‘American Idol’ goes for a walk to help Rwandans
CONWAY, Ark. (AP) – “American Idol” winner Kris Allen kicked off his shoes and went for a walk at his alma mater to help raise awareness of a program aimed at helping people who don’t have shoes in Rwanda.
Allen led a group of University of Central Arkansas students on a Barefoot Walk across the campus on Thursday, then performed before speaking about his recent trip to Rwanda and his support of Bridge2Rwanda and the TOMS shoes program.
Katharine McPhee Tapes NBC Pilot Tonight
from @IdolsNow: “KATHARINE McPHEE tapes her NBC pilot, “The Pink House, ” Friday Apr 9.”
The taping is tonight at 6 pm for ticket holders only. Plus her song, “Lifetime” will be featured tonight on the CBS show, Ghost Whisperers.
More Idol Headlines After the JUMP…keep checking back for more
Idol’s Randy Jackson: Saving Mike Lynche Was “the Right Thing to Do”
American Idol’s Randy Jackson tells UsMagazine.com that saving Mike Lynche on Wednesday’s show “was absolutely the right thing to do.”
“He sang his heart out, ” Jackson said Thursday at a Burbank, Calif. party for his other show, America’s Best Dance Crew 5.
“I think sometimes America gets a little confused and probably doesn’t vote for the person they think will still be in it and doesn’t need the votes, ” continued Jackson of “Big Mike, ” a fan favorite who memorably welcomed his first baby, Laila, during Hollywood Week.
Michael Lynche’s ‘American Idol’ Stay Of Execution Screws Up Our Statistics
Man, we did not see that one coming! “American Idol” voters totally threw us for a loop this week when their failure to support Big Mike Lynche almost led to the strapping personal-trainer-with-the-voice-of-an-angel’s ouster.
Yes, Lynche was saved thanks to a flashback to his cover of Kate Bush’s (via Maxwell) “This Woman’s Work, ” but none of us even had him on our radar when we made our predictions.
Hot Tours:
Country stars Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are the reigning Entertainers of the Year for both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, respectively, and both make this week’s Hot Tours tally. Ranking fourth, Swift’s $5 million total comes from four stops on her Fearless Tour with Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center producing the top numbers from two sold out shows (March 18-19) that grossed just over $2 million. Underwood is No. 5 for the week based on totals from 12 arena dates in March grossing $4.4 million with just over 90, 000 fans buying tickets.
Daughtry is No. 10
Idol runner-up Adam Lambert loosens up for summer solo tour
Thursday night at Red Robinson Show Theatre (Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam)
Also performing Friday night at River Rock Show Theatre in Richmond
Guy-liner enthusiast Adam Lambert is a man of contradictions: He’s openly gay but attracts a mostly female crowd. He was runner-up on American Idol, yet made the cover of Rolling Stone. He was blacklisted by the television network ABC after simulating oral sex with a male dancer during his performance on the American Music Awards, yet he’s playing at a casino in Coquitlam (and one in Richmond tomorrow night).
Carrie Underwood shimmies, shakes, and shines for new music video
I just wanted to tell you quickly about my recent Carrie Underwood concert in Columbus, OH. Everyone knows that Kyle has a thing for Carrie, but this is actually the second time I’ve had the opportunity to appear on television with Carrie. Previously I was selected to be part of her CMT Invitation Only audience and ask her a question on air. The night before last I was part of a live audience for the shooting of Carrie’s future music video for ‘Undo It’. That’s right, they shot the video live as her final performance of the night. What a concert……this woman has (by far) the best voice in all of country music. She’s an amazing singer and an amazing person. More people should go see her if they can. I’ve included video of the live taping for Undo It and some great pictures from the 4-6-10 concert. Enjoy!
Carrie Underwood brings soulful country songs to Dow Event Center show
“It’s the songs, period, amen, ” said Jim Kramer, who with his WKCQ-FM 98.1 morning co-host Barbara Sheltraw will host the Carrie Underwood Bridal Show at 5 p.m. Tuesday in The Dow’s Garden Room. Guest of honor is Craig Morgan, who with Sons of Sylvia opens for Underwood that night.
“And the great thing about Carrie is that she understands that it’s real people at the root of her success. She reminds me of Reba McEntire; remember how every year she either opened or closed her tour in Saginaw?”
Hudson juggles motherhood, movies, music
NEW YORK—Crazy diets, Jennifer Hudson doesn’t do. Crazy workouts? Now, that’s something she can get into.
“I have a ball. It’s fun, ” the 28-year-old said in a recent interview. “I remember one time I had a weight loss, and that’s all I did all day was work out. I’d do the workout tape, I’d run up the steps for about 20 or 30 minutes, go outside, jog around the block, go to the gym—all in one day.”
Though Hudson has lost pounds recently—a drop she credits to Weight Watchers, for which she is a new spokeswoman—she hasn’t had all day to exercise of late. Not only is she the mother of an almost 1-year-old son, she’s working on the follow-up to her Grammy-winning debut CD, and she’s also getting ready to start filming a biopic about South African activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of Nelson Mandela.
Will Young Says Having The ‘American Idol’ Exit Song Is ‘Brilliant’
As the first winner of Britain’s “Pop Idol, ” Will Young was never voted off and, therefore, was never played off the stage with a goodbye song. Now, however, he’s up close and person with the “American Idol” season-nine exit song: It’s his track “Leave Right Now.”
“It’s brilliant, ” chuckled Young, who has sold more than 8 million records. “I haven’t released in America before, so I’m really happy, because my song is now on the biggest show in America. And it’s played every week. I’ve watched it over here a couple of times when I can, and I think it sounds great on the show.”
Taylor Hicks lights up Toronto stage
The movie musical Grease is pure American iconography.
The stage version of that film, happening now at the Canon Theatre and starring 2006 American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, upgrades this classic.
Hicks performs the role of Teen Angel, originally sung by Frankie Avalon, who crooned Beauty School Dropout for Didi Conn’s Frenchy in the 1978 film. The transition from Idol to icon is a welcome challenge for Hicks.
“I feel blessed to sing this role and make that connection, to bring the Teen Angel to a new generation of fans, ” says Hicks. “We all loved the movie as kids.”
Kelly Clarkson happy to be here
Kelly Clarkson says she got “yelled at” by Kiwi fans when she cancelled her last tour to New Zealand but the pop star will try to make up for it this weekend.
Clarkson, the very first winner of TV reality show and singing contest American Idol, cancelled two New Zealand performances in 2005 when doctors diagnosed pneumonia at the end of her Breakaway world tour and ordered her home.
The 27-year-old Texas resident, who will perform at Auckland’s Vector Arena on Sunday night, said her New Zealand fans didn’t take the news well.
Daughtry rocks Joe Louis Arena Saturday night
Having a sophomore album debut at No. 1 was a joy — and a relief — for Chris Daughtry and the band that bears his surname.
“I couldn’t be happier, ” said Daughtry, the 2006 “American Idol” finalist whose “Leave This Town” bowed at the top spot last July on the Billboard 200, Digital Albums and Rock charts. Daughtry’s self-titled 2006 debut spent two weeks at No. 1 and sold more than 4 million copies, but he did not feel assured that its successor would be a similar success.
“You get ready to put that second album out and you don’t know what it’s going to do. You’re a little nervous, you’ve got the jitters, you’re not sure what’s going to happen and then the first week just kind of puts your mind at ease, ” he said.
Bucky Covington’s making the most of his opportunity
Bucky Covington realized his work had just begun after he placed eighth during the fifth season of “American Idol.”
The country singer-songwriter knew he could just disappear like many of the reality show’s alums who had made the “American Idols Live” tour.
“You really have to get going after you finish up on ‘American Idol, ‘ ” Covington says. “America has a real short memory.”
Just ask Justin Guarini, Sanjaya Malakar or Ace Young.
You can’t judge Kara DioGuardi by her cover
You know Kara DioGuardi as Paula Abdul’s replacement as a judge on “American Idol, ” but she’s so much more than that.
The reason she’s so insightful judging singers on the popular talent show: She’s a singer-songwriter herself.
But DioGuardi’s talents are not limited to those two facets of the business.
She also is a record producer, a music publisher and an A&R executive for Warner Bros. Records. Before that, DioGuardi was a TV sports anchor, a Billboard magazine ad saleswoman and a college graduate in with a degree in political science.
‘American Idol’ judge Kara DioGuardi makes her public concert debut at Borgata
Kara DioGuardi spends much of her time critiquing the performances of others, whether in her high-profile gig as an “American Idol” judge or her day job as an A&R executive for Warner Bros.
Now the judge will be facing a public “jury” of her own when she makes her Atlantic City debut this weekend at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.
Material won’t be a problem for DioGuardi, a songwriter who has written or collaborated on dozens of hits for country and pop stars, including Christina Aguilera (“Ain’t No Other Man”), Pink (“Sober”), Kelly Clarkson (“I Do Not Hook Up”) and Enrique Iglesias (“Escape”).
Already winning hearts and mind with her daytime TV talk show, Degeneres is now winning over a whole new Middle America audience on ‘American Idol’
“American Idol” is a show everyone watches — young, old, from Red States and Blue. It is a throwback, almost, to the days of television when families would gather around a television set and watch enriching programming together.
And one of its big draws these days is a lesbian.
The New York Times pointed out last weekend that Ellen DeGeneres “finds a way to remind audiences of her sexual status on almost every episode of ‘American Idol.’”
Hit show ‘Glee’ sings to anyone who ever felt like an outsider
LOS ANGELES — When producers were making the pilot of Glee, they wanted to use a Coldplay song. The band denied them.
That was before Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Peabody awards; big-selling soundtracks and nearly 5 million song downloads; and visits to Oprah and the White House.
“They called last week and said, ‘We want to apologize for denying it and, furthermore, you can have anything you want, ‘ ” co-creator and executive producer Ryan Murphy says during a recent interview on set. “I thought, well, that’s kind of cool. That was the moment I was like, ‘We’ve kind of arrived. We’ve done well.’
‘Glee’ intel: More Puck, Mercedes, Brittany to love
“Glee” has so many fascinating characters, who needs to bother with Rachel and Finn?
One fan favorite is Noah “Puck” Puckerman, played by Mark Salling. As William McKinley’s resident bad boy, he made Rachel (Lea Michele) and viewers at home moony-eyed when he busted out his guitar and sang “Sweet Caroline.”
So does Puck have another moment to shine when the show returns? Oh yes. “Glee” producers confirm he’ll have a Rat Pack-esque number coming in the back nine episodes of the first season.
Exclusive: Insider: Tony “Can’t Wait to Get Rid of” Kate on DWTS
Forget Tony Dovolani’s brave face and chirpy public support of Dancing with the Stars partner Kate Gosselin.
Behind the scenes, “he can’t wait to get rid of her, even if it means losing early, ” a show insider says in the new issue of Us Weekly, out now.
Last week’s fiery clip of the the duo struggling to rehearse and get along (Dovolani threatened to quit) is only the tip of the iceberg, multiple sources say.
Are Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl Burke dating?
Steamy stuff on today’s Ellen DeGeneres Show! Dancing With The Stars couple Chad Ochocinco and his pro partner Cheryl Burke talk about the ring he gave her and about dating rumors.
Ellen: “So let’s talk about, I can’t not mention this ring … How much was that ring? $10, 000?”
Chad: “A lot of hard work. … It’s a thank you … for what I put her through.”
Cheryl: “And, it’s on my ring finger for some reason.”
Erin Andrews answers being called “a fool”
ESPN reporter Erin Andrews tried to lighten up what has been a difficult year by appearing on Dancing With the Stars.
Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovsky partners for the Spring 2010 season of
She should have known, that like all things Erin Andrews, she was going to take some heat.
The latest was from Toronto Star columnist Rosie DiManno who said Andrews was making “a fool” of herself:
