Simon Cowell delays wedding plans
Reality TV judge Nigel Lythgoe, who is a close pal of the Britain’s Got Talent boss, told the News of the World that Simon is in “no rush” to get married.
Nigel revealed: “He won’t be getting married this year – and he doesn’t need to rush into it anyway.
“Simon has a lot to do. He has to prepare himself for the American X Factor, to try to create the next biggest show there, and he’ll be fully focused.”
Lythgoe claimed that “nerves” may also have played a part in Cowell’s decision to postpone the nuptials.
‘American Idol’: Andrew Garcia visits ‘Idolatry, ‘ talks tough judges, ‘having fun, ‘ and ‘Straight Up’
Looking back at his season 9 run on American Idol, Andrew Garcia says he has no regrets. None whatsoever. In fact, when the co-eighth-place finisher visited the Idolatry studios last week, he told me that if someone gave him the chance to take back one of his eight live performances during the voting portion of the competition, he wouldn’t do it. And because I’m a cantankerous Idoloonie, I told him I’d take back “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” on his behalf.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Kelly Clarkson Hawked Indonesian Cigarettes, Or Did She?
Kelly Clarksongot loads of pressure from anti-smoking activists after promotional billboards and TV commercials landed in Indonesia pimping her upcoming concert, which is sponsored by L.A. Lights cigarettes. Unlike in the U.S., “in-your-face” tobacco ads are still allowed in Indonesia, but American activists are not amused.
Matt Meyers of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said, “If Kelly Clarkson goes ahead with the concert, she is by choice being a spokesman for the tobacco industry and helping them to market to children. She has the power now to turn this situation around and to send a clear message to Indonesian young people and, frankly, to the young people of the world.”
Kelly Clarkson slips quietly into town
KUALA LUMPUR: Garbed in simple jeans and a T-shirt with no trace of make-up, Kelly Clarkson (pic) passed off as a tourist and managed to dodge hotel guests at the KL Hilton as she checked in late Friday.
The American Idol season one winner, who is currently on her Asia-Pacific tour, flew in from Australia for her much anticipated concert here scheduled at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil tonight.
Amid tight security, the pop star declined to be photographed, telling her concert organiser, the Galaxy Group, that she was dressed too sloppily.
But the American Idol superstar has assured fans that her concert would be a blast, and that the protest against her in Indonesia would not deter her from delivering her best.
Interview: Adam Lambert Part 1
EF were lucky enough to catch-up with Adam Lambert this week. Fresh off a plane from the US Adam was still happy to talk to us despite having a rather long week thanks to the travel disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano.
We talked to Adam about his single For Your Entertainment, out on Monday, the UK release of his debut album and his feelings about returning to American Idol to mentor this year’s crop of contestants.
Come back tomorrow for part 2 of the interview where we put some of the questions you Tweeted at us to Adam.
Jennifer Hudson’s Son is One Happy Baby
Jennifer Hudson runs errands with her adorable son David Otunga Jr., 20 months, in Los Angeles on Friday (April 23).
The 28-year-old Oscar winner is set to sing a duet with British beauty Leona Lewis for the soundtrack for the Sex and the City sequel. The song is called “Love Is Your Color.” (Jennifer was on the original soundtrack and also starred in the movie).
A grown-up Jordin Sparks comes to Starland Ballroom
It’s an all-grown up Jordin Sparks on her latest album, “Battlefield.”
“I think the biggest thing with this album is just growth in my voice and maturity in my voice, and growth and maturity in me as a person, ” said Sparks during an album release conference call. “I’ve grown up a little bit, but I haven’t gotten too old.”
“Battlefield, ” the album’s lead-off single, is a big ballad with a big vocal punch delivered by the 20-year-old Sparks.
Carrie Underwood captivates sold-out crowd from the start
About five songs into Saturday night’s show at the Huntington Center, Carrie Underwood remarked that “it’s been a pretty good week for me.”
She’s not kidding. She started the week at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, where she won “Entertainer of the Year” and “Top Female Vocalist.”
On Wednesday, she took part in an “American Idol” fund-raiser special.
Saturday night, she ended her week by inspiring a Toledo crowd that snapped up her tickets minutes after they went on sale in the winter.
It’s been fascinating to watch Underwood’s career develop.
Bo’s all grown up
Huntsville native content with his life 5 years after Idol
Huntsville native and 2005 “American Idol” runner-up Bo Bice sat on the couch in his Nashville home last Tuesday morning with his three toddler sons, turned on the television and what did he see? “Dora the Explorer”? “Sponge Bob”?
Nope. It was the young lady who some think stole his dream – “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood, recently named the Country Music Association’s Female Entertainer of the Year for the second straight time.
Wet Honor Flight doesn’t dampen the emotions of 106 WWII veterans
Thus far, the local Honor Flight has taken 1, 108 World War II veterans on free daylong trips to Washington to see their memorial. As always, their emotions ranged from joyous to sentimental, from laughing to crying.
Navy and Air Force veteran Harold E. Bice was a quiet man on the trip, but one of the people on the journey said the impact of what happened Saturday was heartfelt. That someone was Bo Bice – American Idol runner-up, recording artist and namesake of the veteran – who said he hasn’t seen his “Pa” smile like that since before the elder’s man wife died a year ago.
“I’m seeing a kinder spirit in him today, ” Bice said. “The camaraderie has been great for him. What’s being done today is the smallest token we can give to honor men and women who gave so much for our country’s freedom.
“Still, enough cannot be said for the people who made this happen. I am beyond impressed with the guardians and volunteers.”
Amid all the stars, Idol’s Kara DioGuardi shines the brightest
OCALA — They came for the golf. They came for the cause. But most of all, they came for Kara.
While LPGA Tour standouts and PGA alums competed Saturday in a celebrity golf scramble to raise money for the Phoenix House treatment center in Citra, it was “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi who the crowd came to see.
And she didn’t disappoint.
Sporting trim togs and “cushy”-feeling golf shoes, DioGuardi signed autographs and posed for photos until she had met with each and every fan. When asked, she even offered audition tips and vocal advice.
DioGuardi sees judging ‘Idol’ as a gift
Editors note: Between her ceremonial duties, meeting fans and thanking golfers — not to mention prepping for her own vocal performance during the evening’s gala — Kara DioGuardi sat down for some Idol chat.
Kara DioGuardi thanks her lucky stars.
And this year, her second as a judge on the megahit “American Idol, ” those stars sit to her left and right.
“I’m in a very lucky position in my life, ” she said. “I’ve been given a gift to be on ‘American Idol’ later in life, on a show with some of the biggest, uber stars in the world — Simon (Cowell), Ellen (DeGeneres) and Randy (Jackson).”
Rock and a hard spot for Josh Steely
Even though Josh Steely ?plays guitar in Daughtry, the chart-topping band formed by “American Idol” alum Chris Daughtry, he never really watched the popular talent competition.
Steely, a Carlsbad native, just didn’t have much interest in “American Idol” or Simon Cowell or Ryan Seacrest, much less the time to watch the show.
During the day, he worked as a commercial electrician, mostly digging ditches, to support his wife and three sons. And on some nights, Steely fronted his own local rock band, Sandjacket.
