Little Big Town To Host Ride For A Cure For 6th Time – CAPITOL NASHVILLE act LITTLE BIG TOWN is back to host the 2012 RIDE FOR A CURE SUNDAY on SUNDAY, JUNE 10th in NASHVILLE, with proceeds benefiting the T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION. This will be the group’s 6th consecutive year hosting the ride. The ride will start at MICKEY ROO’S in the KROGER INDEPENDENCE SQUARE parking lot on Hillsboro Pike. Registration begins at 8a (CT). – Read more at All Access
‘American Idol’ Producer ‘Thrilled’ By Final Three – “I guess I was shocked at Colton [Dixon] going so early. I thought he might even make the final. We’ve had very talented singers all this season. I’m thrilled with the three people who are left,” he told MTV News at an event announcing Fox’s fall lineup on Monday. “I can’t even begin to think who the final is going to be between. “And then whichever combination you look: If Joshua is sent home, where does Joshua’s votes go to, Jessica or to Phillip? Where does Jessica’s votes go, if she’s sent home? Where do Phillip’s votes [go]?” he continued about any final combinations ahead of the May 23 finale. “So… I still don’t know with the combination of just moving it around who is going to win.” – Read more at MTV
Jessica Sanchez & ‘American Idol’: Philippine President Benigno Aquino III Supports Her Run (VIDEOS) – MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has picked his “American Idol.” The Philippines’ leader says he is happy Jessica Sanchez is one of the singing contest’s top three finalists and “hopefully she really reaches the top.” – Read more at Huffington Post
Adam Lambert’s Advice to ‘American Idol’ Contestants: ‘Maintain Your Own Integrity as an Artist’ (EXCLUSIVE) – “The transition from a TV talent contest to mainstream radio is really tricky. It is a whole other industry. The rules are different. Your music is based on a lot more than just popularity. The hardest thing about the show is maintaining your own integrity as an artist. You have to work hard. Nothing happens instantly after the show,” he advises. – Read more at Celebuzz
Kris Allen Talks ‘American Idol’ Regrets – “I wouldn’t have sung in the crowd. That’s like the kiss of death,” Kris said in Reality Rocks’ recent in-depth interview previewing his new album. (Editor’s note: This interview was conducted the week that DeAndre Brackensick started his performance in the audience–and then went home in eighth place. Coincidence? I think not!) “I think it can come across cheesy, and those people never know how to [move],” Kris explained, referring to what diehard fans often call “swaybots,” aka the show’s awkward hired audience members. “Like, who do they bring in for this show? Who are these people? They’re like, swaying in the wrong direction and clapping off beat. And they don’t look into it at all!” – See the Video at Yahoo.com
Haley Reinhart Makes ‘Idol’ Projection – Relating closest to Phillip Phillips’ outlook of staying true to who he is, Haley encourages the hopefuls to “make what you can of this platform you’ve been given. I seized the moment.” Although all of the finalists are winners at this point, Haley pinpointed the outstanding voice of Jessica Sanchez since her initial televised audition. Had the judges not used their one save of the season, Jessica would have been eliminated weeks ago. “I couldn’t agree more,” Haley approved of the panel’s decision. “I called her for the win.” – Read more at ETOnline
Former ‘American Idol’ Contestants Hollie Cavanagh, David Cook Compare Final Three’s Strengths – “I think just everything about Josh” is special, Hollie tells ABC News Radio. “I mean, his voice is just ridiculous and it takes you to a whole other place when he sings, and that’s not just me talking as a best friend, either — that’s just real!” “American Idol” season seven champ David Cook also has high praise for this year’s final three. He calls Phillip “probably one of the more unique contestants this show’s ever had,” and says Joshua’s voice is “ridiculous.” He adds, “I’m trying to avoid using “Idol” cliches, but there’s probably a ‘phone book’ reference in there, and Joshua could pull it off.” – Read more at ABC News Radio
Reflections From The Circle – Kellie Pickler
The Voice’s Juliet Simms on Arranging ‘Roxanne,’ Living in a ‘Man’s World’ and Avoiding Drama – It may be a man’s man’s man’s world when it comes to winning reality singing competitions these days, but Juliet Simms — runner-up on Season 2 of The Voice — takes it in stride. “You have to toughen up your skin and just prove you can rock,” she says. TVLine caught up with the gravelly voiced songbird to discuss the highs (“Roxanne”) and lows (“Cryin’”) of her Voice trajectory, the misinterpreted adjective that almost cost her fans during the Battle Rounds, and her feelings on the battle between coaches Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine. – Read more at TVLine
Kelly Clarkson, Robin Thicke and John Legend: Duets Is Harder Than American Idol! – ABC is joining the reality singing-competition game with their new show Duets, which puts a twist on the genre: Judges Kelly Clarkson, Robin Thicke, John Legend and Jennifer Nettles will each choose two contestants to mentor and perform duets with. We chatted with Kelly, Robin and John at the Entertainment Weekly-ABC upfront party about the show and what sets it apart from all these other reality singing competitions. Plus, Kelly reveals that Duets is harder than Idol… – See the Video at EOnline
Duets’ John Legend Says X Factor’s Britney Spears & Demi Lovato Can’t Sing! What Does Kelly Clarkson Think? – And what about Kelly? “I’m excited for both of them. I’m a big fan of both of them. Both of those girls are super sweet,” she gushes. “I think it’s fun for them too to just be more out in the public eye again. I think those two are two you really want to root for and you really want them to succeed, so I think that’s exciting.” Kelly also thinks Britney and Demi are exactly what The X Factor needs after their somewhat underwhelming first season. “Obviously they are both performers so…I think that show really needs it I don’t think everybody latched onto that show like they thought they would,” the original American Idol champ tells us. – Read more at EOnline
Britney Spears on ‘X Factor’: Crisis Management Experts Assess Her Chance of Success – “She’s got really smart people around her,” said Howard Bragman, Hollywood crisis managment expert and vice chairman of Reputation.com. “I don’t think (Spears’ manager) Larry (Rudolf) and her team would let her out if she wasn’t ready.” Bragman told THR she could prepare by watching past editions of X Factor to get as familiar possible while learning from the judges’ on-air mishaps. The key, he said, is to develop her own judging style because viewers respond to originality. Then again, she’s got a lot of angles to work with, as a beloved yet controversial performer who’s also a mom. “Don’t underestimate someone a little shaky,” he said, mentioning Abdul’s successful run of “walking the tightrope” on American Idol. “This is a good girl. We want her to succeed.” – Read more at the Hollywood Reporter
The Real American Idol: How J.Lo Got Her Mojo Back – Actually, anything Lopez will sell right now. In the last year she graced 46 major magazine covers, topped People’s 2011 Most Beautiful list, signed deals with L’Oréal, Gillette, Fiat and TOUS jewelry, and launched a Jennifer Lopez collection of clothing for Kohl’s. Besides judging Idol, she’s released her first album in four years, Love?, and picked up three movie roles (What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Ice Age: Continental Drift and Parker, which is due out in 2013). In the past 12 months, FORBES estimates, she raked in a whopping $52 million—enough money, when combined with her media omnipresence, to complete a remarkable comeback. Last year Lopez was number 50 on FORBES’ annual Celebrity 100 list—this year she’s number one. – Read more at Forbes
Reality TV: THR’s 50 Most Powerful List – To call 2012’s jockeying for placement on The Hollywood Reporter’s Reality Power List the most competitive ever would be like saying the Kardashians have dabbled a bit in self-promotion. (Ryan Seacrest is #1, Simon Cowell is #8, Nigel Lythgoe is #34 – Read more at the Hollywood Reporter
