Latin Briefs: Allison Iraheta, Dia de los Muertos Festival
“American Idol” Season 8 contestant Allison Iraheta will release ‘El Viernes Te Olvido Yo, ” the Spanish version of her single “Friday I’ll Be Over U” to Latin radio. Iraheta, who won the Telemundo singing competition “Quinceaà ±era: Mamà ¡ Quiero Ser Artista” in 2006, is signed to 19 Entertainment/Jive.
‘American Idol’ alums have busy month of album releases, tours
What are Matt Giraud’s Season 8 “American Idol” cohorts up to these days? Plenty.
Champ Kris Allen will release his album Tuesday, runnerup Adam Lambert is hot on his heels with a Nov. 23 debut, and Allison Iraheta drops her first disc Dec. 1. Not to be outdone, Danny Gokey’s label, RCA Nashville, released his first single on his Web site months before his album will hit stores in mid-2010.
Listening to their first singles reminded me how much variety — and talent — made up “American Idol’s” most recent season. Each wildly different tune is a potential hit, and there’s not a dud in the bunch. Here’s my take:
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Kris Allen’s debut CD drops for ‘American Idol’ fans
The self-titled CD from Kris Allen drops on 19 Recording/Jive Records on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Do you think ‘American Idol” fans think it’s time for the curtain to drop on the debut from the season eight winner?
Got an advance copy in the mail today.
SNL: 20 of your dream hosts
ADAM LAMBERT
People! Adam Lambert would be the perfect host/musical guest. He’s got looks, talent, style, and an amazing sense of humor. Perfect! ‘†Leslie Cox
SNL: 20 of your dream hosts
KELLY CLARKSON
Kelly Clarkson should host. She’s proven her ability to be funny and candid in her interviews, why not try her hand in scripted comedy? ‘†Jason
St. Johns Christmas Tree Lighting
Jacksonville, Fl-It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Jacksonville. The 3rd annual tree lighting at the St. John’s Town Center is scheduled to take place Saturday, November 21st.
Festivities kick off at noon including all kinds of activities for kids including games and a kid zone. American Idol winner Taylor Hicks will be performing a mini holiday concert at 8 p.m. and at 8:30 p.m. is the tree lighting ending with a fireworks show. This is a great event to bring the family to and get into the holiday spirit.
Tragedy has kept American Idol winner David Cook, at Casino Rama Monday, on an even keel
David Cook has had the highest of career highs and the lowest of personal lows in the past year.
After auditioning only at the last minute, he went on to actually win the 2008 American Idol competition with his distinctive rock wail.
Following the victory, he had 11 songs debut on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest number of new songs by one artist in a single week since The Beatles in 1964.
“It’s pretty incredible, ” Cook, 26, said down the line from Milwaukee prior to a show Monday at Casino Rama north of Toronto, his final stop on a short eastern swing of Canada. “I refuse to wrap my head around that because it’s a little strange.”
David Cook feels ‘American Idol’ pressure
David Cook is part of an exclusive club — one that comes with 30 million potential fans and alums such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
He’s an “American Idol” winner and there are only seven others like him.
Cook has fared pretty well to this point in his post-“Idol” career.
His self-titled album sold more than a million copies, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard charts and producing the hit singles “Lights On” and “Come Back to Me.”
Cook followed the album release with an ambitious touring schedule that’s had him and his band on the road since February. He recently sat for a few questions.
Pacquiao-Cotto Fight: Ramiele Malubay Sings
For fans of boxing and American Idol, the two fused together thanks to the help of former contestant Ramiele Malubay. She opened the Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto event by singing ‘ Star Spangled Banner’ , which took place at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas on Saturday night.
According to All Your TV, Malubay moved to the Philippines after being the ninth finisher of season seven of the show. She decided to move to try and pursue her dream of a musical career, as she had several Idol commitments to keep.
Galleria Ice Spectacular and tree-lighting
Shopping season is officially open. The Galleria tree is lit.
But before the flip was switched on the 55-foot tree Saturday night, shoppers and spectators were treated to an Ice Spectacular sponsored by Cadillac.
American Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo opened the show with The Christmas Song. Pair skaters Gord Willemse and Lisa Grice performed two exciting routines with lots of lifts; the audience held its breath as he spun her around with her head dangerously close to the ice.
Going public with cancer battle, actress Kathy Bates aims to encourage others
When Kathy Bates returns this week to her hometown, the Memphis-born Oscar winner will be applauded not just for her status as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after performers but for what might be the most challenging and inspirational role of her career: cancer survivor.
Bates, 61, will do just that as the keynote speaker Friday at the 8th annual Methodist Healthcare Foundation Cancer Center Luncheon, a benefit for the Methodist Hospice Residence, an East Memphis facility scheduled to open in 2010 that will provide medical care and home-style comfort for terminally ill patients. She’ll also discuss her career and her Memphis background.
The luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m. Tickets are $100 each, available by calling 516-0500. “American Idol” Season 8 contestant Alexis Grace will perform.
X Factor: Sinitta reveals stressed out Simon Cowell is ‘comfort eating’ and hooked on Angel Delight
X Factor boss Simon Cowell has become hooked on Angel Delight as he struggles to cope with the backlash over Jedward.
He was so rattled by the row over the twins that he’s started comfort eating his favourite childhood pudding, according to best pal Sinitta.
‘He has a two-packet-a-day problem or habit ‘ it’s his comfort food, ‘ said mum-of-two Sinitta, 41.
‘He walks round with a packet of cigarettes and a packet of Angel Delight. He will have a bowl of pink Angel Delight at home or even in the back of a limo.
‘It’s very 80s and he’s an 80s child.’
Why Simon Cowell is the real winner of X Factor
It was the moment that Simon Cowell ‘ and the public ‘ had been waiting for. The X-Factor’s self-styled Mr Nasty, and the one judge who had heaped constant criticism onto Dublin-born twins John and Edward Grimes in every single show, finally had his chance to kick them into touch last Sunday.
So when Cowell failed to eliminate the teenage singing sensation from Cardiff, known to their growing army of fans as “Jedward”, the horrified look on his fellow judges’ faces said it all. Was it a fleeting moment of madness on Cowell’s part ‘ or simply another step in his grand plan to make even more money?
Simon Cowell’s little-known sister on his wealth, childhood and why none of his girlfriends could match up to his mother
‘His wealth and fame are so beyond any sort of normality, ‘ she says, in her first-ever interview.
‘He is busy in a way that even very wealthy people with high-flying careers are not. Simon is lovely, very family-orientated and I know he likes nothing better than to go home to his mum for a roast dinner. It is hard not to remember him as the cheeky, boisterous and mischievous little boy he once was.
So you think you can dance?
If you like sequins, big band music and B-list TV stars, mark your calendars: Ballroom with a Twist is coming to Centennial Hall this Saturday, courtesy of UApresents.
The performance, which will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, promises to be a night of classic dancing and sexy hip-swiveling.
Emmy-nominated dancer and choreographer Louis Van Amstel choreographed the show. The Dutch-born dancer has been featured on several seasons of the ballroom dancing reality television program ‘Dancing with The Stars.’ This season, Van Amstel is partnered with rock daughter Kelly Osbourne. In past seasons, Van Amstel has sashayed with the likes of Lisa Rinna and Priscilla Presley.
‘Idol’ contestant collects stockings to help tsunami victims
ST. GEORGE – Former “American Idol” contestant, Taylor Vaifanua is collecting stockings to deliver to children in the Samoan and Tongan islands affected by the recent tsunami.
The Sept. 29 tsunami killed more than 100 people in the South Pacific and left hundreds of others homeless.
The island of Samoa holds a special place in Vaifanua’s heart. She grew up there as a young girl and lived near the villages where many young childen died while they were on their way to school. “My heart aches for those who have lost loved ones. This is just a little something I can do to make their holidays a little brighter, ” she said.
