Judge Lets Sierra Sidestep Bureaucracy, Stay In Rehab
TAMPA — A judge has allowed former “American Idol” finalist Jessica Sierra remain in a California drug treatment program, despite what her attorney described as ridiculous bureaucracy.
Florida officials allowed Sierra to go to California for a yearlong stint at an in-house drug treatment facility. She was supposed to transfer her Florida probation to California. West coast officials, however, don’t want her to apply for their probation program while living in California, said Sierra’s attorney, John Fitzgibbons. They want her to fly back to Florida, apply for California probation status, then return to California.
“It’s almost nonsense, ” Fitzgibbons said. Fitzgibbons told the judge that every progress report and all indications show that Sierra is doing well in treatment at the Pasadena Recovery Center.
Would You Willingly Refer to Yourself as a Danny’s Fanny?
The more insane American Idol fans out there have a tendency to gather into groups online, with said groups marking their territory via cute avatars, picture-choked signature files, and semi-catchy names. The most nutty/devoted/well-named group is, of course, Taylor Hicks’ Soul Patrol, who make up for their hero’s low SoundScans with fervent comment-section support of their icon; there’s also the Con Con Girls (for Constantine Maroulis and, presumably, the blow-dryer that sets his chest hair just right); the Fanjayas (in support of Sanjaya Malakar and his ever-changing locks) and the Claymates (you can probably guess who they’re rallying behind). But this year, the fan club names over at IdolForums.com seem a bit… lacking.
‘American Idol’ Power List: Rating the Final 20
1. David Archuleta
Cuddly former Star Search winner destroyed the competition in our latest reader poll, and his rock-solid performance of ”Shop Around” last week only cemented his front-runner status. One potential weakness at this point might be a whiff of false modesty. We know you know you’re good, kiddo! (Last week’s Power Ranking: No.1)
2. Jason Castro
How do you go from invisible contestant with no pre-semifinal airtime to the week’s buzz-worthiest hopeful? By taking the stage with your guitar and delivering a sweet, understated take on the Lovin’ Spoonful hit ”Daydream, ” then showcasing a delightfully hippie vibe in your post-performance interview. (New this week)
Reality contest should keep it amateur night By Ayla Brown
This past week we learned that many …American Idol contestants have had prior recording and performing experience on a national scale (see related story).
There something wrong here. …Idol is about the American Dream. It is about finding a diamond in the rough. It is about the rags-to-riches story. Since when has …American Idol turned into a battle of the has-beens? Numerous contestants have already had their shot at stardom; give the amateurs a shot.
When I was on the show two seasons ago, it was the same story. Lisa Tucker had been on Broadway, Taylor Hicks and Chris Daughtry were already in bands that were selling CDs, and Mandisa was doing studio work and touring with famous country singers.
These people are professionals who have been performing and recording for years. So is it fair that a professional like Taylor Hicks won the …American Idol competition? I dont think it is.
Jason Castro and American Idol Mania
Since Jason Castro of Rockwall performed “Daydreamin” on American Idol last week, the Garland office has been abuzz.
We’ve met tons of Jason’s friends, chatted with some adoring fans in the area and attended an idol watching party in Rockwall.
We’ve also watched our videos of Jason winning Battle of the Bands in Rowlett last year skyrocket in views. If you haven’t had the chance yet, you’re on of the few! Watch them here and here. Check out what his friends and fans had to say, here..
Stars in her eyes
Kady Malloy, like so many young singers, takes a do-or-die approach to superstar success.
“The lights have been on since I could start speaking, ” she says. “There’s never been anything else that I’ve even thought about doing.”
Malloy, 18, is now a top 20 finalist on American Idol. Even before the show, she was adamant that nothing – especially a backup plan – got in her way.
“I didn’t even plan on going to college. I always knew that I wanted to be a recording artist, ” she says. “I didn’t even try and get any scholarships.
‘Idol’ stardom almost a reality: Singer’s clips nail judges’ audition
He is remembered by many across the country as the contestant on this year’s American Idol who has kept his clipped fingernails in a baggie since fifth grade. But here’s what the TV cameras didn’t show: Brandon Green, a 22-year-old singer/songwriter from Lucedale, wowing the judges with his acoustic rendition of Stephen Stills’ Love The One You’re With during the first week of Hollywood auditions and receiving a fast pass, straight to the final round; performing the Gavin DeGraw tune, I Don’t Want To Be, and getting a ‘yes’ from Paula Abdul and the crusty Simon Cowell into the Top 48.
But here’s what the TV cameras didn’t show: Brandon Green, a 22-year-old singer/songwriter from Lucedale, wowing the judges with his acoustic rendition of Stephen Stills’ Love The One You’re With during the first week of Hollywood auditions and receiving a fast pass, straight to the final round; performing the Gavin DeGraw tune, I Don’t Want To Be, and getting a ‘yes’ from Paula Abdul and the crusty Simon Cowell into the Top 48.
And Green is convinced except for a couple of less-than-perfect notes during his last performance, he would have earned a spot in this year’s Idol Top 24.
ET teens say show’s portrayal of them one thing; reality another
“American Idol” gave East Tennessee teens Amy Catherine Flynn and Josiah Leming an image.
Now, they’re ready to find their own identities.
She was known as the serious, abstinence-touting, all-American, dance squad, pom-pom teen. He was the weeping bad boy with the British accent when he sang who lived out of his car.
Both impressed the judges enough to make it to the Hollywood rounds this season. Their chances to be in the top 24 were dashed there.
Abdul’s singing like there’s no tomorrow
She blew them away (albeit after the fact) with a pre-recorded performance on the Super Bowl pre-game broadcast.
The video was a pirated Internet hit even before its official debut last week on American Idol.
The title, however, is a bit misleading. Paula Abdul’s “Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow” is more about dancing like there was no yesterday. And tomorrow is looking more like the day before.
The new single, a collaboration with fellow American Idol judge Randy Jackson, is her first new release in over a decade. And it’s good ‘ even Simon Cowell says so. Sort of.
“He told me, `I hate you, (but) I love the song, ‘” relates Abdul, addressing the press in a Fox-sponsored phone conference.
It pays to be Mr. Nasty: Simon Cowell splashes out £40MILLION for a new home
Simon Cowell may be the man everyone loves to hate, but he has made himself very, very rich in the process.
Now at last he has found a way of spending some of his wealth – by splashing out £40 million on a house in west London.
Or, judging by these pictures, a large hole in the ground (with a very nice house attached).
Phil’s Pages: Chapter 5
I had the day off yesterday, so I’m a little behind in posting. So let’s immediately hear from Phil in the latest installment of his diary, with some fascinating behind-the-scenes insights into the challenges of mustering up a decent performance on the show. Definitely a must to read …
I’ve always been a big fan of American Idol, and watched and voted every year, and, after this first week of live performances, I’m hooked again for another season. I’ll say that there were a few that I was really happy for and others that I felt for. It’s funny that someone can give one non-perfect performance on American Idol and everyone starts talking about how non-talented they are. Come on, people, these are the folks who emerged as the best 24 contestants out of 100, 000 auditions. Though I’m sure there were 99, 976 people back home telling everyone in the room with them, “I could’ve done better”, there are some inherent challenges that can make for a less-than-perfect performance.
‘Idol’ finalist Melinda Doolittle gets a scoop on her career
Melinda Doolittle says the musical ride she’s been on is still the “craziest ever.”
Doolittle, 30, finished third on last season’s “American Idol.” She’s gearing up for a CD launch in June (the track “My Funny Valentine” can be downloaded at iTunes), and she’ll be in the Sacramento area on Wednesday as part of a Dreyer’s ice cream promotion.
As part of that promotion ‘ in which people have been asked to vote on five new “Idol”-inspired ice cream flavors ‘ 10 participating households, including one in Sacramento, will be selected to receive a private concert by Doolittle at their home. The winner will be informed after today’s drawing.
Celebrity Guests to Help Celebrate Mercy Ministries’ 25th Anniversary
On Friday night, April 18th, multiple award-winning artists will come together for a unique concert at the Belmont University Curb Center at 7pm. Artists include American Idol finalist, Mandisa, Dove Award-winning artists, BarlowGirl, GMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant, Grammy nominees Israel Houghton and New Breed, and spokespersons for the organization since the early 1990’s, Point of Grace. Master of Ceremonies is Ericka Dunlap, 2004 Miss America.
Nancy Alcorn, founder of Mercy Ministries, will be one of five world-renowned speakers at an all day women’s conference at the Belmont University Curb Center on Saturday, April 19th starting at 9:30 a.m. Other speakers include best selling author from Sydney, Australia, Christine Caine, motivational speaker, Priscilla Shirer, author and former actress Holly Wagner, and best-selling author and speaker Charlotte Scanlon-Gambill from the United Kingdom. Natalie Grant, Israel Houghton and New Breed will provide music for the event.
Vince Gill Raffles $650, 000 HouseFebruary 25, 2008 – Vince Gill and his wife, Amy Grant, performed in Franklin, Tenn., last Friday, but the show was hardly a run-of-the-mill concert. It marked the start of a raffle of a house valued at $650, 000 to raise funds for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Friday’s kick-off concert drew 800 people. In addition to Vince and Amy, it featured former American Idol finalists Phil Stacey and Melinda Doolittle, plus Nashville funk act the Wooten Brothers.
Kellie Pickler Picks Men’s Minds
February 25, 2008 – Kellie Pickler currently has her second Top 25 single with “Things That Never Cross A Man’s Mind, ” and it’s loaded with thoughts and behaviors that are predominantly female: shopping, shoes and the color of the carpet, to name a few.
Oddly enough, the song wasn’t really intended for women. It was meant to let male listeners know that, yes, Kellie really does understand how men’s minds work.
Umatilla County Fair Board releases this year’s line-up
Kellie Pickler, who sang in the fifth season of American Idol, will headline the Umatilla County Fair entertainment in August. Since coming in sixth on the reality show, the country singer sold more than 700, 000 copies of her album “Small Town Girl.”
The Umatilla County Fair Board announced Pickler’s performance and the rest of the entertainment menu at Saturday night’s coronation ceremony. The musical line-up kicks off on Tuesday, Aug. 5, with country singer-song writer Clay Walker.
S.T.A.G.E. Bacharach Benefit Will Feature McKechnie, Manchester, Cook and More
As previously announced, the songs of Academy and Grammy Award-winning pop composer Burt Bacharach ‘ whose one Broadway musical, Promises, Promises, earned eight 1969 Tony nominations ‘ will be the focus of the benefit concert. Entitled Blame It on Bacharach!, the annual AIDS benefit will be presented March 8 at 8 PM and March 9 at 3 PM at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills, California. David Galligan will direct the concerts with musical direction by Mary Ekler.
Those scheduled to interpret the works of Bacharach include Grammy Award winner Melissa Manchester, “American Idol” finalist Justin Guarini, stage and screen star Marilu Henner, Oscar and Grammy nominee Stephen Bishop, R&B singer Deniece Williams and “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” host Jai Rodriguez as well as Marilyn Maye, Betty Garrett, Carole Cook, Pat Marshall and Nancy Dussault. The original “Plaids” from the long-running Forever Plaid ‘ Stan Chandler, David Engel, Roger Befeler and Larry Rabin ‘ will also be part of the concerts.
Review: Clay Aiken fits as Sir Robin in ‘Spamalot
We know that Fantasia, Aiken’s fellow breakout survivor from gladiator TV, had a phenomenal stage debut last year as a replacement for the star in “The Color Purple.” But what are the chances that another newbie from the South with zero stage experience would be able to slip into a high-maintenance Broadway hit without dragging it down like a boulder tied to its soft shoe?
So it’s excellent news for Aiken and “Spamalot, ” not so good for drama schools. Aiken is a charmer. With his aging cherub face and a frizzle-pageboy wig, he goes sweetly and deftly Medieval on Broadway – a world described in the show as “a very special place with people who can sing and dance, often at the same time.”
Carrie Underwood dazzles audiences
Carrie Underwood simply dazzles audiences on stage, and her live, in-person charisma could convert even people who might have been lukewarm about her songs on the radio.
The young, blonde country music star — who also has become a household name in pop and Christian circles since her “American Idol” win in 2005 –told the audience on Friday that she was worried no one would show up at the Petersen Events Center in Oakland because the weather was so bad. The audience responded with noises that echoed everyone’s sentiment: “Well, of course I came. How could I miss it?”
Carrie Underwood delivers memorable performance
Carrie Underwood: thousands of fans; 23 songs; four outfits; one stage; one American Idol.
On Sunday the Dunkin Donuts Center was nearly sold out for the 2008 Female Country Vocal Grammy Award winner. Underwood proved why she was has won numerous awards including several Grammys, several CMT awards, and several AMA awards. At the Dunkin Donuts Center, Underwood came off as both versatile and personable.
The show, set for 7:30 p.m. had a delayed start because opening act Josh Turner came down with the flu several hours before the performance. At 8:15, the lights dimmed, the crowd cheered and a 5-minute countdown began on the backdrop screen of the stage. As the clock got closer to zero the crowd got louder and louder. When it hit zero, everyone was standing awaiting the entrance of the 2004 “American Idol” winner.
Underwood sings to 10, 000 at Arena
There weren’t many surprises during the first hour or so of Carrie Underwood’s concert Monday night in Bridgeport ‘ that came in the encore ‘ and that was just fine with the capacity crowd of about 10, 000 who made their way to the Arena at Harbor Yard. The country superstar is out on her first headlining tour to promote her new record, “Carnival Ride, ” and promote it she did, performing 11 of the disc’s 13 songs with a handful of tunes from her debut smash “Some Hearts” thrown in.
The boisterous crowd was on its feet seemingly from the time the on-screen clock counting down to showtime reached the one-minute mark until the end of her 90 minutes on stage. Even an opening glitch that had Underwood briefly singing into a microphone that wasn’t turned on couldn’t cool the warm welcome she received.
