‘Idol’ Owner CKX Adopts Poison Pill as Group Considers Offer
June 23 (Bloomberg) — CKX Inc., the owner of “American Idol, ” adopted a shareholder rights plans that may prevent company founder Robert F.X. Sillerman and another potential investor from acquiring a majority stake.
CKX’s board received a letter from a third party indicating possible interest in a tender offer for less than all of the company’s shares, CKX said today in a statement, without identifying the investor. The bidder is in discussions with Sillerman, who resigned as chairman and chief executive officer last month to pursue a possible takeover.
The rights plan, or so-called poison pill, would allow CKX to issue preferred shares to investors to prevent “coercive takeover tactics.”
David Hodges writing with Lee DeWyze and Katie Stevens
Songwriter David Hodges (Evanessence, Kelly Clarkson and many other Idols) is writing with Lee DeWyze and….Katie Stevens! Check out this tweet from early this morning, “5 songs in 5 days. 2 w/ @thekatiestevens, 2 w/ @LeeDeWyze (my new favorite people), & 1 w/ Ben Moody. Good stories, good folks, good times.” Hm. Does Katie have something going on?
Top 10 wrap up Tour Rehearsals
The AI Season 9 Top 10 wrapped up American Idols Live! tour rehearsals yesterday. According to Tim Urban, they leave on Saturday for their first tour stop in Auburn Hills, MI on July 1. Tim tweeted yesterday, “We just wrapped up rehearsals here in Cali! Heading to Michigan Saturday to rehearse at the venue there! So exciting!”
Will Taylor Hicks and Casey James be jamming together soon? Taylor tweeted, “Hi All! ran into@CaseyEJames. Great dude. Hoping to jam with him soon.”
More Headlines after the JUMP…
Exclusive Details on Carrie and Chelsea’s Weddings
Carrie Underwood and Chelsea Clinton are preparing to walk down the aisle. Underwood is marrying hockey player Mike Fisher and Chelsea will wed investment banker Marc Mezvinsky.
Life & Style has details given exclusively to PopEater about the upcoming nuptials.
The country superstar recently said she had no idea where they are heading on their honeymoon, but according to the magazine, they’ll be traveling to Tahiti and Bora Bora for 11 days.
Rascal Flatts Kick off “Nothing Like This Tour” This Friday
Get out the shit kickers and those ten-gallon hats! Why? Because country superstars Rascal Flatts will launch their new tour this Friday, June 25 in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is dubbed the “JC Penney Presents Rascal Flatts Nothing Like This Tour.” The first leg will continue with 28 shows through September 19 at Boston’s Comcast Center. Kellie Pickler and Chris Young will open the shows, which are expected to be packed to the rafters with pop country fans.
Adam Lambert hangs out with JLS
While we hardly need an excuse to post a picture of Adam Lambert hanging out with the JLS lads, there’s a reason that these five lovely boys were all in the same place at the same time – they were all in Canada for the Much Music Awards.
As well as getting the chance to get up close and personal with Marvin, JB, Oritsé and Aston, Adam was also celebrating after picking up the Best International Video award for his next UK single Whataya Want From Me, beating off stiff competition from Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Ke$ha and Taylor Swift. Good going!
Adam wins a glammy in NY
Anyone expecting a raunch ‘n’ roll concert from “American Idol” star Adam Lambert at the Nokia Theatre last night was sorely disappointed.
The gay guy-doll who shocked America with his boy-on-boy kiss and simulated oral sex at the American Music Awards last November played it safe with an entertaining, tame-by-comparison debut as a headliner in New York.
OK, he did lick his bassist’s face, but this is New York.
Kris Allen visiting Star 94 and AT&T store in Alpharetta Thursday
Kris Allen is making man in-store appearance at the AT&T store near North Point Mall in Alpharetta Thursday from4 to 5 p.m. The first 200 fans get to meet him.
I’m in D.C. so I’m missing out on the festivities (but he’ll be back in town to open for Maroon 5 next month.).
He’ll be doing a small in-person concert for Star 94 fans later that evening as well. (You need to win tickets to see that.)
The store is at 7900 North Point Parkway in Alpharetta.
Simon Cowell’s fiancee Mezhgan Hussainy flies in for long-awaited reunion
After 27 days of hibernation, she finally emerged, blinking in the sunlight behind expensive designer sunglasses…
Mezhgan Hussainy – missing feared dumped – had left her LA lair and touched down in London yesterday for a reunion with fiancee Simon Cowell.
Amid fears the couple were drifting apart, we had started our dedicated Mezhgan Watch.
We’re only on Day Three and we’re happy to report that it has had near-instant results – and the couple may slowly be getting back on course.
Ryan Seacrest & Julianne Hough Getting ‘More Serious’
Are Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough a match made in reality TV heaven?
“Things have gotten more serious over the last month, ” a source tells PEOPLE. “They’re perfect for each other.”
The American Idol host and the former Dancing With the Stars pro have tried to keep things quiet, but In recent weeks, they’ve been spotted getting cozy all over Los Angeles.
American Idol Hits The Road 2010
Grammy-nominated singer Ruben Studdard to speak about education in Cleveland
CLEVELAND – American Idol winner and Grammy Award Nominee Ruben Studdard comes to Cleveland.
Studdard will speak at John Hay High School in Cleveland at 6 o’clock Wednesday evening.
Studdard plans to speak about the importance of education and how the community can best support youth today. He is also expected to sing.
The education group, Open Doors Academy, is organizing the event.
The event is free, but tickets are required.
For more about the event and tickets, follow this link: http://www.opendoorsacademy.org/page/register-for-ruben-studdard
Clay Aiken Ready For Tour, Would Return to ‘Idol’ As Judge
“American Idol’s” second season runner-up Clay Aiken has his own idea of what the show should do to replace departing judge Simon Cowell.
“I’ve always thought it would be a great addition to the panel to have someone who’s a former contestant and knows what it’s like to be up on that stage and be critiqued, ” Aiken tells Billboard.com. So is he raising his hand? “Well, I’m so far removed from it at this point that I don’t know if I remember what it’s like, but who knows. I would not put myself out there to be as caustic as (Cowell) is, but if they want to call me, bring it on. We can talk.”
Aiken, however, has plenty of singing to do before having that discussion. The North Carolina-based singer released his fifth album, “Tried & True, ” on June 1; the collection of pop standards — including “Unchained Melody, ” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, ” “Misty, ” “Mack The Knife” and “Moon River” (with Vince Gill) — marks his first release away from the “American Idol” enclave of 19 Recordings and Sony Music (he’s now with Decca), and Aiken feels it shows the measure of the man better than his previous releases.
Crystal and Lee – Dish of Salt – (Crystal thinks the Idol Age limit should be raised)
Casey James – Casey doesn’t think Idol should lower the age requirement. He thinks 18-30 is a good range.
Didi Benami, Katie Stevens, Aaron Kelly and Siobhan Magnus – Tease Aaron about Britney Spears
Tim Urban, Mike Lynche, Andrew Garcia
Kris Allen and Band Visit Fender HQ
“I hate saying, ‘We had tryouts for these guys, ’” says Allen. “It just sounds weird because we all are friends now. Maybe it’s just the caliber of musicians but I feel like we all click really well and things happened very quickly.
“No fights yet, ” Allen adds with the crooked grin that won over millions of American Idol voters.
“I think after that we start flying a lot, ” he offers. “I do the national anthem at the Mets game in New York (on June 26) and then Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.” (more tour dates here)
