Today Idol headlines after the jump ¦
‘AMERICAN’ DREAM
Free from judges and eliminations, ‘Idol’ singers team up and branch out on tour
…Jones and the other finalists from the hit Fox reality show rolled into the arena last night to hordes of screaming tween fans (and their moms). Even yesterday afternoon, fans – some in homemade “BLAKE IS HOT” T-shirts – stood vigil outside, hoping to snag an autograph from Idols like runner-up Blake Lewis.
The show, stocked with group numbers, can come off like a glammed-up cross between Kids Incorporated and karaoke. And the set list feels like a pop jamboree, with songs ranging from the classic “Heard It Through the Grapevine” to “Let’s Get It Started” by the Black Eyed Peas. But that suits the singers just fine…
On Tour with American Idol: The Sanjaya Malakar Q&A
His faux-hawk got most of the credit for keeping him on American Idol. But critics won’t sway Sanjaya Malakar when it comes to pursuing his music career. We caught up with the teen heartthrob 24 hours after he finished celebrating his 18th birthday. Here is what the controversial singer had to say about becoming a legal adult, recording his first album and getting a “good, old-fashioned country butt-whooping” from Phil Stacey on the American Idols Live! Tour…….
….TV Guide: Have you been approached with any offers yet?
Sanjaya: Yeah, I’ve gotten a couple of things, but it’s basically all just ideas and stuff. I’ve been talking to people, but once the tour is over, I’ll really be able to focus on it.
TV Guide: Any projects you’re excited about?
Sanjaya: I’m really excited about my album. I’m going to start working on it as soon as I move out to L.A. I’m going to start meeting with writers…..
American Idol tour hits Hampton Roads
….Richardson and the other top ten finalists came to Hampton Roads for their 55th show on the idol tour. But before taking the stage at the Hampton Coliseum, they took in a little family time with Richardson in Chesapeake.
“They had a BBQ at Chris’s house with all his cousins. We had a good time, ” says another idol, Blake Lewis…..
Photos from ‘American Idols Live!’ in Hampton
‹Godspell expresses love and hope
…The key role is portrayed with genuine love by Jon Peter Lewis, known as JPL on Season 3 of American Idol. Lewis was in the …final 10 alongside Fantasia Barrino and Jennifer Hudson and is now working on his second album….
FIRST LOOK: ‘Sex and the City: The Movie’
…All the women — Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon — have signed on and the men are back too, even the hunky Jason Lewis. One unexpected addition to the brood is Carrie’s new assistant, played by “American Idol” alum and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson….
Jennifer Hudson Assists Parker in City
Her instant gay audience cred solidified with one performance – the drama-queen-to-end-all-drama-queens Effie White in Dreamgirls- Jennifer Hudson has decided to preach it to the choir once again by getting herself cast in 2008’s Sex and the City: The Movie….
Prince of playboys in a £4m fight
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Jasmine’s American dream
With acerbic music mogul Simon Cowell decamping to Los Angeles, I can reveal his elfin muse Jasmine Lennard is about to join him in the Californian sun.
“I’m off, I’m off. I’m moving to LA, ” trills the 21-year-old daughter of former Bond girl Marilyn Galsworthy.
“I’m fed up with the gloom here. And it’s absolutely no one’s business who I am getting into bed with, ” adds Jasmine, who was famously spotted last year leaving Cowell’s London mansion wearing lingerie and a fur coat.
Cowell, 47, lives with his long-term girlfriend Terri Seymour, 33, and spends much of the year in LA filming his reality show American Idol. No doubt his television contacts would help wannabe TV presenter Jasmine, who made her small-screen debut on Five’s Make Me A Supermodel.
“Simon is supportive of everything I do, ” says Jasmine, who can’t wait to taste the Californian lifestyle. “The sun shines all the time in LA and I love driving my new little Porsche there.”
She’s also on the lookout for love. “I am looking for a husband ‘ not for me, but for my mother. I am lining up suitable American bachelors for her.”
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Kelly Clarkson finds her idol in Reba McEntire
…Soon after, Clarkson’s career went into a tailspin. She canceled her arena tour, criticized label chief Clive Davis and drew mixed reviews and disappointing sales for her album My December. In July, she hired Blackstock, who shares her hometown of Burleson, Texas, as her manager.
“When you’re hanging out together, you talk about the business, ” McEntire says. “She would ask me my opinion, and I’d always say, ‘The best advice I can give you is go ask Narvel.’ So she did.”
With Blackstock helming her career, Clarkson could stretch in new directions, Flippo says.
“Reba hasn’t been limited to the country-music stage for years, ” he says. “She’s gone way beyond that with Broadway and TV. It’s a natural thing for Kelly.”
The association with Clarkson has boosted McEntire, too. She recently received a female vocalist of the year nomination from the Country Music Association, something she hasn’t had in three years…
Online magazine comes in with a blast
….You can find more on the mag and a full schedule for the launch party posted here: www.detour-mag.com. Detroit to Nashville: Local country group Redhill is taking its Motown twang to Music City with two Nashville appearances set for Sunday and Monday.
But before the group heads down to the country capital, local fans can catch it at 3:30 p.m. Saturday as it opens for Juice Newton on a bill that also includes “American Idol” finalist Kellie Pickler and several top local bands, including the Forbes Brothers, the Wrenfields and the Twistin’ Tarantulas….
Two is enough for Chris Daughtry and wife
Don’t expect a baby announcement from Chris Daughtry, 27, any time soon. The singer’s wife Deanna says they have no plans to add to their family, which already includes daughter Hannah, 11, and son Griffin, 8.
We have two, that’s good enough. They’re old enough to boss us around!
Source: Us Weekly, October 1 issue, pg 67
De Pere woman enjoys her ‘Idol’ experience
“American Idol” doesn’t dawdle, De Pere native Maggie McGinn discovered recently when she had a good run through auditions in Charleston, S.C.
In the end, she performed in front of showcase judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.
McGinn, 23, was first up in that audition, and first out on a 2-1 vote. It was quick.
“That’s how they are the whole way through because they’re dealing with so many people, ” she said.
The Charleston audition started with 8, 000 hopefuls. McGinn kept advancing ‘ past the massive first cuts, past the panel of four producers, past “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and to the triumvirate…….
Nightranger: Rotten Display
Never mind the badass
…And speaking of reality shows, though Rotten was a featured judge on the Bodog program along with Billy Duffy and Bif Naked, he had some choice words about another televised competition. …American Idol is a bitchfest, he said, sipping cognac, as his longtime pal/assistant John Rambo got us a beer. …Ah, that Simon Callus . they wanted to use ‹Pretty Vacant for that singer Bo Tyson [Bice], but of course we said no way….
Nuts About Taylor Hicks
Working at Southwest, you never know what opportunities each day will bring. Those opportunities can be particularly exciting when you are an Attorney for Southwest! For me, the people-related opportunities are the best. As youre about to hear, such people stories are nothing short of pure entertainment’American Idol style!……
