‘The Voice’ victory opens the road to Broadway – In May, Josh Kaufman went from being known for his voice to being known as “The Voice” when he took first place in NBC’s reality competition show. “It’s a complete 180-degree turn in their lives right now,” said Kaufman’s mother, Blacksburg’s Beth Gilbert, of Kaufman and his family immediately following the final show. Gilbert’s prediction was correct, as the victory took the then 38-year-old father of three from working as an SAT tutor in Indianapolis to touring full time as a performer and preparing his first single with a major record label. – Read more at Roanoke.com
Q+A: What’s Next for Chris Jamison? – It’s only been a couple of weeks, but what’s different for you now? Are you getting calls and offers everyday? I got to sing the National Anthem at the Steelers game, and that was pretty incredible. I had never done anything like that before, so that was amazing. As far as offers are concerned . . . I have talked with different people from different record labels in Los Angeles; the goal is to go out there in January and meet with different people and see what options I have. The goal is to continue moving forward. I don’t want to wait a couple of months and then show up and lose all that momentum I gained from the show. The goal is to go back out to L.A. and make something happen. I’m excited. I’m eager to start the New Year and start this new chapter of my life. – Read more at Pittsburgh Magazine
Beats Music lining up talent for exclusive releases – It’s been a while since we’ve heard much about Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre’s Beats Music, but our music industry spies say Iovine is having fresh talks with artists about doing exclusives. Beats executives — now Apple employees — are looking to replicate the kind of success Beyoncé had with her iTunes album, “Beyoncé by Beyoncé,” back in December 2013. Beats already has a bunch of connections with artists including Nicki Minaj, who frequently stars with Beats products in her music videos. Iovine is also good friends with Will.i.am, Pharrell, Kanye West and Gwen Stefani. – Read more at the NYPost.com
Rockin’ in the New Year – Growing up in his hometown of Dunwoody, Ga., Ryan Seacrest fantasized about joining the revelers in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. “I thought, ‘Someday I am going to drive up there and watch the ball drop,’” he says. Seacrest never imagined that when he finally made it to Times Square in 2005, it would be as co-host of the iconic New Year’s Rockin’ Eve live broadcast alongside Dick Clark. Now, with Clark’s death in 2012, Seacrest is ringmaster of the year’s biggest bash, a gig that caps off his “day” jobs hosting TV’s American Idol and two Los Angeles-based syndicated radio shows. – Read more at Parade
Simon Cowell’s cute son Eric pulls an evil at his famous dad on Barbados trip – His famous father Simon Cowell is known for not taking any rubbish from anyone – and it seems baby Eric is going to be just like his dad. The adorable tot looked very unimpressed with his father and pulled him a fantastic evil during the family’s trip to Barbados this week. Music mogul Simon was pictured doting on his only son while wearing a flotation jacket and swimming trucks, but Eric curled his lip up and squinted his eyes as his dad looked down on him. – Read more at Mirror.co.uk
7 Awesome Glimpses of What You’re Missing Out On At ‘Dancing With the Stars: Live!’ – On the Dancing With The Stars: Live! Tour, some of the stars and a number of the pros get together and perform some of their most beloved routines. And, like with the show, it’s filled with hot costumes, sizzling dance moves and wacky awesomeness. Let’s take a look at what you’re missing by not seeing Dancing With the Stars: Live!, starting with the tour’s recent stop in Verona, N.Y. – ETOnline
