Today Idol headlines after the jump ¦
Jennifer Hudson moves to ‘Sex and the City’ movie
Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson has joined the cast of “Sex and the City: The Movie” for New Line Cinema, which begins filming next week in New York.
Hudson will play “Louise, ” the assistant to Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Carrie Bradshaw” in the film based on the hit HBO comedy series.
In July, the show’s four leads, including Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, came aboard for the film after New Line Cinema agreed to finance and distribute it. Chris Noth also joined the cast to reprise his role as “Mr. Big.”
‘Idol’ contestant stars in Redlands musical
Redlands Civic Light Opera will present “Godspell, ” starring Jon Peter Lewis of “American Idol” fame, beginning Thursday through Sept. 23, at Clock Auditorium on the Redlands High School campus.
Lewis, who will portray Jesus in the production, sang his way into the final 10 in the third season of “Idol, ” along with contest winner Fantasia Barrino and future Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson.
Since then, he has released several hit singles, including “Turn to Grey” and “Man Like Me.” He has toured extensively since 2004, including the 50-city “American Idols Live” tour.
Kimberley Locke, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard tour together
“American Idol” graduates Kimberley Locke, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard are in talks to embark on a collective concert tour next year. According to Locke, Aiken and Studdard are game. “Now it’s up to our agents and managers to book it, ” she tells Billboard. Locke says the trek will not be about “us as opening acts for each other. We’ll be using the same band and will be on the stage singing duets and trios throughout the concert.” The tour, with the working title Reunited: 5 Years Later, is expected to hit the road next spring.
9/11: Chris Sligh interview
He the first person to say he actually read this blog. With his own blogging and his MySpace page, I can tell he definitely spends a lot of time tooling around the Web. So that very cool.
He picked up a management company (Blanton, Harrell, Cooke & Corzine) now that 19 Entertainment has let him (and most of the others) go. It the same company that reps Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. He hasnt fully decided what route to take on a record label, be it a mainstream major label, a Christian label or an indie imprint (like Constantine and Elliott have done.)
American Idol’s Anwar Robinson Set for Rent Tour
Anwar Robinson, who was a semi-finalist on the fourth season of FOX-TV’s American Idol will make his stage debut as Tom Collins in the non-Equity national tour of Jonathan Larson’s Rent, which kicks off on October 15 at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center in York, Pennsylvania.
The tour will make additional stops in the following six months in St. Louis, Milwaukee, Houston, Miami, Raleigh, Shreveport, Providence, New Haven, Wilmington, Chicago, and Sarasota, among other U.S. cities.
Report Reveals Real Prime-Time Ad Costs, Fox Has Priciest Shows
A new report shows the two weekly versions of “American Idol” topped the list, with spots going for more than $615, 000 on average during the 2006-07 season that wrapped in May. The juggernaut was followed by the surging “House” and “24, ” which saw prices rise 49% even with declining ratings.
Utah miners’ event
“Now is a time for healing, ” said Gov. Huntsman. “It is my hope the entire State of Utah will rally around the family and friends of the lost miners, in addition to the community of Huntington, and help them find peace during this difficult time.”
On Saturday, the governor will be in Huntington to be part of a Celebration of Heroes event. American Idol contestant Carmen Rasmusen and Jericho Road also will participate.
Katharine McPhee and ULTA Honor the Inspirational Achievements of Step Up Women’s Network
Leading beauty retailer ULTA and American Idol’s Katharine McPhee honored the inspirational achievements of Step Up Women’s Network at a Hollywood luncheon today and celebrated the launch of YouAreMyInspiration.org, an innovative fundraising website in support of underserved teen girls.
Katharine McPhee spoke at the luncheon about her own inspirational role model. “My mother encouraged me to follow my dream during the American Idol experience and beyond, ” said Ms. McPhee. “Her love and confidence inspired me to achieve my goals in music and eventually as an actress. Today, I am delighted to support Step Up Women’s Network by encouraging women to honor the women in their lives who inspired them to achieve their dreams.”
AT&T Rips Seams From Corporate Blue-Suit Image In Ads
The new AT&T campaign also offers an online destination that appeals to today’s youth. It targets ages 14 to 24, offering a place to create what the carrier calls a “digital personality.” By going online and answering several questions, consumers create a digital fingerprint, or persona, with colors and shapes they can share and exchange in an online viral community.
NFL football icons Tennessee Titans’ Vince Young, and San Diego Charger’s LaDainian Tomlinson, as well as actress Christine Cavalier and “American Idol” contestant Elliott Yamin, among other celebrities, have been recruited to appear in the campaign later this month and the first to have digital DNA strands, Ruhanen says.
Kimberley Locke’s ‘Christmas’ Gift
Curb Records will release a new collection of holiday recordings from KIMBERLEY LOCKE on November 6, 2007. Simply titled “Christmas, ” the set will include her two Billboard #1AC hits “Up On The Housetop” (2005) and “Jingle Bells” (2006). Other highlights include classic arrangements of holiday must-hear songs including “Frosty the Snowman, ” “Away In A Manger, “Holly Jolly Christmas, ” as well Locke’s take on some more modern classics like Wham’s “Last Christmas, ” and The Carpenter’s “Merry Christmas Darling.” Kimberley joinedsax man Dave Koz (Capitol/EMI) for a bluesy version of “Please Come Home For Christmas.” The album will be sold as an exclusive digital download via all digital outlets including iTunes.
Keeping busy this winter, Locke will join Koz for “Dave Koz & Friends: A Smooth Jazz Christmas” concert tour. Beginning November 26 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, MD, the tour will visit over 20 cities throughout December. As she looks to next year, Locke recently mentioned to Billboard that she, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken are in talks to “hopefully” hit the concert circuit in ’08 for a tour titled “Reunited: 5 Years Later.” Studdard, Aiken and Locke were 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively on season 2 of “American Idol.”
