AGT’s Howie Mandel on Welcoming Back Simon Cowell and a Live Audience for Season 16 – “It was the most stressful thing that anybody, including myself, has ever experienced in their lifetime,” Mandel, 65, tells PEOPLE of the global pandemic and “all the stuff that was happening around [that], like Simon’s injury and the fact that we lost an audience.” AGT was among the first TV shows forced to navigate production during the first months of the pandemic in Los Angeles. “It was really precarious, but at the same time, those moments that we got to spend time together and produce the show were the highlights for me. Those are the little sparks of light in this horrible year — doing AGT,” Mandel says. – Read more at People
Behind the Glam Curtain With Adam Lambert and His LGBTQ+ Activism – Despite being almost immediately hit with a global pandemic, the foundation has been quite active. Partnering with GLAAD, Feel Something hosted a roundtable discussion with LGBTQ+ youth and auctioned off some of Lambert’s famous stage costumes to raise funds for those affected by the crisis. The foundation also collaborated with Project Angel Food to deliver meals to those in need during the pandemic. Now Lambert and Feel Something are joining forces with Pride Live for its fourth annual Stonewall Day celebration. “I tend to seek things out,” he continues. “I educated myself when I heard that there was a big scene there in the ’60s.… I think the big wake-up for everybody was people pointing out, you know, this was a riot — and it was really led and started by trans people of color. I mean, this is something that’s really important to know.” – Read more at Advocate
Brynn Cartelli’s Bond with Coach Kelly Clarkson Is Stronger Than Ever: ‘She’s Like an Aunt to Me’ – “I had to figure out what would be the best route for me to take so that I can have a career with longevity and success,” the youngest champion in the show’s history tells PEOPLE days before the release of her debut EP Based on a True Story. “Because I want to do the whole thing. I have so many dreams that I want to make come true, and winning The Voice was just the beginning. I realized that in order to make the career I want happen, I needed to give myself some time to not just rely solely on the momentum from the show. I didn’t think that was going to work for me.” – Read more at People
LAUREN ALAINA PERFORMS WITH HER FATHER AND BROTHER ON THE STAGE OF THE GRAND OLE OPRY – The Grand Ole Opry honored members of the U.S. Military Saturday night during its annual “Salute The Troops” show featuring Lauren Alaina plus Opry members Luke Combs and Chris Young, among others in front of a sold-out crowd. The performances aired as part of Opry Live on the Circle Network. Lauren was joined by her father, a veteran of the U.S. Army, and brother for the classic “When You Say Nothing At All,” while the hit-maker also added “Road Less Traveled” and her current single, “Getting Over Him.” – UMGNashvillePress
Oh BROTHER?Yesterday was my brother’s birthday, and I asked him and my daddy to perform with me at the @opry. God has blessed me with more than I can comprehend, but one of the biggest blessings he gave me was being my brother’s little sissy and my daddy’s little girl. ?? pic.twitter.com/BeETuHm3CK
— Lauren Alaina (@Lauren_Alaina) May 30, 2021
‘X Factor Italia’ Scraps Gender & Age Categories For Contestants In World First – The Italian version of Simon Cowell’s singing contest The X Factor has scrapped gender and age categories for performers for the first time in the show’s 17-year history. When the Fremantle and Syco show returns to Comcast-owned Sky Italia in September, contestants will be divided into “heterogeneous” teams and will be mentored by one of the four judges: Emma, Hell Raton, Manuel Agnelli, and Mika. Each judge must have at least one soloist and one band on their team. – Read more at Deadline
