Headlines: Fantasia, Lauren Alaina, La’Porsha Renae

03/30/2017 mj santilli Headlines 20

R&B Soulful Singer, Fantasia, Returns To Her Gospel Roots To Sing At McDonald’s Gospelfest 2017 – The 35th Annual McDonald’s Gospelfest returns to the Prudential Center (25 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ) on Saturday, May 13th for the gospel event of the year. On Thursday, March 30th, McDonald’s announced the Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter Fantasia was just added to the star studded line up. Fantasia is remembered and highly regarded as one of American Idol’s most shining stars. The soulful R&B singer will be taking it back to her Gospel roots at McDonald’s Gospelfest 2017. She will be joining a stellar line-up of gospel artists including Donnie McClurkin, Erica Campbell, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, Cissy Houston, Israel Houghton, Anthony Brown & Group Therapy, Bishop Paul Morton, Greater Allen AME Cathedral Choir, plus a special message from Reverend A. R. Bernard from the Brooklyn Cultural Center. – Read more at PRNewsWire

Keith Urban Releasing Special Video Version of Carrie Underwood Duet Fighter on Sunday

Rascal Flatts’ New Album ‘Back to Us’ to Include Lauren Alaina Duet – Rascal Flatts’ will release their 10th studio album Back to Us on May 19th and have revealed the official track list. Of the project’s 13 tracks, 12 were produced by the group, with bassist Jay DeMarcus at the helm. Lauren Alaina contributes guest vocals to “Are You Happy Now,” a track penned by DeMarcus and bandmates Joe Don Rooney and Gary LeVox with Sean McConnell. – Read more at Rolling Stone

Scotty McCreery’s latest honor is a matter of state pride – It was presented at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., by fellow North Carolina country singer Charlie Daniels. Both Daniels, a past Order of the Long Leaf Pine recipient himself, and McCreery performed at the Opry on Tuesday night. “It’s a great feeling to know that my state is proud of me and has recognized me,” McCreery said. “Having it presented to me here at the Grand Ole Opry, which is my favorite stage to perform on, is fantastic. … This is a memory I will treasure.” The honor is conferred by the governor. McCreery was recommended by former Gov. Pat McCrory before he left office earlier this year. – Read more at NewsObserver

American Idol 6 Winner Jordin Sparks Hits the Ice

Homecoming for ‘Idol’ winner, Wheaton grad Nick Fradiani – Now the 30-year-old singer and songwriter is looking forward to some home cooking when he returns for a rare concert in his native New England on Friday night, March 31, at the The Center for Arts in Natick. “It’s exciting,” the Connecticut resident said in a recent phone interview. “I’ve already heard from some of the people I went to school with who are planning to come and hang.” – Read more at the Sun Chronicle

Interview: La’Porsha Renae is Already All Ready – Not much at all because I didn’t want to give that much time to it and that much energy to it. During Idol, I was very open about it for the sake of inspiring others who are in a situation like mine to get out. Now, it’s a different chapter. I really wanted to show the other sides to me like the goofy, bubbly side of me that people didn’t really get to see on Idol — because it was kind of focused on my past relationship. – Read more at RatedRandB

American Idol 15 runner-up La’Porsha Renae Visits her Mentor

La’Porsha’s debut album Already All Ready is out this week.

NBC’s The Voice: Johnny Hayes on John Legend, upcoming knockouts and Alicia Keys’ off-air compliment – “Julien is really good,” Hayes told The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile, Alabama, on Thursday. “I have a few more years of experience under my belt than him. To me, that was the biggest difference. We both put a lot of work into it to make sure it was as entertaining as possible. … I’m very happy with the outcome.”
The song choice helped. “I was really excited about it,” he said of the Otis Redding hit, though the performance was more Black Crowes. “I’ve performed this song at least a hundred times in my career.” – read more at Al.com

Colton Dixon On What It Was Like To Be An Extra In ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’ – But before all of that, the singer had another type of role ? as an extra in 2009’s “Hannah Montana: The Movie.” It was small part. Small enough that if you blink, you could miss it. But for Dixon, the on-set experience was quite memorable.
“It’s one of those things that you really have to pause … not that I’ve done this,” he said, laughing, during an interview with The Huffington Post at Build Series. “We got paid to eat cotton candy and ride the ferris wheel all week. It was pretty awesome, actually. I would do it again in a heartbeat, I would. My sister and I did it and I don’t know, we were 15 or 16 … What a cool experience. I had never seen anything like that.” – Read more at the Huffington Post

The Voice UK’s Jennifer Hudson “would love” to return as a coach next year – Asked whether she will remain “part of” the coaching panel, the former American Idol contestant said: “Yes, I hope I am, I would love to be. “I love being there. This is a great experience for me. It’s my first time experiencing it on this side, so I’m taking it all in as I go.” She isn’t the only judge that wants a comeback, with Gavin Rossdale recently commenting that he “really, really enjoys” his role. – Read more at TellyMix.co

About mj santilli 34839 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!
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