Former ‘Idol’ winner Cook visits Vance – It seemed like David Cook didn’t do too bad a job in the T-6 flight simulator Friday at Vance Air Force Base. “Well, I flew a single-engine prop plane, I landed … and no one got hurt,” the former “American Idol” winner quipped. The simulator experience was just one of several things planned out for Cook during his one-day stay at Vance, before a special concert that evening at a park on base. Cook, winner of “American Idol” in 2008, has released several albums over the last eight years, but he’s spent time playing for members of the military, too. That’s what brought him to Vance Friday. “It’s such an honor to make noise and say thank you (to the military),” Cook said.
For Cook, it’s not just playing for the military — he has ties to it, too. His cousin is a “lifer” in the Air Force, and just recently got promoted. “I’m privileged to have done this the last few years,” he said. – Read more at Enid News.com
A New Kind of Art- Constantine Maroulis Is Ready to Make His Mark in Non-Musical Debut – Second Stage Theatre will begin the 2016 Uptown Series with the world premiere of Sofia Alvarez’s FRIEND ART, directed by Portia Krieger. Maroulis stars as Nate, best friend of Kevin and Molly, who just broke up with Lil, his much younger performance artist girlfriend. The group is navigating Gotham living at varying levels of success, which inevitably means attending friends’ basement art shows. In this comedy we’re confronted with what it means to support the art and decisions your friends make, regardless of what it does to your friendships. – Read more at Broadway.com
La’Porsha talks life after ‘Idol’ – La’Porsha Renae and her sister popped into the Wal-Mart in McComb a couple of weeks ago. Their shopping list consisted of only three items — all for their mom: A juicer, a box of moon pies and some orange sherbet. “I thought we would be in and out of there in less than 30 minutes,” La’Porsha said. “Well, it turned into three hours. Honestly, I keep forgetting that things aren’t like they used to be.” – Read more at Clarion Ledger
Joshua Davis brings “The Voice” to Jack Rabbits – If Joshua Davis wasn’t yet on the national radar when he emerged an unlikely contestant on NBC’s The Voice, his finish in the top three turned the indie singer songwriter into a household name. Davis logged nearly two decades of playing music before taking that fateful step into reality TV. As the first artist in the show’s history to play original material in eight seasons, Davis broke through the iTunes top 10 several times during his run.
It was refreshing to see an artist of his caliber break down the walls and play into the hearts of the public with truth, honesty and artistry. His stirring composition ‘The Workingman’s Hymn’ tugged at the public’s heartstrings and gave fans a taste of his gritty, vintage appeal. – Read more at EUJacksonville.com
Class of 2016 encouraged to live passions, laugh often, trust intuition after commencement – And distinguished commencement speaker Ryan Seacrest said not to waste one minute of the life before them. “Days come and go fast,” he said. “And the older I get the more I realize that your life will happen whether or not you get up…Make sure you happen to the day instead of it happening to you.” Seacrest told the graduates to live their passions, to trust their guts, to laugh loudly and to be impatient. “If something is important, the best time for it to happen is right now,” he said. “And if it’s not important, then move on to something that is.” – Read more at Red And Black.com
Dana Borriello and Matt Steffanina Win Season 28 of The Amazing Race – Season 28 of the CBS reality competition was comprised of eleven teams of social media influencers – including YouTube’s Tyler Oakley, Vine star Zach King, former Miss Florida Brittany Oldehoff and Viral video star Marty Cobb – but in the end, engaged dancers Dana Borriello and Matt Steffanina beat everyone else to win the $1-million prize on Friday. – Read more at People.com
‘Amazing Race’ Producer Dishes on Season 28 Finale as Winning Team Is Crowned (Exclusive) – TheWrap: Two of the three teams competing in the final leg are from L.A. Do they have a “home court” advantage in the finale city? Elise Doganieri: When teams learn where the final city is, they do discuss a “home court” advantage if one team is from there. However, “Race” history has shown that you’re just as likely to lose in your home city as win. Most famously in Season 1, a team from NYC felt incredibly confident throughout the final leg since they lived there, but they ended up losing in the end. – Read more at The Wrap
— Trent.Harmon.Music (@TrentWHarmon) May 14, 2016