The latest American Idol winner will kick off the National Memorial Day Concert – of “American Idol,” will open the 25th annual broadcast of the National Memorial Day Concert on Sunday, performing the national anthem. Johnson, 23, beat out finalist Jena Irene in the “American Idol” season finale Wednesday. – Read more at Biz Journal
Josh Kaufman to be 500 Festival Parade grand marshal – Josh Kaufman, the new winner of “The Voice,” just received more good news: He has been named the Grand Marshal of the 2014 IPL 500 Festival Parade. “It’s amazing! Unbelievable!” Kaufman said Friday as he landed at Indianapolis International Airport just before 11 p.m. – Read more at Indystar.com
Gokey launches second album with “Hope in Front of Me” – When Danny Gokey was on “American Idol,” he was invited into the households of thousands each week. The Milwaukee native, mourning the loss of his first wife, Sophia, he used music as a therapy for coping with the loss. People seemed to identify with his story and his voice to propel him to a third-place finish. Flash forward to this week, and I’m chatting with Gokey on the phone as he travels into New York. He’s about to hit the road, supporting his sophomore album, “Hope in Front of Me.” – On Milwaukee
BWW TV: Justin Guarini & Christine Dwyer Sing WICKED at STARS IN THE ALLEY – STARS IN THE ALLEY, presented by United Airlines, was presented earlier this week in Shubert Alley, between Broadway and 8th Avenue and 44th and 45th Streets. To add to the festivities leading up to the Tony Awards, the free outdoor concert in the heart of the Theatre District celebrated Broadway with star appearances and exciting performances from over 20 new shows and long-running favorites, accompanied by a live 12-piece orchestra. BroadwayWorld was there for the special concert event and below you can check out “As Long As You’re Mine” as performed by Wicked’s Christine Dwyer and Justin Guarini! – Watch the Video at Broadway World
Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Meryl Davis “Touchy-Feely” During Night Out in NYC; He “Adores Her,” Source Says – Are they or aren’t they? Dancing with the Stars season 18 champs Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Meryl Davis continued their victory lap in NYC on Thursday night, May 22, where the pro dancer, 34, and Olympic ice dancer, 27, celebrated in NYC with dinner and dancing downtown at TAO with about ten other pals. Further fueling chatter of a possible romance, “Maks and Meryl were super touchy feely,” one source tells Us Weekly. “Before dinner they were in a corner talking really close. He kept kissing her on the forehead and was doting on her, the source adds. “He had his arm around her waist and shoulders a ton.” – Read more at US Magazine
Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s Ex-Fiancee Karina Smirnoff Weighs in on Meryl Davis Dating Rumors After DWTS – Just for show? After watching Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Meryl Davis’ relationship unfold throughout season 18 of Dancing With the Stars, many fans were convinced that the two are—or should be—more than just tango partners. And that’s what you’re supposed to think, says Chmerkovskiy’s ex-fiancee and fellow DWTS pro Karina Smirnoff. Speaking about her ex’s chemistry with Olympic ice dancer Davis, 27, both on and off the dance floor, Smirnoff likened it to “when you go to the movies and you see a romantic scene that you believe so much that you kind of believe that they could be a couple in real life.” It’s “great acting,” she explained to Us Weekly at the DWTS finale party in Beverly Hills on May 20. – Read more at US Magazine
Lea Michele Reveals ‘Exciting First Meetings’ for FUNNY GIRL Broadway Revival – Lea Michele stopped by last night’s WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE on Bravo and revealed that she and Glee creator Ryan Murphy have had “exciting first meetings with a fabulous director” for an upcoming Broadway revival of FUNNY GIRL. When a fan called into the Bravo show last night asking, “Since Ryan Murphy owns the rights to the stage show, are the rumors of you and him doing a real life Funny Girl revival true?” “Yeah, well Ryan has the rights, and you know, it’s something that we both I think would really love to do, and we’ve had some really exciting first meetings with a really fabulous director that we think would, you know, be wonderful. Um, it’s just about fitting it in, you know, timing wise.- Read more at Broadway World
