Kris Allen’s Secret Songwriting Weapon? Adam Lambert
Every “American Idol” champ’s debut disc is a make-or-break affair. For every David Cook, there’s a Taylor Hicks. The stakes are high, and the odds of success are slim, which is why, for his post-“Idol” debut, season-eight champ Kris Allen is hoping to increase his chances by getting a little help from his friend Adam Lambert.
“Adam will get a song, and he’ll be like, ‘Listen to this, ‘ and I’ll tell him what I think about it, whether I like it or not. And we were actually doing that last night. … He was listening to some things of mine, ” Allen told MTV News. “He had some good things to say, some critiques to say as well. We do that to each other. … We’re just trying to help each other out.”
Adam Lambert: The ultimate interview, Part Four
Lambert-part-four In the final segment of this four-part interview, the Season Eight runner-up discusses his “American Idol” experience. Part One of this interview can be read here. Part Two can be read here. Part Three can be read here.
Let’s talk about some of the songs you performed on ‘Idol.’ One of my favorites was your interpretation of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ ‘The Tracks of My Tears” during Motown week.
My first impulse was to do ‘War’ by Edwin Starr. I love that song.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Adam Lambert outshines Kris Allen as “American Idol” plays LI
Sure, Kris Allen may have won the TV show back in May over Adam Lambert, but that doesn’t mean he no longer has to prove himself.
And at Nassau Coliseum last night, the laid-back Allen showed he has a ways to go before he reaches his potential. (The “Idols” return to the Coliseum for another show tonight.)
Though his likable personality and warm voice came through, his song choices didn’t have a lot of flash – Matchbox Twenty’s “Bright Lights” isn’t exactly a barnburner in the best of circumstances and the dressed-up jazzier version of Kanye West’s “Heartless” lost some of its punch.
Lambert Fans Gift Him Skivvies!
Adam Lambert has gotten a taste of fame touring with his fellow ‘Idols’ — including numerous undergarments thrown by zealous fans!
Adam Lambert has gotten a taste of fame touring with his fellow “Idols” — including numerous undergarments thrown by zealous fans!
“I get a lot of bras, decorated very creatively, ” Adam tells “Extra” of receiving onstage gifts from fans. “I do believe there was a jockstrap the other day.”
Pharmacist – Heart’s ‘butterflies’ can be soothed
Dear Pharmacist: I attended an “American Idol” concert and I got so excited to see my favorite, Adam Lambert, that I developed cardiac arrhythmias. I went to the ER, the doctor called it “A-fib” and I was sent home with medications. What do you suggest so that this scary thing doesn’t happen again? – J.S. Ocala, Fla.
‘American Idol’ contestant to speak at Badger Association event
Scott MacIntyre, a contestant on last season’s ‘American Idol, ‘ will deliver the keynote speech at the Badger Association of the Blind & Visually Impaired Inc. volunteer recognition event Aug. 27 at Potawatomi Bingo Casino.
MacIntyre, who was among the top eight finalists on ‘American Idol, ‘ spoke candidly of his visual impairment during the show’s run. Blind since birth, MacIntyre learned to play the piano by ear at the age of three.
The Badger Association is a nonprofit organization that offers comprehensive vision services to individuals with vision difficulties.
Which ‘American Idol’ alum is champ? We’ve got a top 10 list.
According to voters, Chris Daughtry was only the fourth biggest talent to compete in the fifth season of “American Idol.”
But record sales tell a different story. Daughtry’s post-“A.I.” career has easily topped those of the three singers who beat him ‘†Elliott Yamin, runner-up Katharine McPhee and champion Taylor Hicks. Daughtry’s self-named band recently scored its second-straight No. 1 record, “Leave This Town, ” which it will support with a sold-out show Thursday at the Fillmore in San Francisco.
SELF speaks out about Kelly Clarkson photo retouching
Pictures are meant to tell a story, express a feeling, convey an emotion or capture a moment. Portraits like the one we take each month for the cover of SELF are not supposed to be unedited or a true-to-life snapshot (more on that in a moment). When the cover girl arrives at the shoot, she is usually unmade up and casually dressed, and could be mistaken for a member of the crew or the editorial team in many cases. Once we do her makeup and hair, and dress her in beautifully styled outfits and then light her, we then set the best portrait photographer we can on a road to finding a pose and capturing a moment that shows her at her best. This usually involves music for her to relax to, props, painted backdrops or locations that create a natural context. Then the shoot starts and after about 100 images are snapped, there are outfit changes and more lighting adjustments, more hair touch-ups and fans blowing, etc. The scene is truly amazing to watch and there are often two dozen people on set.
Then we edit the film and choose the best pictures. This is done in tandem with the star; the creative director, Cindy Searight; the photographer; and myself. Then we allow the postproduction process to happen, where we mark up the photograph to correct any awkward wrinkles in the blouse, flyaway hair and other things that might detract from the beauty of the shot. This is art, creativity and collaboration. It’s not, as in a news photograph, journalism. It is, however, meant to inspire women to want to be their best. That is the point.
Jennifer Hudson Welcomes Her Very Own American Idol
Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson just met her little dream boy.
Tragedy took a backseat as the Oscar winner and fianc David Otunga welcomed David Daniel Otunga Jr. late Monday, E! News confirms. The tot weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces.
“The baby is beautiful and perfect, ” Hudson rep Lisa Kasteler said in a statement. “His parents are ecstatic.”
How ‘Idol’ and Abdul Parted Ways
LOS ANGELES ‘†Paula Abdul’s departure from ‘American Idol’ was the product of months of calculation: financial and logistical on the part of the show’s producers and its network, Fox, and entrepreneurial and retaliatory on the part of Ms. Abdul, who in recent months has grown increasingly certain that greater opportunities lie elsewhere.
Ms. Abdul’s announcement last week that she would not return to ‘American Idol’ after eight seasons produced an array of reactions, most of which focused on her career prospects. Most assumed that she would be unlikely to find a job as lucrative and as prominent.
Turns out, American Idol’s Simon Cowell isn’t dumb enough to turn down $45-million a year
This is the difference between Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul.
Abdul, forced to alternate between snarky public criticism and disingenuous compliments as American Idol producers installed her replacement, announced her departure from the show on Twitter and is now trying to find a way shoehorn herself into lesser-rated, lower-regarded reality shows.
Cowell, who told the press six months ago he was planning to leave the show when his contract expired next year, is instead finalizing a three-year deal to stay on the show, according to the Hollywood Reporter. If other reports are to be believed, its an agreement worth $45-million a year.
Paula Abdul — Easy As ABC
Paula Abdul isn’t missing a beat. Our spies say she spent part of the afternoon yesterday with ABC entertainment honcho Steve McPherson.
We’re told Stevie M. wants Paula to be a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars” in the worst way. We’re told there was talk of making her a guest judge but that’s not gonna happen, and we know why. Paula and Carrie Ann Inaba don’t get along.
But McPherson, who’s friends with Paula, wants more from her than “Dancing.” There’s talk of Paula doing a guest appearance on “Ugly Betty.” And we’re told Paula has a show in mind with her name on it.
As for that other show … “American Idol” we think it’s called …. Paula is not shutting the door. $10 million, and she’s theirs.
Ruben Studdard — I’d Give Paula $10 Million!
Studdard, who won season two, thinks Paula is “probably” worth it — but as TMZ first reported, Abdul has been taking meetings with ABC head honcho Steve McPherson and could end up on “Ugly Betty” and a show with her name on it instead.
Why Idol Is Soooo Much Better Without Paula
OK, we admit: We’re not entirely convinced American Idol is soooo much better without Paula Abdul. The woman, after all, does make unscripted TV soooo deliciously unscripted.
But by all accounts, Abdul is moving on, Fox is moving on’â€and it’s time we move on. To do that, we convince ourselves that this unwanted divorce will propel TV’s No. 1 show to new heights. Here goes:
Who Can Replace Paula Abdul on ‘Idol’?
The brouhaha surrounding Paula Abdul’s decision to quit “American Idol” promises to gather speed until a replacement judge is officially announced. Guest judges will fill in, but Fox has made clear that they are seeking a full-time replacement for the cheerleader-turned-1980s pop sensation.
Executives remain tight-lipped as to who may take her place, allowing speculation to run rife.
Former ‘Idol’ Mentor Quentin Tarantino ‘Sad’ Over Paula Leaving Reality Show
LOS ANGELES, Calif. —
Quentin Tarantino said he is sad Paula Abdul has chosen not to return to ‘American Idol.’
At Monday’s ‘Inglourious Basterds’ premiere in Los Angeles, the director, who served as a guest judge during ‘Idol’s” Season 3 and a mentor last season, spoke out for the first time about Paula’s departure with Access Hollywood’s Maria Menounos.
‘I feel bad about Paula leaving, ‘ Quentin told Maria. ‘I really liked her on the show.’
Quentin said, however, that the move didn’t come as a shock.
Misplaced sympathy for Paula
Despite Paula Abdul and Sarah Palin’s similarities — both are attractive, in their mid-40s, polarizing, occasionally incomprehensible and, having quit high-profile jobs, presently unemployed — they might seem like odd dance partners. But their supporters have mastered near-identical routines.
The most interesting development since Abdul tweeted her way off “American Idol, ” in fact, has been the groundswell of compassion directed her way, in much the way that Alaska’s former governor has found no shortage of supporters who appear to feel personally every sling and arrow lobbed at her.
Rock on: Daughtry in the club
Daughtry — the bestselling group fronted by “American Idol” hard-rock hero Chris Daughtry — has indeed developed into a true band. That was obvious on the group’s recent chart-topping second album and at the quintet’s performance Sunday night at the jam-packed Cabooze bar in Minneapolis.
The only question: What kind of band?
Sunday’s 75-minute set suggested that Daughtry writes songs for the radio, not for the stage.
Daughtry an Idol ‘winner’
Rocker Chris Daughtry has managed to accomplish what no other American Idol contestant has.
The fourth place finalist on the show’s fifth season has succeeded in having two consecutive No. 1 albums in the U.S., including his recently released sophomore album, Leave This Town.
“It’s kind of a crap shoot — you never know what’s going to happen, ” said the 29-year-old Roanoke Rapids, N.C. native, in Toronto recently for a promotional stop with Charlottesville, Va.-based guitarist Brian Craddock at his side.
Taylor Hicks greasing the skids for a long career
For countless American Idol contenders, a good showing on the country’s favorite talent contest has been the start of a very brief career.
Season 5 champ Taylor Hicks is determined that his star will glow for years to come.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint, as far as I’m concerned, ” Hicks said in a phone interview from Fort Lauderdale. “I’m just at the beginning of the marathon.”
MTV SET TO WALK AWAY FROM ITS TIMES SQUARE STUDIO
We want our MTV back!
The cable channel plans to unplug its famed studio overlooking Times Square at the end of the year, according to landlord SL Green, which has put the space on the market.
MTV’s parent, Viacom, didn’t renew its studio lease when it extended its lease on more than 1 million square feet of offices at 1515 Broadway, between 44th and 45th streets, last year. And while it could still make an offer on the space that’s now possibly 10 times more costly than it was 12 years ago, it has not yet done so.
Jeanine Mason Talks About Dancing Off with the ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Title
Last week, Jeanine Mason, a 28-year-old contemporary dancer from Pinecrest, FL, became America’s favorite dancer, winning the “So You Think You Can Dance” title, $250, 000 and a cover feature in Dance Feature Magazine.
“I just didn’t think it could happen.” Mason declared in an interview after winning the title. “Brandon Bryant is such a powerful and beautiful dancer, and I admire him so much that I definitely thought he had it. So I was just ready to give him a hug, step back and let him have his moment. So hearing Cat Deeley say my name was so surreal, it was amazing.”
STELLAR ‘SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE’ FINALE GIVES FOX ANOTHER WEEKLY WIN!
On Wednesday night, the Top Four dancers competed for the last time on the two-hour performance finale of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. The spectacular show posted a 2.8/9 among Adults 18-49 and was the highest rated program of the night among Adults 18-34, outperforming originals of NBC’s America’s Got Talent and The Philanthropist and ABC’s Wipeout and I Survived A Japanese Game Show.
On Thursday night the two-hour SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE results finale aired live from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, featuring encore performances of the judges’ favorite routines and culminating in the crowning of Jeanine Mason as ‘America’s Favorite Dancer.’ The smash summer hit closed with an impressive 3.5/11 among Adults 18-49 and grew +6% over the previous year’s finale. In addition, the finale show gained significantly compared to its prior summer average, gaining +17% among Adults 18-49, +10% in Adults 18-34, +12% among Teens and +20% in Total Viewers over last season.
Will Jackson siblings, trainer, go ‘Dancing’?
The ninth season of “Dancing With the Stars” could end up resembling a reunion of Michael Jackson’s family and friends.
Lou Ferrigno, Jackson’s personal trainer and the onetime star of “The Incredible Hulk, ” said he’d “definitely be interested” and has been in talks to join the show.
LaToya Jackson, Michael’s sister, is also now in discussions to become a part of ‘Dancing.’
“She’s a big fan of the show, and being from a musical family, it would be a good fit, ” her rep told Us Weekly.
And finally, brother Jermaine Jackson, never one to let an opportunity pass him by, is throwing his hat in the ring.
