‘American Idol’: Berklee College of Music president says it’s impossible not to notice talent of students, as five compete in this season’s singing competition – This season of “American Idol” has a number of talented singers, including five from Berklee College of Music in Boston. “I think it is almost impossible not to notice how talented, strong, and confident our students are, even when singing with Joss Stone, one of the great voices of her generation,” said Roger H. Brown, president of Berklee. “Makes me proud!” The singing competition is in its 19th season and airs on Sunday and Monday nights at 8 p.m. Grace Kinstler, Anilee List, Brennan Hepler, also known as “Beane,” Amanda Mena and Da’Dreion Murrell are all upcoming, current or former students of the school. – Read more at MassLive
Ashland Craft Becomes First Country Act to Perform ‘America the Beautiful’ at WrestleMania – Ashland Craft is taking another stage by storm. On Sunday, she will perform “America the Beautiful” during night two of the 37th annual WrestleMania pay-per-view pop culture extravaganza, PEOPLE reveals. This makes Craft, 24, the first-ever female country star to sing the patriotic tune at the big event, produced by World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE). As a longtime fan of the sport who has been cheering on the competitors alongside her dad and brother through the years, Craft is thrilled to make her WrestleMania performance debut in front of WWE superstars. – Read more at People
After Competing On ‘The Voice,’ Johnny Gates Found The Confidence To Restart His Career – “When I went out to Los Angeles, I really didn’t know anyone,” Johnny Gates told American Songwriter. “When I had lived in Nashville before, we had a major record deal and I was able to write with anybody in town. Then, all of a sudden, I was in a city of 13 million people and I only knew five of them, and no one knew who I was. So, I basically started over again.” As scary as the prospect was, starting over again actually proved to be a blessing in disguise for Gates, who is perhaps best known as a contestant from the 12th season of NBC’s The Voice. First embarking on his music career as a fresh-faces 18-year-old providing lead vocals for the rock band Runaway Saints, it wasn’t until this life-changing journey to Los Angeles that Gates began to really find his voice, as well as the confidence to make music the way he wanted to make it. Now, on April 7, Gates is back in Nashville and is putting out his newest single, “Reckless,” which is a testament to the unique blend of country, pop and rock the now 35-year-old has become known for. – Read more at AmerianSongwriter
David Cook Holds A Mirror To The World With ‘The Looking Glass’ EP – Through being emotionally honest, the flood gates opened wide for him, creatively. “Before, I had written more stream of consciousness. I would write in bursts without really focusing in on each word or phrase and trying to say the things I wanted to say in the way I wanted to say them fully. Having the extra time with this pandemic allowed me to live in the details a little bit more than I had been able to.” – Read more at AmerianSongwriter
Tate McRae says seeing contestants sing her songs on ‘American Idol’ is “mind-blowing” – As a former contestant on So You Think You Can Dance, Tate McRae is no stranger to reality talent competitions. But she says she just can’t get over the fact that, in their quest to become the next American Idol, a couple of contestants on this season of the ABC show have performed her songs. During the first audition rounds, contestant Mary Jo Young sang Tate’s hit “you broke me first,” and the judges were so impressed, they sent her through to Hollywood. “I saw that, that was crazy!” Tate told ABC Audio. “I used to watch those auditions, like, religiously on YouTube. Religiously. And I would always see them, so to see it with my song was mind-blowing. That was crazy!” So far, Mary Jo has advanced to the All-Star Duets & Solos Round. Meanwhile, during that same round, another contestant, Wyatt Pike, sang Tate’s song “rubberband,” from her new EP too young to be sad.- Read more at ABCNewsRadio
Luke Bryan on His Mom’s Instagram Fame, Katy Perry Baby Gift & Fishing Injury
