Idol judge to Republican State Convention
American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi will address a group of Young Republicans at the party’s state convention next month in Manhattan.
The talk is tentatively slated for evening of Monday June 1, according to Kara’s father Joe DioGuardi, a former congressman and current U.S. Senate hopeful.
DioGuardi the father said Republicans reached out to Kara through him to sing the national anthem, but he suggested something more substantive. He said he will appear with her, “only because I don’t want her to appear on the spot to answer questions about politics. I’m running for office, she isn’t.”
‘Idolatry’: Aaron Kelly on abandoning Usher’s advice, and dismissing comparisons to past Idols
Aaron Kelly made it all the way to fifth place on American Idol‘s ninth season, but he says he was satisfied the moment he cracked the top 10. I sat down with the high school student to discuss his run on the show, including the real story behind his “botched” lyrics in Hollywood Week, the reason you should “never throw the band under the bus, ” and the hidden talent the show’s producers never revealed he possessed. Press play below to get that scoop and more, and for all my Idol news and commentary, follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak.
More Headlines after the JUMP…
Michael Lynche looks back on his time in ‘La-La Land’
He stood out from the get-go, what with those ginormous guns, the tear-jerking delivery room back story and, oh yeah, that sultry, smooth voice, which Ellen DeGeneres compared to Luther Vandross no more than two weeks ago! But alas, it’s down to the “Idol” wire and someone has to go. So what will Michael Lynche miss about his extended stay in Los Angeles once he returns home to Astoria in Queens, N.Y.? Besides sun, sun and more sun, he’s certain to have long-lasting memories of afternoons spent at the Grove’s Apple store, and In-N-Out’s classic double-double animal-style. Read on for more of Big Mike’s answers to our “La-La Land” questionnaire and check out the picture he drew (self portrait?) after the jump…
‘American Idol”s Michael Lynche: Sometimes the Cookie Just Crumbles That Way
Michael Lynche made it to “American Idol”‘s Top Four before his elimination on Wednesday night and that is nothing to sneeze at. He tells ET that he is happy that he met the goals he set for himself, even though he didn’t win the title.
Big Mike tells ET, “All these goals that I set for the season — whether it was getting past the first audition, the second audition, making it to Hollywood Week, making the Top 24, the Top 12, the Top 10, the Top Five — I set all those goals a year ago. To kids out there, set goals, you can reach them.”
Not all ‘Idol’ hometown visits are created equal
Crystal Bowersox, Casey James and Lee DeWyze are all making the hometown rounds on Friday. Having advanced to the Top 3, only one elimination away from the Season 9 finale, it’s their moment to rejoice, take it all in, give thanks to those who’ve voted with passion and regularity and relish in hometown pride.
Recalling his hometown visit to Seattle in 2007, Season 6 runner-up Blake Lewis describes it as “the most stressful 48 hours ever. It was nonstop. They had the schedule so tight, I was in a parade, like, ‘Holy crap, who are all these people?’ It’s crazy because it’s the first time you get out of the ‘Idol’ bubble and the town blows it up! It’s the most surreal day I’ve ever had in my life.”
Up close with Idol’s Siobhan Magnus
(FOX Providence) – The top three American Idol finalists are ready to face off on a national stage. And back at home, there’s a local ‘Idol’ contestant who is also getting ready for the big finale.
Southern New England’s own Siobhan Magnus joined The Rhode Show to talk about her experiences on Idol, what it’s like now that she’s preparing for the summer tour, and what her future plans are.
After a short rest, Katie gears up for ‘Idol’ tour
Off she goes again. After being home for two weeks, Fox TV’s “American Idol” finalist and former Pomperaug High School senior Katie Stevens will return to California on Sunday to rehearse for the show’s finale on May 25 and 26.
While still in her hometown, the 17-year-old Middlebury girl is making the most of her time. After catching up on much-needed sleep, she said, “I got to see all my friends again, visited with many of the people who supported me while I was on the show, and got interviewed by the media.
Adam Lambert Joins The Glam Circus For ‘If I Had You’ Video
Adam Lambert looked like he was channeling the ghost of Ziggy Stardust on the set of the video for his latest single, “If I Had You.” Filmed early Thursday morning in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park, the clip looks like it will be a typically over-the-top affair with lots of elaborate costumes, face paint and a woodsy setting, where last year’s “American Idol” runner-up hosts a kind of Cirque du Soleil dance party.
Before the shoot, Lambert tweeted on Wednesday, “Gearing up for an all night video shoot for ‘If I Had You, ‘ ” which he followed with the tidbit, “Invited a bunch of my performer friends to cameo in the video. It’s gonna be one big happy family!” Lambert, you might recall, was a frequent contributor to Los Angeles’ anything-goes “Zodiac Show” before auditioning for “Idol, ” where he often shared the stage with circus-like performers while singing in outrageous, glitter-splashed costumes.
Adam Lambert – ‘If I Had You’ Video Shoot
Another shot from Adam’s Music Video via @RobertKovacik
UPDATE: Mattel’s ‘Monster High’ Franchise Seen Promising
Mattel Inc. (MAT) is launching what some analysts say could be its most comprehensive homegrown toy franchise ever as it unveils “Monster High, ” which will include dolls, apparel, books, an interactive Web site, and a movie.
The world’s largest toy company by sales is already shipping dolls to toy retailers for what Mattel has described to analysts as “Grease meets the Addams Family.”
Earlier, Weiser indicated the video could feature “American Idol” cast-off Siobhan Magnus, but Chidoni said the former “Idol” contestant who will be involved in a separate venture tied to “Monster High” is Allison Iraheta. Iraheta’s music will be featured in a separate, half-hour program that will be broadcast in multiple ways, such as on the Internet or possibly television, Chidoni said.
Yong Chavez interviews Allison Iraheta Part 3
The CINDERELLA Files: Anthony Fedorov
Although he’s quickly gaining stature as a musical theatre personality, singer Anthony Fedorov admits that he may be a little intimidated by his fellow cast members in this week’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella in Nashville.
Presented as the spring celebration of showHOPE, the international charity founded by contemporary Christian music superstar Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, Cinderella not only features the musicians of the Nashville Symphony, but it also boasts a cast that includes some of Broadway’s brightest luminaries, along with some of Nashville theatre’s best-known names.
Reality-TV contestants invade touring cast of ‘Grease’ at PlayhouseSquare
He doesn’t take the stage to sing his one and only number until midway through Act 2. But you can take a measure of Taylor Hicks’ performance as Teen Angel in “Grease” as soon as you walk into the lobby of PlayhouseSquare’s Palace Theatre.
For there is a cardboard cutout of the white-haired winner of the 2006 “American Idol” reality-TV singing contest.
Which, in its own very special way, is completely appropriate for the touring production of “Grease” that is at the Palace through Sunday, May 23.
Worshiping at the ‘Idol’ Church
IT’S 10:01 p.m., and my mother, who has learned the art of the text message for this express purpose, is weighing in with her feelings on the latest “American Idol” results-show telecast. “So glad Aaron Kelly survived, ” she writes, her fandom for the polite, pint-size teenager unwavering in the wake of his deeply unconvincing cover of “Blue Suede Shoes” the night before.
Mary Murphy celebrates her 20th year of dancing
The Hot Tamale Train is pulling into San Diego this weekend as Mary Murphy celebrates her 20th year of dancing.
At a black-tie anniversary party at her very own dance studio, the So You Think You Can Dance Canada judge and Queen of the Scream will be feted for her work in the dance community, complete with performances, and a dance-filled VIP guest list.
“It’s going to be so much fun, ” Mary gushes over the phone. “We have Luther Brown coming down, and Emanuel (Sandhu) and the whole executive team from SYTYCDC! It’s going to be such a party!”
Idol Castoff Alex Lambert Helps Fuel Anti-Bowersox Trend
Last night’s Young Hollywood Awards put a spotlight on several glamorous vampires, including the Twilight pixies and the cast of The Vampire Diaries, but the most sinister quote of the evening came from a kid who’s not known for being a bloodsucker. Alex Lambert (who capitalized on his regrettably early American Idol elimination by moving into Simon Fuller’s If I Can Dream web series house) seized the opportunity to cast shade on Crystal Bowersox, who seems to be losing her once-massive edge on Lee DeWyze. Lambert must’ve left his diplomacy in his other mullet.
Simon Cowell dresses as the devil
Simon Cowell gets in to character on tonight’s Britain’s Got Talent
SIMON Cowell wears a pair of devil horns as he judges Britain’s Got Talent hopefuls.
Simon Cowell puts on devil horns, Amanda Holden sports some bunny ears and Piers Morgan smartens up with a red bow-tie on tonight’s Britain’s Got Talent.
Dolly Parton: ‘Glee’? Yes. ‘Dancing With the Stars’? Not so much.
Dolly Parton would gladly guest on “Glee.”
“I have seen bits and pieces of it, ” she says. “It looks fantastic.”
“If it has a dang thing to do with music, I would do it, ” she says. “I can’t dance. They’re always coming to me for that ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and I won’t do that.”
‘Glee’: Matthew Morrison says he isn’t anti-Britney Spears
Matthew Morrison insists, “I never said I didn’t want a Britney episode” of “Glee.”
Despite bountiful reports that the actor known as glee-club adviser Will “Mr. Schue” Schuester is against FOX’s hit Tuesday series doing for the Britney Spears catalog what a high-rated episode recently did for Madonna’s music, he maintains that isn’t the case.
“They kind of took two answers and made them into one to sound really bad, ”
DWTS’ Derek Hough: Too Burnt Out for Another Season?
Derek Hough says he’s not sure if he’ll be returning to Dancing With the Stars next season. But he’s also in the tango trenches at his very moment, trying to win that darn disco-ball trophy.
“You think to yourself, ‘Gosh, I don’t know how I could do another season, ‘” Hough told me earlier this week while rehearsing with Nicole Scherzinger. “But then you get three months off and by the end you’re like, ‘I’m ready to go back for another round.’ ”
Hough admits that things got really bad last week…
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Jennifer Hudson Brings WINNIE to CANNES
Jennifer Hudson and co-star Terrence Howard announce their upcoming historical drama Winnie to the world at the Martini Terrace during the 2010 Cannes Film Festival on Saturday (May 15) in Cannes, France.
Winnie stars Terrence as Nelson Mandela and Jennifer as Winnie Mandela, the South African leader’s former wife.
Production for the Darrell Roodt-directed flick kicks off May 31 in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for almost 20 years.
10+ pictures inside of Jennifer Hudson bringing Winnie to Cannes…
