Today Idol headlines after the jump ¦
Host Ryan Seacrest Takes on TV’s Top Idol: The Emmys
America’s favorite frosted-tipped TV emcee and radio DJ is about to take center stage as the host of this year’s Emmy Awards ceremony, and when Hollywood.com caught up with Ryan Seacrest just a week before the awards it sounded like he was going in with nerves of steel–maybe because his frenemy Simon Cowell’s evaluation of his performance won’t be on the air ¦or will it?
HW: You were part of the team that won the Daytime Emmy in 2006 for the broadcast of The Walt Disney World Christmas Parade. You hosted the show – did you actually get your own Emmy trophy?
RS: I did actually get an Emmy and it’s slightly embarrassing to be the only cast member of American Idol to have an Emmy, even though it is Daytime. It looks and feels exactly the same.
Faith Hill Almost Quit After CMA Awards Incident
Faith Hill says the much-talked-about CMA Awards show incident, when she appeared to be upset with Carrie Underwood’s Female Vocalist win, almost caused her to give up her career.
As Faith has explained, she was joking and “making fun of herself” when she cried, “What?” as Carrie’s name was read, but the moment had tremendous backlash. The video of her reaction became one of YouTube’s biggest sensations of 2006, being viewed more than 7 million times.
The Big E
We love fairs. Where else can you pet farm animals, watch Canadian mounties, and taste the latest in foods that sound like a dare (fried pickles?)? The cognitive dissonance caused by the fact that Ludacris, the southern rapper loathed by both Bill OReilly and Oprah Winfrey, was scheduled to play the Big E is overwhelming us. And now were totally bummed that he wont be appearing.
Thrown in with an, uh, eclectic, spate of performers that includes American Idol contestants Taylor Hicks (a combination of blues, soul, and R&B, according to his website) and Chris Daughtry (the …rocker that lost out to Hicks two seasons ago), Joan Jett and reality TV star Brooke Hogan, Ludacris was the sole rapper on the bill. Clearly, the fair-going public was also confused as to what place rap has at a fair in West Springfield, Massachusetts and decided to buy tickets to Trace Adkins instead.
Simon reacts to Britney
…Extra spoke to Simon Cowell today and he opened up about Britney Spears recent MTV VMA performance: …She stole the show whether you liked it or not ¦the only thing you heard about the following day was Britney Spears. It wasnt the best performance. She wasnt ready for it.
On her wardrobe, Cowell states, …She missed the snake ¦it wasnt a great outfit ¦I would have given her bigger shorts.
Brian Melo crowned Canadian Idol
Hamilton rocker Brian Melo has been crowned the new Canadian Idol.
The easy-going singer, known for wearing hats in each performance, beat out country crooner Jaydee Bixby in a star-packed results show Tuesday that also featured punky pop star Avril Lavigne and rock veterans Bon Jovi.
“This is incredible, I didn’t think a year ago I’d be standing here, ” Melo said to a cheering crowd as his mother beamed back from the audience, tears in her eyes.
After the win, Melo told reporters backstage that he’s intent on making sure he doesn’t become a one-hit wonder.
“I don’t want to come out and just put out one album, I want longevity, ” Melo said.
On a night when Canada tipped its hat to Hamilton’s Brian Melo, he reneged on an earlier promise to show off his head if he won. “Yeah, that’s a lie, ” the 25-year-old former construction worker said last night with a big grin as he addressed reporters as the new Canadian Idol. “If I do that, then there’s no more surprise.”
Dark horse Brian Melo takes Canadian Idol crown
Alt-rocker Brian Melo will be getting all he ever wanted and more as the newly crowned Canadian Idol, defeating rockabilly golden boy Jaydee Bixby and emerging from his early image as the competition’s dark horse.
After learning he’d earned the title in the final moments of a two-hour, star-studded finale, the modest Hamiltonian gave the crowd a taste of what they can expect of his victory lap as a signed singer.
His version of “All I Ever Wanted” closed out the show, and will hit the airwaves and multiple online music retailers at 12 a.m. on Sept. 13. It will be the gateway to at least a year in the spotlight, but if the judges’ insights prove true, could turn into a lasting music career.
Fantasia Barrino Helps Reward Students for Their Dedication to Literacy and Education
The increasingly competitive job market in the United States has made education and literacy more important than ever. That is why beauty brand Suave(R) and Dollar General(R) stores teamed up with American Idol winner, recording artist and Broadway star Fantasia Barrino for the Fourth Annual “Suave Essay Contest” to recognize students who are committed to education. Four students stood out among thousands of entrants who submitted essays describing their devotion to education and how their invaluable mentors have helped them achieve success. The winners are Amanda Codd, Towson, Md.; Nayala Smith, New York, N.Y.; Katelyn Baroody, Bath, N.Y. and Jeremy Barrera-Gonzalez, Raymondville, Texas. The four contest winners each receive scholarship money and a once-in-a- lifetime trip to New York to meet Fantasia and see her perform in the musical “The Color Purple.”
Chart-Topping Songwriter Kara DioGuardi to be Honored at World’s Largest Celebration of Italian-American Heritage
On October 6, Ms. DioGuardi will return to the Waldorf-Astoria Grand
Ballroom. But this time, she will be part of the audience as Honoree of the
Columbus Citizens Foundation’s Annual Gala Dinner. The artist singing
onstage will be American Idol star Katharine McPhee, who will be performing standards as well as a song Ms. DioGuardi wrote.
Ms. DioGuardi is BMI’s Pop Songwriter of the Year. Her songs are on
over 100 million records, including performances by Celine Dion, Faith
Hill, and Christina Aguilera.
Her creative gifts have led to collaborations with performers who work
in an exceptionally wide range of styles, from Latin crooner Enrique
Iglesias and Pop goddesses Kelly Clarkson and Gwen Stefani to soulful
rockers Carlos Santana and Avril Lavigne and peaches and cream Disney starsHilary Duff and Hannah Montana.
