‘Idolatry’: Who’s going to struggle with Grand Ole Opry Week on ‘Idol’?
It’s Grand Ole Opry Week on American Idol, and while the theme might benefit singers like Alexis “incredible shrinking outfits” Grace, Michael “I am not a country artist” Sarver, and maybe even Matt “I’m bluesy!” Giraud, my co-host Kristen Baldwin and I worry that Anoop “New Jack Swing” Desai and Scott “plain oatmeal” MacIntyre might struggle. Do press play below, and if you missed this weekend’s Michael Jackson recap double episode of Idolatry (featuring Kristen slapping herself in the face!), both parts will automatically stream when our Opry Week preview is finished playing. Enjoy!
More Idol Headlines after the Jump…
Braddy returns home an ‘Idol’ Party for EC native attracts 500 fans
Ricky Braddy fans from church and those who just discovered him when he appeared on …American Idol drove through the rain on Sunday to get his autograph.
About 500 area residents showed up at Montero Restaurant on Sunday afternoon to meet Braddy, get his autograph and have their pictures taken with him.
Jeff Clark, a family friend of Braddy, said he and his wife had distributed 250 photos of Braddy for autographs about an hour and a half after the party started.
American Idol Odds: Adam Lambert best odds to win American Idol
The American Idol 13 are now officially 11, after in the last elimination round Jorge and Jasmine were voted off, following the record 33 million votes. Clearly at this stage of American Idol 8 the ratings of the show are going through the roof and the sports betting websites as usual are quick to jump on the American Idol odds wagon. Ever since the show began in January it was impossible to see any American Idol odds posted by reputable sportsbooks on the grounds that the Season 8 will not be as popular as the American Idol has been in the past. I guess people proved them wrong – 33 million votes for the top 13 was an record-breaker and the odds makers are now scrambling to correct their mistake.
American Idol 8 Top 11 Photoshoot
L’il Rounds will be your next ‘American Idol’ champion
I don’t know if Las Vegas has posted its 2009 “American Idol” picks yet, but the odds-on favorites are likely to be the flamboyant Adam Lambert and the near-geeky Danny Gokey. Perhaps one shouldn’t mess with Vegas boys – their “Davids” prediction last year was right on the money, with David Cook besting David Archuleta in the grand finale.
Radio warmly endorsed both for a time, with Cook’s “Light On” and “Time of My Life” cracking the top 20, and Archuleta’s “Crush” delivering sales expected of a teenage, er, crush. Still, the Davids are not in the Goliath realm of former “Idols” Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood or 2007 winner Jordin Sparks.
Terri Seymour Talks With The ‹American Idol Judges
Terri Seymour was backstage with the judges after ‹American Idol Wednesday night and dropped by ‹Good Day LA the next morning with her report. Kara DioGuardi talked about the complaints that she talks too much while Simon Cowell defended himself about being rude telling Jorge Nunez he wasnt good enough as he and Jasmine Murray were sent home. Terri also talked about being the ex girlfriend of Simon and how things are going between the two. Watch the segment below.
Idol Chartwatch, March 16: Idol Albums Reenter the Charts and More
The big news this week is the release of Kelly Clarkson fourth album, All I Ever Wanted. While firm numbers arent available, Hits Daily Double is predicting first-week sales of 210 to 230 thousand copies, which would position Kelly at the top of the Billboard 200. This would mark Kelly first #1 album since Thankful debuted at the top of the charts in April 2003.
It appears Idol fever has helped previous Idols, whose albums have now popped back up on the Billboard charts. Perhaps most puzzling is the reemergence of Elliott Yamin My Kind of Holiday, which shows up on the Billboard 200 (162), Top Independent Albums (22), and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (19). This is good for Elliott, and perhaps for us all, as the holiday spirit prevails into the Spring!
Chris Sligh Talks About His Consumer – Friendly Fall Tour With Aaron Shust
GMA New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year nominee and the best-selling new solo act of 2008, Chris Sligh has had a great debut year following the release of his critically ‘ acclaimed debut, RUNNING BACK TO YOU, and his hit singles …Empty Me and …Arise. Now, as he prepares to release two new singles this month (…Something Beautiful to CHR and …Vessel to AC on 3/27), the man who also co ‘wrote Rascal Flatts current hit single, …Here Comes Goodbye, wants to …give back during what he knows is a difficult time financially for many.
Justin Guarini’s ‘AWAKENING’
American Idol runner-up, Justin Guarini, will star in the industry only Equity staged reading of the new musical THE AWAKENING OF ANGEL DeLUNA – with book & lyrics by Judylynn Schmidt, and music & lyrics by Lee Ellis – produced by Kate Griffler on Monday, March 23rd at Theater 80. Tracy Bersley directs and Barbara Anselmi acts as music director.
Set in a Hoboken Circus during the Great Depression, THE AWAKENING OF ANGEL DeLUNA weaves the enchanting tale of Angelina “Angel” DeLuna, a fallen trapeze star whose faith is tested when a mystical stranger comes to dismantle her beloved carousel. As Angel’s carousel world comes crashing down around her – the lives of the entire circus troupe are forever changed as together they learn what truly matters in life.
From Maui to the Mainstream
American Idol? Not quite. Maui idol? Absolutely.
It’s been five years since the country caught its first glimpse of Camile Velasco, that shy Maui girl with a raspy voice and pretty face.
The season-three “American Idol” finalist took the fast track from obscurity to the mainstream, beginning in 2003 when she impressed the show’s judges at an audition on Oahu. Within weeks the Haiku native went from serving pancakes at her family’s IHOP restaurant at Maui Mall to performing for millions of television viewers each week.
Kelly Clarkson’s a nice girl
I don’t think I’m going out on a limb in stating that the audience for pop music is predominantly female, nor in observing that lots of women seem to make a sport out of loving to hate female pop singers.
Repulsion and fascination go hand in hand, breeding a climate of rabid interest in which the Mariah Careys and Katy Perrys of the world remain massively popular even as they are roundly reviled. This isnt solely a female phenomenon, either ‘ think of all the time that guys waste in sports bars chewing over the likes of Barry Bonds and Kobe Bryant.
However, Kelly Clarkson doesnt seem to fit. No matter how you feel about her music, she inherently likable, practically an Everygirl in the distorted world of pop. In the short term it probably a hindrance to Clarkson success that her persona isnt as conducive to love-hate fandom, but over the long haul I think her career will persevere while more controversial idols ultimately weary their audiences.
A little more than we really needed
Forget Tatiana Del Toro’s histrionic melodramatics on American Idol’s current season. Kelly Clarkson is the show’s original drama queen.
When Clarkson, the first Idol winner, wanted to strike out in her own artistic direction on her third album, 2007’s hard rocking and gloomy My December, an all-out media war broke out with her disapproving label head, Clive Davis. On her more conciliatory fourth effort, All I Ever Wanted, Clarkson returns to the infectious, Davis-approved pop-rock that had made her career.
Robin Thicke on J.Hud: Touring Will Be Cathartic
Teaming up for a nationwide tour with Jennifer Hudson was a no-brainer for Robin Thicke.
They first collaborated on “Giving Myself, ” a beautiful track from her self-titled debut album.
“Luckily, her voice is ready to go at all times, ” Thicke told me earlier today. “She showed up, I had this great little song in the spirit of Whitney Houston, and she sat down next to me and I started singing it for her, and she loved it right off the bat. We got her behind the microphone and she Jennifer Hudson-ed it.”
The two kick off their coheadlining six-week tour on March 31 in Albany, N.Y.
Kellie Pickler – “Best Days of Your Life”
Lucky is how I would describe Kellie Pickler. If it hadn’t of been for American Idol, she’d still be in some small town in North Carolina competing in beauty pageants. There’s a reason why she didn’t win American Idol. It’s because she’s not very good and completely uninteresting. Despite this, her sweet southern demeanor and her ditzy charm have wooed enough country music fans into giving her two number one albums. Plus, Kellie has two superstar friends in Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift. That can’t hurt her chances.
‘DWTS” Gilles Marini on ‘The Insider’ Stage
Tonight, Gilles Marini will take to the ballroom floor for the quickstep on “Dancing with the Stars, ” but before the sexy Frenchman defends his first place position on the “Dancing” leader board, he is on “The Insider” stage with our Lara Spencer.
Behind the Scenes at Ty Murray’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Rehearsal
Ty Murray and his professional partner Chelsie Hightower finished in next to last place on last week’s “Dancing with the Stars, ” so they are busy rehearsing this week’s quickstep routine — but not too busy to take a break to talk to ET.
“Chelsie is like a drill sergeant, ” says Ty, who adds he is hoping to not to mess up this week.
Lil’ Kim & Derek Hough Interview Each Other!
“Dancing with the Stars” partners Lil’ Kim and Derek Hough are on the ET set! From first impressions and annoying habits to nicknames, music and more, the dance partners hit each other up in a no-holds-barred interview!
When asked what she thought about being paired up with last season’s dance champ opposite Brooke Burke, she says, “I was thinking, ‘Oh great, God answered my prayers.'”
‘Dancing’ with the stars? More like recuperating with them.
The show is about dancing, for heaven’s sake. How dangerous can it be? Consider this: Before Season 8’s “Dancing With the Stars” debuted last week, two celebrity contestants were already on the injured list and off the program.
“Access Hollywood” co-anchor Nancy O’Dell suffered a torn meniscus, requiring surgery, and singer Jewel sustained fractures in both tibiae (shinbones). But wait, there’s more: In the current cast, actor Gilles Marini reported a left shoulder injury and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has injured his foot, according to an ABC spokesperson, and was recently photographed wearing a removable cast. And ballroom may have gotten the best of Steve-O, survivor of innumerable outrageous “Jackass” stunts. In a statement he released last week, dancing may be responsible for torn muscles causing inflammation and pinched nerves in his back.
