‘Idol’ champion Lee DeWyze returning to area
And what did you do for your summer vacation? Lee DeWyze comes home Saturday to headline the “American Idol Live” tour at the United Center. The low-key Mount Prospect native will appear just over a year after he tried out in a cattle call of more than 12, 000 hopefuls at the United Center.
“To be in that same spot where I auditioned last summer will be weird, ” DeWyze said from Los Angeles. “Last time I was there, I was just a face in the crowd. Now here I am, after winning the whole thing and playing in front of my hometown crowd. I’ve been looking forward to that since the minute the show was over.
Read more at the Chicago Sun-Times
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Interview: Lee DeWyze from American Idol
Lee DeWyze battled his way through season nine of American Idol, ultimately becoming the winner. He seemed tentative in the early weeks of the competition, though Simon Cowell was very supportive from the start. DeWyze showcased his raspy voice to good effect and as his confidence grew he emerged as the one to beat. Since July 1st, 2010, he has been headlining the American Idols LIVE! tour, bringing audiences to their feet throughout the country. I spoke with Mr. DeWyze prior to his performance at Seattle’s Key Arena.
Read more at Blogcritics.org
Interview: Casey James from American Idol
I recently had an opportunity to sit down with newly signed Sony Nashville artist, Casey James as he finished up his time on the road with the American Idol Live tour.
Backstage at the Sacramento, CA tour stop, we talked about what kind of sound to expect on his upcoming album, if he was shocked about Ellen leaving, and what advice he has for future contestants.
Read more at Blogcritics.org
Carrie Underwood, Craig Morgan Are Inspirational
The Inspirational Country Music Awards have announced their nominees, and several of country’s biggest names have made the list.
Carrie Underwood and Craig Morgan lead the pack with nominations in three major categories each: Inspirational Song of the Year, Video of the Year and Mainstream Country Artist. Carrie’s No.1 single, ‘Temporary Home, ‘ earned her a nomination for both Inspirational Song of the Year and Video of the Year, while Craig’s hit, ‘This Ain’t Nothing, ‘ is also nominated in both categories. Craig and Carrie are also each nominated in the Mainstream Country Artist category.
Read more at The Boot
Kris Allen Introduces David Archuleta & Something ‘Bout Love (8-22-10)
This performance is from David Archuleta’s Louisville KY radio show on Sunday, but includes an introduction by Kris Allen.
EXCLUSIVE: Mariah Carey Four Months Pregnant
Mariah Carey is four months pregnant, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.
The Hero singer and husband Nick Cannon are overjoyed but have decided not to talk about the pregnancy publicly.
Privately, however, it’s a different story, according to one source who tells RadarOnline.com that Nick is sharing the great news with close friends only.
Read more at Radaronline
‘Dancing’ Ready To Take ‘Hoff’ With New Cast
Season 11 of “Dancing with the Stars” is about to take “Hoff, ” a source tells Access Hollywood.
The source says that former “Baywatch” hunk David Hasselhoff is taking to the ballroom to compete on the upcoming season of the hit reality dancing competition show. David’s “Dancing” stint comes just one season after his pal – original “Baywatch” babe Pamela Anderson — made her own run at the mirrorball trophy.
The former “America’s Got Talent” judge, recently roasted on Comedy Central, will be competing against a host of diverse stars, including a former fellow judge of the Hoff’s from the NBC summer talent show.
Read more at Access Hollywood
SYTYCD’s Mia Michaels: “I Don’t Want to Be Trainwreck Television!”
Mia Michaels as one of the Real Housewives of New Jersey?! Heck no! But…
The So You Think You Can Dance judge is still on track for her own Bravo reality show. The upcoming series doesn’t have a name yet. “It’s about me and my work, ” Michaels said at the Creative Arts Emmys just moments before being awarded Best Choreography. “We need to start shooting in the fall, in November-ish.”
She will not—we repeat, will not—take any cues from the “Bitch, I’m gonna pin you down” Garden State gals. “I don’t want to be trainwreck television, ” Michaels said.
Read more at EOnline
Olly Murs defends Simon Cowell in X Factor auto-tune row
Murs, who came second in the talent show last year, insisted he never witnessed the voice-enhancing technology being used when he was a contestant. ‘I watched the show at the weekend and I never noticed a difference, ’ the 26-year-old told me.
‘Obviously, I watched my audition many times and I never noticed any changes and it sounded perfect to me. As a singer, you know if you’ve hit a bum note or did something bad and there were times on the live shows when I thought that note was terrible or I could have done better there.’
Read more at Metro.co.uk
Cowell ‘devastated to axe XF Shirlena’
Simon Cowell has admitted that he is “devastated” to have had to axe Shirlena Johnson from The X Factor.
Yesterday, it was claimed that the 30-year-old would be removed from the competition after a medical report revealed that she had been diagnosed with serious mental health problems.
“I’m devastated. It’s heartbreaking, ” Cowell told The Sun.
Read more at Digital Spy
Natalie Weiss and Todrick Hall sing “Since U Been Gone”
Natalie Weiss and Todrick Hall performed the questionable arrangement of “Since U Been Gone” he performed on Idol at Birdland NYC Monday night.
Fun Fact: Natalie was a Season 4 Hollywood contestant. She’s since gone on to a Broadway career.
