Headlines: Ty Herndon GLAAD Concert, Chrissy Metz Idol Audition

The whole story behind Hickory native Johnny White’s elimination from ‘American Idol’ – Johnny White — the Hickory native with the hard-knock childhood (born to a mom who was a drug addict and a dad who spent nine years in prison) — is back at his day job: putting together auto parts on the assembly line at GKN Driveline in Maiden, after being eliminated from “American Idol” on Monday night. But the 19-year-old graduate of Hickory Career and Arts Magnet High School hasn’t given up on his dreams. “I’m going to start making some of my own music, and continue to push and you know get my name out there,” White says. “I also think I will try out for ‘Idol’ again, and I have some other singing shows in mind I wouldn’t mind giving a try as well.” – Read more at CharlotteObserver

Chrissy Metz Recalls ‘American Idol’ Audition and What Led Her to Push Back (Exclusive) – “You know, I get it, they’re trying to make stories and they’re trying to invest the audience into these characters and I understand the whole scope of everything, especially [since] I was a talent agent,” Metz says. “So, I understand what they’re doing. And I was like, ‘Oh, I can sort of see that and I don’t want to be that girl. …Like, if you don’t dig it, you don’t like my voice, I’ll just keep it moving.'” “But it just felt like — it was like, ‘Oh, how else can we kind of jab?’ and I was like, ‘Don’t — you’re not ready because I’m gonna jab right back.’ Or, I’m just gonna leave because of course that’s not the purpose of me going. I didn’t want to make ridiculous TV. I wanted to, you know, be respected as a singer.” – Read more at ETOnline

Voice Winner Cassadee Pope Is Dating Nashville’s Sam Palladio – Cassadee Pope is moving on. The Voice winner has been quietly dating Nashville star Sam Palladio, PEOPLE confirms. The pair, who have been spotted around Nashville recently, attended Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd‘s wedding together over the weekend. “Watched my two buds get married yesterday. My heart is so full for you @marenmorris & @ryanhurd,” Pope captioned a photo of herself and Palladio. “Also, I’ll pay you later for being my date, @sampalladio.?” – Read more at People

American Idol Recap – Nick Fradiani Reflects on “Hollywood Week” – I mean, I used to think the best way to go about it was to never be too certain that you were going to go through. There’s so much pressure and it’s so stressful for a 15, 16, year old that’s going through learning how to sing, basically. If I was on there 15, I would’ve been literally laughed off the stage. – See the Video at WTNH

Lauren Alaina admits she’s not “Doin’ Fine” since learning she won the ACM – “While I’m sitting there getting ready on the bus,” Lauren recalls, “[my manager] Trisha’s phone rings, which I mean I’m just getting ready, not paying any attention. She’s talking on the phone and she says, ‘Okay, here she is. Lauren, there’s a call for you.’” “She puts it on speaker, and I’m like, ‘Hello.’ And it sounds like Reba! She says, ‘Tell me where you are,’ and I’m like, ‘I’m in Kentucky. Who is this?’ She said, ‘It’s Reba McEntire calling to tell you you’ve won the ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year.” Since that moment, the “Doin’ Fine” hitmaker says she still hasn’t regained her composure. – Read more at WJBDRadio.com

‘No one prepares you for 2 am’: Brooke Simpson talks new single, life after ‘The Voice’ – “Life after ‘The Voice’ has been really hectic, really crazy, but in the best way possible,” she said. “I’ve just been traveling a lot, touring and uh, I actually recorded a single.” “I love being able to travel and share my gift, to not only sing the songs I was fortunate to sing on “The Voice,” but to be able to sing originals that I am writing and letting people hear my heart. It’s just really cool,” she said. She and her husband are preparing to move to LA so she can continue to pursue her career. – Read more at WRAL

An Interview With the LA-Based Electronic DUO, HALO CIRCUS! – The name Halo Circus for us reflected chaos and sacredness. It made sense with what we were trying to convey melodically and lyrically. We’ve always seen HC as an art project giving us the opportunity to do whatever we were feeling at the moment. The name Halo Circus makes that easier for us. – Read more at AllAccess

Ruben Studdard’s new album and tour honor R&B legend Luther Vandross – It took a show from Hollywood to make Alabama appreciate one of its own. But since Ruben Studdard won “American Idol” in 2003, Birmingham and Alabama have embraced the soulful singer nicknamed “the Velvet Teddy Bear.” Studdard said that affection is appreciated and returned. “I’m so grateful that I get an opportunity to be an ambassador for the new Alabama, the more progressive Alabama,” said Studdard, who has traveled the world touring for the past seven years. “I think the future looks good for the state of Alabama.” – Read more at Alabama News Center.com

Daughtry talks music career, proud moments, future and longevity – He acknowledged that his proudest professional moments include being nominated for four Grammy awards, as well as his chart-topping songs on the Billboard charts. “Those were fun,” he admitted. “There were a lot of moments that were pretty rewarding. Just being able to do this for over 10 years is rewarding enough.” For Daughtry, the key to longevity in the music business involves “Keeping your core fans, and hopefully picking up more fans along the way, so that you can continue to grow a touring base.” “At the end of the day, that’s how any musician survives, and you are playing for your fans,” he said. – Read more at Digital Journal

Grace VanderWaal talks new single ‘Clearly’ and learning to model – Grace VanderWaal didn’t mislead with the title of her album Just the Beginning. Indeed, VanderWaal — the 14-year-old musician who won America’s Got Talent in 2016 — has been busy since debuting her first full-length release to raves. She embarked on a 13-date solo tour, began modeling professionally, announced she’s opening for Imagine Dragons this summer and releasing a single and music video on Friday. The new song, Clearly, reimagines Johnny Nash’s I Can See Clearly Now as a moody, pop tune with VanderWaal’s delightfully-raspy vocals. (VanderWaal has been teasing the song’s release on Twitter.) – Read more at USAToday