Kate Upton, The Voice’s Jordan Smith, to kickoff the Kentucky Oaks – It was announced today by Churchill Downs Racetrack that Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Model and Actress Kate Upton will serve as the First Lady of the Longines Kentucky Oaks. She will be attending along with the season nine winner of NBC’s “The Voice” and Republic Recording artist Jordan Smith. Smith will perform the national anthem at the Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 6, the day before the Kentucky Derby. The Longines Kentucky Oaks is America’s premier and most lucrative race for 3-year old fillies. – The Slanted.com
NICK JONAS AND DEMI LOVATO TO PERFORM ON “2016 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS” – Billboard and dick clark productions announced today that Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato have been added to the lineup of performers at the “2016 Billboard Music Awards.” Tove Lo will join Jonas to perform “Close,” the first single off his eagerly anticipated sophomore album due out in June. Demi Lovato will perform her hit song “Cool For The Summer.” The “2016 Billboard Music Awards” will broadcast LIVE from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT on ABC. – via dc productions press release
Ryan Seacrest Inks New 4-Year Deal to Host ABC’s ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ – The prolific producer and host has inked a new deal to continue fronting the network’s long-running ball-drop special, New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, for four more years. The pact also keeps Seacrest within the Disney fold as industry rumors swirl that he could be a contender for Michael Strahan’s slot on ABC’s Live! with Kelly and Michael, though ABC brass is said to be waiting for the dust to settle before making any decisions about a replacement. – Read more at Billboard.com
Kristin Chenoweth, David Archuleta on the 2016-17 BYU Arts Bravo! series lineup – In 2013, Brigham Young University redefined its annual performing arts series, renaming it “Bravo!” and starting it off with an all-star lineup definitely worthy of the new name. It’s been three years since then, and it’s safe to say that the recently announced lineup, set to kick off Sept. 2, is just as impressive. The university announced its 2016-17 Bravo! series Thursday, with an introduction from BYU Arts Manager and show presenter Jeff Martin. Christmas with David Archuleta and Nathan Pacheco (Nov. 25-26), – Read more at Herald Extra
Nigel Lythgoe Remembers Prince’s Surprise ‘American Idol’ Performance – “When I first met Prince, I told him exactly what was going to happen [on the show], how Ryan Seacrest would introduce him,“ Lythgoe remembers. “And he said, ‘No, Nigel. I don’t want any introduction.’ And I said, ‘To be honest with you, sir, we’re going to need to do that.’ He said, ‘No, Nigel. I’m going to come on that stage as a complete surprise.’ So he went out there with the two girls, was sensational, and left the stage before Ryan could even say, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, Prince!’ He was gone. The funny thing about that was, Prince had [a driver] in the theater area, on a telephone in his car, going around the block. So the driver knew exactly when Prince was going onstage, and when he was done. The car drove up, Prince jumped out of the car, ran onto the stage, ran off the stage back into the car, and drove off. Gone.” – Read more at Yahoo.com
Ryan Blaney asks ‘American Idol’ winner Trent Harmon 21 questions – See the Video at NASCAR.com
Nashville’s new female artists are taking control in bold songs. Are listeners ready? – In the past year, however, a wave of young, female artists has been gaining buzz as they try to break in, and many are writing and releasing songs with a notably different theme: They have swagger. And they’re the ones in control. The topics vary. Sometimes they’re flirtatiously aggressive takes such as Lauren Alaina’s “Next Boyfriend” or Clare Dunn’s “Move On.” Alaina agrees her music is just her natural attitude. Sure, she enjoys being in the driver and passenger seat — it’s just a matter of having the choice. “I don’t mind my boyfriend driving me around and sitting in the passenger seat, but I definitely don’t want him smacking me on the rear end and treating me like a piece of meat, you know?” Alaina said. “I just feel like there was kind of a wave where presence of women was lacking, so I think the fact guys were saying those things in their songs, it made more of an impact than it would have if there would have been 10 females on the radio.” – Read more at the Washington Post
Colon keeps the hometown connection – Javier Colon has reached heights in the music world, recording several albums and winning the first season of NBC’s The Voice. But he values his early musical roots in Stratford and said that growing up in town “was a huge part in becoming an artist.” “I’d been singing around the house for my parents until sixth grade,” he said, but he was reluctant to sing on stage. “I was shy,” he said. “My mother said, ‘I’ll pay you $5 if you audition.’” He did, but performing continued to scare him. – Read more at Stratford Star
RaeLynn talks ‘The Voice’ and her passion for music ahead of Peoria performance – RaeLynn, born Racheal Lynn Woodward, will be performing along with headliner Scotty McCreery at the Peoria Civic Center arena Friday night. The concert will be part of the annual Heartland Heroes event hosted by the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross — a night where local heroes are recognized for their inspiring stories. Q: Did you have a plan in mind for accomplishing that? A: No, but I always just worked really hard. I graduated high school at 16. And then when I was in Nashville, one of my friends said I should try out for “The Voice.” So I thought, “what could it hurt?” And I ended up auditioning and making it. – Read more at PJ Star.com
Christina Grimmie Talks Touring with Rachel Platten and More! – We absolutely LOVE Christina Grimmie here at J-14 so we just had to sit down and talk with her about her new music, and touring with Rachel Platten! John Panichella met up with Christina at North Pole Snow Cream and got to talk to the talented singer about her EP, Side A, and much much more. Christina also talked about joining Before You Exit on their tour beginning next month. – See the Video at J-14
Q&A: Haley Reinhart on ‘Better,’ Her First Album in Four Years – It’s been four years since your first album. It’s rare to get that much time to breathe before the follow-up.
It’s been a crazy experience for me. I’ve been wanting to get a lot of music out there much sooner, but the fact is, it all depends on the team surrounding you and behind you, and as much as I wanted to push things, everything’s fallen into place now, the momentum is so great. – Read more at Fuse.tv
Kree Harrison Talks ‘This Old Thing’ and Reminisces on Idol Finale – “It’s kinda weird how you have these complete strangers who are very different in every way and yet you have this crazy bond that your friends back home wouldn’t because the Idol family is definitely a thing,” she said. “All of it, I tried to sink in.” But it wasn’t all sadness and sentimental moments. Harrison admitted there ain’t no party like an Idol party. “It was crazy! I mean it was fun meeting some of the past contestants that I have been fans of and never met. A lot of tears, laughs and whiskey,” she said. – Read more at SoundsLikeNashville
Faith and fame: Former ‘Dancing With the Stars’ pro Chelsie Hightower shares her story – “I just said a prayer to Heavenly Father, and I said, ‘If this is what is necessary, take this career from me,” Hightower said. “That was 2013, and I’ve never been on the show since.” Six months later, Hightower moved back to Utah. Although she still dances in shows throughout the country, she lives a life she describes as “very normal.” “It’s less exciting than it was before, but at the same time, I know that I’m where the Lord wants me to be, and I’m on the path he wants me to be on, and I know that great things are ahead,” Hightower said. – Read more at Deseret News
Survivor host Jeff Probst weighs in on Aubry’s big Tribal Council decision – Tai asks Aubry at Tribal Council if he should play his idol, and she tells him that she thinks he’s fine. Even though he is in her alliance, seeing as how he is a big threat to win should he make it to the end and has an idol and an advantage, wouldn’t the better play for her have been to tell him to use the idol just to get it out of the game? That way it would be easier for her to cut him later if she wants. What say you? You just asked the kind of question that keeps players up at night. What IS the right move? On one hand, Aubry could betray Tai or play dumb and say she really did think he was in trouble, so play the idol. – Read more at Entertainment Weekly.com
American Idol winner Trent Harmon Performed at the British Innovation Awards to Honor Idol creator Simon Fuller
Honored 2 perform at the #BritishInnovationAwards 2nite. Many, many thanks & congrats to Mr. Simon Fuller. #legend ? pic.twitter.com/MPmHVKMWcS
— Trent.Harmon.Music (@TrentWHarmon) April 28, 2016
Allison Iraheta at the BMI Pop Awards