‘American Idol’ Alum David Archuleta Joins Broadway Stars From ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ ‘Hamilton,’ More On New ‘In Pieces’ Album – Missing Broadway? Musical theatre buffs — as well as avid American Idol fans — can get their fix when the latest album from songwriter Joey Contreras, titled In Pieces, is released on April 16. David Archuleta, the runner-up on the seventh season of the hit reality singing competition American Idol, has joined a roster of Broadway stars for the highly anticipated album, which will also feature the voices of Dear Evan Hansen star Andrew Barth Feldman, Hamilton’s Solea Pfeiffer, Newsies’ Ben Fankhauser, Be More Chill’s George Salazar and Breaking Down the Riffs YouTube sensation Natalie Weiss. Any tried-and-true New Yorker can relate to In Pieces, a musical journey set in the Big Apple following eight individuals reflecting on the paths — and partners — they’ve chosen that led them to where they are today. – Read more at OK Magazine
Ruder reflects on ‘Idol’ experience – A 2017 graduate from Turlock Christian High School, Ruder now lives in Los Angeles County with her husband. She’s attending Azusa Pacific University and has had a world of opportunity opened up to her thanks to her “Idol” audition — but many wondered why she never appeared on the show again after making it to “Hollywood Week,” where few advance to the next stage of the competition. Following her audition, Ruder sang and played piano during the show’s “Genre Challenge” and advanced to the next round. Sadly, following her “Duet Challenge” performance which she sang with another contestant, she was sent home. Ruder didn’t get any screen time on the show past her audition, except a split-second glimpse of her in the crowd during an episode. “I think a lot of that just simply has to do with the fact that you do not ever see, as a viewer, how many people are actually there,” Ruder said, explaining that an additional 164 people were seated around her in the auditorium where viewers saw her in Hollywood. “They have to pick and choose very carefully who they air on TV because they have to make sure they are establishing an emotional connection to those people.” – Read more at Turlock Journal
Scott D. Pierce: Can a Utahn finally win on ‘American Idol’? Maybe. – That’s not a prediction and it’s not hometown boosterism. If you watch the show, you’ll see that Park City’s Wyatt Pike is not only enormously talented, but he’s young, good looking, charming and has a great TV presence. And in a talent contest that’s not all about talent — the winner is chosen by viewers — that’s not insignificant. The 20-year-old has been riding a wave on “American Idol” after going into the competition “without expectations.” “I really had no idea. I just showed up every day like it was another round to make it through,” he said. “I’ve just been doing that all along, and it appears to have worked. – Read more at The Salt Lake Tribune
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Pro Keo Motsepe Names Chaka Khan His Worst Celebrity Dance Partner – “I’ll say Chaka Khan,” the 31-year-old South African dancer told Us when asked who his “worst” partner was. “I’m going to get a call from her! I remember asking her, ‘Why do we have to rehearse like at 11:00 p.m.? Like every night!’ And she goes, ‘That’s when I started working.’ That’s when she starts recording her music and I was like, ‘Oh, so you sleep during the day? So, your morning is, like, South African time, pretty much?’ And she goes, ‘Yes, honey!’ … So, I had to adjust my schedule, you know? ‘Cause I was like, ’Wow.’ … It was just a challenging season.” – Read more at US Magazine
