katharine McPhee.

But they don’t necessarily see it that way despite evidence that the door is already open to them. Twenty-year-old Willis has the advantage of being the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. Katharine, 24, was a popular 2006 runner-up on American Idol and has since launched a successful album.

However, they know how easily things can go wrong. And both confess to being plagued by uncertainty while growing up. They felt like outsiders.

Canada.com

Do rock ballads still have staying power?

This week Daughtry (does this guy really merit the single-name thing yet?) released a version of the classic Foreigner lighter-lifter Feels Like The First Time as a recruitment tool for young voters. I’m curious as to how effective the gambit will be.

I’m not sure how many young voters actually look to Chris Daughtry (that’s right buddy, I used your first name) as a role model, and I’m even less sure how many believe the power ballad is a viable musical form.

The latter worries me far more than the former.

Augusta Chronicle

Girls turn out to see their ‘Idol’ Former finalist Malakar makes Downers Grove appearance

Sanjaya Malakar may not have won “American Idol” last year, but it’s undeniable that he has the “stuff” teen idols are made of.

On Wednesday, teens lined up and hovered around the 19-year-old former “Idol” contestant for pictures, autographs and a chance to touch the singer. Malakar was at Ashyana Banquets in Downers Grove that night for the unveiling of a new Nationwide Insurance commercial he’s starring in.

Nationwide unveiled the spot in New York last week before bringing it to Downers Grove to show Nationwide employees and clients.

Malakar couldn’t have come to Downers Grove without visiting with one of his best friends from “American Idol,” Naperville resident Gina Glocksen.

“It’s hard not to be friends with Sanjaya,” Glocksen said.

Naperville Sun

“Oz the Musical” Features Former “Idol” Talent

And for the leading roles he drew from a specific bank of singers. He hand-picked four of his favorite American Idol singers for specific roles.

“I thought it would be such a cool experience to bring them to Lubbock, and let kids work with people who are in the business,” Hall said. “A lot of kids have never set for on a stage, now they get to do it with celebrities.”

And it didn’t take much convincing for Idol alum Rickey Smith.

“They sent me the script, and I absolutely loved it,” Smith said. “It has different genres – he was too talented to say no.”

Mikala Gordon, Scott Savol and Vonzell Solomon all sang together in Idol season four and Rickey Smith in season two.

My Fox Lubbock

Sound Academy, Toronto – August 27, 2008

TORONTO à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ It started off so good. Honestly, it did.

While ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s nice to have co-headliners that sound different, ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a shame when one act outshines the other. On Wednesday night, two very different pop personas played at Sound Academy for a near-capacity crowd.

While both performers shared a similar fan base, American Idol alumnus Jordin Sparks and baby-faced pop singer Jesse McCartney acted very, very different on stage. It made you want to root for Sparks, but not so much for her cocky male counterpart.

Jam.Canoe.Ca

Connecticut show leaves a mark

The last time Carmen Rasmusen performed in concert in Connecticut, she left the venue in an ambulance.

Stepping in for Taylor Swift, who had been scheduled to perform Aug. 28, 2007 at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den in Uncasville, Rasmusen performed a series of originals and covers for a highly receptive crowd.

It was the day of her debut album’s release on Lofton Creek Records, and Rasmusen was planning on doing a meet and greet with the fans at Spin Street record shop following her set.

Here’s Rasmusen’s recounting of the incident on stage from an e-mail she sent me Monday:

News Times.com

Harley 105th: Idol Finalist Honeymoons by Playing H-D Festival

An American Idol finalist is playing the Harley 105th Celebration in Milwaukee – while celebrating the first few days after getting married.

“There ain’t no better way to spend your honeymoon, I guess,” said Amanda Overmyer, the self-proclaimed biker-chick nurse from Indiana with the raspy and powerful voice.

WTMJ.com

‘America’s Got Talent’ recap: Halfway through the top 40!

Welcome back for the second night in a row where Jerry looks entirely too excited to announce the next 10 contestants. Now, there were some questions on Tuesday as to whether Hoff was drunk or not. My theory is, how couldn’t he be? It’s probably the only way he could have made it through that show. But last night, we had 10 more, and I had high hopes for the new crop of talent. But first, the results from Tuesday! Four of the winners were chosen by the audience, and one was chosen by the judges. The choices were pretty obvious, and even though I was glad the judges chose James Gang over Elite, it should be known, again, that AGT makes little girls cry. But of course, we needed an emotional start because who knows if we’ll get another moment like that in the next hour and 45 minutes?

Entertainment Weekly