‘Fantasia for Real’ follows life of former ‘American Idol’ winner Barrino
Fantasia Barrino knows what people have heard about her, and she wants them to know that most of it isn’t true.
The season three “American Idol” winner is using her new VH1 reality show, “Fantasia for Real, ” to set the record straight about her family life, her love life and her career.
“In 2008, there were a lot of things going on in Fantasia’s world, ” Barrino told The News. “There was a lot of press about me – a lot of truth but also a lot of false. But everything was messed up, career-wise, and I wanted to allow people to watch me rebuild my dynasty.”
“Fantasia for Real, ” premiering Jan. 11 at 10 p.m., follows Barrino, 25, as she juggles single-motherhood (her daughter, Zion, is 8), going back to school and her singing. Her family, including first cousins K-Ci & JoJo of Jodeci, also plays a large part in the series.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Top ten Idol stories of 2009
Here are what I think were the top 10 biggest stories related to ‘American Idol’ this year, in no particular order.
– Kara DioGuardi arrives. The producers decided a fourth judge would shake things up and brought in a pro, someone who has music experience as a songwriter and producer, as well as a solo artist. At first, I thought she’d bring something fresh to the table with talk of artistry and brand potential. But she got boring fast. Sadly, the one thing I’ll remember from her first year is her attempt to out-bikini the Bikini Girl. (Okay, she did, not that the competition was all that fierce.)
Adam Lambert picked by Entertainment Weekly, MTV News as one of year’s top entertainers
That’s what Entertainment Weekly calls San Diego’s Adam Lambert in its latest issue, devoted to 2009’s ‘Best & Worst.’
Adam is one of the best, of course. In fact, he’s No. 8 on the list of Entertainers of the Year. (Sandra Bullock is No. 1 and Lady Gaga, who’s much-admired by Adam, is No. 3.)
We’d rank Adam first. But then, we’re a wee bit biased. Having cheered his rise to stardom and chatted with him recently at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, we can’t help but believe that Adam is now the most famous entertainer to have grown up in San Diego.
Chiefs Fans Suffer Blackout Blues For First Time In 19 Years
KANSAS CITY – For the first time in 19 years, Chiefs fans were shutout from watching their team play on TV. Arrowhead wasn’t a sellout and some fans at the game were suffering from the Blackout Blues.
American Idol winner David Cook celebrated his 27th birthday Sunday by singing the National Anthem to a half-empty Arrowhead stadium.
“At least this way if I screw up the Anthem, the local feed won’t catch it, ” Cook said.
Hudson, Radner draw overflow audience to McCallum’s gala
Oscar-winning actress and Grammy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson, along with multi-award winning comedian Rita Rudner headlined the McCallum Theatre’s sold-out 22nd anniversary gala Tuesday night.
‘We are thrilled and honored that Jennifer Hudson chose the McCallum Theatre as the venue for her first appearance in the Coachella Valley, ‘ said Ted Giatas, president and CEO of the McCallum Theatre. ‘She is one of the brightest stars in the music industry today.’
American Idol’s Archuleta to perform at Sun Bowl
American Idol runner-up David Archuleta will perform during the Helen of Troy Halftime Show at the Brut Sun Bowl on Dec. 31, according to Sun Bowl officials.
Archuleta, who will celebrate his 19th birthday on Dec. 28, was the runner-up on the seventh season of American Idol. In August 2008, his self-titled album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
“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, in a press release. “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.”
GREEN & GLOVER: Hicks coming in ‘Grease’
“When you get into the music business, you get into the germ business as well, ” laments recording artist and season five “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks in a phone interview on Friday with G2.
The 30-something Mr. Hicks has been under the weather with strep throat but soldiered on to chat with us about his upcoming stint in the District when the musical “Grease” rolls into the National Theatre for a two-week engagement beginning Feb. 9.
Katharine McPhee: Sheer Sexiness
Not shy when it comes to her wardrobe choices, Katharine McPhee was all about the sheer ensemble as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Saturday night (December 19).
The ‘American Idol’ alum was decked out in a midriff baring see through shirt, which revealed a white bra paired with studded leggings and a grey vest.
Dailymotion And American Idol Katharine McPhee Launch “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” Karaoke Contest
Verve recording artists Katharine McPhee announced the launch of an exclusive contest running on Dailymotion, one of the leading websites for sharing videos. The contest can be found at http://www.dailymotion.com/group/katskaraokechallenge.
Following McPhee’s recent release of holiday classic “I’ll be Home for Christmas, ” fans are asked to record their own vocals for McPhee’s rendition, uploading the finished product to Dailymotion. The grand prize winner will be determined according to the total number of times the video is selected as a “favorite, ” and the creator of the selected video will receive an iPod Touch as well as a personal phone call from McPhee.
Facebook campaign trumps Cowell song
Rage Against the Machine has claimed the prestigious No. 1 spot on the British singles chart on the last Sunday before Christmas, marking the first time in five years the winner of Simon Cowell’s “X-Factor” has not won.
Joe McElderry’s “The Climb” came in second, beaten by a huge online swell of support for “Killing in the Name, ” backed by a Facebook group with nearly 1 million members.
It was the first time a group had ever won the top slot based on downloads alone, BBC’s “The Chart Show” said.
The Facebook group also raised about 63, 000 pounds ($101, 829) for the homeless charity Shelter, she said. The group had “nearly a million people — we’re 3, 000 off a million, ” she said.
Simon Cowell saves animal sanctuary after falling for Louis the pig
What’s pink, well-fed and squeals when excited? Louis Walsh – the pig.
Animal-lover Simon Cowell has asked pals NOT to give him an Xmas pressie but donate to a sanctuary.
He has made a huge cash gift to save the Horse Refuge in Kent after finding it was to be sold.
Si was so taken with a 10st porker being kept there, he promptly adopted and named it after his fellow X Factor judge.
We’re told: “Animals are Simon’s big love. He gives thousands of pounds to charities. But this time he has saved Louis’ bacon!”
Piers Morgan laughs at pal Simon Cowell for losing Christmas number one to Rage Against The Machine
Piers Morgan joked about his pal Simon Cowell’s defeat in the race to bag the coveted Christmas number one spot.
Morgan said: “I thought it was quite funny and the fact that Simon got wound up was even funnier.
“Anything that winds up Simon Cowell is good in my book. He appreciates it when someone outwits him – it doesn’t happen very often.”
“He will be in Barbados now on his little jet-ski absolutely seething with rage.”
Cowell in job offer to chart rivals
Pop mogul Simon Cowell says he has offered jobs to the couple who launched a successful campaign to prevent The X Factor notching up yet another Christmas number one.
Cowell said he was “gutted” at losing the battle for the top of the festive charts after Rage Against The Machine beat X Factor winner Joe McElderry to number one.
He was no “sore loser”, Cowell added, as he revealed Jon and Tracy Morter, who led the Facebook campaign which ended the talent show’s four-year run of number ones, had turned down his job offers.
ETA:
Simon Cowell admits Joe McElderry’s chart defeat was his fault and offers jobs to Rage Against Machine team
He admitted he was “gutted” that rockers Rage Against The Machine had pushed Joe into second place.
But Simon was so impressed with Jon and Tracy Morter, who organised the Facebook campaign to get Rage to No1, he phoned and asked them to work for him.
He said: “I am genuinely impressed by the campaign they have run. It has been a good campaign with no dirty tricks and without any funding. They have been passionate and worked hard.
“I offered them jobs at my record company. It could be in marketing or perhaps even running the company!
“This is their first attempt at putting out a record and they got a Christmas No1, so they have not done badly at all.
Concert Review: Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding
The evening featured numerous local acts, including the winners of Alice’s The Proof is in the Pudding contest, which a pre-Idol Jordin Sparks won several years ago, and Tempe mainstays Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, as well as Scott MacIntyre, another Phoenician American Idol contestant, singing original songs from his Christmas EP, Christmas Angel. The night also featured a dance performance by the Solid Rock Dancers, the troupe out of Alice’s teen center.
The evening was well attended and well received, but it wasn’t my particular brand of Yuletide cheer. While a show of hands in the crowd revealed that a large portion of the audience had attended the event in previous years, and while some of the acts were actually quite good (Proof is in the Pudding winners Buskin Cuffs, who are all under 18, were better than most of the acts on stage), I just kept thinking I was at this show because I was on the Naughty List.
