American Idol: Is This The Season of the Worship Leader?
Last night, I was wrong about my American Idol predictions, and I’ve never been so happy: Kris Allen (pictured) made the Top 12! He, along with Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert, join Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey and Michael Sarver in the Top 12.
I love Kris Allen but wasn’t sure that he’d get enough votes to put him through. Lo and behold, he made it! (I have a hunch we’ll see Norman Gentle back for the Wild Card round.)
That means that of the top six contestants, three are church worship leaders:
“American Idol” so far: a race with no horses
I thought Seattle Times arts critic Misha Berson made a great comment yesterday: “I need a horse in this race!” I agree completely! Because of either a lack of talent or the change in format, I’m just not getting a buzz from any of the six who have made it through so far.
In previous years, it’s been fun to latch onto a favorite around Top 24 time and become emotionally invested in their fate. Sometimes there’s even a nice battle of genres.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Unknown Semi-Finalists Defy the Odds on ‘American Idol’
Usually on “American Idol, ” the big shocker comes when someone unexpectedly goes home.
Kris Allen may have made “Idol” history Wednesday as the first contestant to enlist that reaction by sticking around.
The 23-year-old Arkansas native joined Allison Iraheta and Adam Corkery in becoming the latest additions to Season 8 Top 12, and no one seemed more surprised at the news than Kris himself ¦ except maybe me.
“American Idol” Has To Pray Just To Make It To The End Of Its Hour
Last night’s elimination episode of American Idol scuttled its chances for drama once again, with the final “who’s in the top 12” showdown being between the heavy favorite (this time, Adam Lambert, above) and the week’s comic relief (Nick “Normund Gentle” Mitchell) for the second straight week. Given that there was an actual surprise during the proceedings’ babyfaced worship leader Kris Allen, who performed a shaky rendition of “Man In The Mirror” on Wednesday, made it to the finals despite stronger performances by at least two young ladies who didn’t make the cut’ you’d think the producers would try and sequence the show so that people would be inspired to tune in all the way through. Perhaps they haven’t looked at the ratings from Wednesday yet?
Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel in Tucson
Taylor Hicks is ready to sing “Beauty School Dropout” in Tucson for his Broadway performance of Grease.
He’s playing “Teen Angel” in Tucson all week and when he’s not performing, Hicks is getting comfortable in Southern Arizona.
“These are my Tucson shoes right here, I never wear these, only in appropriate places and this town is exactly the reason why I brought them, ” Hicks said about his snakeskin boots.
Rock-It Science Concert to Feature Rock of Ages’ Maroulis, Spanger and Carpinello
Rock of Ages stars Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger and James Carpinello will take part in the Rock-It Science Festival fundraiser at the Highline Ballroom on March 3.
The Broadway trio will join a line up of performers including Rufus Wainwright, Steve Wynn, Lenny Kate, Peter Holsapp, Gary Lucas, Dee Snider, Pamela Luss, the Amygdaloids, Daniel Levitin, Gary Lucas and the Kennedys. The evening’s emcee is Anna Copa Cabanna.
According to press notes, the musical event celebrates “the interface between music and science featuring world-famous scientists who also actively perform music, with science-friendly guest stars.” The event serves as a fundraiser for The Sensation and Emotion Network.
Idol winner David Cook is having the time of his life
The way David Cook sees it, there’s been no downside to his winning the seventh season of ”American Idol” last May.
When the show’s executives decided to team the rocker with runner-up David Archuleta for post-show promotion, Cook says he looked at it as ”I’ve got to continue through this process with kind of a friend in tow.”
His patience paid off. When it came time to record his debut album, Cook says producers gave him ”carte blanche, ” rather than the heavy-handed direction that former ”Idol” singers such as Kelly Clarkson and Katharine McPhee said they got.
David Cook’s webisodes are no “Time of My Life”
American Idol, and Blue Springs, Missouri native, David Cook is letting his fans go behind-the-scenes of his latest tour.
In a series of “webisodes” titled “Pork Beans” Cook and his band show you what really happens before his shows.
Let me give you a quick glimpse…
Kelly Clarkson: ‹Ryan Tedder Tricked Me!
See how OneRepublic frontman and superproducer Ryan Tedder slyly conned Kelly Clarkson into coming out of her shell and writing take-no-prisoners powerhouses on her new album, All I Ever Wanted. (You dog, you!) And listen to every track of All I Ever Wanted this Tuesday, March 3 on The Leak on MTV.com!
Kelly Clarkson’s ‘All I Ever Wanted’: 3.5 stars [UPDATE]
The former ‘American Idol’ star is in her purest form on the new album.
The fourth album from pop’s most sympathetic rebel girl, Kelly Clarkson, has nearly as many mandates attached to it as a certain economic stimulus plan.
The record label execs who objected to the emotionally loaded, tough-sell hard rock of 2007’s “My December” are hoping for a massive, industry-saving hit. The critics who love her spunk but question her sensibility desire artful pop with a little bit of red meat. The “Idol” watchers and Top 40 listeners who made her a star in the first place want the perfect blend of sincerity and catchiness to lift their spirits during a year when nobody needs another breakup album.
Producers desperate to keep Jewel ‹Dancing
…Dancing with the Stars producers are going to do whatever it takes to get singer Jewel, who injured her knees while rehearsing, to dance her way into the season premiere.
A source close to the show says, …it one thing to have to have a contestant drop out during the show, but before? It a disaster. She been promod and it so late in the game ‘ pinning down another contestant at this point who has time in their schedule? I cant even imagine it.
Vote Chris Sligh for Dove’s new artist award!
Season 6’s Chris Sligh has been nominated in the Best New Artist category for the annual Dove Awards and you can help him bring home the trophy. This year, the Doves are letting fans determine the winner in this category.
Click here to register and then vote for Chris!
The Dove Awards show will be held April 23 at the Grand Ole Opryhouse. The show will air on the Gospel Music Channel at 8 p.m.
Dancing Gilles Marini Injured
Is there a Dancing with the Stars curse in the works for season eight? Actor Gilles Marini sought medical treatment after feeling pain in his groin area at rehearsal on Friday afternoon, his rep confirms to PEOPLE.
The Sex and the City: The Movie star and his partner, two-time Dancing champ Cheryl Burke, were rehearsing when he felt a sharp pain in his groin.
Marini, 33, sought medical treatment and his rep says doctors determined the actor has tendonitis in his groin and shoulder.
Producers desperate to keep Jewel ‹Dancing
…Dancing with the Stars producers are going to do whatever it takes to get singer Jewel, who injured her knees while rehearsing, to dance her way into the season premiere.
A source close to the show says, …it one thing to have to have a contestant drop out during the show, but before? It a disaster. She been promod and it so late in the game ‘ pinning down another contestant at this point who has time in their schedule? I cant even imagine it.
