Idol Headlines for 07/11/09

3 ‘Idol’ alumni target holiday season for debuts

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – The first post-“American Idol” albums from three recent contestants on the hit show are expected this fall, in time for the holiday season. Release dates are still to be announced.

Here’s a quick rundown of what they’ve been working on in the recording studio.

KRIS ALLEN – For his fall debut on 19/Jive, the 23-year-old has a wealth of songwriters and producers to choose from: David Hodges (Clarkson, Daughtry), Salaam Remi (Nas, Amy Winehouse) and Claude Kelly (Akon, Leona Lewis) have all submitted material for the record.

ADAM LAMBERT – Tedder says his songs with Lambert have a new wave, Tears for Fears vibe, but that choosing a musical direction for Lambert results in an embarrassment of riches. “He can sing so many different styles of music, ” Tedder says. “I think he can be a global superstar; there’s not a doubt in my mind.”

JASON CASTRO – “If you fell in love with Jason on the show, this is exactly the record you’d want him to make, ” says Pete Ganberg, Atlantic executive vice president/head of A&R. “It’s introspective, playful and very much a combination of his influences, which range from Jeff Buckley to Jack Johnson.”

Reuters.com

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

Not much to idolize, with a few exceptions

Something needed to puncture the sheer inertia of the audience of mostly families – sometimes three generations together – who sat, arms folded, staring lifelessly for the majority of the show. They weren’t so much watching a pop concert as revisiting the television show: tolerating the Idols they didn’t vote for in order to catch a real glimpse of the reality star they favoured. Unsurprisingly, given the countdown nature of both the show and the concert, that meant the fun wasn’t going to start until near the night’s climax.

The Globe and Mail

Total Album Sales Surge

In the first full week after Michael Jackson’s death, total album sales shot up to nearly seven million units, a level not seen since early April. Track sales dropped 1% but had risen 9% the prior week, the first full week after Jackson’s death. Track sales in each of the last two weeks exceeded 23 million units, a level not seen since the week ending April 12. Variable pricing took effect on April 7 and weekly unit sales dropped and had remained about 10% down from pre-variable pricing levels.

Billboard.biz

Daughtry: Growing Into Stardom

Chris Daughtry is cooling his heels. He and his band mates are relaxing in an air-conditioned tour bus at a rock quarry outside of Los Angeles. It’s a preternaturally sweltering day with no breeze and no respite from the blistering sun, making the bus one of the few bearable spots.

Daughtry is shooting the video to “No Surprise, ” the first single for “Leave This Town.” Out July 14, the CD is the band’s follow up to its 2006 self-titled 19/RCA effort, which is the fastest selling rock debut in Billboard’s history. The plot of the “No Surprise” video revolves around a couple whose financial and communication difficulties are causing a rift in their marriage. Daughtry stresses that just because his band has sold a few million records, it doesn’t mean he can’t relate.

MSN

Daughtry, T-Pain, Dierks Bentley Set For Free Samsung Concert Series

Daughtry, the Offspring, Dierks Bentley and T-Pain, among others, will perform as part of the third annual Samsung AT&T Summer Krush, a free summer concert series designed to highlight the Samsung JACK mobile phone.

The concert series starts July 17 in Seattle with a performance by Daughtry at the Paramount Theatre. Portions of the concert will broadcast later that evening on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Billboard.com

Music First, Kids Later for ‘Idol’ Singer

Brooke White’s upbeat personality would make some wonder if she even realized she got kicked off ‘American Idol’ during the show’s seventh season. Coming down from the whirlwind of her post-‘Idol’ career, White remains positive about balancing her “intense” music career with her family life, she told PopEater.

White calculates she was only home three or four weeks from January 2008 to the end of September, when the ‘Idol’ tour ended. Yet, she’s ready to do it all over again.

Her new album ‘High Hopes and Heartbreak’ will be released on July 21, and White will be back on the road touring. “I definitely am going to miss being around my family, but right now, it’s time to roll up my sleeves and work hard, taking advantage of the opportunities ‘Idol’ has given me, ” White told PopEater.

Popeater

Clay Lends His Voice to an Important Issue

Clay Aiken took to his blog to shine some light on a pertinent issue effecting the gay community.

He writes:

I’m a little late on this one, but’ ¦ be careful. Don’t breathe in around me!

In debating the School Violence Prevention Act during a legislative session, NC General Assembly Minority Leader Skip Stam (R*-Wake) said that “explicitly protecting gay kids from bullying would lead to pedophilia and gay marriage, ” The man, who has obviously come unhinged from reality also argued that gay parents are “more dangerous than second-hand smoke.”

I hope I haven’t caused any health problems for any of you!

What a dumbass!

Do enough of you guys live in southern Wake County to help him lose his job next year?

Perez Hilton

“American Idol” Finalists Fedorov and DeGarmo to Star in Lyric Theatre’s Joseph

Anthony Fedorov and Diana DeGarmo, both “American Idol” finalists, will star in the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma’s upcoming production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Directed and choreographed by Gerry McIntyre, the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical will play July 21-25 at the Civic Center Music Hall. Fedorov will star in the title role with DeGarmo as the Narrator.

The production also boasts 80 children, ages 7-16.

Playbill.com

Review: Kellie Pickler charms Craven crowd

CRAVEN ‘” There were no red high heels in sight, and no airhead observations to capture for future YouTube postings, but Kellie Pickler oozed her trademark southern charm and easily filled the Craven valley with her big voice Friday night.

Dressed down in a white T-shirt, black pants and knee-high riding boots, the petite Pickler delivered a simple set that was free of frills, but full of heart.

Taking the stage 30 minutes after her scheduled start time, Pickler got right to work opening with “Best Days of your Life, ” a single from her new self-titled album. The song was co-written with Pickler’s best friend Taylor Swift, but the bosom buddies didn’t offer an on-stage duet.

Leaderpost.com

Moods of Norway opens on Robertson Boulevard

Adding to the amusement was a motley crew of celebrities who showed up. Rumer Willis, Estella Warren, Chris Klein and Kellan Lutz (dressed in head to toe Moods of Norway) all turned out for the party.

Ultimately an amusing and somewhat random event, but with ‘For Lease’  signs everywhere, the positive energy of the Moods of Norway crew is a welcome addition to the area.

LA Times

‘Dance’ defeats return of ‘Brother’

CBS launched the 11th season of “Big Brother” Thursday night, and while the numbers were slightly up compared to last summer’s premiere, Fox narrowly won the primetime race with an elimination round of “So You Think You Can Dance” earning the best 18-49 rating of the evening.

“Big Brother” scored a 2.3 rating/8 share in the demo in the 8 o’clock hour, with 6.8 million viewers tuning in. Last year the reality series began on a Sunday and earned a 2.1/7, with 6.1 million on its first night. Other demos, including 18-34 and 25-54, were also higher for this latest go-around.

Variety.com

Exclusive Interview: Phillip Chbeeb of So You Think You Can Dance

From the moment he stepped on stage with his seemingly bone-less popping and locking style, good natured goofiness, and infectious passion for dance, Phillip Chbeeb was an instant fan favorite. Though he struggled with choreography outside of his genre, Phillip remained an inspiration to viewers, judges, and his fellow competitors because his performances and time on the show were all about conveying his love of dance. And his touching goodbye speech last night will go down as one of the most genuinely touching moments in a show that’s often filled with tear-jerkers.

buddytv.com

Dancer Cheryl Burke buys Hollywood Hills home for $1, 295, 000

Professional ballroom dancer Cheryl Burke of “Dancing With the Stars” has purchased a midcentury modern post-and-beam house in the Hollywood Hills for $1, 295, 000.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2, 494-square-foot home, built in 1957, has 180-degree city and mountain views, a stone fireplace, vaulted wood ceilings and a separate studio office. There are two decks for dining, lounging, entertaining or practicing a season-winning samba.

LA Times

About mj santilli 34833 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!