Taylor Hicks Exclusively Partners With A2M to Release Album, Due Winter 2009
He’s “Takin’ It to the Streets” on “American Idol” — now Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks will be takin’ it more directly to the people. Celebrating his birthday today, Hicks has tapped the independent artist services company Artist To Market (A2M) to release his much-buzzed-about new album, due in stores on February 10, 2009. The platinum-selling singer-songwriter will be releasing the new title with complete control of direction and ownership of his masters on his solely owned and operated, Modern Whomp Records label. Hicks is currently in the studio with producer Simon Climie (Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Faith Hill).
Oopsy, I Put Guitar in My Moufy
David Cook, you guys. Do you love him or hate him? There a war inside my heart going on to answer that very question.
Clay Aiken Says, ‘Nothing Has Changed’
Two weeks after Clay Aiken announced he is an openly gay man, the Spamalot Broadway actor has taken to the Web to explain his coming-out decision to his fans.
“I would have preferred to separate my personal life from my professional life, ” Aiken, 29, writes on his clayonline.com. “But, living as myself without discussing my sexuality publicly would have been as impossible.”
More Headlines after the JUMP…
American Idol’s Paris Bennett: Baby Won’t Change Life
Paris Bennett, who rose to fame on “American Idol, ” doesn’t intend for motherhood to slow her down. “The baby is only added into my schedule, ” she says. Wow. “I definitely will be the best mother I can be and continue with my career — with the help of my mom and so many supporters in my family. We’re a very close family, and everyone helps each other, and that’s allowing me to be in my career as well as to be a mommy when I’m off stage.”
Shine like Jennifer Hudson – get a similar ring
Jennifer Hudson has been spotted all over town sporting a massive Neil Lane diamond from fiance David Otunga. To get her look without the huge price tag, Karat Platinum offers a variety of similar rings from their bridal collection.
“Spotlight” On Jennifer Hudson
Finally, with the release of her self-titled debut album, Jennifer Hudson gets to be herself. She rose to fame by singing cover songs on American Idol and then scoring big acting roles in Dreamgirls and Sex & The City, but this album is the first time that fans get to see the real Jennifer. “It introduces Jennifer the person versus all the characters, ” she told MTV News about her new CD. “It shows my versatility as a vocalist coming out of singing the cover tunes from Idol or Dreamgirls.”
‘Idol’ alum Kellie Pickler charms fans at State Fair
Kellie Pickler must be the envy of every American Idol also-ran.
The sixth-place finisher has somehow escaped the obscurity that most alums are dumped into soon after their seasons are up. Instead, the perky Ms. Pickler, who’s had three top-15 singles and is promoting a new album, was the headliner at the State Fair of Texas Sunday night.
The crowd of a few hundred stood for the hourlong show, during which Ms. Pickler showed off her ditzy charm.
“My shirt keeps blowin’ up and I’m thinking, ‘Whoa!’ ” she said as the wind swirled around her. “But I’m covered up underneath. Lucky for you.”
Pickler’s follow-up slick and all too forgettable
Kellie Pickler, a former “American Idol” contestant, has become a country star by exploiting her dumb-blonde, cornball persona. That personality was showcased on her first album, “Small Town Girl, ” a surprisingly fun debut that promised more good times ahead. Well, the good times haven’t arrived yet.
Kellie Pickler Battles Cell Phone Intrusions
Is the cell phone a health risk? Recent studies have been inconclusive, but theyve provided enough reason for concern that some medical experts have suggested ways to cut exposure to the device frequencies.
One person who already found ways to reduce exposure is Kellie Pickler, who makes a valiant attempt at being unreachable.
“I hate cell phones, ” she told Dial-Global. “The only reason why I have mine is for work… that’s it. If I didn’t do what I do, I wouldn’t even own one. I hate talking on the phone; I’m just not a fan of it at all. It’s funny because I have one with me all the time, but it’s just for work.”
JLC, London, ON – October 6, 2008
LONDON, Ontario – Carrie’s country carnival ride had thousands along for the hits at the John Labatt Centre last night.
With about 9, 000 fans jamming the London arena, U.S. country superstar Carrie Underwood hit the stage with Flat on the Floor from her hit album Carnival Ride.
The fans thundered out the final seconds of a big-screen countdown before a virtual Underwood emerged in faux leather in a video of a desert scene.
Carrie comes to town
For the Kansas Expocentre, a nearly packed house is almost unheard of.
On Tuesday, when Little Big Town and Carrie Underwood came to Topeka, the trend of underachieving crowd support was snapped like a twig.
The stage was set at the north end of Landon Arena, with a catwalk jutting into the audience on the floor. Peering around the arena, it looked as though most of the seats in the stands had been filled, except for the upper corners. However, taking into account the masses who sat floor level where the Koyotes and RoadRunners usually play, there were undoubtedly enough people in attendance to fill the rest of the seats.
David Cook Fans Use New Single to Create Tribute to Troops
KANSAS CITY, MO. — American Idol and Blue Springs, Missouri native David Cook’s new single is inspiring fans. His fans put together a slideshow tribute to the troops in Iraq and their families using Cook’s new single “Light On.”
The person who posted it, livinonfaith, said the new single “is a powerful testament to the invincibility of love.”
Michael W. Smith’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Christmas Tour’
GRAMMY ® award-winning and multi-Platinum selling artist Michael W. Smith will celebrate this holiday season with the 16-show …It A Wonderful Christmas Tour. Featuring …American Idol alum Melinda Doolittle as special guest, the tour kicks off Nov. 29, in Youngstown, Ohio and will hit major markets like Dallas, St. Paul, Spokane, Portland and more before it concludes in Phoenix on Dec. 19.
Insight, FremantleMedia make financing deal
TORONTO — Toronto-based Insight Production Co. and FremantleMedia Enterprises, already first-look partners, took their relationship a step further Monday, unveiling a development financing deal to co-fund scripted and unscripted projects.
Insight founder and CEO John Brunton said that he and FremantleMedia will pool development money, with a focus on co-venture opportunities for both scripted and non-scripted content.
He added that Insight and FremantleMedia intend to partner with international broadcasters and producers, including U.S. players, to get projects the script funding.
Projects already underway at Insight and FremantleMedia include a new version of the “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” TV franchise that will be unveiled at MIPCOM later this week.
Chatting with the So You Think You Can Dance Gang on Tour
If it hasn’t already, the So You Think You Can Dance tour might be making its way to a city near you soon! Last week, this season’s top dancers came close to me in Oakland, CA, and I got a chance to hang out backstage with Chelsea Traille, Mark Kanemura, Katee Shean, Joshua Allen, and Jessica King. We chatted about life after SYTYCD, the rigor of the competition, what the judges were really like, and lots more. Check it out:
So You Think You Can Dance Tour
Millions of viewers made SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE one of the hottest shows on TV. Now that it’s done for the season, fans can check out their favorite dancers from the show…
America’s Got Talent Winner 2008
Meet Neal E. Boyd, the opera-singing winner of AMERICA’S GOT TALENT. Hollywood 411 talks to the lucky winner, as well as judges Sharon Osbourne, Piers Morgan and Jerry Springer!
Exclusive Interview: Tony Dovolani of ‘Dancing with the Stars’
Arguably, the best part of watching Dancing with the Stars is the cadre of professional dancers who are tasked to teach celebrities who have never danced before to compete in a televised ballroom competition. Over the seven seasons of the show’s existence, we’ve gotten to know these dancing pros and have watched them in awe as they flawlessly perform week after week. They are class acts, these dancers, for their dedication to the show, to their craft and to us, their fans.
One of these special dancers is Tony Dovolani. I got the chance to talk to him about the journey he has been through with his partner Susan Lucci this season.
New Video: Cloris Leachman on Proving Herself to the ‘DWTS’ Judges
Cloris Leachman doesn’t talk jive — she dances it! ET joins the 82-year-old Oscar winner and pro-partner Corky Ballas as they rehearse the jive, the next routine they’ll attempt on “Dancing with the Stars.” Read on to learn why Cloris thinks she’s got something to prove to the judges!
“First of all, you can’t hear what they [the judges] are saying that night. There’s so much noise, ” Cloris tells ET. “You either like it or you don’t like it — thumbs up or thumbs down, ” she says as Corky laughs on.
Khloe Kardashian: Kim Is ‹Relieved to be Done with Dancing
She may have been inconsolable after her elimination, but now Kim Kardashian is breathing a sigh of relief that her Dancing With the Stars days are over.
…She actually relieved because the judges were really harsh on her, Khloe Kardashian told PEOPLE on Saturday night in the VIP room at a Pepsi Smash concert at Nokia Theatre in New York.
‘Dancing With the Stars’: An injured Misty May-Treanor, and a chat with Lance Bass
Fans, this seems already to have been a perilous season for “DWTS” dancers. First, Jeffrey Ross sustained a scratched cornea, forcing him to wear an eyepatch during his brief stay on the show. Second, pro Karina Smirnoff twisted her ankle and had to sport an Ace bandage that was at least two shades lighter than her spray tan. And now comes word that Misty May-Treanor suffered an ankle injury — not a broken ankle, as some reports claimed — and her status is uncertain. We’ll get an update on tonight’s show.
In happier news, today I interviewed Lance Bass during a break between his rehearsals.
Dancing With The Stars: Week 3
(S07E06) Week three did not get off to a great start down at Dancing With The Stars HQ. The ten performances we were expecting had been reduced to nine. It seems that while training on Friday night, Misty May-Treanor suffered an injury that would keep her from performing as part of the top ten.
‘Dancing With the Stars’: This Ain’t No Jive
I trust you’re all wearing black today (pleather: optional) to effectively mourn the loss of both Misty May-Treanor’s healthy left Achilles tendon and the presence of ”Maksim…Chi-may-uh-kovskiy!” on our TVs ‘ the latter of which I’ve long considered a free, twice-weekly hot oil treatment for us all. Bah! Misty and Maks, the dream team composed of two of my favorite people ever, heard their mirrorball dreams shatter with a resounding pop. Thanks, DWTS post-production audio specialists, for amping up the volume of the pop for extra horror! God, I never want to hear that sound again. And, sickeningly, I know I’m not the only one who rewound it. M&M 2.0 are officially out of the competition, which will leave Misty plenty of time to eat carbs and chill with her hubby…and should present Maks with ample free time which he is strongly encouraged to waste by talking to me! HINT.
‘Dancing with the Stars’: An early farewell and our first 10
Tonight’s Dancing with the Stars managed to air something that made me cringe more than when Samantha Harris does backstage interviews. And this was after someone scored a season high twenty-nine points. It totally brought the room down.
