“American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks Stops By Today Announces She Will Extend her Waitress Run. Also, she announces that Today weather guy Al Roker will return to the show as Old Joe from November 1 through November 24. She has extended her run through November 24. It was originally scheduled to end October 27.
STAR-STUDDED LIST OF PERFORMERS & PRESENTERS REVEALED FOR “2019 CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR” – CMT today revealed its star-studded lineup of performers and presenters for the “2019 CMT Artists of the Year” special, airing LIVE from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Wednesday, October 16 at 8pm ET/PT on CMT. The growing list includes some of the biggest stars from music, television and entertainment including Bobby Bones, Chrissy Metz, Johnny Galecki, Lady Antebellum, Lauren Akins, Lonnie Chavis, Maddie & Tae, Sam Hunt, Vince Gill and more. The 90-minute special will feature LIVE performances from “2019 CMT Artists of the Year” honorees Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett and “Breakout Artist of the Year” awardee, Ashley McBryde. “This Is Us” actress Chrissy Metz will debut a special performance in honor of first-time “CMT Artists of the Year” honoree, Luke Combs. – Via CMT press release
Dancing With The Stars Pro Peta Murgatroyd Celebrates Officially Becoming A U.S. Citizen – On Wednesday, October 9, the 33-year-old dancer who is from Australia took to Instagram to share photos after she was sworn in as an official citizen of the United States. “Yesterday was an emotional day for me. After countless US Visas starting from 2006 and the last 5 years with a Green Card, I am officially a United States citizen,” she shared. – Via Fame-10.com
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Adam Lambert Talks Creative Freedom, LGBTQ Music Evolution, Making Cher Cry & Tequila With Queen – What are you giving yourself permission to do that you couldn’t do at the beginning of your career? I think it really all comes from knowing myself better. Knowing myself as an artist, knowing myself as a person, knowing what is keeping it real. And if something comes up that just doesn’t feel authentic, I’m just like, “No, I don’t want to do that.” Which is great. And obviously, having put the time in over the last 10 years into my career, I think I’ve earned more of that right. I’m doing what I want to do, period, the end. Everything about this project is me doing what I want to do. Creatively, I’m not having to compromise with anybody. – Read more at PrideSource
Taylor Hicks still digs deep roots after ‘American Idol’ win – Taylor Hicks likens his victory on the fifth season of “American Idol” to winning a national political campaign. Show mogul Simon Cowell didn’t think Hicks had a chance. The people in the heartland thought otherwise. “It’s not necessarily about Hollywood, it’s more about the flyover states,” said Hicks, who performs Thursday at Tupelo Music Hall in Derry. “Luckily for me, I was able to have the support of America as opposed to Simon Cowell. All in all, Simon’s a great guy. Wink-wink.” It’s been nearly 13 years since Hicks won “American Idol” and a decade since he’s released a new album, but he’s been busy. – Read more at UnionLeader.com
Ally Brooke Says She Feels ‘Like a Totally New Person’ Since Fifth Harmony Days (Exclusive) – Even though we’re only four weeks into the dance competition show, the 26-year-old singer told ET’s Jason Carter on Wednesday that competing on season 28 has already transformed her in so many ways. Plus, after breaking free from Fifth Harmony to embark on a solo career this year, she said she feels like “a totally new person” in 2019. “It’s had such a big impact on me already,” she shared of competing for the mirrorball. “These past few weeks have been so incredible. I’ve grown so much, I’ve learned so much about myself, about what I’m capable of, about pushing myself and, of course, becoming such a better dancer. And also having my inner confidence blooming. It’s been unbelievable for me, so I’m so happy.” – Read more at Entertainment Tonight
Former ‘American Idol’ And ‘The Voice’ Contestants Are Using Their Talent For Good
Meagan McNeal from The Voice (season 13, Team Jennifer Hudson, eliminated in the Battles) and Casey McQuillen from American Idol (season 13. She sang “Skyscraper” for the judges, advanced to Hollywood) share how they used their voices to better their local communities.
‘The Masked Singer’: Why the Latest Booted Contestant Wanted to Mess With the Judges – I used to sing when I was a kid and for five minutes when I was in college. I thought I would do the Met opera auditions and go to West Germany and all this stuff. And I very wisely took a turn into very different direction. But I saw the show last season and I was just thinking, “I should do that show.” I know Ken and Jenny very well over many years and I thought this would just screw with them. It’d be so funny. It’d be interesting. I’m losing my voice as I’m aging and I don’t have much more opportunity to use it, so I thought this would be perfect. I literally just told my agent, “You should put me on that show.” And that was that. I was on. – Read more at Hollywood Reporter
