Edited to Add:
Kris Allen: Adam Lambert Isn’t ‘Stealing My Thunder’
American Idol Kris Allen has had a totally different post- Idol experience than runner-up Adam Lambert, managing to stay out of the limelight and off the cover of Rolling Stone.
Allen insists he has nothing but love for Lambert, but he’d rather focus on his music and finally get a shot at married life with childhood sweetheart, Katy.
Carly Smithson’s Fallen: Is this the Evanescence you’ve been looking for?
The band may be new, but former Evanescence members Ben Moody, Rocky Gray and John LeCompt don’t have any problem looking to the past. Unveiling two songs from their recently formed outfit the Fallen, which features former “Idol” contestant and one-time major label artist Carly Smithson, the alt-rock-era advocates didn’t hide that they were courting the Evanescence fanbase.
Just look at the band’s name, a reference to Evanescence’s 2003’s multi-million selling debut “Fallen.” Speaking to local media after the performance at a Hollywood studio, LeCompt said the group wanted to “encompass all of our fans we already had” by invoking the hit album.
‘Idol’ makes first pass through Chicago’s talent
On the sunny side to the south, people were blinking back tears, sharing consolation hugs and furrowing their foreheads in anger.
On the shady side to the north, people wore amazed looks, giddy smiles and expressions of cool confidence.
Inside, on the arena floor, about 12, 000 would-be stars were trying to sing their way onto the next season of Fox TV’s “American Idol.”
In groups of four, they were directed to one of 12 curtained-off booths and had 30 seconds to make their case before a couple of producer-judges that they should get a shot to be the next Jennifer Hudson or Kris Allen.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
“American Idol” at the United Center in Chicago
They lined up in chutes, befitting a cattle call, and, as might have been expected in a city known for its stockyards, most were led calmly if not quietly to the slaughter.
About 12, 000 aspiring singers tried out for next year’s ninth edition of “American Idol” at the United Center in Chicago on Monday. The vast majority were quickly dispatched at about a dozen judging tables inside without ever catching a glimpse of Simon Cowell or Paula Abdul, who weren’t even involved in what’s considered the “producers’ round” of auditions. Yet a chosen few advanced on to the next rounds, probably in August, when executive producers were to select the best and the worst to face the celebrity judges, with a “golden ticket” to Hollywood on the line, as well as TV fame should they make it on camera when the Fox hit returns to the air in January.
A shot at stardom
Jamar Rogers, 27, of Milwaukee (center), is congratulated outside the United Center after being selected to move on to the next round of judging for American Idol. Rogers, a good friend of this year’s Idol finalist Danny Gokey, tried out for “Idol” last year only to be cut before the show trimmed the field of contestants to 36.
19 Recordings/RCA Records Team Up to Release ‹American Idol Season 8 ² Compilation To Be Sold Exclusively at Walmart
9 Recordings and RCA Records have teamed up exclusively with Walmart to release …American Idol Season 8 ³ on June 30th, 2009. The album will only be available at Walmart and Walmart.com at a retail price for $10.00. This compilation album marks the first time the favorites sung by this season Top 10 finalists have been made available on CD.
The CD includes two tracks from American Idol champion Kris Allen ‘ his hit single …No Boundaries (written By …Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, Cathy Dennis and Mitch Allan) and his version of Donna Summer …She Works Hard For The Money. There are also two tracks from runner-up Adam Lambert ‘ his version of …No Boundaries and his acoustic take on Tears for Fears …Mad World, based on the arrangement by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules from the …Donnie Darko soundtrack. The album also features one track each from all of the other Top 10 contestants before culminating with runner-up Adam Lambert recording of …No Boundaries as well.
Five 90s Songwriters Who Should Produce Kris Allen Album
One of the great comeback tales of the past few years has been the one owned by Linda Perry, who rescued herself from one-hit-wonder obscurity to become a top collaborator with some of the biggest names in pop music (like Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys and Gwen Stefani). Kris Allen is currently working with super-producers David Hodges (Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry), Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse) and Claude Kelly (Leona Lewis, Akon), but here are five circa-90s songwriters who Allen should draft into collaboration service.
» Gregg Alexander: Alexander made a splash in 1998 when his band New Radicals scored a big hit with …You Get What You Give. The group only produced one album, and since then Alexander has actually made a name for himself as a collaborator-for-hire, working with Hanson, Enrique Iglesias and Santana (whose …The Game of Love won Alexander a Grammy in 2003). But he needs a big breakout that can take him to the next level, and his mastery of arrangements and sonic layering would free Allen up profoundly.
Chris Daughtry and OneRepublic enjoy a little Southern Hospitality in NYC
Chris Daughtry can easily be considered on of American Idol’s greatest successes. Chris’s band Daughtry is preparing for an upcoming tour in support of their July 17th release “Leave This Town.”
With all the work of creating a new CD behind of him, as well as a long tour with Nickelback, it’s no wonder Chris had worked up quite a thirst. To fix that, Chris and fellow rock stars OneRepublic moseyed on down to New York’s very own Southern Hospitality.
Q&A with Kelly Clarkson: Confessions of an American Idol
As a girl growing up in Burleson, Texas, Kelly Clarkson couldn’t afford singing lessons, so she did the next best thing: She turned her bedroom closet into a recording studio. “My mom got me an old, beat-up recorder at a garage sale for 50 cents, and I would get blank tapes from my teachers at school, ” recalls Clarkson, 27. “My friend Ashley put a sign on my closet door that said ‘Recording Studio: Please Do Not Disturb.'” Though those tapes have yet to surface (eBay, anyone?), the powerhouse singer’s perseverance has paid off. Her soaring vocals made her American Idol’s very first champ, in 2002. Since then, she has sold over 20 million records and scored two Grammys, and her latest effort, All I Ever Wanted, debuted at the top of the charts.
Idol’s Carly Smithson Joins The Fallen
Los Angeles (myFOXla.com) – Some of the original members of the band Evanescence have a new group with former American Idol contestant, Carly Smithson, as the lead singer.
The full lineup consists of Smithson and three of the four original members of Evanescence… guitarists Ben Moody and John LeCompt and drummer Rocky Gray, as well as bassist Marty OBrien.
Kelly Clarkson’s ‘I Do Not Hook Up’ tops the Idol airplay chart
For only the third time since I began using Mediabase to rank American Idol airplay, there’s a new track at Number One. If you’ll remember all the way back to January when I debuted the chart, David Cook’s Light On was the most-played Idol track, but Kelly Clarkson’s My Life Would Suck Without You quickly replaced it — and has been the top song on the chart ever since.
This week, meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Kelly Clarkson drops to Number One, but Kelly Clarkson also ascends to Number One again with I Do Not Hook Up, thanks to increasing spins at Top 40, Hot AC and AC formats.
And the Emmy nominees for best reality-competition program will be . . .
On the official Emmy ballot, there are 27 shows competing for outstanding reality-competition program, but the same five have been nominated for the last two years: “Amazing Race, ” “American Idol, ” “Dancing With the Stars, ” “Project Runway” and “Top Chef.” And the same one has won all six years since this category was created (“Amazing Race”).
Survivor TV news
So handicapping this Emmy race seems to be fairly simple. Below is my rundown. I’m throwing “Survivor” into the “front-runners” portion because it was nominated here four years in a row (2003-2004) and Jeff Probst won the new award for reality host last year.
Hey, where’s “America’s Got Talent”? Why didn’t producers submit it this year?
Desperately seeking Susan: NBC ‹Talent cant compete with Fox star-maker
Can America discover the next Susan Boyle?
The 48-year-old Scottish church volunteer rose to instant and ultimately overwhelming fame when her rendition of …I Dreamed a Dream on …Britain Got Talent became an Internet sensation. …America Got Talent, an offshoot of the British version, returns for a fourth season tonight at 9 on WHDH (Ch. 7).
In a conference call with reporters last week, Piers Morgan, who is a judge on both the British and American versions, said he thought there were two or three acts that had the potential to be the next Susan Boyle …depending on how they go down with the American public.
‘America’s Got Talent’ avoids the Boyle ‘trap’
Viewers seeking the next Susan Boyle may have to settle for the real thing as NBC’s America’s Got Talent returns for its fourth season Tuesday (9 ET/PT).
Boyle, the frumpy Scottish singer who became an Internet sensation after her inspirational performance on the British version of the show, probably will appear as a guest on AGT in August. But the show is steering clear of trying to duplicate the “Boyle effect.”
New X Factor live auditions kick off in London… as Glasgow contestants find out they will have to re-audition
The first live X Factor auditions took place in London yesterday, with 2, 000 fans turning out to watch the humiliating process.
Judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole joined the show’s host Dermot O’Leary and The Xtra Factor presenter Holly Willoughy for two audition shows yesterday.
The try-outs took place at the ExCel Centre, the same day producers announced that contestants who had passed the first auditions in Glasgow would have to re-audition.
Susan Boyle Wows the Crowd at London Shows
Susan Boyle was back before the footlights with the Britain’s Got Talent roadshow Sunday, after missing a series of concerts.
The singer, 48, rested rather than performed around the U.K. late last week and into the weekend, but London fans received the full Boyle treatment at two shows at Wembley Arena Sunday. Audiences rewarded her with standing ovations after her signature pieces, “I Dreamed a Dream” and “Memory.” “She did really well, ” her rep says.
Former “Bachelor” and “Dancing with the Stars” Contestant, Melissa Rycroft, Joins ABC’s “Good Morning America” As Special Contributor
Melissa Rycroft has joined ABC News as a special contributor to “Good Morning America, ” it was announced today by Jim Murphy, senior executive producer of “Good Morning America.” In her role as a special contributor, Rycroft will appear on the morning news broadcast throughout the summer bringing fun and uplifting stories from around the country. Her first appearance was earlier this morning, Monday, June 22.
Lil’ C reacts to ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ clip highlighting his virtuosic verbosity
“It’s TV, and I didn’t take any disrespect from it, ” said Lil’ C, a standard-bearer for the “Krumping” hip-hop dance style whose real name is Christopher Toler. “I was surprised, and I thought it was funny to see people’s reactions. Those are genuine reactions. People do have trouble understanding when you’re not like, ‘Y’all was killin’ it!’ or ‘Ya’ll was good!’ I just feel more than that.
“What it is is, I am a very different panelist. I’m a different judge. I don’t have an M.O., so to speak. My style of critiquing is just based upon my experience.
“I’m an orator. What’s what I do. I’m extremely passionate about my art and other’s art. All I want to do is communicate. I’m an expressionist, whether it’s physical, whether it’s verbal.
