Exclusive: Clay Aiken’s New Man
The stars have aligned for Clay Aiken.
In the Dec. 22 issue of Star ‘ on sale Wednesday ‘ we report that along with his new baby and new life out of the closet, the former American Idol star has a new boyfriend to enjoy it with! The lucky fella? Broadway dancer Reed Kelly.
“Everybody knows Reed as Clay’s guy, ” a Broadway insider says of the Wicked ensemble member. “Clay met him when he was doing Spamalot in early 2008, and that’s one of the reasons he came back to the show again.”
They even appeared together at Rosie O’Donnell’s Building Dreams for Kids gala last month. “It was obvious they were a couple, ” a partygoers says.
Paula Abdul lashes out at ‘American Idol’ producers, Fox, and Simon Cowell
“She had been writing disturbing letters for 17, almost 18 years, ” Abdul told Barbara Walters during a Monday interview on Walters’ Here’s Barbara! Sirius Satellite Radio program. “We had restraining orders at times.”
“The letters that were written to me were to do bodily harm, ” Abdul said. “She said that the only way I will serve her purpose is when I’m up in heaven being her guardian angel.”
“I explained to them through shaking that ‘I do not feel comfortable, please do not let her come into the room, this is not a normal fan, ‘” Abdul said. “And I even went as far as my — the guy who was doing my hair and makeup was aware, he’d been with me forever, he said ‘This girl sends naked pictures, and it’s very frightening, please do not let her in’ and they let her in anyways and I couldn’t look up.”
Kissmas Bash is teen hit
Concert attendance in Buffalo has been waning a bit, mirroring a national dip in the biz. But Kissmas Bash, which took over HSBC Arena on Tuesday evening, appeared to be close to sold out, and these people came to party, for sure. The audience was extremely vocal throughout and seemed familiar with the material of every act, as disparate as these acts were.
David Archuleta was welcomed with some gusto by the crowd. The American Idol runner-up performed much of his self-titled debut, and he seemed at ease, considering his age (a mere 19) and the fact that he fronting a band on a major arena tour for the first time.
He did what was expected’ sang his hit, …Crush, chatted amiably with the crowd, and generally behaved like the Pat Boone of his generation, meaning he kept things white, clean and neat. A soulful take on the seasonal …Silent Night was a nice touch. Throughout his set, Archuleta sang well, often sounding like a young George Michael with his blue-eyed faux-soul. His band performed an impeccable brand of rigid R&B, which suited Archuleta delivery.
Behind The Scenes At “American Idol”
Striking the right chord with readers is an inspirational new book by Rickey Minor, the award-winning musician and musical director for the highly popular and successful show “American Idol.”
In “There’s No Traffic On The Extra Mile” (Gotham Books), Minor shares stories from his unique vantage point that will inspire readers to find the potential within themselves.
Using his personal story as the background, Minor imparts lessons he has learned the hard way. “I’ve seen a lot over the past three decades on the front lines of this dream factory called the entertainment business, ” writes Minor. “Behind each story are little clues to the puzzle, some very serious and others more lighthearted. But every one of these elements I describe has the power to thrust you forward in the pursuit of your dreams or stop you dead in the tracks.”
David Cook: Earth to Pluto!
WHATS UP, DAWG?
David Cook gets into the holiday spirit with a reindeer-inspired Pluto on Friday in the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The 25-year-old American Idol champ recorded a segment for the …Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, putting his rocker spin on a holiday classic, …Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. After he was done, he took questions from the audience, and played peek-a-boo with some kids who were in the first row (those are the pics with him holding up the guitar). The Disney Christmas Day Parade will air nationwide @ 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET on Christmas Day, Dec. 25 on ABC.
The Top 10 Most Notorious Celebrity Parents Of 2008
6) Jeff Archuleta. Youve got to assume that …American Idol producers are used to annoying stage parents, so for David Archuleta pops to get banned from going backstage during the show, he must have been pretty overbearing.
Michael Johns Celebrates ‹Another Christmas; Gears Up For 2009 Album Release
Former …American Idol Season 7 finalist, Aussie Michael Johns, releases his first ever Christmas song today, and he gifting all of the proceeds to charity.
…Another Christmas, which is available on iTunes, will benefit the fight against Lou Gehrig Disease (ALS) and the American Red Cross.
…There so many songs written about how everyone gonna be home and around the fireplace and everything else and there so many situations where families are apart for whatever reason, Michael recently told AccessHollywood.com. …For the Red Cross thing, it troops overseas and for the ALS thing, you can [have] people in a hospital, just sitting there. It just so sad.
Sanjaya’s cousin — trying out for “America’s Got Talent”?
Wright introduced me to Camila Recchi, 20, first cousin of “American Idol” phenom Sanjaya Malakar. (Her hair is VERY normal, btw.) The North Seattle resident tried out for Idol, too, competing in the same group as her cuz and his sister. They picked the pair over her, and after listening to Camila sing, I don’t understand why, because this woman has some pipes. Lord have mercy. When she started singing “Chestnuts” I perked up. She’s the real deal. Wright said she’s pushing her to audition for “America’s Got Talent.”
She sings mostly with local hip-hop groups, but you can catch her in Total Experience’s “Black Nativity” at the Intiman until Dec. 27.
Carrie Underwood: Yes or No?
She’s no longer the It Girl in Nashville. Not with Taylor Swift buzzing about. Her second album didnt sell nearly as well as her first, and with good reason. And you just dont hear people talking about her like you used to, although she did just win a CMA for female vocalist of the year. These are interesting days for the ever-smiling Carrie Underwood, the former American Idol queen who ruled album charts, magazine covers and Mary Hart’s brain just a few years ago. She now on a major arena tour at a time when were not quite sure if she’s the next Faith Hill ‘ or the next Gretchen Wilson.
Rock of Ages Is Headed to the Silver Screen
New Line has won the screen rights for the new 1980s-set Off-Broadway musical Rock of Ages, which is currently playing New World Stages.
Variety reports that Rock librettist Chris D’Arienzo will not only pen the screenplay but will direct the feature film as well. No casting has been announced.
The production will mark the latest musical project for New Line. As previously reported, the company is currently in the process of developing a sequel to the hit movie musical “Hairspray.”
The Rock of Ages film will be produced by Matthew Weaver and Scott Prisand of Corner Store Entertainment, Carl Levin, Tobey Maguire and Maguire Entertainment. Executive producers will include Janet Billig, Hillary Weaver and Maguire Entertainment’s Dan Shafer.
Jordin Sparks sings Australia’s praises
BRISBANE yesterday welcomed one of the few people in the world to make snarky American Idol judge Simon Cowell eat his own words. Jordin Sparks, above, who won the US version of the hugely successful talent quest last year, chatted to Confidential yesterday before opening last night’s Alicia Keys concert at Boondal.
The 18-year-old R&B diva, tipped to win a Grammy for her collaboration with Chris Brown on the mega-hit No Air, waxed lyrical about her controversial Idol victory which forced Cowell to swallow a big gulp of humble pie. Sparks often came under criticism from Cowell who maintained she was not a worthy victor, even though she never found herself in the bottom three, “At the finale, he said, ‘You know what? I take it back. You do deserve to win’, ” Sparks told Confidential.
“And I was like, ‘Thank you’. I showed him, didn’t I? Ha ha.”
Friends of the IDF (FIDF) gala to honor 30 soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces
When the local Friends of the Israel Defense Forces join for a gala dinner on Dec. 11 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the guests of honor will not be a few major donors or civic dignitaries but 30 Israeli soldiers.
“We never honor an individual, only a group of soldiers, ” said Leo David, founder of the organization’s Western regional branch.
The soldiers, male and female, serve in different combat units, and each has lost a relative in war or through terrorist attacks.
The event will also include music by David Foster, featuring Lionel Richie, Katharine McPhee and Charice, with media mogul and philanthropist Haim Saban, and his wife, Cheryl, serving as dinner co-chairs.
Syracuse Stage’s ‘Godspell’ a musical treat
Syracuse Stage’s “Godspell” makes the perfect musical for the current younger generation. It swirls with bright colors, is enormously well performed musically and dramatically. And it even tosses in some gymnastics that make it a stunning visual experience.
Stage also struck a gold mine with its casting of the charismatic Anwar Robinson as Jesus. The former “American Idol” contestant handles the size of the big stage with ease. He delivers a strong singing voice and dramatically is able to keep the core focus on his character while all about him people are dancing, singing, executing cartwheels and climbing ladders and stairs. He makes a calm center for a figure who sometimes seems passive but must be a force nonetheless.
The William Hung Challenge
As part of my preparation in assembling “bad” musical acts I decided I should finally watch the William Hung audition tape from “American Idol” — the one where he got about halfway through Ricky Martin’s ‘She Bangs’ and was stopped by Simon Cowell bluntly telling him “You can’t sing.”
First, though, I knew I’d have to acquaint myself with “She Bangs, ” which I’d somehow missed ever hearing. So I went to YouTube and watched Ricky Martin’s video, then immediately called up the William Hung audition to hear all the hilarious discrepancies.
One that I fully expected was at least a couple notes that were out of tune, off-key — you know, where his pitch didn’t quite match the actual vocal melody. Where’d I get that idea? Oh, just about every major media outlet that I’d ever heard or read. Here are just a few samples of the conventional wisdom that are still available online.
X Factor finalists banned from criticising Simon Cowell – anywhere in the solar system
Finalists of ITV’s X Factor have signed an 80-page contract with an extraordinary set of clauses, it was revealed today.
Among rules agreed by Alexandra Burke, Eoghan Quigg and boy band JLS, who will compete in Saturday’s final, is that they must not make any comment that ‘may be considered unduly negative, critical or derogatory of the Company … and, in particular, Simon Cowell’.
The rules are enforceable ‘anywhere in the world and solar system’.
In spite of claims on the show that the winner receives a £1 million recording contract, the leaked document shows they will get only a £150, 000 advance out of which their expenses must be paid.
The only chance of hitting the £1 million mark is several years down the line, after at least four albums.
‹Dancing Star Steps Into ‹CSI: New York
…Dancing With the Stars professional dancer Edyta Sliwinska has landed a guest starring role on …CSI: New York she revealed to me yesterday during rehearsals for the …Dancing With the Stars tour.
…Im playing a dance teacher and Im one of the suspects.
This role on the CBS drama will be Edyta first major acting gig. …I am suspected to be a murderer to kill a guy and chop him into pieces.
Both Edyta and her dancer husband, Alec Mazo, have been working on their acting careers during downtime from the show.
