Microsoft’s Bill Gates will be involved with Idol Gives Back
Bill Gates tweeted: @RyanSeacrest Melinda & I are looking fwd to talking w/you about Idol Gives Back today. We’re proud to be a part of this incredible program.
Kris Allen To Share His Experiences in Rwanda April 7 at Heifer Village
American Idol and native Arkansan Kris Allen recently returned from Rwanda where he helped place shoes on the feet of Rwandan children on behalf of Toms shoes and Bridge2Rwanda.
He will share his experiences and some of his music as Bridge2Rwanda, Heifer International and Toms Shoes celebrate the meaningful partnerships all three organizations have with the people of Rwanda from 5:30-8 p.m. April 7 at Heifer Village in downtown Little Rock. Tickets are $25; to purchase click here.
Adam Lambert just added to KISS 108 concert plus, Shooting Star Casino
Adam Lambert has just been added to the KISS 108 concert in Boston on May 22. Kris Allen is also set to perform, along with The Script, Orianthi, Ke$ha, Jason Derulo and more.
Adam will also play at the shooting star Casino on June 11. Tickets go on sale, May 10. More info HERE.
Paige Miles: ‘American Idol’ evictee compares ‘Against All Odds’ to a bad ‘Bachelor’ date
Paige Miles is the first to admit she never got to have her “moment” as she advanced to an eleventh-place run on American Idol’s ninth season. But even though she missed the show’s 2010 summer tour by just one slot — alas, the tour only includes the season’s top 10 finishers — she’s maintaining a positive attitude. Paige dropped by the Idolatry studios earlier this week to dish her mostly untelevised Hollywood Week shenanigans (as part of the “Bad Romance” showdown on group day), her week-long battle to embrace her final song choice (Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds”), and Simon’s parting shot that referred to her talent in the past tense. (Ouch!)
More Headlines after the JUMP…keep checking back for more…
Justin Bieber or Tim Urban: Who Has the Better Hair Swoosh?
When it comes to a guy’s mane style, nothing’s hipper these days than the laid back hair swoosh. And no one does it better than “Baby”-crooning star Justin Bieber, whose shiny soft hair apparently naturally sweeps across his face. But when the 16-year-old appeared on American Idol earlier this week, we couldn’t help but compare his hair to that of contestant Tim Urban, whose own eyebrow-grazing locks seem to be helping him sweep votes from young fans across the country. With both shaggy cuts suiting the singers’ styles–pop star and acoustic performer, respectively–we can’t decide whose we like better.
Magnus pride spreads throughout the community
Barnstable town employees and residents are showing their support of local American Idol contestant Siobhan Magnus in more ways than just a weekly vote on the national TV show.
Linda Wheelden, administrative assistant to the town manager, wore her “I voted for Siobhan” T-shirt to the bi-weekly town council press conference this week. Sitting not too far away was community services director Lynne Poyant sporting a “Vote for Siobhan Magnus” button.
“I’m getting calls daily asking where can we stay when she comes home, ” said Wheeldon.
On ‘American Idol’: How to tell the singer from the song?
There is a great deal of soul-searching going on these days about why this year’s “American Idol” crew is not collectively setting the TV-viewing public afire. They’re too green, not enough stage presence, don’t “know who they are as artists” (can we please retire that pretentious and useless pronouncement?), some are just lackluster, off-key singers. But if you listen to the show’s judges (and sometimes, dawg, it is not so easy deciphering their yammering), one criticism emerges repeatedly: the would-be Idols get slammed a lot for picking the wrong songs.
A song selection is excoriated as either “too big” or “too small” or “too old” or “too pageanty” or “too boring.” Sometimes it’s the arrangement that gets blamed (too “predictable” or just “weird”).
An ‘Idol’ in distress: The top six reasons season nine is a turn-off
Although ratings continue to slip and slide, “Idol” remains one of the most-watched shows on television, pulling in more than 20 million viewers for its weekly episodes. The biggest competitor: “Dancing With the Stars, ” which seems poised to reach “Idol” status in 2010 and occasionally sneak past it.
Putting Ellen DeGeneres in a spangly ball gown or teaching Randy Jackson to samba really isn’t the solution for “Idol, ” though. America’s favorite singing contest is dealing with a variety of pesky gremlins, including the following:
Catching up with Bo Bice
In Bo Bice’s life, good things come in threes. The 34-year-old Helena, Ala., native has three sons — Aidan, Caleb and Ean — and is about to release his third album, appropriately titled “3” (out May 18). But when it comes to his post-“Idol” career, the Season 4 runner-up wants a second chance.
Having weathered his share of health problems (mostly stomach-related) and seen his major label deal go south, it seems Bo was never truly able to make the most of his “Idol” name or fame. After all, he did advance all the way to the finale, behind Carrie Underwood, no less.
ION Television Launches ‘The Emeril Lagasse Show’ April 18
Emeril Lagasse will host an A-list roster of celebrity friends at weekly celebrations on his new ION Television series, “The Emeril Lagasse Show, ” launching Sunday, April 18, at 8:00 PM, ET with a housewarming party-themed premiere featuring special guest Martha Stewart.
? In the “Do-It-Yourself” episode, “Project Runway’s” Tim Gunn helps Emeril put together a home-made hour of fun with musical guest Bo Bice (“American Idol”).
Syesha Mercado: From third place on ‘Idol’ to ‘Dreamgirls’
“You have many people who were on ‘American Idol’ just going back to their normal lives after the show, and not doing music anymore, ” observes Syesha Mercado, an “Idol” contestant who came in third on the TV talent-show phenom in 2008.
“Then you have people who go on to do a lot of things — Broadway, hit records, movies.”
Mercado is angling for the latter category by signing on to a glitzy U.S. tour of the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls, ” which opens a Seattle stand at the Paramount Theatre on Tuesday.
Taylor Hicks taking it one step at a time
To Taylor Hicks, winning American Idol and stepping out onto the stage every night as Teen Angel in Grease (starting April 7 at the Canon Theatre) share several distinct similarities.
“There’s a rush of excitement, the cheers of the fans and the feeling that you’re making people happy with your singing, which is all I ever wanted to do.”
Carrie Underwood show is a slam dunk
Three albums and three tours in, it’s become clear that Carrie Underwood has taken this whole American Idol concept quite literally.
The country sweetheart is up to 14 million albums sold and five Grammys, and with her Play On Tour she’s upped the ante on her live production.
Thursday night at the Petersen Events Center, she seemed downright obsessed with heights, of the vocal and physical kind.
Carrie Underwood Presents $10, 000 Check To Pittsburgh’s Animal Rescue League
PITTSBURGH — Country music star Carrie Underwood was at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh on Thursday where she presented a $10, 000 check to Pittsburgh’s Animal Rescue League.
The Grammy-award winner has teamed up with Pedigree’s Adoption Drive to help homeless dogs across the country. Become a fan on Facebook and help a dog.
Underwood has a dog of her own, and she calls him her son.
Carrie Underwood says she will not be her own wedding singer
So how is it humanly possible to plan a wedding with all she has going on?
“I’m working on it, really little stuff we really aren’t that picky about. There are big hurdles, and once we get past those, which we’ve gotten past most of them, everything else just kind of falls into place so we’re just happy, ” she told Fox News in an exclusive sit down. “We’re getting married, and we’ll be spending time with family and friends and really that’s all we need.”
Of course inquiring minds and planning brides might be taking notes on what Underwood puts into her special day, so she says later on she’ll share the details.
Gokey’s foundation partners with local schools
American Idol star Danny Gokey will give back to the Milwaukee community yet again, this time in support of music and the arts through his Sophia’s Heart Foundation. The foundation recently announced the formation of its Music & Arts Program in partnership with St. Marcus School and the Lincoln Center of the Arts in Milwaukee. The news comes just after he signed a major marketing deal with New Berlin-based Wisconsin Vision.
The program will feature a contemporary children’s choir made up of students from Milwaukee’s central city schools, audition’s for the choir have already been held and the first official practice will be held on Monday, April 12. Jeff Krumbein, music director at St. Marcus Lutheran Church will lead the choir.
“It is with great excitement that I get to share the progress Sophia’s Heart has made, ” said Danny Gokey, founder and president. “We are starting our first Music and Arts program right here in my hometown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee holds a special place in my heart I want Sophia’s Heart to be established here and make a difference.”
Former Idol contestant Nick Mitchell shoots music video in Times Square with cardboard Simon Cowell
Guess who’s back, Simon?
Wacky former “American Idol” contestant Nick Mitchell — aka “Norman Gentle” — taped his first music video yesterday morning in Times Square with some help from fashion photographer Nigel Barker and Mr. Cowell himself.
Well, sort of: Norman — a fan favorite who became an Internet sensation last year — made sure to bring along a life-size cutout of Cowell.
Daughtry comes up short on originality in concert Thursday night at Wolstein Center
Most “American Idol” contestants come and go, but Chris Daughtry has parlayed his fourth-place finish on the show in 2006 into a successful career — at least in the commercial sense. There’s no arguing with his string of Top 40 singles or his multiplatinum album sales.
Still, Daughtry and the group that bears his name were underwhelming in concert Thursday night at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center.
It wasn’t a terrible performance. It was just monumentally average.
Ayla Brown sets down rules for courting
Ayla Brown, former “American Idol” wannabe, senatorial daughter and Boston College basketball standout, is still available. But Ayla insists she’s not too picky!
“It’s just that I can beat any guy I meet in one-on-one and most guys can’t handle that, ” said Ayla, who was mortified on election night when her dad, U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, announced to the world that his 21-year-old daughter needed a date!
And speaking of competition, Brown is headed to San Antonio this weekend to sing the national anthem at the NCAA Women’s Final Four and participate in all the hoopla at the culmination of the gals’ Big Dance.
“I’m performing in Tourney Town, the big festival with fans, food, autograph sessions and players cruising around, ” she said. “And Sunday before the (semifinals) I’m judging a fajitas and margaritas contest.”
Without “Lost, ” “24, ” or Simon on “Idol, ” Will Nets Take a Different Approach Next Mid-Season?
Sharks Circling A Weakened Idol?
Many people are predicting that without Simon, Idol will flounder and that ultimately Cowell’s X-Factor (which isn’t launching until the fall of 2011) will be Fox’s hot property. Even if American Idol is down drastically as a percentage without Cowell, it could still be a hit for a few seasons.
That might give Fox’s rivals reason to make some moves in the fall they might not have otherwise done.
You had this huge headwind that you were going up against, this hurricane you were facing in midseason, ” one Fox rival says. “It’s still an important force, but less so.”
Simon Cowell blasted bitter by rival judge
He said: ‘If you listen to one of those dancing shows, they always have a singer murdering a song on it.
‘That’s what it kind of – if you’ve ever watched it – that’s what it kind of sounded like.”
Goodman was unimpressed with the comments and appeared on US TV to fight back.
‘He’s bitter. Honestly, he’s bitter. Simon Cowell is bitter, ‘ Goodman said.
‘As far as I’m concerned, those singers are genius. When you watch what they have to go through – hip-hop, light operatic, anything thrown at them, they’re brilliant.
Cory Monteith gets his Glee on
VICTORIA – If Cory Monteith is nervous about performing with his Glee castmates for U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday, or appearing on Oprah two days later, he isn’t showing it.
“As far as Oprah and the White House are concerned, if we mess up, I figure we’ll just get it right the next time, ” jokes the Victoria-raised actor who plays Finn Hudson, the good-hearted singing footballer in Fox’s hit musical-comedy series.
Dancing’s Cheryl Burke: Judges Shouldn’t Have Bashed Chad
Cheryl Burke got right back to work after she and Chad Ochocinco escaped elimination on Dancing with the Stars earlier this week. “I stayed up until 3 a.m. choreographing our paso doble. We just have to put in the extra hours and get the routine down, ” she tells TVGuide.com. “The pressure’s intense.” Even more so after the football star performed a clunky foxtrot and was, as Burke puts it, “trashed” by the judges. See why she thinks the judges’ comments were out of line, how they will bounce back and if they’ll flirt less in rehearsal.
‘Glee’s Dianna Agron and Mark Salling Share Favorite Routines
As anticipation builds to a gleektastic pitch for the April 13th mid-season return of Fox’s first-year ‘Glee, ’ we gathered the show’s stars to chat about their favorite musical performances thus far. The third installment in the series of interviews features Dianna Agron as Quinn, Finn’s [Cory Monteith] cheerleader girlfriend with a big secret, and Mark Salling as Puck, the football star-turned glee club convert.
MORE HEADLINES:
Meat Loaf’s back out of hell – and he still rocks
‘Simon Cowell is a smart man and I salute his success, but he’s not creating artists. He’s creating people who can sing decent cover versions.
‘He has the power to reinvent the music business. He could help take it back to the proper music we had in the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties.
‘Someone needs to save music. It’s like saving the whales. I’ll do my bit, but we need to work together.’
Four for Friday: Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, David Archuleta, Kara DioGuardi
Kara DioGuardi is one of the featured guests on Meat Loaf’s new album, Hang Cool Teddy Bear, due May 11. She co-wrote and sings on a song called If I Can’t Have You,
Here’s the first line from David Archuleta’s Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song, and the Power of Perseverance, due from Celebra on June 1 and available for pre-order now: “I have no idea why I’m doing this, but I know I need to be doing it for some reason.”
Jennifer Hudson’s Weight-Loss Success
Showing off her fabulous new look, Jennifer Hudson tended to press duties at the Glass Houses in New York City on Thursday (April 1).
The “American Idol” alum proudly revealed her new weight loss with the debut of her national advertising campaign with Weight Watchers during the Big Apple event.
Kellie Pickler Likes to ‘Hide’ Behind the Radio
Kellie Pickler is no doubt a natural in front of the camera … She just doesn’t want it in her face all the time! The bubbly beauty fans fell in love with on ‘American Idol’ is grateful for her reality TV start … and grateful she doesn’t have to ever go back there.
Danny Gokey’s ‘My Best Days’ Showcases His Positive Outlook
Danny Gokey has emerged from the most difficult part of his life — the loss of his wife Sophia in 2008 — and has a whole new attitude, which is reflected in his single, ‘My Best Days Are Ahead of Me.’
The former American Idol finalist views the song as his own personal anthem, and he says going through that tough time in his life helped to give him a positive outlook on life. “I’ve been there at a point in my life where i didn’t think it could ever get bright again, ” explains Danny. “Turning the page and rounding out this section of my life these last two years, I’ve walked away with one thing, that’s hope. This whole situation didn’t kill me. It didn’t take me out. It’s made me a strong person. It’s made me be able to be more compassionate towards people. It’s made me connect with people on a whole other level because I’ve experienced that pain.”
John Stevens Band’s Posterous
There is one master songsmith and lyricist that stands out in my mind. This is the great Sammy Cahn. Unlike Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn was a collaborator. Although he could write music, and he did, his most notable achievements were as a lyricist teamed with brilliant songwriters such as Jule Styne, and Jimmy Van Heusen. Here is my “Sammy Cahn Must List”. If you have never heard these songs, then you NEED to look them up. Listen specifically to the words.
