So You Think You Can Dance Backstage Scoop: Did an Onscreen Romance Doom a Fan Fave?
This week’s eliminated dancers were Legacy Perez and Mollee Gray. Why Legacy, who seemed to be a fan favorite? According to judge Adam Shankman, “I can only guess that it wasn’t a vote against him, it was a vote for the married couple, you know what I mean?” For his part, Nigel Lythgoe says, “I think the emotion of Ashleigh’s injury effected the vote, ” and later added, “I would have liked to have seen both Legacy and Mollee in the finale.”
And as for that upcoming season finale, Nigel spills that it’s going to be a little different than usual, thanks to the upcoming holiday. He says, “This is our very first six-person finale, but that’s only happening because we’re short a week [this season]. Everyone is going to dance with everyone else, but we only have one hour for the performance show, for the ‘dance-off, ‘ if you will. So girl A is going to dance with boy A, B and C, and girl B is going to dance with boy A, B and C, and so on. So everybody is going to dance with everybody. Normally in the finale, the boys dance together, and the girls dance together, and they do a group dance as well, but we don’t have time to do that.”
Clay Aiken investigation dropped by N.C. elections board
RALEIGH, N.C. ‘†Elections officials dropped an investigation into 2003 American Idol runnerup Clay Aiken’s voter registration on Wednesday, weeks after the singer ruffled feathers by slamming some local school board candidates on his blog.
The Wake County Board of Elections agreed there was enough evidence to indicate Aiken likely voted unlawfully there while living in a neighboring county. But the board declined to seek a more thorough review with the State Board of Elections, which had the small potential to lead to a criminal prosecution.
There was no evidence presented that Aiken deliberately sought to violate election law, and Aiken wrote a letter asking officials to remove him from their voting rolls.
“In this case, I think this should be over and done with today, ” board chairman Sharon Everett said before the 3-0 vote.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Boyle’s ‘Dream’ Continues At No. 1 On Billboard 200
Susan Boyle’s “I Dreamed a Dream” album continues its hold of the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 527, 000 copies (down just 25%), according to Nielsen SoundScan. After two weeks of release, “I Dreamed a Dream” is now the 10th biggest-selling album of the year with 1.23 million sold.
Boyle fends off the advances of Andrea Bocelli, whose “My Christmas” holds at No. 2 for a fourth week with 428, 000 (up 97%). Bocelli’s set surpasses a million in total sales in its fifth week (1.12 million) and becomes his best-selling album since the release of “Amore” in 2006 (1.66 million).
Kellie Clarkson, Carrie Underwood top the week’s Idol downloads
Few surprises on this week’s list of Nielsen SoundScan best-selling American Idol tracks. Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are still selling in the upper-to-mid-30K range with their latest singles. Daughtry’s Life After You and Carrie’s Hark! The Herald Angels Sing both saw steep increases. Kris Allen dropped off a little with Live Like We’re Dying, and Adam Lambert had the expected post-release-week letdown for his two main tracks.
Perhaps the biggest surprise comes near the bottom of SoundScan’s Current Digital Tracks chart, where we discover that the best-selling track for Allison Iraheta during her album’s release week was not Friday I’ll Be Over U but consistently praised album track Scars.
Seven Things We’ve Learned from the Adam Lambert Controversy (And One Piece of Blatant Speculation)
Wait! Stop! I know you’re probably as sick to death as I am of Adam Lambert and the controversy surrounding his November 22nd performance at the American Music Awards.
But before you run screaming from the computer at the sight of another article about this, I think it’s worth asking: what did it all mean? More importantly, what does the rapidly fading moment in pop culture say about America, 2009?
Here’s how I see it:
VOTE: Who Is the Most Overexposed Star of the Year?
We cover celebrities every day here on PopEater, and some you just can’t help talking about — over and over again.
Whether it’s Adam Lambert and his racy performances, sexuality, and outrageous album art or Miley Cyrus and her boyfriends, movie roles or scandalous photos we want to know who gets too much coverage.
So tell us, which male and female celebs are the most overexposed of the year? Vote!
EXCLUSIVE: Adam Lambert Curses At Designer After She Scolds Him Backstage
Adam Lambert’s music has yet to make a big splash, but the singer is already a pro at stirring up controversy.
Network’s Editing Of Adam Lambert Called Double Standard Because He’s Gay
His latest encounter in infamy occurred backstage at the American Music Awards, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.
Designer Shane Starlet thought Adam’s AMA performance, which included simulated oral sex, was unacceptable- and she let him know it. In an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com she revealed the details of their showdown, which included Adam telling her, “Shut up, b–ch!”
Was there a double standard involved in ABC’s disinviting Adam Lambert?
It wasn’t really the man-on-man kiss or the simulated oral sex that marked Adam Lambert’s performance on the American Music Awards as shocking. Mostly it was ABC’s reaction. By rescinding Lambert’s invitation to sing on Good Morning America, ABC self-protectively drew a line that networks usually prefer to keep blurred.
Or as Lambert said on The Early Show on CBS, “There’s a lot of very adult material on the AMAs this year, and I know I wasn’t the only one.” Lambert, runner-up on this year’s American Idol, was referring to other risque performances, including Lady Gaga smashing whiskey bottles, Janet Jackson grabbing a male dancer’s crotch and Eminem talking about his character Slim Shady’s rap sheet of rape, assault and murder.
Jordin Sparks to play Lemon Ball
“American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks will perform Jan. 9 at the Lemon Ball, the annual gala benefit for Alex’s Lemonade Stand. CBS 3 anchors Susan Barnett and Chris May announced Sparks’ performance last night as they emceed a Lemon Ball preview party thrown by Govberg Jewelers at G (111 S. 17th). Liz and Jay Scott, parents of the late Alexandra Scott, spoke at the party about their excitement over Sparks. Tickets for the Lemon Ball, taking place at the Downtown Marriott, are $250, at TheLemonBall.com or by calling 866- 333-1213.
Scott MacIntyre’s Christmas Music
Season 8 finalist Scott MacIntyre is very busy with his music this holiday season. Scott’s brand-new Christmas EP, ‘Christmas Angel, ‘ is available now on iTunes. The EP features his original pop song ‘Christmas Angel’ and shows off his unique arrangements of traditional classics. You can hear samples of the songs on Scott’s brand new MySpace page.
Idol to put on show for Whaley Children’s Center fundraiser
The World’s Greatest Office Party is taking place at the Holiday Inn Gateway Centre, 5353 Gateway Centre, Flint from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Dec. 10.
This is a fundraiser for the children at Whaley Children’s Center. It will feature a special performance by American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee.
There will also be a silent auction held with over 30 items up for bidding.
Tickets are $20 at the door.
For more information, call (810) 234-3603 ext. 101 or visit www.whaleychildren.org
David Archuleta To Perform At Helen of Troy Halftime Show
EL PASO, Texas (December 8, 2009) – American Idol’s David Archuleta will perform at the Helen of Troy Halftime Show at the 76th Annual Brut Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 at Sun Bowl Stadium.
“Helen of Troy is excited to bring another outstanding talent like David Archuleta to perform at halftime of the Brut Sun Bowl, ” said Gerald J. Rubin, CEO and president of Helen of Troy. “David piqued America’s interest during his run on American Idol and he definitely will be a fan favorite due to his extraordinary talents as a singer-songwriter.”
Archuleta at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods
“American Idol’ has produced a number of talented performers including Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood and David Cook. Not to mention the runners-up, such as David Archuleta.
Since his 2008 appearance in the competition, Archuleta has now released his second album, ‘Christmas from the Heart, ‘ and is on tour performing for the holidays. That tour will bring him to MGM Grand at Foxwoods for a 7 p.m. concert Dec. 17.
Archuleta found Ohio amusing
Having spent the past year touring incessantly, ‘American Idol’ season 7 runner-up David Archuleta says he will never forget his memorable visit last spring to Northeast Ohio.
‘Actually, I [appeared] at the [I-X] Indoor Amusement Park, and it was a lot of fun, ‘ said Archuleta, calling from Rexburg, Idaho. ‘And we had a day off there, too. That was the first time I got to see Amish country. We saw the Wal-Mart there. It was cool to see how they had the buggy parking. I thought it was really neat.’
David Archuleta live: A fan’s experience
The lights went dim, the intro music got louder, the ear-piercing screams bounced off the walls and David Archuleta walked out on stage. He started performing so enthusiastically and energetically, it was like adding gasoline to an already colossal wildfire. He flashed those big pearly whites of his and sang with absolutely no inhibition.
As he played to the emotions of the audience, it was apparent that David genuinely loved what he was doing. His showmanship wowed his fans and made the concert intensely entertaining from start to finish.
David Archuleta spreads holiday cheer in concert and on new album
David Archuleta’s self-titled debut last year featured the Top 5 hit “Crush.” Now the 2008 “American Idol” runner-up is on tour behind a new holiday album, “Christmas from the Heart.” Archuleta, who turns 19 on Dec. 28, spoke to us last week by phone from Idaho, before a gig there.
There are so many holiday albums. What do you hope sets yours apart?
Kellie Pickler Presents CMA’s $1 Million Check to Nashville Public Schools
Kellie Pickler assisted the Country Music Association in donating $1, 066, 632 to benefit music education programs in Nashville’s public schools during a student concert Tuesday night (Dec. 8) at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
With funds generated by the annual CMA Music Festival in Nashville, the CMA has now donated a total of $3.3 million to the school system through its Keep the Music Playing program. In partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education, the money has been used to build music labs and purchase more than 2, 500 instruments for Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Pickler attended the concert to make the check presentation and introduce some of the performers selected from 137 elementary, middle and high school schools.
Did ‘American Idol’ hire the wrong Randy Jackson?
Tito Jackson says the course of television history may have changed based on a case of mistaken identity.
While on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Dec. 8 to promote their new reality series “The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, ” Tito told Jimmy the call from “American Idol” was supposed to go to his brother Randy, not the music producer Randy Jackson who got the gig.
“Randy Jackson answered the call, ” Tito says. “My brother didn’t, ” brother Jackie finishes. Yowch!
Carrie Underwood: What I’ve Learned
I was so nervous when I was on my way to L. A. I’d never been on a plane, and I was going alone. I kind of got teary-eyed. My dad was driving, and he said, “If you want to go home, we can go home, and you never have to think about this again.” And I thought, If I don’t go, I’m choosing for this not to happen. It will be my choice. So I figured it would be easier for me to get kicked off American Idol than to have it be my own decision.
Carrie Underwood Slams Ex Tony Romo
Tony Romo is known for dumping Jessica Simpson on the eve of her 29th birthday, but he’s got another ex-girlfriend that’s not his biggest fan!
Carrie Underwood did an interview with Esquire magazine recently, and made sure it was clear her song ‘Cowboy Casanova’ was not about Tony!
She said in the article, “No, I would never immortalize a guy that did me wrong. I would never give him that much credit.”
As you may recall, Carrie and Tony dated in 2007, but broke up towards the end of that year. She blames it on football.
Carrie Underwood’s Esquire Feature Suggests Deep, Lurking Depression
Apparently Esquire’s Tom Junod interviewed Carrie Underwood, but instead of printing a profile, they just listed a bunch of quotes under the headline “What I’ve Learned, ” and it’s the most unintentionally depressing portrait-in-a-series-of-mosaic-like-glimpses ever.
The country music star is all butterflies and Jesus love onstage, but this scintillating Facebook quiz of a listicle is a cry for help from a cold, lonely prison. I am preserving Esquire’s boldface formatting, because I find it compelling to read these sentences loud at first then very soft, in your head. (Does everyone do that when they read boldface text?)
Kelly Clarkson’s Decade Honors
Rolling Stone magazine revealed their artist, song, and album of the decade, and American Idol’s first winner, Kelly Clarkson, had her name appear all over the charts! Fans voted in a poll and here are the numbers and categories where Kelly placed.
Top Artists of the Decade
21. Kelly Clarkson
Top Album of the Decade
8. Kelly Clarkson ‘ All I Ever Wanted
11. Kelly Clarkson ‘ Breakaway
Top Singles of the Decade
9. Kelly Clarkson ‘ ‘Since U Been Gone’
100 Best Songs of the Decade
18. Kelly Clarkson ‘ ‘Since U Been Gone’
First ‘American Idol’ winner Kelly Clarkson performs at the Civic Center tonight
She might be one of the most real people to come out of reality TV.
Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of ‘American Idol, ‘ performs tonight at the Columbus Civic Center. She’s joined by opening acts Parachute and Eric Hutchinson.
The tour promotes ‘All I Ever Wanted, ‘ Clarkson’s fourth album. Throughout her career, she’s sustained a strong fan base with rich, soulful vocals on tunes like ‘Miss Independent, ‘Since U Been Gone’ and ‘I Do Not Hook Up.
Daughtry didn’t have clue about fame while on ‘Idol’
CORPUS CHRISTI ԠChris Daughtry had the kind of chart-busting immediate success that rarely happens in music these days, selling more than 1 million copies of his 2006 self-titled CD in the first five weeks of its release and selling nearly 4.5 million copies overall.
Despite appearing to be one of the most popular performers on the 2006 season of ‘American Idol, ‘ Daughtry was voted off earlier than some expected, and finished fourth that season.
Not only did his run on ‘American Idol’ prime the pump for the release of his first CD fronting his band, Daughtry, it seemingly would have given him a taste of the life he was about to experience as one of the most popular artists on the entire rock scene
Happy Birthday To ‘American Idol’ Judge Kara DioGuardi!
Once upon a time, Kara DioGuardi wasn’t exactly a household name, nor was she necessarily an instantly recognizable face. But both of those facts changed dramatically with her arrival on the “American Idol” scene last season as the newest permanent judge alongside mainstays Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul.
Now, Kara Ԡwho celebrates her 39th birthday today Ԡis well-known in the public sphere not just for her name and face, but also for her voice and sound judgment.
Hernandez on his life after ‘Idol’
Valley native David Hernandez parlayed a brief run on the 2008 season of “American Idol” into nightclub gigs and a national touring career. Hernandez, a veteran of such Valley R&B bands as Straight Up and Tribe 7, has opened for John Legend and had an extended run at the now-defunct club Barcelona.
He is speaking with record labels and currently has out an independently released holiday album. The latter is particularly appropriate, as he is touring the country for the second year in a show that teams him with other “Idol” alums to celebrate the holiday season. Hernandez, now based in Los Angeles, called to discuss the life of a working musician.
A one-on-one conversation with American Idol finalist John Stevens
The Sun’s Sarah Reynolds- Seweryniak sat down with American Idol finalist and East Amherst native John Stevens as he prepared for his holiday concert at Hilbert College last Friday (Dec. 4) night.
The Sun: Many people know you from your participation on American Idol. You were a 16-year-old then, so now as a 22 year-old man, do you feel you have grown since your participation on the show?
John Stevens: I’ve had more experience. I actually just graduated from Berklee’s College of Music in Boston and I majored in professional music studying performance, song writing and business. I definitely have more knowledge and perspective of the music industry and I’ve definitely gotten more life experience.
Oh No, Simon Cowell Wants In On Gaming
Prepare to see American Idol’s Simon Cowell talking about venturing into video games without actually discussing anything of substance. In an interview with GQ (via MCV), Cowell said he’s teaming with entrepreneur Philip Green to launch an entertainment empire, part of which will include video games. But when he actually starts talking about the vision, things run off the rails pretty quickly. ‘[U.K. talent search show] X-Factor should have been the initial vehicle to have Activision come to us and say: ‘You’ve got all the [consumer] traffic. Can you help launch Guitar Hero?” The interviewer then reminded Cowell that neither X-Factor nor American Idol feature guitars, to which he replied, ‘I’d put guitars on my show to get Guitar Hero.’ Simon Cowell’s Guitar Hero? Glad it didn’t pan out that way.
Edited to Add:
Barbara Walters More Into Girl-On-Girl
During one of the first segments on her “The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009” show last night, Babs aired a package featuring Lady Gaga locking lips with another female — it was not blurred, it was not censored, it was no big deal.
But later in the show, she made a big deal about the fact that she wasn’t going to show Adam Lambert’s man-on-man kiss at the AMAs.
Adam Lambert Talks Tiger Woods, Simulatiogate
When he walked the red carpet at Skylight Studios for Tuesday night’s launch of Vevo, a new music-video site, Adam Lambert had two choices: Talk about other people’s scandals, or talk about his own. We in the press pit, of course, opened with the Tiger Woods mess, since, well, it involves real (instead of fake) sex. Lambert didn’t want to go there. ‘I think it’s funny that we focus so much on people’s personal lives, ‘ he said diplomatically. ‘He plays golf. Let’s focus on golf.’ We did not want to focus on golf. Really, don’t famous people screw around on their significant others all the time? ‘I don’t know. I’m new to it. I haven’t tried.’ And anyway, Lambert doesn’t have anyone to screw around on. He broke up with his boyfriend of six months, interior designer Drake LaBry. ‘We just had our differences, ‘ he said. ‘I’m putting a lot energy into my career right now. It’s not fair to him.
Carrie to Launch Play On Tour
The Play On Tour, hydrated by vitaminwater, will feature special guests Craig Morgan and Sons of Sylvia. The first leg of 45 shows runs through May 30 with tickets for all shows going on sale starting Friday, Dec. 18. ‘I am getting so excited about next year as we are currently working through all the big plans for the tour, ‘ says Carrie. ‘I cannot wait to perform new music and see familiar faces across the U.S. and Canada!’ For the complete tour schedule and more information, go to carrieunderwood.fm.
Hardworking Daughtry stops in S.A.
It’s not all about Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson and the Beatles this year.
Former “American Idol” contestant Chris Daughtry managed another big No. 1 mainstream rock album.
The Grammy-nominated rocker and his band perform at Freeman Coliseum on Saturday to promote their latest hit CD, “Leave This Town, ” which topped Michael Jackson’s posthumous run.
Add that to his list of accomplishments. Daughtry’s self-titled debut album was the best-selling album of 2007.
He told TV Guide that the new songs were inspired by his small-town childhood in North Carolina.
Adam Lambert on ‘The View’: ‘Protect your children, people!’
Adam Lambert’s father told his son he should ‘issue an apology’ after his American Music Awards performance, the singer told The View gals this morning.
Barbara Walters introduced him by saying that her network had cancelled three ‘live performances’ he’d been booked for on ABC and ‘that’s why we’re taping this today.’ (The first part of The View was, as usual, live-to-tape.) When Lambert came out, he said with a laugh, ‘Protect your children, people!’
Of course, taped-Adam proved to be a calm, clever charmer. When Joy Behar said he was ‘not a nice Jewish boy, ‘ he got a big laugh by saying, ‘I am a little different. The dreidel spins the other way.’
