Headlines: Katy Perry, Adam Lambert Can’t Cancel Pride, Scarypoolparty Speaks

Katy Perry, Adam Lambert Join LGBTQ COVID-19 Benefit – Katy Perry, Adam Lambert, Big Freedia, Billy Porter, Kim Petras, Melissa Etheridge, Sia and Ricky Martin are among the stars performing for Can’t Cancel Pride, a COVID-19 benefit show for the LGBTQ community. Produced by iHeartMedia and Procter & Gamble, the virtual event aims to raise visibility and funds for LGBTQ communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will culminate in a one-hour special hosted by actress Laverne Cox and radio host Elvis Duran. The livestream will air on iHeartRadio’s Facebook and Instagram pages, iHeartRadio’s PrideRadio.com and broadcast on iHeartMedia stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app June 25th at 9:00 p.m. local time. – Read more at Rollingstone.com

AGT: Simon Cowell Talks Heidi Klum’s Absence Due to Illness, Why They Asked Eric Stonestreet to Join – As seen in the latest episode, the audition process continued with an empty seat between newcomer Sofia Vergara and veteran judge Howie Mandel. Thankfully, in March, AGT secured Vergara’s Modern Family costar Eric Stonestreet as a guest judge and temporary replacement. “We didn’t have days to think about it. We had hours to think about it,” Cowell tells PEOPLE about finding someone to fill in for Klum, who ultimately tested negative for the coronavirus. “Heidi obviously got ill and, for obvious reasons, she had to stay at home. Someone said, ‘Well, why don’t we hire Eric?’ And we said it’s a good idea because Sofia and Eric worked together and they have chemistry. He was a real trooper. He stepped in at the last moment,” Cowell recalls – Read more at People

15 Overlooked Gems From ‘American Idol’ Singers – Just Sam — who won season 18 of American Idol in May during its first ever quarantined finale — follows not just in the footsteps of 17 previous Idol champions but the 170 top 10 finalists who preceded this season’s group. Those past competitors have recorded countless songs since Idol’s debut in 2002, including No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 for Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks. But not every post-Idol track has been a hit. As auditions begin to find the 19th American Idol, here is a look back at 15 songs by alumni of the game-changing series that were overlooked and under-appreciated. – Read more at Billboard

Scarypoolparty Shares Insights on Showing Up for Loved Ones During Billboard Live At-Home Performance – “I feel like for myself, there’s a lot of self-reflection happening within my own life to figure out what I need to be focused on and how to help my community better and help my friends and family and to check up on people that I love,” he said. “I think this time is really interesting for that because it’s taking a lot of us to really analyze what’s going on and to understand that we’re all here for each other. We have to be…. In this time, we’re taking big steps in our lives to understand that we need to stand up for what we believe.” – Read more at Billboard

Jordin Sparks Says She ‘Can’t Be Afraid to Offend People Anymore’ After Being ‘Nervous’ to Speak Out Before – “I’ve always been one of those people that fears being misunderstood,” Sparks told Madison, saying that she “would never intentionally try and hurt somebody’s feelings or try and offend anyone.” “I have been nervous to speak on things, a lot of times throughout my career,” the American Idol alum said, explaining that she “just can’t be afraid to offend people anymore, or to be misunderstood.” “This moment in time for me, especially being mixed, and especially having a Black husband, and a son that the world is going to view as Black as well — even though he’s got lighter skin and blue eyes, he’s still going to be a Black kid, you know what I’m saying? And for me, it was just like, you know what? Basically, expletive this. F this. I can’t, I cannot, I just can’t, I cannot not say anything. I have to say something.” – Read more at People

From Self-Funding ‘Wild ‘N Out’ to Betting on ‘Masked Singer,’ Nick Cannon’s Big Risks Pay Off – On Feb. 19, the multi-hyphenate comedian, TV and radio host, rapper, producer, entrepreneur and activist gathered with a small group of Debmar-Mercury executives in New York to discuss plans for the daytime syndicated talk show that Cannon will launch in September with the Lionsgate-owned distributor. The setting was a conference room at Lionsgate’s offices on Fifth Avenue near Times Square. But the focus of the nearly two-hour meeting centered largely on a location about 60 blocks north at an iconic intersection in Harlem: 106th Street and Park Avenue. – Read more at Variety.com

Lady Antebellum Says They’ve Reached ‘Common Ground’ With Blues Singer Lady A After Name Change Drama – The meeting came after the country band — which is comprised of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood — changed their name to Lady A in light of the Black Lives Matter movement, an update White condemned, as it’s the name she’s been known by for two decades.At the time of the change, a rep for Lady Antebellum told Rolling Stone that the band was not aware of the other artist and plans to reach out to her. “Today, we connected privately with the artist Lady A. Transparent, honest, and authentic conversations were had,” both Lady Antebellum and Lady A captioned their posts. “We are excited to share we are moving forward with positive solutions and common ground. The hurt is turning into hope. More to come.” – Read more at ETOnline

About mj santilli 34829 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!