Fantasia announces ‘Color Purple’ makeup shows
After battling health issues last weekend, which caused Fantasia to sit out a couple nights of “The Color Purple, ” the “American Idol” winner announced that she’s adding two additional Sunday matinee performances (Feb. 21 and 28), which were previously scheduled as days off.
In a statement released today, Fantasia acknowledges that “this very challenging time … is a journey — both with my health and in the role of Celie, ” adding that she was “overjoyed to get the OK from my doctor and new vocal coach to come back and perform. My fans and this show are very important to me.”
O2 Media’s Hit Show The Balancing Act Honors HEART HEALTH Month with Special Guest, American Idol Finalist– Danny Gokey!
The Balancing Act shares the personal story of Danny Gokey, an American Idol finalist who finished third last year, a former choir director, and founder of Sophia’s Heart Foundation. Sophia’s Heart Foundation is a charitable organization that helps mend and heal the hearts of children who have been touched by poverty, sickness, and disease. Make sure you tune into The Balancing Act Tuesday, February 23rd at 7:00am (ET/PT)—airing on Lifetime Television!
Sophia’s Heart Foundation was inspired by the life of an extraordinary woman whose love for children overflowed and touched the lives of countless others. Sophia was a very outgoing woman who, despite her heart condition, remained full of optimism, energy, and selflessness. During her vibrant and meaningful 27-years of life, she relayed the importance of meeting the needs of children emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.
Track sales: ‘We Are the World’ and the power of Didi Benami
As expected, the Artists for Haiti version of We Are the World — which features Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Katharine McPhee and Randy Jackson — debuted atop the Nielsen SoundScan digital tracks chart this week, with more than 267, 000 downloads. The Simon Cowell-organized version of Everybody Hurts, which is tearing up the charts across the pond, got 14, 000 downloads in the U.S. during its debut week. Of course, it didn’t get nearly the attention here that the new We Are the World did.
via Kimberly Caldwell twitter:
“The Mess of You video will premiere at http://new.music.yahoo.com/ on feb 23rd!!!! I’m so excited! Yahooooo!!!”
More Headlines After the JUMP…keep checking back for updates…
American Idol: Y’all Ready for…Paula Deen?!
American Idol may be cooking something up with Paula Deen. A source tells me the Food Network star is in discussions to appear on the singing competition show. “They started talking about two weeks ago, ” the source says. As much as we love us some Deen in all her buttery goodness…
It’s probably safe to assume that she is not a candidate to replace Simon Cowell. But a possible stint as a guest judge? Sure.
Oscar Spoilers: Best Original Song Artists Not Performing; But Contestants Invited From ‘So You Think You Can Dance?’
EXCLUSIVE: Oscarcast executive producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic have dropped a bombshell, telling artists nominated for Best Original Song that they won’t be invited to perform the usual big production number. The decision has hit a sour note for the nominated performers. Instead of the Academy Awards’ long-held tradition of staged musical performances of the five nominated songs, the music from those songs will be interspersed with footage from each movie to provide more context. I’m told that some of the nominees and filmmakers are outraged, feeling that the Oscar producers are tossing aside tradition and costing musical artists their well-deserved moment of global TV glory.
Quentin’s Influences, Kathryn’s Successors
In this morning’s roundup of Oscar news ‘n’ notes from around the web, Tarantino names his inspirations, Queen Bigelow gets her court and Adam Shankman hires a lot of dancers.
Adam Shankman tweets a detail about the Oscar show: “FYI: there’s 69 dancers this year… All there for the movies!” And that number includes at least a baker’s dozen from “So You Think You Can Dance”: Travis, Ivan, Jaimie, Kayla, Ellenore, Russell, Jakob, Kathryn, Nick Lazzarini, Legacy, Channing, Lil C and Kupono
‘American Idol’ sales report: The albums
Lots of albums had week-over-week sales increases last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, not just American Idol albums. Even with a 12 percent decline, Carrie Underwood’s Play On remained the week’s top-selling Idol album, with more than 26, 000 units. (Some Hearts, on the other hand, saw a 23 percent sales increase, to almost 6, 000.)
Among those who did see sales increases last week: Adam Lambert, Daughtry and Kris Allen.
Carrie Underwood Dives into First Feature Film Role
“The Insider”‘s Samantha Harris is with Grammy winning vocal powerhouse Carrie Underwood on the Hawaiian set of her first feature film, ‘Soul Surfer.’
“It’s a great story…it’s an amazing thing to be a part of it, ” Carrie tells “The Insider.”
Carrie plays Sarah Hill in the drama based on the true story of teenage surfer Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) who returns to the waves after a horrific shark attack.
Seth Rollins regroups after Group Day cut
Seth Rollins and Michael Lynche had auditioned in Orlando on the same day. So when they both survived the first days of “lines” in Hollywood, getting together for Group Day just seemed natural.
Seth had done his line performance the second day of Hollywood, singing A Song for You in a line that also included Lloyd Thomas, Mark Labriola, Erynne Hundley and Bryce Larsen. “Ellen said my voice was good, but she said I was not doing a whole lot up on stage, ” Seth says.
Jimmy Charles: Starting the next chapter
When Jimmy Charles auditioned in Denver, he wanted to make sure the judges knew that he was a country singer, so he picked the Carrie Underwood/Randy Travis hit I Told You So to help him make his first impression.
When he got to Hollywood, Jimmy wanted to show them more of his range, so he went with something different — the Mr. Big ballad To Be With You. “I’ve got a lot of range in my voice, ” says the Nashville-based singer, “moreso than a lot of country songs would have allowed me to show off.”
Luke Edgemon looks back at his Hollywood Week
American Idol viewers didn’t get to see much of Luke Edgemon this season — basically one brief shot last Tuesday night as he realized he’d gone as far in Hollywood Week as he was going to go.
But the North Carolina singer didn’t get that much more time on stage in Hollywood — just a verse and half a chorus of the Bonnie Raitt hit I Can’t Make You Love Me.
Purple’s Hall Among Top 24 “American Idol” Finalists
Last season Wicked’s Adam Lambert became the runner-up in the “American Idol” competition and has gone on to sell thousands of CDs. This season, another theatre actor could be headed to similar glory.
Todrick C. Hall, seen on Broadway in The Color Purple, is among the Top 24 finalists in the country’s biggest singing competition. Hall shared the Broadway stage with an “Idol” winner, Fantasia Barrino, who spent several months in the acclaimed musical.
Adam Lambert Prepares To Take On The World
Adam Lambert has a top-40 hit with “Whataya Want From Me” and a #1 music video on VH1. His major-label debut, For Your Entertainment, just went gold. So what’s next for the “American Idol” fave? Two words: world domination.
“I’m gonna go to Australia first, then Japan, then the U.K., then Germany, ” Lambert told MTV News moments before Ryan Seacrest’s “Rock My Town” concert last Friday. “I’m really excited to travel. I think that’s one of the best parts of this whole gig. We get to meet new people and see new cultures.”
Jason Castro Interview: ‘American Idol, ‘ Love, and Adam Duritz’s Dreads
In an age when reality shows churn out talentless stars like “The Situation” and Trishelle Cannatella, “American Idol” has always made it a habit of finding and backing winners. Even the losers turn out to be winners. Take Jason Castro, for example, who’s anything but a loser. The charmingly chill and oft-sandaled hippie stole the hearts of the judges and audiences during the seventh season of “Idol” (his rendition of “Hallelujah” brought the house down) where he finished in third-place, and is back with a self-titled debut album.
I spoke to the 22-year-old Texan briefly about “Idol, ” being idle from the music scene, and his dreads.
National Tour of Grease to End in May; Franklin to Join Cast
The national tour of the family-friendly musical Grease will end its run May 23 at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland, OH.
“This leg of the tour is ending in Cleveland on May 23 and will not play Boston as planned, ” according to one of the musical’s producers. Grease had been scheduled to play Boston’s Opera House June 1-13.
The national tour of the 1950s-themed musical launched Dec. 2, 2008, at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI.
Kimberly Caldwell Covers Melissa Etheridge’s “Come To My Window”
Kimberly Caldwell is finally ready to get back to what made people fall in love with her several years ago when she competed on American Idol — that gorgeously ragged rasp. She tells radio station WPLJ that after years of hosting gigs on Fox and the TV Guide Channel, she’s “ready to push it all aside and just concentrate on the music.” That extra focus clearly shows, particularly when she pulls out a powerful acoustic cover of Melissa Etheridge’s “Come To My Window.” Hear it after the jump.
Video: Arjan Chats with Kimberly Caldwell
Kimberly Caldwell’s debut album “Without Regret” is one of the most striking new albums to be released over the next few months. The American Idol alum wears her heart on her sleeves, passionately opening up to listeners about hardships, broken family and dealing with broken hearts that is genuinely heartfelt and touching.
The beauty of this record is that Caldwell sings about her own personal journey in a way that makes it possible for other people to relate to it and make this record their own. Powerful stuff.
The Color Purple
The legacy couldn’t be richer: Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize–winning 1982 novel and the Oscar-nominated 1985 Steven Spielberg film adaptation, introducing Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey to fortunate movie audiences. Small wonder that the 2006 Broadway musical version of this stirring saga of the emancipation of a beaten-down black woman netted 11 Tony nominations. A touring edition, starring the terrific Jeannette Bayardelle as the beleaguered protagonist Celie, proved to be a crown jewel at the Ahmanson Theatre in 2007. Yet there’s something particularly special in this latest touring version, directed by Gary Griffin. “American Idol” winner Fantasia, who starred as Celie during part of the Broadway run, reprises her characterization here. It’s among the most electrifying musical theater performances I’ve ever seen.
Simon Cowell declares that new girlfriend Mezhgan Hussainy is ‘the one’
Simon Cowell has told how his new girlfriend is “the one” and hinted for the first time that he may be ready to settle down and have children.
His romance with Mezhgan Hussainy, 36, who worked as a make-up artist on American Idol, was made public recently after they were photographed out on a date.
Now, in a television interview to be screened on ITV1 next month, Cowell hinted to Piers Morgan that the pair could be engaged, according to The Mirror.
He said: “I’m smitten with Mezhgan, I think she’s the one. She’s very special.
Jason Derulo Says Mentor Kara DioGuardi Trusts Him To ‘Take The Reins’
With his self-titled debut album hitting stores March 2, Jason Derülo admits that he owes a big thank you to “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi. Derülo isn’t some “Idol” reject who got advice from DioGuardi during audition rounds of the show; his relationship with the hitmaking songwriter actually goes a bit more personal than that.
“Kara DioGuardi is my baby mama, ” he joked to MTV News about the singer/songwriter, who moonlights as Warner Bros. Records senior vice president of A&R. “Nah! She took a part in kind of discovering me. [Producer] J.R. Rotem brought me to her, and they put the deal together. She’s been there through this entire process.”
New ‘Glee’ promo: ‘Come on, girls!’
“Do you believe in love?” Last night’s Entertainment Tonight featured an all-new Glee promo – just in time, because the next new episode airs April 13! You tell me: Is the awesomeness of Sue Sylvester in a Madonna-esque cone bra and a “Those sweaters make her look home-schooled” quip from my second-favorite character Brittany somewhat tainted by your overwhelming despair at having to wait nearly two months to see the real thing?
