David Cook tweets, “Day 1 of acoustic, full band rehearsals in the books. Excited to play these re-worked tunes for everyone in Vegas this Saturday! Also worked up a new cover tune. very different for us, but should be a blast to play.
Adam Lambert tells The Edge in New Zealand that his upcoming album will be released in the fall. “Probably October/November, ” says Adam. There’s also talk of Adam’s recent tour, and more. Listen to the full interview HERE.
@AmericanIdol tweets, “Hey, did u guys know that Hollywood Week hopeful, Tasha Layton (@TLLayton), is on tour with @katyperry?? How cool is that?? Congrats Tasha!!”
Read a behind-the-scenes look at the production of The Academy of Country Music at Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country taping tonight and set to air on CBS April 22 HERE. The special features Carrie Underwood and more.
Diana DeGarmo tweets, “Sitin in on the rehearsal for the “girls night out” special. Just saw Vince Gill singing “Jesus Take The Wheel” oh. so. beautiful.”
@IdolsNow tweets, “CARRIE UNDERWOOD gets standing ovation during rehearsal for CBS special “Girls’ Night Out.” It’s a duet–can’t say who with, or title, yet.”
@PageJeter tweets, “Alright Glambert fans – VH1 Behind the Music on @adamlambert is set to air in June! Get ready! Great interview from @tru_hollywood!”
James Durbin tweets, “All us guys just met Dane Cook! Haha. He recognized us! Sweet! This new life if new stuff! Very nice guy!”
More Headlines after the JUMP…
‘Rock of Ages’ director Adam Shankman: Constantine Maroulis wasn’t right for the lead role
Adam Shankman decided a few days ago to bring on Diego Gonzalez Boneta, a Mexican actor on teen-friendly shows such as “90210” and “Pretty Little Liars” — and also an accomplished singer — for the lead role of Drew in his filmic version of “Rock of Ages.”
That disappointed fans of Constantine Maroulis, who scored a Tony nomination for his portrayal of the ingenue performer on Broadway and recently came with the production to the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. Shankman said he understood why fans felt strongly but didn’t believe Maroulis suited his movie’s needs.
“Constantine was perfection as Drew in the play, ” Shankman told 24 Frames. “But the truth of the matter is that I cast at age, and I wanted someone who doesn’t have to act 20 or 23 but actually is 20 or 23 [Maroulis is 35]. The authenticity of someone actually being that age is important.”
Read more at Los Angeles Times
Santa Clarkson delivers
The two-times Grammy winner managed to slip into the country un-noticed last week to visit the Ebenezer House of Hope, in Hammanskraal, northern Gauteng.
Kgolokoane said: “She bought clothing, she bought them Nike takkies, sweaters and of course the Apple iPod Nanos.
“You should see these kids running around here with those iPods in their ears.”
Kgolokoane said Clarkson had come to the home every morning from Monday last week until Saturday and did not leave until 4pm.
“The kids refer to her as a mother now, because they remember her from her first visit here last year.”
Read more at TIME
4/29: Jordin Sparks headlines MIM Anniversary Concert
Glendale’s American Idol, Jordin Sparks, will headline a benefit concert Friday, April 29, to kick off the Musical Instrument Museum’s first-anniversary weekend.
“I’m really excited to be part of MIM’s first anniversary, ” Sparks said in a press release. “The museum is such an important addition to the Phoenix area, and I am looking forward to performing in the spectacular theater, and to building a long-term partnership with MIM. I’m sure it will be a very special evening.”
Read more at AZ Central
@AmericanIdol tweets, “Just cuz we’re a li’l bored, here’s a super cute pic of @LAlainaAI10 from the #IdolTour shoot saturday”
‘American Idol’: The contestants spill the beans at our photo shoot — EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
The final 11 American Idol contestants gathered in a Hollywood studio last week for our big Entertainment Weekly photo shoot (on stands soon!), so we took a few minutes to ask them each about how things are going in the competition. Has Casey recovered from the shock of almost being sent home? What did Scotty sound like before puberty? And how does Pia feel about instigating a disagreement between superstar spouses Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony?
See the video at EW
Rodney Jerkins: The ‘Idol Worship’ Interview
Rodney Jerkins: Here’s an example: when we did Haley [Reinhart’s] “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me, ” the call time was 6:00 a.m. I had to have her in the booth by 7:00 a.m. cutting vocals. You only get a three-hour window with these contestants, so I had Stefano [Langone] coming at 10. It’s a lot of work. It’s not a normal recording shift where you do a song and you get a day to tweak it and the third day you mix it. It’s like double the work in the period of time it would take to do one. Not only that, there’s the music for iTunes, and the music for the performance. It’s crazy.
THR: And everyone is recording out of Santa Monica, where Interscope basically built a recording complex just for Idol?
Jerkins: We have to. Of course I’d love to work in my own studio, but because of the cameras and the role of the producers and Jimmy, we all have to be close.
THR: Speaking of Idol alums, you worked with Kelly Clarkson on her new album, anything you can tell us about it?
Jerkins: A song call “I Forgive You” that me and Lauren Christy did that’s just crazy pop-rock. The first person who came into my head to do it was Kelly Clarkson. So I sent it immediately and got a response that night. She came out to record, the energy was great and I just finished mixing it. She nailed it. It turned out great.
Read more at the Hollywood Reporter
Lee DeWyze Q&A: EW talks to the ‘American Idol’ champ about this year’s batch, what he’s up to, and defending his season
When people criticize season nine as being a little dull, what do you think of that? Does it bother you?
I mean, I’ve heard people say this and that about it, and as the winner of my season it’s almost like I’m the spokesman for the subject. And I don’t see why… whether the ratings were up or down or the contestants were this or that, I just went on the show and did my thing. If people think the season wasn’t good or they didn’t like it or whatever, then they should audition and try it out for themselves and see how it goes.
How much harder was Idol than you expected?
It was 100 percent different than I thought it would be. It was putting yourself in a position where you had to compromise sometimes what you might want to do to do what they required you to do. But for me, I love music. It was the main reason I went out for the show and I tried my best every week and it worked out. It’s very easy for people to look at ratings or albums sales or whatever and make their judgments based on those things. You’re either a fan of television or a fan of music and I think it’s very easy to be a critic on the other side, but it’s not up to me to make sure everybody in America watches American Idol or votes. I get up there and play my songs and do my thing. I loved my experience, I’m very supportive of the show and what it does for people and artists, but I can’t make people like what they don’t like. Whether people like it or don’t, I do it for the fans that are supportive. And I try to be appreciative of my fans. I’m just gonna keep doing what I do.
Read more at Entertainment Weekly
Sony Music Nashville Celebrates the ACMs
Sony Music Nashville artists gather with Chairman & CEO Gary Overton following the ACM Awards.
Pictured (l-r): Bradley Gaskin, Carrie Underwood, Casey James, Miranda Lambert, Overton, Chris Young, Sara Evans, Jake Owen, and Brad Paisley.
At a private dinner following The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 3 in Las Vegas, the Sony Music Nashville family celebrated a night of amazing performances and award wins that saw Brad Paisley take home his record fifth consecutive Male Vocalist honor, while the night belonged to top nominee Miranda Lambert, winner of Female Vocalist, as well as Video, Song, and Single Record of the Year, all for “The House That Built Me.”
Read more at SonyMusicNashville More photos HERE.
Casey James interview – 92.5 XTU Philadelphia’s Country Station – ACM Week 4/2011
Via CD7010
Jennifer Hudson Wants a Daughter
Jennifer Hudson, 29, dropped 80 pounds before releasing her sophomore disc, I Remember Me, on March 21 (to celebrate, Ciroc even whipped up special low-cal cocktails like the Coco Hudson for her album release party at NYC’s Tenjeune that night). But that isn’t the only change the Oscar and Grammy winner has in the works.
She spoke to UsMagazine.com about not only expanding her musical repertoire but her growing family (she has nine-month-old son David with fiance David Otunga — as well as three pomeranians, Dreamgirl, Oscar and Grammy!).
Read more at US
‘Idol’ Semifinalists Jerome Bell & Chris Medina “Collide” On New Single
I’m still wondering why R&B/pop powerhouse Jerome Bell was passed over by the “American Idol” powers-that-be (really, “Idol”? Jordan Dorsey instead of Jerome Bell? really?), but at least the guy’s wasted no time in getting out new music–much like his former “Idol” roommate Chris Medina, who’s already released a single despite not making it to the top 24. Jerome’s catchy new song, “Collide, ” is in fact a co-write with Chris.
Download Collide HERE.
Via Reality Rocks
Anthony Fedorov Opens Up About His Experience in Japan
“You see how small you actually are against Mother Nature. It was a pretty crazy experience to go through. It was my first earthquake. When we felt it we were in the theater watching a matinee of the Japanese production of Beauty and the Beast. The audience began to chatter amongst themselves, and the Japanese are so polite and respectful during performances so we knew something was wrong. We were sitting right under the balcony—I was with two of my cast mates—and during “Be Our Guest” the theater started to shake. It was pretty nerve-wracking. We went outside and waited for 20 minutes but there were aftershocks which prevented the show from continuing.
Read more at American Idol
“The Dance Scene” Opening Titles
Check out the opening titles of E!’s super new series from Ryan Seacrest Productions, “The Dance Scene” premiering April 10 at 10:30/9:30c.
Is there any dancing in this thing?
Q&A with Simon Cowell on ‘X Factor’: he wants groups, weighs pros and cons of Paula Abdul
Q: Why is it taking so long to come up with the other judge/mentor and hosts?
Simon: You don’t want to play the celebrity game. I have bigger celebrities than you! It ends up being a silly competition. You have to have people who will work with you for three, four months at a time. You have to get on well with them and have great chemistry and differing opinions. The reasons we haven’t announced anyone is simply because nobody can agree!
Q: Do you think Mariah Carey would make a good judge/mentor if she weren’t ready to burst with twins?
Simon: I spoke with Mariah three or four times being on the show. I really like her. She’s great fun. I think she would have been nervous telling people no. That’s my gut feeling. She said it’s not something I feel comfortable with. I said that would be a slight problem on the show. You’ll have to say no to a lot of people. We’re trying to create a role on the live show. She does want to be involved.
Q: We know you and Paula Abdul had great chemistry but wouldn’t bringing her back also bring back too many echoes of “American Idol”?
Simon: Yah. There’s an upside and a downside. The truth is, in terms of who I got along best with over the years, it was Paula. She was unpredictable. You never knew how she was going to behave or what she was going to do. I never got bored working with her. One part, you know you’re doing something you’ve done before [if he picks Paula] But you also worry you’ll never find anyone better.
Read more at AJC
