Idol Headlines for 6/15/10

Casey James talks tour with Ryan Seacrest:

Ryan Seascrest

Plus, Idol tickets for 20 bucks at LiveNation.com

Another Book on the Way From Ellen Degeneres

The book publishing industry may be in a slump, but not when it comes to celebrity authors. The comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has signed a deal with Grand Central Publishing, part of the Hachette Book Group, to write her third book, “a look at her life through her humor, ” the publisher said on Sunday. The book is scheduled for publication in the fall. “I found that between my talk show, ‘American Idol’ and my late-night blogging, I didn’t have enough ways to express myself, ” Ms. DeGeneres said in a statement. Her first two books were best sellers.

NY Times

More Headlines after the JUMP…

American Idol’s Casey James mum Bybee James Ewing’s feature artist. – Audio

Debra “Bybee” D. James was raised (along with other notible musicians) , in Oak Cliff Texas. Her love for the arts began at an early age. Her first performance on stage before an audience was dancing at the age of three. Her love for ballet was superceded only be her love for music, poetry and lyrics when she started playing the keyboards at age ten. Debra is the mother of third place getter Casey James from Season 9 American Idol.

Radio Live.co.nz

@IdolsNow In six days, ELLIOTT YAMIN goes to Accra, Ghana to help distribute NETS FOR LIFE (malaria bed nets) on behalf of Malaria No More.

American Idol Contestants to Go Shirtless on Tour?

Aaron, who’s only 17 years old, told us, “We are going to keep it in our comfort zones. I know we are all performing songs that fit us as artists. I’m really excited. Mine is going to be more of a country themed, I see myself in the modern route of country. Everyone is doing songs they feel really comfortable with.”

So we had a little fun with them, and proposed a shirtless number! Tim immediately nominated Aaron for the job. “Aaron Kelly is taking his shirt off on tour, ” he joked with us.

‘American Idol’ Contestant Didi Benami on Her Tattoo, Writing New Songs and Brooke White

What are you going to be performing?
One of the songs I’m going to be doing is ‘Terrified.’ I don’t know if I’m allowed to say the second one yet. I can only say one! I will be doing ‘Terrified.’

Would you do a duet on tour?
It’s difficult, because, technically, we can only go on in the order we were eliminated and the other people can’t come out … I would have wanted to, but technically, unless I come into somebody else’s set, I can’t sing with anybody. I wanted people to come sing with me, but then I’d have to wait to do my set, and then it’d be a mess … I really, really wanted to get that together. I wanted Crystal [Bowersox] to come on and play guitar with me … But that’s OK. It’ll still be a good show.

TV Squad

TV Guide Celebrity Interviews: American Idol: Lee DeWyze

Kris Allen plays Nashville

Kris Allen played Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom Monday night. With the 1, 100-capacity room about half full, maybe a little more, and the audience comfortably spaced, American Idol’s Season 8 winner opened with the riff-heavy Can’t Stay Away, then followed with a version of Heartless, combined these days with Gangster’s Paradise, that has a tougher, leaner feel than his early versions of the song. Both songs provided some punch from an act that’s often associated with his quieter, acoustic performances.

USA Today

Kris Allen – FOX 17 Nashville (Video)

He took home enough votes to beat Adam Lambert in Season 8 of American Idol. Now Kris Allen is focusing on his debut single.

He joins us now to talk about what’s going on in his career right now.

Fox 17

For glam ‘Idol, ‘ his 15 minutes of fame still ticking

Factions of the pop-music scene have grown steadily hysterical in recent months, making over-the-top dynamics an instant means, not a hard-earned end, so much so that the glitter and gossip over a TV singing competition’s second-place finisher can be fast eclipsed by Lady Gaga video epics and impossibly well-timed choral numbers on Glee.

Yet Adam Lambert, American Idol runner-up, atypical fashion plate, seemed to pack as many thematic metaphors (and costume changes) as possible into a 70-minute set last night in the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion.

Columbus Dispatch

Bucky Covington – SR here he comes

If you’re a long-time American Idol fan you’ll remember Bucky Covington – Season 5, 8th place finisher.

Well, Bucky will be in Santa Rosa on Wednesday thanks in part to FROGGY radio station 92.9.

He’ll perform for free at about 5 p.m. at the Stony Point Grill (130-A Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa).

Idol Chatter caught up with Bucky Monday afternoon after his flight from Nashville, Tenn. landed for a show in Fresno.

Here is what Bucky had to say:

Press Democrat

Growing pains aside, Sparks shows promise

To survey the half-empty House of Blues before Jordin Sparks took the stage, it would have been easy to declare it over before it even started. After all, there had been six extra weeks to sell tickets since her April date at the Orpheum was rescheduled to Sunday night, and still the (slightly smaller) new venue seemed like an awkward overreach for the singer’s first headlining tour following stints with the Jonas Brothers, Alicia Keys, and her “American Idol’’ compatriots.

But it quickly became apparent that the problem was simply one of scale. Her handful of Top 20 hits (and the sizable number of tweens in attendance) notwithstanding, Sparks delivered a performance that would have shone in a club a fraction of the size.

Boston Globe

Online group defies the typical Daughtry demographic

Barbara Underhill loves American Idol rocker Chris Daughtry. Loves Daughtry: the man, his band (known by the same name), Daughtry’s wife Deanna, his bald head, his values.

Underhill is a groupie. She owns that title. When she goes walking in the morning, she plays Daughtry tunes on loop. When she can get away from work, she travels to see him in concert. And every day, she connects with dozens of other longtime Daughtry fans online — fans like her, women much older than 30-year-old Chris Daughtry himself.

They call themselves Yah-Yahs; Y-A-H stands for “Young at Heart.” And as much as they all love Daughtry, they have grown to care as much for each other as for him.

Democrat and Chronicle

American Idol’s Scott Savol Releasing New Music

Season 4 American Idol finalist Scott Savol has announced the release of two new digital tracks, Savol’s first release of original music since he placed fifth on American Idol.

“Beauty Queen” and “Amazing Love (Life Is Better)” will be available at digital sales portals on June 22, 2010.

Savol never went looking for fame. He simply wanted to do what he loved most — sing and perform for others. As a shy three year old, compelled to share his voice with others, he sang while sitting under the kitchen table where no one could watch him. Two decades later, the television phenomenon called American Idol has cured Savol of any remaining fears of public performance, gave him a worldwide platform to perform, and brought him instant notoriety.

Anti-music.com

‘Nasty Nigel’ man of the hour

BANFF — He is known in North America for encouraging — and just as often discouraging — young dancers on So You Think You Can Dance.

But Nigel Lythgoe has been in television for more years than he’d care to admit.

The 60-year-old dance judge and producer started his career as a hoofer, performing with such movie musical stars as Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. He also choreographed pieces for the likes of Ben Vereen, Bing Crosby and even The Muppets.

“You couldn’t just say, ‘Move to the right a little bit, ’ when the (puppeteers) were in character, ” said Lythgoe, speaking to a roomful of TV industry professionals at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Monday afternoon.

“You had to say, ‘I’m sorry Miss Piggy, could you please move to the right a little bit.’ ”

Lythgoe is one of the featured guests at this year’s Banff World Television Festival, which runs until Wednesday. He will receive the 2010 Award of Excellence at the Banff Television Awards Tuesday night.

Calgary Sun

More Headlines:

Jason Castro headed to Norway

Jason tweets, “For those of you interested, im headed to Norway to perform at the VG Lista festival!!! Its gonna be AWESOME!!!”

More Footage Of The Epic Siobhan Magnus/Hanson “Siobhanson” Jam Session Surfaces (Video)

And I had to agree with Siobhan–this really was better than winning “Idol.” Siobhan performed like a true champ, and as evidenced by the footage below shot by Hanson’s own crew, it was a win-win situation for the band and all Bardot spectators as well.

Yahoo Music

Jordin Sparks Priming For Broadway Debut On ‘Battlefield’ Tour

Sparks has also recorded a new version of the theme song for Walt Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” for the Blu-ray version of the movie — “I grew up watching Disney princess movies, ” he notes — but plans for her own third album are up in the air right now.

“We don’t really have a set date, ” Sparks reports. “I haven’t been in the studio for awhile, really. I’m pretty sure after Broadway I would love to take a vacation, and then hopefully I can work on a new (album). So maybe some time next year, but you never know. The Broadway shows are at night, so maybe during the days I can get into the studio and start writing. We’ll see what happens.”

Billboard

“Idol” and Broadway Stars Hicks and DeGarmo to Play Highline Ballroom

Season five “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks, who made his Broadway debut in Grease, and season three finalist Diana DeGarmo, who is currently appearing in the Tony-winning revival of Hair, will both offer solo concerts at the Highline Ballroom in July.

Hicks will play the Manhattan venue July 25, and DeGarmo will perform July 26. Show time both nights is 8 PM.

Playbill

Anoop to play free concert at The Streets at Southpoint

DURHAM – Recording artist Anoop Desai, best known from “American Idol, ” will be performing at The Streets at Southpoint in Durham on Friday.

From 7 to 7:30 p.m., Desai will play an acoustic set featuring songs from his new hit album, “All is Fair, ” which was recently released May 4. His album will be available for sale, and Desai will be signing autographs directly following the performance. The free-to-the-public event will take place outside on Cinema Circle near Urban Outfitters and Southpoint Cinemas.

Herald Sun

Teacher wants to meet Carrie Underwood

BARRIE – From teaching about unrequited love in Shakespeare to messages of faith in music, St. Peter’s Catholic High School teacher Michael Sheehan says he uses Carrie Underwood as a teaching tool.

Underwood – an American Idol winner who has gone on to win Academy of Country Music Awards for Entertainer of the Year two years in a row – inspires him, makes him laugh – and undoubtedly helps him engage his students in his English and religion classes.

Simcoe.com

‘American Idol’ Contestant Andrew Garcia on ‘Bromance’ Buttons and Meeting Paula Abdul

So both you and Paula Abdul were at the season 9 finale, and yet you didn’t perform ‘Straight Up’ together. What gives?
Everybody’s asking me that. I don’t know why they didn’t set that up. That would have been cool. Everyone in the world is asking me that every time they see me. They’re like, “Paula Abdul was there. You’re there. What the hell?”

Did you get to talk to her?
Yes, I did. It was the coolest thing. She was just like, “When I heard you do the song, I had a smile on my face from ear to ear. You touched America’s heart and you touched mine, because it was amazing and I’m so thankful that you did that.” Oh man, it was crazy. I was like, “Wow.” I love Paula. She’s amazing.

Do you know which songs you’re doing on tour?
Uh, yeah. I will be doing ‘Straight Up.’ That’s one of the songs I’ll be doing. I’m pretty excited for it. The other songs have a full production [with] the band and stuff.

Are you working on an album?
Yeah, I’m working on an album right now. There will be some collabs in there. My boy, Lee. We always jam together, so hopefully that works out.

Will you be writing for it while on tour? Will there be any covers?
Yes, I’m going to be writing for it on the tour and it’s gonna be cool. Usually, I play guitar first and then it comes to me and whatever I feel I just sing it. I’ll probably just do ‘Straight Up, ‘ but I have a bunch.

TV Squad

About mj santilli 34830 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!