‘American Idol’ Showrunners Promise Oscars Teaser Didn’t Give Away All This Season’s Top Talent – King and Kinane, not surprisingly, are equally bullish about the talent this year, emphasizing that as with last season, the spotlight will shine much more brightly on the performers than the all-star judges panel, whose members often pulled attention away from the stage in past seasons with their antics, infighting and cutting insults. Kinane says this year, the mix includes a singer/songwriter who is also an “amazing guitarist and pianist” and plenty of others whose compelling stories and personal transformations will play a huge role in the lead-up to the live shows.
“People love getting to know these contestants and their backstories and wanting to root them on, which is what separates Idol from other competition shows,” says King… – Read more at Billboard
Maddie Poppe’s Interview with Ginger Zee
‘The Voice’: Sundance Head reveals what can really happen after you win NBC’s singing show – “ ‘The Voice’ has done a million great things for me; I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t on that show. So I’m grateful to have the opportunity,” Head said in a recent interview in Nashville. He just released his debut album, “Stained Glass and Neon,” in January. But it was not an easy road. According to Head, he and the Republic executives could not agree on a country single (“I wanted to make a record I could really get behind rather than just throw a single out to stay relevant”) or find a Nashville label as a partner, so he was released from the contract. “It was very affable, and they were very polite about it,” he said. (A source close to the situation said producers were in talks with Head to come back and perform, but there were clearance issues with the music, and they could not reach a resolution.) “I have had no support from ‘The Voice’ at all. They haven’t even retweeted that I had a single out to radio or that my new record dropped, nothing. I don’t know why,” he said. “I’m not sure what I did. .?.?. I do find it kind of odd, but I can’t really get upset about it. They don’t owe me anything.” – Read more at Washington Post
Ryan Seacrest and Shayna Taylor Break Up After Nearly 3 Years of Dating – Ryan Seacrest and Shayna Taylor have split, a source close to the couple confirms to PEOPLE. “It was an amicable split and they’re still really close,” says the source of Seacrest, 44, and Taylor, 26, who had been dating for nearly three years. “They still love and care about each other,” the source adds. – Read more at People
