American Idol stars to perform on Holland America cruise ships
Holland America says it will be contracting with stars from TV’s American Idol as well as veterans of New York’s Broadway to perform on its vessels.
The line says the move is part of a new effort to bring more intimacy to evening shows on its 15 ships that began last month with the debut of the 2, 106-passenger Nieuw Amsterdam.
Holland America isn’t yet saying which American Idol or Broadway entertainers will be heading to sea, but it points to the debut of singing group Cantaré on the Nieuw Amsterdam as an example of the shift to more intimacy in entertainment.
Read More at USA Today
Lythgoe returning as executive producer of `Idol’
“Since we launched the original ‘Pop Idol’ in England, I’ve remained close with Simon Fuller, ” Lythgoe said. “‘American Idol’ became a juggernaut of epic proportions, but to me it was always like home. I am elated and honored to be rejoining childhood friend and fellow executive producer Ken Warwick, and look forward to creating more magic.”
Lythgoe originally served as “Idol” producer when it debuted in 2002.
“Nigel helped to define the show I created almost 10 years ago, mentoring our judging panel and nurturing our talent, ” Fuller said. “His unbridled passion has been missed.”
Read more at the Associated Press
Syesha Mercado nominated for a Black Theater Alliance award
Syesha Mercado nominated for Best Actress, Black Theater Alliance Awards. Ceremony to be held Oct 11 in Chicago. Dinner: 7 PM, Awards: 8 PM.
via IdolsNow
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Katharine McPhee Works on Her Songwriting for Upcoming Christmas Album
The album, tentatively due in October, is still in the recording process, so the final track list has yet to be determined. Still, one song that should make the cut is an original by McPhee. “At the moment we’re doing some tweaking on the lyrics, so it could change, but right now it’s ‘It’s Not Christmas Without You, ‘” she says, noting she’s excited to work on her songwriting chops. “I didn’t set out to write something that could be on Top 40 radio. I wanted something that felt maybe just as classic as ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’ I’m not much of an up-tempo songwriter. I have a hard time writing songs that are up-tempo, so this one is a ballad, really beautiful melodically.”
Read more at AOL PopEater
Idols ‘Can’t Stay Away’ from Steamtown
SCRANTON – He may have been the “dark horse” of “American Idol, “but that didn’t keep season eight winner Kris Allen from lighting up the Electric City.
Allen made a guest appearance at The Mall at Steamtown on Wednesday for a meet-and-greet session with approximately 100 fans who won tickets for the event from a contest sponsored by 97.1 BHT FM. Fans began lining up almost two hours before Allen’s appearance, which comes two days before a scheduled performance in Hershey on Aug. 6.
Adam Lambert Rocks Albuquerque
He may have been snubbed for a MTV Video Music Awards nomination, but that didn’t stop Adam Lambert from showing off his sublime singing skills at his concert in New Mexico last night (August 3).
The “For Your Entertainment” rockstar was on fire as he whipped the audience into a frenzy at the Sunshine Theatre in Albuquerque.
See the photos at Celebrity-Gossip.net
Pennsylvania ‘Idol’ hopeful arrested after paying a woman with learning disabilities for sex
CLIFTON, N.J. — Authorities say a Pennsylvania man paid a woman with learning difficulties for sex while he was in New Jersey auditioning for “American Idol.”
Joshua Heintzelman of Halifax, Pa., is charged with aggravated sexual assault.
Police say the 21-year-old was staying at a motel in Clifton when he offered the 19-year-old $13 in exchange for sex. The woman is from Washington, D.C., and was in the area Tuesday to support a family member who also was auditioning at the nearby Izod Center.
Read more at the NY Post
Former ‘Idol’ Hicks just happy to be a working musician
Remember Taylor Hicks, the season-five winner of “American Idol”? You know, the one with the gray hair?
Right, that guy. Because he never achieved the mega-stardom some of his fellow former “Idols” have, you might be tempted to lump him in with the Where Are They Now set, but that would be unfair and — more importantly — just plain wrong.
This is all you need to know: “I probably should find an apartment somewhere, because all of my stuff is still in my parents’ basement from ’05.”
Read more at the sj-r.com
Ke$ha Calls Adam Lambert a ‘Real Friend, ‘ Talks VMA Nods
Ke$ha also expressed remorse for the fact that her friend and fellow pop star, Adam Lambert, didn’t receive any nods. “It’s a little bit unfortunate that he didn’t get nominated, because he does have one of the best voices I’ve ever heard, ” she says. Lambert took the news in stride, tweeting Ke$ha a congratulations message after the nominations were announced. “In a business full of utmost douchebaggery, I’m really lucky to have found a real friend in him, ” Ke$ha adds.
Read more at Billboard.com
Jane Lynch: Sue Sylvester Gets Waxed!
Jane Lynch checks out a wax figure of her Glee character, Sue Sylvester, on Wednesday (August 4) at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood.
The 50-year-old actress is the latest celeb to be immortalized with a wax doppelganger! Jane looked thrilled with the job – do you think it looks like her?
See the photo at Just Jared
PHOTOS: Glee Cast Back To Work! See Behind-The-Scenes Pics
Good news Gleeks! The cast of the hit Fox show have headed back to class, and RadarOnline.com has brand new, behind-the-scenes, pics from the set.
See the photos at RadarOnline
‘America’s Got Talent’ recap: Taylor Mathews, Murray, Prince Poppycock advance to semi-finals
America voted for these three acts to advance to the next round of Season 5: Magician Murray SawChuck, teen pop singer Taylor Mathews and colorful opera singer Prince Poppycock.
The three AGT judges had to choose between the fourth-place and fifth-place finishers — electricity-induced rock band ArcAttack and young ballroom dancers Anna & Patryk — for the final spot.
The suspense built up after Piers Morgan chose Anna & Patryk and Howie Mandel picked ArcAttack, leaving the deciding vote up to Sharon Osbourne. Sharon wisely selected ArcAttack.
Read more at NJ.com
New music video promo from Katharine McPhee from the faith-based movie, “I Am”
The promo features Katharine’s “Say Goodbye”. More on I Am HERE.
Katharine McPhee, “Say Goodbye” – I AM – The Movie from Marcus Inc on Vimeo.
