Today Idol headlines after the jump ¦
First Major Album Release in 5 Years Gets Boyz II Men on X Factor in UK and Star Academy in France
The new Boyz II Men CD, Motown: Hitsville USA, is due to launch on 13 November through Universal Music. It features classic Motown songs that sparkle with their signature sound of soulful R&B harmonies. A new website at www.boyziimenhitsville.com features samples of album songs, photos and bios of the threesome – Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris and Nathan Morris. Motown: Hitsville USA can also be purchased from the site.
This Saturday (3 November) Boyz II Men will join Simon Cowell, Danii Minogue, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh on the X Factor……….
It’s Time To Jam
NewSong, MercyMe, sibling rock trio BarlowGirl, Skillet, and former “American Idol” contestant Mandisa are all signed on for the 2008 outing of the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, Christian music’s largest annual music tour……
Clarkson more idle than ‘Idol’
The concise 75-minute set pleased fans, but Kelly Clarkson was more detached and distant as the night went on.
First “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson could have coasted on her stature, turning out broadly popular mainstream pop for decades.
Instead, her latest album, “My December, ” is born of a genuinely dark phase. America’s sweetheart defied big-name producers — and her record label president — to write her own songs for a CD that was less about instant success and more true to her angry, desperate feelings at the time. It didn’t work because the undistinctive rockers downplayed her sterling voice and overshadowed the more winning acoustic soul tunes………..
Yesterday, the Spice Girls; tomorrow, the planet
Svengali Simon Fuller has won plaudits for trying to steer Formula 1 in a new direction, writes James Robinson
Pop promoter, friend and mentor to the Beckhams, creator of American Idol, and, in tabloid parlance, a ‘management Svengali’, 47-year-old Simon Fuller has had a hand in some the most successful cultural phenomena of modern times. He is the man behind the Spice Girls and much more besides.
Fuller started out in the music industry, and sold 19 Entertainment, which he founded as a management company in the 1980s, to US group CKX for £100m two years ago, cementing his position as one of the most powerful figures in the world of entertainment and winning industry accolades aplenty.
But last week he was recognised for a very different achievement, picking up a gong at the Green Awards for the best campaign to promote environmental issues……..
Climbing and stumbling to the top
…STEP: Down. …American Idol finalist Bo Bice released an album exclusively at Wal-Mart, if that tells you anything about exclusive deals. (But then, you can only buy The Eagles new album at Wal-Mart, too.)…..
What to watch for at the CMA
The Country Music Association awards show will air live at 8 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 7 on WOLO-25, cable channel 5.
….THE HORIZON AWARD ‘ for country newcomer of the year ‘ always is a wide contest. The nominees are Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Little Big Town, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift (who will perform with Brad Paisley Nov. 10 at the North Charleston Coliseum). No, …American Idol fans, you cant vote for Pickler….
….CARRIE UNDERWOOD is up for an award, and so is Kellie Pickler. Bucky Covington is a presenter. Is there any doubt what genre of work the next batch of …Idol singers should consider?….
Pineapple Festival just as sweet after 20 years
….Headliners like “American Idol” contestant Kellie Pickler, Drew Seeley from “High School Musical, ” and Chubby Checker helped draw people to the event….
Alan Peppard: The Cheneys return to Highland Park Village
….Stampeding Plaza
Gen-u-wine rodeo cowboys Larry Mahan and Don Gay are expected at Thursday night’s Stars & Legends Gala in Victory Plaza preceding a weekend of rodeoing at American Airlines Center. The party underneath the plaza’s giant video screens is part of the week of Stampede festivities when the Wrangler ProRodeo Championship comes to town.
Proceeds from Stampede events will go to Children’s Medical Center.
On Wednesday morning, 100 longhorns will stroll down Main Street as part of the Texas Stampede Cattle Drive.
Thursday morning, participating rodeo riders and Miss Texas Stampede Avery Gonzales will visit with patients at Children’s.
American Idol alum Kellie Pickler will perform at the AAC after Sunday’s rodeo.
Carrie cements her grip on country music
Underwood will perform at CMAs where she’s up for three awards
ach year, the Country Music Association awards offer an instant update on Nashville.
The music changes a little; careers change a lot. And few careers seem to go as far and as fast as Carrie Underwood’s.
On Wednesday, she will perform at the CMAs and will be up for three awards. Let’s surf through her recent years:
