Blake Shelton Says He and Luke Bryan ‘Had a Lot of Conversations’ About ‘American Idol’ – Blake Shelton may love Luke Bryan like a brother, but he’s got a few thoughts about him signing on to judge the American Idol reboot. “I don’t know that he asked for my advice, but we had a lot of conversations about him joining Idol and, I guess in a way, I gave him my thoughts on it and about how I felt about it on behalf of him,” he confessed. “I’m sure the executives at ABC are really pissed at me right now for what they probably had to pay him to get him on that show,” he noted of Bryan’s reported $13 million paycheck. “But good for you, Luke! Stick it to ’em!” “I mean, Luke Bryan is not cheap,” Shelton reasoned. “He looks it, but he’s not.” – See more at Entertainment Tonight
Nigel Lythgoe Props to Katy, Luke and Lionel What Hits Has Simon Had? – Nigel Lythgoe took a fun shot at Simon Cowell … the same Simon who went after the “American Idol” reboot. We got the longtime EP of the OG “Idol” Friday on his way to E Baldi in Bev Hills, and he thinks the new judge’s panel — Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie — is rock solid. – See the Video at TMZ
Simon Cowell Weighs In on ‘American Idol’ Reboot, Plus: Why He Would Never Return – He pointed out that he would not return to the show that he helped make famous even if they begged, saying, “You can’t go back! We had the best of times when we did it.” – Extra
National anthem protests: Meghan Linsey gets death threats after taking a knee at Titans-Seahawks – Meghan Linsey knew there would be backlash when she decided to take a knee after performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Sunday’s Titans-Seahawks game at Nissan Stadium. She just didn’t anticipate death threats. “It wasn’t a matter of standing against our flag or our military,” she said. “I was standing up for a cause that I believe in. I think that’s a testament of where we are as a country, that it can be so divisive and so volatile. We’re starting to see that more and more since the election. I just haven’t had it directed at me.” – Read more at The Tennessean Meghan also wrote an OpEd for the Washington Post, which subscribers can read HERE.
Kelly Clarkson performed at the Invictus Games Closing Ceremony in Toronto Saturday Night
Such an honor 2 perform at @InvictusToronto tonight! Got 2 hang with @bryanadams Sophie Trudeau & The Boss @springsteen #whatanight pic.twitter.com/iaBoF0TFgs
— Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) October 1, 2017
Smashing Previous Record, 25th Pops on the Heights Raises $14 Million – The 25th annual Pops on the Heights gala, held Friday night, raised a record $14 million for scholarships at Boston College, smashing last year’s record-setting $9 million and putting the total raised by the event since 1993 at just under $60 million. Co-chaired by David, BC ’86, and Maureen O’Connor and Phil Schiller, BC ’82, and Kim Gassett-Schiller, the gala pulled out all the stops, stars, and spirit, with the President’s Medal of Excellence going to film composer John Williams and a stunning performance by singer and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson. – Read more at BC Heights.com
Jennifer Hudson Has Shoe Thrown at Her on Stage, Takes It as a Compliment – The singer posted a video to Instagram showing her having a shoe thrown at her while singing her “Dreamgirls” hit “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” at a concert on Friday. Rather than being upset about it, however, Hudson was pleased, referencing the fact that she kicked off the whole shoe-throwing frenzy with her actions on the season premiere of “The Voice” Tuesday. – Read more at Variety
‘American Idol’ Season 5 Winner Taylor Hicks Talks Show’s New Judges – Taylor Hicks, who was crowned Season 5’s American Idol in 2006, stopped by Taste of Country Nights to discuss the new panel with host Sam Alex. “I love Luke, he’s a great guy, and I think he’ll be a great judge,” he noted of Bryan. “Because I really do think he has the best interests of the contestants at heart, and that’s what you want from a judge. Obviously, I was a contestant on that show, and what I really loved the most was when I could feel the sincerity from the judges, and they really had my best interests at heart. I think Luke will have that all the way.” At the time of Hicks’ interview, Richie hadn’t officially been confirmed yet as judge, but Hicks noted that his vote was definitely for the R&B icon. “Lionel is a great performer, great songwriter.” – Read more at Taste of Country
How ‘The Voice’ Celebrated My Culture and Connected Me With the Country Music World (Guest Blog) – In the first of TooFab’s special series celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, “Voice” Season 12 competitor Valerie Ponzio explores her deeply personal connection to country music. When I was a child, I used to analyze the deeper meaning of Johnny Cash songs with my mom during our trips from El Paso Texas to Old Mesilla, New Mexico. I grew up on the West Texas Border town and often visited the adorable, little southwest town of Mesilla — a town notorious for the prison that the infamous Billy the Kid escaped from. Given my upbringing, I was BEYOND excited when I got the opportunity to sing Cash’s “Ring of Fire” during my Blind Audition on NBC’s Emmy-winning reality competition, “The Voice” Season 12 in March of 2017– Of course, I was even MORE excited when that performance resulted in a FOUR-chair turn! – Read more at Too Fab
‘Hallelujah’! Tori Kelly Is Engaged to Basketball Player Boyfriend André Murillo – Tori Kelly has a whole new reason to sing “Hallelujah”: She’s engaged!
The “Hollow” singer, 24, is engaged to her boyfriend, German basketball player André Murillo, 27. Kelly announced the happy news on Instagram Friday, posting a photo with Murillo in which she’s sporting an impressive rock on her left ring finger. “i love you,” the singer-songwriter — one of PEOPLE’s 2015 Ones to Watch honorees — simply captioned the black-and-white shot. – Read more at People
