Idol Headlines for 08/17/07

Today Idol headlines after the jump ¦

Female ‘Idols’ own the stage
Jordin Sparks, Melinda Doolittle, LaKisha Jones are top talents at State Fair show

Fans of televised talent search “American Idol” should check out this summer’s “American Idols Live” tour to discover ways it differs from the TV show.

Performing Thursday for an estimated audience of 7, 500 at the Indiana State Fair, the 10 finalists from “Idol’s” sixth season brought new wrinkles of inspired duets and guitar-playing skills (half the troupe strapped on six-string instruments).

IndyStar

IDOLS’ HOUR AT THE FAIR
Chris Richardson has become a breakout star during this year’s talent-show tour

Chris Richardson knows the buzz on this season’s American Idol tour: He’s the breakout, the guy who has charmed fans on the live tour — with his performances, his scruffy Justin Timberlake-esque good looks and his much-ballyhooed BFF status with the season’s runner-up, Blake Lewis.

“I blossomed more on this tour, more than I ever did on the show, ” Richardson says…….

Kentucky.com

Cowell: I’m quitting
SIMON COWELL EXCLUSIVE ..when I’m 50 but you’ll all be sick of me by then anyway

Taunting starry-eyed hopefuls about their limited talent and horror movie looks, Simon Cowell will be back on top form as TV’s Mr Nasty when the new series of X Factor starts tomorrow night.

But on the eve of his fourth series, the judge all the contestants dread reveals he’s giving himself the push – by quitting the show in three years’ time.

The sharp-tongued star admits that by the time he turns 50 in 2010, the public will be so bored of him that it will be time to disappear……..

……”I have three more seasons under contract with American Idol and that will be it. And it will probably come at the same time in the UK. I am contracted for another two or three seasons in Britain and I think by that point the public will be sick to death of me anyway and it will be time to go.”…….

Mirror.co.uk

`AMERICAN IDOL’ IN NORTH CHARLESTON
4, 000 line up for shot at audition
Starry-eyed hopefuls see Saturday’s trials at coliseum as launch pad

Thousands of people came from across the country, and one college student came from halfway around the world, for a chance at “American Idol” stardom Thursday.

The lines were estimated at 4, 000 people outside the North Charleston Coliseum — just to register for auditions, which will be held Saturday for the seventh season of the wildly popular show.

One woman from Tennessee cut short a vacation in Spain to fly to South Carolina. An unemployed recent graduate of Arizona State University flew in from Phoenix.

And 21-year-old Bart Lattimore drove three hours from Charlotte for a chance to sing.

“I’ve been in a couple of bands but I’m more of the singer-songwriter type, ” said Lattimore, who drives a delivery truck for an auto parts store.

His strategy to make it past the first round is to offer up an original song.

“I don’t want to be compared to other artists because I have a different sound, ” he said………

Charlotte.com

Singing from soul
‘American Idol’ winner Hicks performs at HOB

Fifth season “American Idol” champ Taylor Hicks is living his dream – and then some.

Fresh off his first headlining tour (an immense 54 gigs), Hicks’ summer tour kicked off June 1 in Alabama with dates confirmed through the fall. The soulful, salt-and-pepper-haired singer is touring in support of his self-titled major label debut, which entered the Billboard Top 200 albums chart at No. 2 upon its release in 2006……..

Myrtle Beach

S&P 500’s P/E Conflict, H&R Block’s Choice, CKX’s Fall: Timshel

…During yesterday’s commemorations of the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, the company that controls his estate reached its own milestone. It wasn’t one that its shareholders would want to celebrate.

CKX Inc., which holds an 85 percent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., gave back the last of the stock-market gains that followed its acceptance of a buyout offer on June 1. The New York-based company closed yesterday at $10.33, down from $10.63 on the day before the $1.3 billion bid was accepted.

Chief Executive Officer Robert F.X. Sillerman and Simon Fuller, who sold the company that created the “American Idol” television program to CKX three years ago, want to pay $13.75 a share. The stock’s decline indicates their effort won’t succeed.

CKX’s other assets include a joint venture with soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria, a singer reuniting with the Spice Girls. Beckham scored his first goal and first assist for Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy two days ago. His feat did no more to help the shares than all the Presley hoopla.

Bloomberg

Days of Clay: Meet Boynton Beach’s Biggest Clay Aiken Fan!

……Dogs of Clay: Bailey, the doggie pictured with Vizzi, is also a fan – “I put his music on and we dance!”

Palm Beach Post Blogs

Four Days of Clay, Pt 2: A Claymate travels south; and a surprise Claymate

Today’s Claymate of the Day: Carolyn Valenti!
Age: 49
Profession: owns florist company
Residence: Dalton, Mass.
Number of Clay performances seen: About 25, “but this is the first time I’ve gotten on a plane.”
What the heck she’s doing in Florida:

Palm Beach Post Blogs

Fantasia defies cynics — including herself — with a mesmerizing debut in ‘Purple’

After it was announced that Fantasia would take over the lead role in the Broadway musical “The Color Purple, ” she recalls her co-stars as being warm, friendly and supportive. Still, she knew in the back of their minds that they had doubt about her casting……

Charlotte.com