‘American Idol’s’ Gokey says he’ll marry again, Abdul helped him go country
Gokey4 ‘American Idol’ finalist Danny Gokey, whose wife died a month before the audition that led him to third place on the show’s eighth season, says he’s open to dating again and hopes to remarry some day, but is still mourning and isn’t seeing anyone.
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CONCERT CAPSULE: American Idol at Wachovia Arena
THE SHORT WORD: It was one highlight after another as the road version of America’s favorite TV show played the Wachovia Arena on Wednesday. Judging by the crowd’s reaction, the most popular seems to be runner-up Adam Lambert (they screamed every time his picture came up in the promos before the show), followed closely by champion Kris Allen and third-place finisher Danny Gokey. After each Idol took turns in the spotlight, all 10 closed the show with a crowd-pleasing version of Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’
Idol Chatter: Ex-Contestants React to Ellen DeGeneres’ ‘American Idol’ Move
THE “AMERICAN IDOL” universe at large appears to be mostly pleased with the news that Ellen DeGeneres will be filling the judges seat vacated by Paula Abdul earlier this summer.
A swing through the Twitter feeds of former Idolites big and small revealed several truths: a) Many of them like Ellen DeGeneres; b) Many of them also like to overuse punctuation; c) Semi-famous people throw spelling to the wind while on Twitter, too.
Here’s what some of them are saying, unedited, unfiltered and in some cases possibly unconscious:
So You Think Ellen Can Judge: DeGeneres To Take Paula’s ‘American Idol’ Chair
56440034Raise your hand if you saw this coming: The person replacing Paula Abdul on the American Idol judges’ panel will be none other than talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who according to Hollywood sleuth Nikki Finke has signed a five-year deal with the show that kicks in once the live episodes start next winter. Not a current pop star like the Katy Perrys and Joe Jonases who have been filling in for the preliminary rounds, not a behind-the-scenes type like Kara DioGuardi. Huh!
Kara DioGuardi on Ellen: ‘I Think She’s a Brilliant Choice’
“American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi speaks to ET about the addition of Ellen DeGeneres to the “Idol” judging panel. Read on to see what she has to say.
We caught up with DioGuardi at a Fashion’s Night Out event in New York on Thursday night. She was excited that her rookie days are over, saying, “Whew! I’m actually happy not to be the new judge anymore.”
She told ET of her initial reaction to hearing the news that Ellen would be joining the team. “I was on the plane when I found out and I literally wanted to scream, ” said the now-veteran judge.
Kara DioGuardi: I’m a Huge Ellen Fan!
No longer the new kid on the block, Kara DioGuardi was more than happy to offer her expert opinion on American Idol’s latest hire.
“I’m a huge Ellen DeGeneres fan, ” the “thrilled” songwriter raved during an interview airing Friday on Sirius XM’s The Morning Jolt with Larry Flick. “I think she’s going to bring so much to the show.”
“She’s somebody who loves music, she’s positive, she loves kids…She is somebody who has watched the show from the beginning, knows everything there is to know about American Idol and I think ultimately it’s going to be a great new energy.”
Why Ellen Was Picked for American Idol
For all the attention Washington’s bluster gets, history will see this little health care squabble as a mere sideshow distraction from the news we received yesterday; news that will fundamentally alter the way we pick our next American Idol.
‘Ellen’ Sued For THOUSANDS Of Copyright Infringements
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ‘†Some of the world’s largest recording companies are suing “The Ellen DeGeneres Show, ” claiming producers violated their copyrights by playing more than 1, 000 songs without permission.
Many of the songs were played during the “dance over” segment of the show, when DeGeneres dances from the stage to the interview area, often through the audience.
Kellie Pickler Unveils New Video
Country cutie Kellie Pickler unveils the new video for her latest single, “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You” on CMT.
“The first time I heard the song, I thought it would be cool to shoot this video on a beach or just some sort of exotic location, ” Pickler told CMT RADIO LIVE host Cody Alan earlier this week when asked about the video. “So we went to the Dominican Republic and got to shoot part of the video on the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. I think this is going to be the most beautiful video we have done so far as the scenery and location go.”
Life after `American Idol’A busy David Cook fits in time for plastic chickens and ficus plants
ALLEGAN — There’s a video rock singer and “American Idol” alumnus David Cook had uploaded to his Web site in August featuring Cook, a ficus plant and a small rubber chicken.
One of series of videos from the road titled “Pork Beans, ” the video — “A Ficus Flows Between Us” — shows Cook and the chicken in their own respective armchairs with the ficus plant between them on an end table.
In talk-show format, a deadpan Cook asks the chicken — all but obscured by the plant — a number of questions, ranging from the “Idol”-heavy mundane (“What are your thoughts on Paula Abdul leaving `American Idol’? Is Simon really that mean in person? Who do you like better from Season Eight, Adam or Kris?”) to the outrageous (“Out of a five-star scale, how many stars would you give Kevin Costner’s performance in `Waterworld’?”).
Kelly Clarkson to stage free show at Hollywood & Highland
Playing a concert in a mall may not be the world’s most enviable gig for a pop star, but in the case of Kelly Clarkson, at least it’s being televised.
The singer is to appear for a free mini-set at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue on Monday. A portion of the concert, part of the nationwide Summer Krush series sponsored by a major electronics company and a wireless carrier, will be broadcast on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
The concert begins at 8 p.m., and fans will be let into the mall courtyard at about 6 p.m. To RSVP for the free event, fans can visit this website.
Jordin Sparks To Appear At Phoenix Fundraiser
The big Ellen DeGeneres announcement has American Idol fans abuzz well in advance of the show’s premiere. If you’re starting to get excited you may want to check out an upcoming benefit to help children who are victims of sexual abuse which American Idol Jordin Sparks hosts. Sounds like a real party too: “This Red Carpet evening begins with a special cocktail reception with Jordin Sparks and other celebrities, followed by a silent auction, paddle raisers and raffle.”
Simon Cowell: Susan Boyle row has made me care more for contestants
SIMON Cowell has admitted Susan Boyle made him realise he has to take care of his contestants.
In an interview on US TV, the pop mogul talked to Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden about singing sensation Boyle, 48.
He described her breakdown after the end of the competition as “scary”.
Simon, 49, said: “I think at the point where she (Susan) didn’t win, she was afraid everything would be taken away from her and she was going to go back to that little house. She didn’t want to go back to that life.”
He said it made him realise he has a duty to look after people who audition on his shows.
Cheryl Burke ready to dance with Tom DeLay
As a two-time ‘Dancing With the Stars’ champion, 25-year-old Cheryl Burke has gone from pretty professional to break-out star in her own right.
Burke is one of the hottest stars of the ABC reality series, one who is often sought after by the competitors that join the franchise, including her partner this season, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
The two have been gearing up for the show’s ninth season, which begins on Sept. 21, rehearsing their cha-cha to ‘Wild Thing’ (that will be their first dance), in Sugar Land, Texas.
‘Glee’ bows strong in ratings race
Fox has reason to be happy about “Glee, ” the high school-set musical skein that bowed to nice numbers on Wednesday.
The net’s biggest marketing priority of fall, “Glee” easily stood as Wednesday’s top demo draw and became Fox’s top fall scripted series preem in three years. It was especially strong in its targeted demo of women 18-34, a loyal faction that should help the show hang tough in the face of increased competish in the weeks ahead.
The other shows to bow on the night, meanwhile, reality vets “So You Think You Can Dance” on Fox and “America’s Next Top Model” on CW saw a somewhat sluggish start — despite the fact that they were opposed on ABC, CBS and NBC by President Obama’s health-care speech.
Looking at the Nielsens, “Glee” averaged a 3.5 rating/9 share in adults 18-49 and 7.50 million viewers overall with its official series premiere. It easily won its hour in demos despite facing three reality shows (“America’s Got Talent, ” “Wipeout” and “Top Model”) that also score well with young auds.
ETA:
Setbacks help Fantasia walk in Celie’s shoes
Fantasia Barrino, who stars as Celie in the North American touring production of ‘The Color Purple’ that opens at the Fox Theatre on Tuesday, had never seen a Broadway show before she attended the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel in New York in 2007.
‘Blown away’ by the play, the North Carolina native was then invited to dinner with lead producer Scott Sanders and others key to the staging. When the crafty Sanders held up a mock-up of the ‘Color Purple’ marquee, with her name in big letters as the star, she didn’t get his power of suggestion.
Paula Abdul and ‘American Idol’ Insiders React to Ellen News
Ex-American Idol judge Paula Abdul wished the show’s newest addition, fourth judge Ellen DeGeneres, success, saying in a statement, ‘American Idol is a fantastic show that offers an invaluable platform to young talent. Ellen DeGeneres is wildly funny and talented in her own right. I wish her and the show only the best of luck.’ Abdul reiterated her support of Ellen on her Twitter, writing, ‘I think Ellen will b a gr8 judge on Idol. She is wildly funny, talented and I wish her the best of luck!’
EXCLUSIVE: Simon Cowell On Beatles Slam: “It Was A Joke”
Simon Cowell wants to set the record straight, and he’s coming to RadarOnline.com exclusively to do it.
Cowell — who recently created an international firestorm by saying that if the Beatles
had taken part in his British talent show The X Factor, he wouldn’t have pushed them through, not with drummer Ringo Starr in the picture — now says he was only kidding!
