Simon Cowell’s “Everybody Hurts” All-Star Charity Single Premieres
The Simon Cowell-curated all-star rendition of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” premiered this morning on U.K. radio, Reuters reports. The Haiti benefit single, which will be available for download this Sunday, February 7th, features Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Rod Stewart, Jon Bon Jovi and Miley Cyrus. Cowell’s version sticks pretty close to the Automatic For the People original, with all the stars involved each singing a line from the R.E.M. classic.
American Idol winner Kris Allen will be in Kuala Lumpur
Last season’s American Idol winner Kris Allen is coming to town on February 8.
Hitz.fm, Malaysia’s English radio station is the first to break the good news. On its official website, Hitz.fm stated that the American idol will be here to promote the new season of AI (for its official broadcaster, Star World) as well as his debut album.
‘American Idol’: Hear Larry Platt’s ‘Pants on the Ground’ studio recording
“American Idol” superstar General Larry Platt has taken to the recording studio and laid down his “Pants on the Ground.” Listen here.
We aren’t sure how we feel about “Pants on the Ground” getting the technology treatment.
It’s just not the same as the simple version Larry Platt did for the “Idol” judges so many months ago. Too over-produced for our taste — we’re minimalists when it comes to “Pants, ” we guess. But good for Larry for finally getting his own recording done — the imitations have been mounting!
More Headlines after the JUMP…
Adam Lambert Turns 28 With…Lindsay Lohan?!
It was a good weekend for Adam Lambert!
Not only did the American Idol alum hit the Grammys on Sunday, he celebrated his 28th birthday Saturday night in style.
The singer threw a soiree at the Mondrian’s ADCB restaurant for 100 family members and friends, including his mom, ex-beau Drake Labry and Lindsay Lohan.
So what exactly was Lindsay doing there?
Adam Lambert celebrates his birthday — and the Grammys — in style
If there were an award for busiest non-performer or presenter on Grammy night, it might have to go to Adam Lambert. Last year’s “American Idol” runner-up spent most of his time on Sunday’s red carpet working it, as the special fashion correspondent for “Entertainment Tonight.” Among the pop stars who made their way to Adam’s corner: Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Katy Perry and the Black Eyed Peas.
The one-off gig capped off a jam-packed weekend that included the star-studded Clive Davis party on Saturday and his own 28th birthday blow-out at the Mondrian Hotel the night prior, which was attended by fellow season 8 finalists Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Lil Rounds and Megan Joy, as well as Slash and Lindsay Lohan, with Samantha Ronson manning the turntables. Before that, Adam spent most of Friday making the downtown L.A. rounds, hitting the official Grammy gift lounge, doing a few interviews and, suffice it to say, posing for hundreds of photos.
Adam Lambert Versus Snooki: Who Was The Better Grammy Correspondent?
Back in the day, we had Joan Rivers on the red carpet asking celebs, “Who are you wearing?” These days, as proven by last night’s Grammy Awards red carpet rundown, media outlets tap famous guest correspondents to handle fashion reports. “Entertainment Tonight” hired former “American Idol” fave Adam Lambert to rock the fashion questions while MTV sent Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi of “Jersey Shore” fame.
But which “reporter for a day” did you like better?
‘American Idol’ Power List: We rate (and you vote on) the best auditioners from season 9 thus far!
We’re headed into the final week of American Idol auditions — how quickly they’ve sped by, yet how tedious they’ve gotten, no? — but before we reconnect with Victoria Beckham in Denver tonight, let’s take the temperature of where things stand with the Golden Ticket-getters from Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Check out my Top 20 countdown (hotlinks to all auditions included for those of you with faulty memories/lives outside the Idolverse), then vote for your favorite in the poll (after the jump). And if you’re not already doin’ it (and doin’ it well), follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak.
This Just In: Check Out E!’s Cavalcade of Stars
We interrupt this column for a little quick, shameless self-promotion…
E!’s new image campaign launches today and features the oh-so-glamorous likes of Ryan Seacrest, Joel McHale, Chelsea Handler, Giuliana Rancic, Catt Sadler, Sal Masekela and the Kardashians, all strutting their stuff to a darn hip Adam Lambert remix. (Girls Next Door fans, don’t be alarmed at the lack of Kendra star Kendra Wilkinson and Holly’s World star Holly Madison—they have not been forgotten and will be in the next one.) Press play above to check it out for yourself!
‘Pants on the Ground’ Joins the Mile High Club
Gen. Larry Platt just took in-flight entertainment to the next level.
Platt’s manager tells TMZ Platt busted out an impromptu performance of “Pants on the Ground” during a flight from L.A. to Atlanta this AM — after passengers recognized him and then begged him to do it.
We’re told Platt — who was on his way back home from The Grammys — performed the song in the aisle in coach.
Platt was the last person to get off the plane — because the pilots and flight attendants wanted to meet him.
Stars Remake “We Are The World” for Haiti Victims
None of the singers of the original song were invited to participate in the update, which was recorded at the same Hollywood studio once again under the oversight of Quincy Jones and the song’s co-writer Lionel Richie.
In all, more than 70 stars lent their voices to the song, and they all seemed in awe of each other.
“As celebrities, we’re fans of one another, so we’re all looky-looing in there, and getting autographs and numbers, ” said Natalie Cole.
Streisand, Celine Dion and Tony Bennett appeared to inspire the most stares. Fifteen-year-old Canadian heartthrob Justin Bieber, who sang the opening line originally performed by Richie, joked that he would ask his new friend, R&B singer Akon, to get the telephone number of Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls.
‘We Are the World’ for Haiti benefit features Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, dozens more
By 6 p.m., the choir had run through the chorus at least a dozen times, and took a ten-minute break that turned into 45. On a large screen set up in the courtyard, the masses of personal assistants and publicists and managers lingering during the session (and the civilians who’d gathered on the street outside the complex) were treated to a live feed of Streisand recording the same line over and over and over and over. For the record, it was “There’s a choice we’re making / We’re saving our own lives / It’s true we’ll make a better day / Just you and me.” “I didn’t come all this way to sing one line, ” Babs said at one point; they then allowed her to vamp some improvisations over the chorus. Other acts pulled out to sing solo lines were Bieber (riffing on the chorus melody in his earnest teensy way), Groban (“We can’t go on / pretending day by day…” as well as providing what he called “the token classical note of the vamp”), and Dion, who was coached by Lionel Richie to let her inner gospel diva out. “You’re honored that thye pick you for the hardest part of the song, but at the same time it gives you a lot of pressure, so thanks a lot, ” she joked. “The rhythm was changed a little bit and I so wanted to make it perfect. They played the track, and on my right shoulder, Lionel Richie. I was like, ‘I think I’m in good hands.’”
An all-star ‘We Are the World’ remake for Haiti relief
Where else would 83-year-old Tony Bennett sing in unison with 15-year-old Justin Bieber? Emphasizing the cross-generational representation, the choir featured two Beach Boys (Brian Wilson and Al Jardine) and three Jonas Brothers (Nick, Joe and Kevin).
Some newly minted stars, such as Zac Brown, whose band won the best new artist Grammy on Sunday, seemed a bit wide-eyed to be milling in the sweltering recording room with the likes of Carlos Santana, who recorded a searing guitar solo for the single early in the six-hour session.
“It’s like standing in the classic records section at the Turtles music store looking at all the covers, ” Brown said. “It’s ridiculous and it’s wonderful and for a good cause.”
Matt Giraud to perform April 21 in Kalamazoo at Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival
KALAMAZOO — The Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival has added American Idol finalist and Kalamazoo resident Matt Giraud to the 2010 festival lineup.
Giraud, who finished fifth in the eight season of the Fox television show last year, will perform at 8 p.m. April 21 at Chenery Auditorium.
Tickets for the show will be $37 and $27. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Miller Auditorium box office.
Tickets also may be purchased at online at www.millerauditorium.com or by phone at (269) 387-2300 or (800) 228-9858. For more information, visit www.gilmorekeyboardfestival.org.
Carrie Underwood’s Reem Acra Grammys Dress Sells Out on Gilt Groupe
The same dress style that Carrie Underwood wore on stage during last night’s Grammy Awards was available for purchase today—heavily discounted through sample-sale outlet Gilt Groupe.
Underwood, an award-winning country singer who found fame through “American Idol, ” joined the Michael Jackson tribute in a silk lame chiffon gown by Lebanese designer Reem Acra. That same style is one of 40 designs by Acra that went on sale at noon Monday on Gilt.com, a popular Web site that designers use to clear excess inventory, typically with sharp markdowns.
‘Dream’ comes true for Syesha Mercado
“Dreamgirls [trailer]” isn’t just a natural fit for Syesha Mercado – it’s in her blood. As a child, the former “American Idol” contestant found the musical’s libretto in her mother’s closet and was enthralled.
Turns out mom auditioned for the 1981 Broadway debut of Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen’s glittery show. Decades later, her daughter has landed the role of the glamorous, treacherous Deena Jones in the even more glittery “Dreamgirls” revival coming to the Colonial Theatre Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Mercado took third place in the seventh season of “Idol, ” just behind the two Davids – Archuleta and winner Cook. The Herald caught up with her by phone during the tour’s stop in Chicago.
Edited to Add:
Allison Iraheta: Idol Will “Do Well” Without Simon Cowell
Can American Idol survive without Simon Cowell next year?
Season 8 finalist Allison Iraheta thinks so.
“Idol has been around for so long and it has its own following, ” Iraheta, 17, told UsMagazine.com Saturday at the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala in Los Angeles. Cowell announced last month he’s leaving the Fox hit after nine seasons to focus on bringing his British show, X Factor, to the states.
Red-Haired Kelly Clarkson Hits Dublin
Spending some time across the pond, Kelly Clarkson was spotted arriving at a Dublin, Ireland hotel earlier today (February 2).
The “My Life Would Suck Without You” songstress looked cute and casual, sporting red hair and a makeup-less complexion.
Ratings: Grammys surge past ‘Idol’ to become week’s top broadcast program
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, which garnered its highest rated airing in six years, was the top-rated program of the week on the broadcast networks—beating even Fox’s stalwart champ American Idol!—for the seven day period ending Jan. 31. Granted, the Grammys’ 25.9 million viewers only beat the Wednesday edition of American Idol (No. 2, 25.7 million viewers) by less than a million viewers, but the professional awards show was finally victorious over the amateur competition once again. In third place for the week was the Tuesday edition of Idol, which drew 24.5 million viewers.
‘We Are the World’ Remake Leaves Jordin Sparks, Tyrese, Celine Dion Star-Struck
You would think that when celebrities like Kanye West, the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and Celine Dion get into a room together, they’d be too jaded to get star struck by the other A-listers in attendance. But when more than 80 singers, rappers and actors gathered on Monday to re-record “We are the World” to benefit the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, they were all pretty impressed by each other.
And Jordin Sparks added that the vibe was similar to that of a major award show.
“It’s kind of like when you go to an awards show and everybody’s there, and you’re like, ‘I can’t believe everyone’s here, ‘ ” she explained. “Except this time, they’re not posing for pictures. They’re not doing interviews. They’re just there for the music, and I’m just, like, standing next to Rob Thomas on this side; Lil Wayne is in front of me; Brandy, Tyrese and then Natalie Cole is down there.”
“American Idol” judge Randy Jackson noted that the gathering proved that when times are tough, people will always work together. “It makes me proud for the human spirit, for us to come together in a time when we need to help people, ” he said. “I think this is a great moment in time, and I wasn’t going to miss it for anything.”
Taylor Hicks On Ellen DeGeneres: “Her Jokes Are Funnier Than Simon’s”
With the current season of ‘American Idol‘ still in the early stages, it’s too soon to tell who the next Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood might be. Back in 2006, the singer who emerged from the pack and won the whole thing was Taylor Hicks who wooed voters with his energetic versions of classic rock, soul and R&B songs.
His winning season is currently being relived on ‘Idol Rewind’ which includes present-day interviews with Hicks and his fellow contestants who included Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler, Elliott Yamin, Katharine McPhee and Ace Young. The 33-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama has not achieved the commercial success of some of the other past contestants, but he has worked steadily since winning the crown and still seems to be having the time of his life.
