Today’s Idol Appearances
- Adam Lambert will premiere his new mix of “Aftermath” on the Ryan Seacrest KIIS Radio show tomorrow morning. You can listen live HERE. 7:30 PT am
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Kris Allen tweeted last night, “Got back to LA today and did a little writing. Today was fun. Haven’t played the piano in a while and I lived on it today.”
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Paul McDonald tweets, “All the guys listening to our first batch of tunes at Interscope… http://plixi.com/p/82687193 These tracks are super legit. both boys and the girls..it’s unreal working with pros on this level. Unreal. Wow.”
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Chris Daughtry on the way to the Studio. Watch the twitvid HERE.
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More Headlines after the JUMP…
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Tin Pan South 2011 lineup includes Crystal Bowersox, Bo Bice
The lineup for the 19th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival – set for March 29 through April 2 in Nashville – has been revealed.
Among the big names performing at this year’s Tin Pan are American Idol season 9 runner-up Crystal Bowersox, Kenny Loggins, Steel Magnolia, Delbert McClinton, Tom T. Hall, Steve Wariner, Elizabeth Cook, Lee Roy Parnell, Chuck Wicks, Jim Lauderdale, Bo Bice, Better Than Ezra’s Kevin Griffin and Tonic‘s Emerson Hart.
See the official Tin Pan South 2011 schedule for details.
Crystal performs at the Hard Rock Cafe on Tuesday March 29.
Bo Bice at the Listening Room on Thursday March 31
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ACM Adds Women, Men to Girls’ Night Out TV Special
The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has added three women — and quite a few men — to its Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country — The Concert of the Year television taping at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 4. Plus, all five of the honorees will perform during the show.
The Judds and Loretta Lynn have joined the concert’s all-star lineup, along with Jason Aldean, Ronnie Dunn, Vince Gill, Rascal Flatts and Blake Shelton. As previously announced, the television special salutes the achievements of Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles.
Throughout the concert, each presenter will perform a solo and occasionally duet with their honoree. Duets include Dunn with Nettles, Rascal Flatts with McEntire and Gill with Underwood, as well as special performances by Aldean and Shelton, with more to be announced.
The two-hour Girls’ Night Out special will air on April 22 on CBS.
Read more at CMT
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5 Things You Don’t Know About American Idol’s Lauren Alaina
She’s wowed the American Idol judges for the past two months in the audition and semi-final rounds and even drew comparisons to Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, but as contestant Lauren Alaina tells it, her Idol journey isn’t as effortless as it seems. “It’s overwhelming and insane, ” the 16-year-old Rossville, Ga., native tells UsMagazine.com of her run on the Fox series.
As Alaina gets ready to take the stage Wednesday for her first official performance as a member of Idol’s Top 13, Us compiled a dossier of fun facts you may not know about the teen standout.
Read more at US
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Crystal Bowersox and Michael Franti at Last night’s CARE concert
Crystal tweets, “2nite was amazing, @michaelfranti and #CARE and evtyone involved in mking 2nite happen and all the good work evrywre. you’re all in my heart. The world is so much bigger than “I and I” ask yourself every day… What have i done to help someone else?”
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‘Idol’: A little bit country, a little bit rock ‘n’ roll, a little bit R& B
American Idolproducers always praise each year’s finalists, but the Season 10 group is getting an early thumbs-up from viewers, too. Show veterans credit various changes for the shiny haul: the return of executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, a larger Hollywood round and, as executive producer Ken Warwick puts it, “different judges.” USA TODAY’s Bill Keveney had a chance to talk to the top 13, who begin singing for survival tonight (Fox, 8 ET/PT).
Read more at USA Today
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‘Idol’ Musical Director Ray Chew Reveals His Approach to the New Season
THR: How many hours per week do you spend working on Idol?
Chew: All the time. Every hour. Because we’re also working on the musical product and with the team of Jimmy Iovine, Ron Fair, and Interscope Records. We’re interfacing their ideas and the presentations going forward.
THR: How is that going to work?
Chew: Jimmy will sit down with the contestants, and they’ll choose a producer who’s going to work with them. I’m at that same meeting, and while they’re starting the musical product, I’ll take some of the ideas back into the live presentation. When you have great producers like Ron Fair and Rodney Jerkins, they have a lot of ideas of their own, and so they’ll be providing some of the tools of the presentation. It’s still a live show and a live band, but we’ll enhance that with some of their stuff.
Read more at the Hollywood Reporter
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Paul McDonald’s Grand Magnolias reaping ‘Idol’ benefits
“We’ve tied the two names together, so when people find stuff about Paul, they immediately find the Grand Magnolias, ” says guitarist Jonathan Pears, who goes by “J.P.” That includes tagging all the Grand Magnolias’ YouTube videos with the terms “Paul McDonald” and “American Idol.”
“Paul’s website is number one when you google ‘Paul McDonald, ‘” says Chappel McCollister, who has been been handling public relations and some business affairs for the remaining members of the group. “We’ve taken advantage of that Google ranking. That has been huge driver to the Grand Magnolias project.”
Read more at USA Today
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‘American Idol’ Favorite — Why I Quit the Show …
He was an early favorite to BECOME this year’s “American Idol” … but 22-year-old Scott Dangerfield tells TMZ he backed out of the competition because he had an obligation to his students.
Dangerfield blew the judges away during the first round of the show in Milwaukee … only to mysteriously disappear from the show just before Hollywood week.
But TMZ spoke to Dangerfield … who told us he’s a dedicated student-teacher at a high school in Wisconsin … and when producers told him the dates he would need to be in Hollywood … they clashed with certain obligations he had at the school.
Dangerfield tells us, “The kids are depending on me.”
Dangerfield tells us “Idol” producers tried to talk him out of his decision to quit the show … but Scott says he had made up his mind.
But you may not have seen the last of Dangerfield … he tells us producers are encouraging him to try out again next year … and he’s strongly considering it.
Read more at TMZ
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Singers, judges help ‘Idol’ find voice, viewers
“There have been years when we’ve had the odd exceptional artist, the Adam Lambert year, the Kelly Clarkson year, but I don’t honestly think we’ve had the talent in depth as we’ve got this year, ” says executive producer Ken Warwick. Plus, “the passion is there and they’re so diverse. There are all different kinds of singers, which is great for us.”
By this point in each season, a couple of contestants have emerged who seem like sure shots to run deep into the competition. By contrast, this lineup has at least seven who look ready-made for the five top slots.
Read more at USA Today
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HitFix Interviews the ‘American Idol’ Top 13
On Thursday (March 4) night, “American Idol” unveiled the Top 10 Finalists as selected by voters, plus three Wild Card picks by judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez.
The newly minted Top 13 was then whisked over to a gala party on the parking lot roof of LA’s Grove shopping center, where they were treated to their second blue carpet event in a week.
HitFix was planted on that carpet and I got to chat with each of the contestants, some for only a minute or two, some for five minutes. Click through for those interviews (slightly edited) and for pictures from the blue carpet. [For whatever reason, FOX’s photographers didn’t catch Paul McDonald, Haley Reinhart and Jacob Lusk on the carpet, so I’ve substituted photos from their Top 24 performances with their interviews.
Read more at HitFix
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Michael Sarver tweeted
Hey guys! So as I am sure you have heard or will soon, a new artist by the name of Jason Jones has rerecorded my first single Ferris Wheel. Well, I have heard and seen some of my fans lashing out at Jason because of it. I just want to say that I appreciate you guys loving me but i would rather you show me your love in a better way. Like supporting Jason rather than being critical.
Songs are covered and redone by artist all the time, it’s very common. And beyond that I know, love, and truly respect the writers of Ferris Wheel and believe they too deserve the support of my amazing fans.
Truth be told, though it stings to say, I was not able to make Ferris Wheel the success that it deserves and I can’t change that. So I am happy for the writers and a great song getting a second chance. That is my heart and I hope to encourage you all to look at and treat this situation in a positive and supportive manner. It would mean a lot to me to see you all respond that way.
I will not lie, It was indeed a little hard for me to swallow at first but it doesn’t mean I have failed it just means I must keep on pushing until the day when I can be the artist that makes a song a hit! And I promise you all YOU HAVEN”T SEEN THE BEST OR THE LAST OF MICHAEL SARVER! I love you all and thank you for your love and support. I am a better me for having you guys in my life!
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Jennifer Hudson looks fresh faced and fabulous even after an eight-hour flight
Most people looked tired and dishevelled when disembarking a long haul flight – but not Jennifer Hudson.
The 29-year-old singer and actress was fresh faced and stylish as she landed in Washington D.C. yesterday after an eight-hour flight from Paris.
Dressed casually in leggings and an oversized cardigan the newly slim mother-of-one smiled and appeared in great spirits as she was escorted through the airport terminal by a bodyguard.
Read more at the Daily Mail
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Alex Lambert feat. Bastian cover Tupac – Changes
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Bucky Covington – Dirt Bikes!
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Ashley Fink Dishes to ‘Extra’ about Her Hookup on ‘Glee’
“Extra’s” Mario Lopez caught up with Ashley Fink, otherwise known as smart and sassy Lauren Zizes on “Glee.” Fink first learned of the juicy hookup between her character and bad boy Puck after reading the script and told Mario, “I opened the first page and I was like, okaaaaay.”
Read more at Extra
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ABC Schedules Karaoke Championship Series for Summer
ABC will explore the underground world of the competitive karaoke circuit in a new summer series. The network has ordered six one-hour episodes of the tentatively titled America’s Karaoke Challenge, according to sources. The series, which is set to bow in July, follows the annual Karaoke World Championships, where American Idol alumnae including Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have performed.
Produced by ABC’s New York-based Lincoln Square Productions, the show will begin with regional competitions in four states, though producers have yet to settle on exact locales. The contestant pool will be winnowed down to 8 to 12 finalists who will be assigned coaches to help them smooth out their performance. There will also be a three-judge panel of industry experts and producers are currently searching for a host. And the winners – one female and one male – will be crowned at the finals in Las Vegas.
Read more at The Hollywood Reporter
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‘Glee’: Charice officially returns to set!
If you’re a Charice fan, we’ve got good news for you — your girl is back on the “Glee” set in Hollywood! On March 8 Michele tweeted a photo of herself with her one-time duet partner, saying, “”Look who’s back!! So happy!!!”
Charice is rumored to be returning for four episodes as a member of Vocal Adrenaline, New Directions’ most threatening opposition for Nationals this season.
Read more at Zap2it
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CKX, Inc. Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2010 Results
The Company’s 2010 operating results were significantly impacted by the restructuring program we commenced in early 2010. The restructuring program resulted in the sale or closure of numerous projects and businesses within 19 Entertainment and the incurrence of significant unusual and non-recurring costs. The following financial presentation includes both OIBDAN and Adjusted OIBDAN. Adjusted OIBDAN excludes unusual and non-recurring costs.
As a result of the restructuring program the Company has reduced its general and administrative expenses at 19 Entertainment by approximately $20 million on an annual basis. The Company’s operating results began to benefit from these reductions in the third quarter of 2010.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, revenue decreased $54.6 million to $273.7 million, a decrease of 16.6% from the prior year. Revenue at 19 Entertainment decreased $50.3 million due to a reduction of $46.9 million in revenue from So You Think You Can Dance, reflecting the impact of an additional broadcast season in 2009, and $10.2 million in revenue from a one-time limited run television program in 2009 which were partially offset by an $11.9 million increase in American Idol revenue. Revenue at the Presley Business decreased $3.3 million in 2010 due primarily to $9.0 million of revenue from a terminated license agreement which was partially offset by higher royalty revenue, including revenue from the Viva ELVIS show.
Read more at Business Wire
