‘American Idol’ Music Director Kristopher Pooley Spills the Tea on the 2021 Finale, the Top 3 + Luke Bryan – “Chayce is special in a lot of ways,” says Pooley, who also serves as a producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist on the show. “Musically, he can connect to a story, he can tell a story and he has a story. He’s also a genuinely nice guy who comes into a room and looks everyone in the eye and knows everyone’s name. He will go far because of his talent, but he’ll also stick around because he treats everyone with so much respect. And then there is Grace Kinstler, a 20-year-old Chicago native and a college student at Berklee College of Music. “Grace is always trying to remind herself to pull back a little bit and connect with the story even more,” says Pooley, who was born and raised in Detroit and has also worked with American Idol judges Lionel Richie and Katy Perry outside of the show. “She is so incredible. Rounding out the Top 3 is Spence, a larger-than-life teddy bear of a human whose future looks nothing but bright. “Willie sings that way every single time,” Pooley says of Spence’s Luther Vandross-style vocals. “He never holds back.” – Read more at Taste of Country
DUE TO INCREDIBLE TICKET DEMAND, CARRIE UNDERWOOD ADDS SIX SHOW DATES TO REFLECTION: THE LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY OPENING DECEMBER 1 AT THE THEATRE AT RESORTS WORLD LAS VEGAS. – Due to extraordinary pre-sale ticket demand, Carrie Underwood has added six new show dates from March 23 to April 2, 2022 to REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency, her recently announced headlining engagement run opening December 1, 2021 at The Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas. The six new dates, along with previously announced December 2021 dates, will go on sale to the public beginning Monday, May 24 at 10 a.m. PST. The six additional show dates going on sale are: March 2022: 23, 25, 26, 30 April 2022: 1, 2 Previously announced show dates going on sale are: December 2021: 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11 Tickets for all 12 show dates, plus a limited number of VIP and premium ticket packages, will go on sale to the public for all shows starting Monday, May 24 at 10 a.m. PST at axs.com/carrieinvegas.
CMA board limits Morgan Wallen’s award eligibility – Country singer Morgan Wallen will be eligible for multiple awards at this year’s CMA Awards but not the show’s top prize, a sign of the continuing fallout after he was caught on camera using a racial slur. The Country Music Association’s Board of Directors voted that Wallen will not be eligible for individual artist categories, such as entertainer of the year and male vocalist of the year, according to Catharine McNelly, a CMA spokeswoman. The board decided that Wallen could still be nominated for awards that recognize an artistic work, such as album of the year, song of the year, single of the year, musical event and music video, “so as to not limit the opportunity for other credited collaborators.” – Read more at the Associated Press
Darren Criss, Nicole Scherzinger join voice cast of ‘Trese’ – Glee alum Darren Criss, The Masked Singer judge Nicole Scherzinger and Prodigal Son actor Lou Diamond Phillips have joined the voice cast of the Netflix anime series, Trese. Jon Jon Briones (Ratched), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place) and Dante Basco (Avatar: The Last Airbender) will also be heard alongside Shay Mitchell (Pretty Little Liars), who was previously announced as the voice of Alexandra Trese in the English-language adaptation of the Philippine graphic novel by Budjette Tan and KaJo Baldisimo. – Read more at UPI.com
A Q&A with David Cook: ‘this record is about hope’ – How did your experience on American Idol shape and refine you as a performer, but also as a songwriter? Cook: I think my experience with Idol reinforced my confidence in my ability. To have something of that caliber acknowledge me as a singer and performer was huge. And so, of course, that confidence carried through into songwriting. I’ve been riding that wave ever since. Not with arrogance or anything. Just knowing that I can bring something to the table, creatively. – Read more at TCNSignal.net
Gabby Barrett on Motherhood, Breakout Year and Taking Her Baby on the Road (Exclusive) – “It’s overwhelming but in the best way,” she tells ET’s Lauren Zima of her whirlwind year full of success, ahead of the awards show. “This is one of those things where it’s hard to put into words because it doesn’t really feel real. When you work for so long towards something and it actually happens it’s hard for me to switch gears because I’ve just been in the mode of trying to get to these places, getting on the award, and getting number one songs. Now that you’re actually at the pit stop, ‘We’re here, we’re making a stop.’ It’s like ‘Whoa!’ It’s really cool.” – Read more at ETOnline.com
