Adam Lambert shines brightest on ‘American Idol’ tour
Adam Lambert might have finished as runner-up on “American Idol” this past season, but the Idols Live tour, which took place Wednesday at a packed Allstate Arena, belonged almost solely to the 27-year-old California native.
Lambert entered the arena to the strains of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love, ” drawing some of the night’s loudest cheers as he slithered around his microphone stand like a particularly seductive cobra. Decked out in fingerless black gloves, a knee-length, faux-lizard jacket (complete with shoulder spikes) and tight leather pants, Lambert looked like a cross between David Bowie in “Labyrinth” and a grungy extra from John Carpenter’s “Escape From New York.” Despite his obvious celebrity, the singer appeared most comfortable portraying the outsider; songs touched on venturing alone into the cosmos (“Starlight, ” “Life On Mars”) and feeling out of place right here on Earth (an eerie “Mad World”).
Idol chatter
Milwaukee’s Danny Gokey – the church music director turned “American Idol” star – is basking in the TV show’s curtain call: an annual summer tour where the top 10 finishers enjoy large, enthusiastic crowds at the nation’s biggest arenas.
On Friday, Sept. 4, “American Idols Live!” makes its first stop in Madison, one of the smallest markets on the 50-city tour.
It’s also a place where Gokey, who worked at Faith Builders Church Milwaukee and Beloit, likely will receive a rousing home-state welcome.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
‘Idol’ Finalist Danny Gokey Signs Record Deal
It took him a bit longer than his fellow contestants, but “American Idol” finalist Danny Gokey has landed a record deal. The 29-year-old Wisconsin native — who finished third on the show behind Kris Allen and Adam Lambert — has inked a recording contract with 19 Recordings and RCA Nashville, his label announced today (Sept. 2). Gokey’s debut album is slated for release next year, and his first single is expected to premiere later this fall.
The deal signals a somewhat unexpected move towards country for the singer, who expressed a stronger affinity for sweeping, adult contemporary and R&B-leaning ballads during his “Idol” tenure.”
American Idol sales for the week ending 8/30/09
The highest-debuting American Idol-related album this week is a compilation: Now That’s What I Call Country Volume 2, which features Carrie Underwood’s I Told You So among its 20 hits. Also, as predicted, Carrie’s Carnival Ride moves over to the Nielsen SoundScan’s country catalog chart, where it enters at #2 with more than 3, 000 sales.
The top digital track remains Jordin Sparks’ Battlefield at 48, 000 downloads, which pushes it past the 850, 000 mark.
Blake Lewis: The Reality Rocks Interview, Pt. 1
People who are only casual viewers of American Idol dismissively think the show is a moldy-cheesy affair, an endlessly ear-splitting parade of chest-beating, Celine-wannabe blowhards over-singing maudlin AC radio staples like “Wing Beneath My Wings” and “You Raise Me Up.” But sometimes an original talent comes out of the show, someone who actually changes the public perception of what Idol is all about and even makes Idol seem COOL.
EXCLUSIVE: Spencer Pratt Lashes Out at Ryan Seacrest for Bashing Heidi
The Hills star tells Usmagazine.com that he’s outraged that on Seacrest’s KIIS0-FM radio show Wednesday morning, the American Idol host said that if he could tase a reality star, he’d choose Heidi Montag.
“I’m disgusted and horrified that Ryan Seacrest would find it amusing and entertaining to have his listeners call in about tasing anyone, ” he told Us exclusively. What’s next, Ryan — guns and knives? Waterboarding? It is irresponsible and offensive for someone with your platform to promote violence on this level. For someone who produces reality content, I’m shocked that you’d encourage people to tase reality stars. Would it be funny to you if one of your Kardashians got tased? Is that how you treat your talent, Ryan?”
Former Idol Contestant Getting Married To His Boyfriend
Jim Verraros, from the first season of American Idol, is getting married to his boyfriend of 4 years, Bill Brennan, this coming Saturday in Oak Brook, IL.
The two met after Bill messaged Jim on MySpace following his stint on American Idol.
“This wedding is a culmination of our lives so far, and our lives from this point onward. It is so imperative to the both of us that our friends and family see just how in love we are, and how happy we are to share it with everyone.”
Being Celie Ԡand Fantasia
How “American Idol” Fantasia Barrino became the lead in “The Color Purple” musical has the makings of Broadway legend.
Until a producer invited her to watch the show in early 2007, the High Point native says she had never even seen a Broadway play.
So, when producer Scott Sanders and director Gary Griffin took her to dinner afterward, Barrino had no idea that they would offer her the lead role of Celie.
THE LEADING MEN: Maroulis and Kirkwood
From “American Idol” finalist to Tony nominee in Broadway’s Rock of Ages, it has been a whirlwind few years for Brooklyn-born, New Jersey-raised Constantine Maroulis. He lives the proverbial rock-star life onstage most every night at the Brooks Atkinson where his powerful but perfectly pitched vocals deserve their own dressing room. Offstage, the lifelong Yankees fan told me how he recently marveled at sitting near Paul McCartney and Jack Nicholson at a ball game. “It was one of those crazy nights, ” he says. One gets the feeling the crazy times are just beginning for Constantine.
Donny Osmond Reveals His ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Partner Has a ‘Sexy Dance’ in the Works!
Only ET is inside Donny Osmond’s rehearsal as he prepares for his “Dancing with the Stars” debut with partner Kym Johnson.
“I started this whole thing in pretty good shape. The show in Vegas has kept me in good shape, ” says Donny, who does admit to being very sore, though, and finding out he has muscles in places he didn’t know about. “All the [Vegas show] dancers are laughing at me because they know what I am going through.”
So does that mean Donny will be doing a Gilles Marini and ripping off his shirt?
‘America’s Got Talent’ recap: Precious few moments of justice
Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page before we dive into our recap of last night’s results.
You dumped Acrodunk’ ¦but pushed The Voices of Glory. You sent Paradizo Dance, two enormously talented acrobatic dancers, home’ ¦so you could watch Grandma Lee tell the same moderately humorous joke she’s been telling for two months. Again. What?! Worst of all is the fact that you took all of those voting cues from this man:
‘America’s Got Talent’: This show is a joke
Tonight on “America’s Got Talent, ” I can’t believe which acts are in the finals. It’s terrible.
Well, I actually voted last night. The Fab Five and Arcadian Broad got all my votes. I think the Fab Five should be safe, but I’m nervous about Arcadian. However, I can’t worry about that because I’m too excited about the Muppets and David Hasselhoff performing.
After a needless video recap of last night, we get to some results. The first group is…
