David Cook Helps Raise Big Bucks to Fight Cancer
KANSAS CITY, MO. — American Idol David Cook’s name and image has helped raise more than $30, 000 for the American Cancer Society.
Cancer is close to Cook’s heart. His brother, Adam, suffers from brain cancer. Cook put an “AC” on his guitar during his time on American Idol in honor of his brother.
An eBay auction for David Cook autographed memorabilia ends Tuesday, June 17. A guitar on auction raised $500. The amount raised by the auctioned T-shirts was still in flux.
Help Jennifer Hudson Name Her Debut Album!
It only taken her four years and an Oscar, but ex-Idol Jennifer Hudson is finally putting out her own record this September. (Seriously, think about it. Even Jon Peter Lewis convinced someone to release his album.) My West Coast colleague Yasmine recently visited the set of J-Hud music video for …Spotlight (so jealous!) and during their interview, Hudson dropped this bomb: She doesnt have an album title yet!
So, being a die-hard J-Hud fan since her first …Idol appearance, I feel it my duty to suggest a few album titles for the full-figured diva.
For the Record: The Game, David Archuleta, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony & More
Jessica Simpson is getting flack from PETA for a shirt she was recently spotted wearing that read, …Real Girls Eat Meat. Either she loves her some T-bones, or she was taking a swipe at on-off boyfriend Tony Romo ex Carrie Underwood, who has been voted PETA World Sexiest Vegetarian twice.
So his dad cost …American Idol some extra licensing fees and reportedly got banned from backstage for his antics. That doesnt mean David Archuleta didnt have an awesome Father Day with big poppa Jeff. In fact, their …neat day included church and a trip to a lovely sounding eatery called Soup Plantation.
Carrie Underwood Longs For Club Bed
Carrie Underwood seems to be living life in the fast lane judging by songs including Last Name, Before He Cheats, Jesus, Take The Wheel and All-American Girl.
Despite romances with Chace Crawford and others, guys neednt worry about her poison pen.
…Oh, no, I dont write songs about the guys I date, she tells me backstage at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. …Every song, though, has to have a character in it. You definitely relate certain characters to certain people. Even if I write a song, I pick a song and sing a song, I have to relate them to certain people that I know. So I may relate a little bit to friends or family or guys that I have been around.
Youthful Carrie Underwood lacks gritty authenticity in Birmingham show
Carrie Underwood really can sing. That we know, from her “American Idol” win and two top-selling albums.
Carrie Underwood is a beautiful young thing with impeccable grooming. That we also know, from her TV appearances and photos in celebrity magazines.
Carrie Underwood has label support that permits her to tour with high-tech gear, high-fashion costumes and an eight-member band. That we definitely know, from Tuesday’s 8:45 p.m. concert at the BJCC Arena.
Taylor Hicks Came From Alabama With A Banjo On His Knee
The American Idol winner is singing a new tune on Broadway in Grease. For tickets to see Taylor Hicks in Grease, log onto to www.telecharge.com
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP…
Taylor Hicks, Gloria Reuben among stars teeing up for good cause in Mamaroneck
I know celebrities are supposed to be nice when they lend their name, time and (sometimes) money to charitable causes, but I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and interviewing former …American Idol champ Taylor Hicks, former …ER star Gloria Reuben, former New York Giants cornerback Jeremy Lincoln and …SportsCenter anchor Trey Wingo in Mamaroneck yesterday at Autism Speaks 10th annual New York Celebrity Golf Challenge. All of them were good-natured and showcased great senses of humor.
Kellie Pickler Has a Soft Spot for Seniors
Like many country stars, Kellie Pickler uses her celebrity status to help charitable organizations. But her favorite charity is a little unusual: the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). …I love working with different charities, but the big foundations and organizations already get so much exposure and so much attention, explains Pickler. …I wanted to bring awareness to a smaller charity that might not have gotten that kind of attention had I not helped them. The AARP is amazing, and I can really relate to it. My grandparents raised me, so I know the struggles that they have to go through financially and legally and all that.
Kellie Pickler Golfs for a Good Cause
Kellie Pickler’s gone green ‘ at Nashville’s 21st Annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament & Tupperware Party.
Taking time from recording her second album, the former Idol star, 21, went “clubbing” at Monday’s outdoor fund-raiser on behalf of United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee.
“I am the queen of putt-putt, ” said Pickler, who quickly got into the swing of things ‘ and proved herself no novice with a golf club and dimpled ball.
7th Annual Summer SnowFest (Fairs & Festivals)
The public is invited to a free concert by “American Idol” Season One runner-up Justin Guarini at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 21, 2008, at Jordan Valley Park, 735 E. Trafficway, as part of the 7th annual Springfield-Greene County Park Board Summer SnowFest.
Continuing his successful relationship with “Idol, ” Guarini appears as a special correspondent on TV Guide Channel’s nationally televised program “Idol Tonight.” Guarini also serves as co-host of “Idol Wrap, ” a fast-paced review of the previous week’s episode of “American Idol.”
Leona Lewis refers to Simon Cowell as her ‘uncle’The ‹Bleeding Love singer ‘ who was mentored by the music mogul when she appeared on hit British TV talent show ‹The X Factor in 2006 ‘ is extremely close to Simon and US producer Clive Davis and thinks of them as part of her family.
She said: …I wouldnt label them as my godfathers, more like my uncles!
Leona also revealed she relies on her friends and family to keep her grounded and make sure she doesnt go off the rails.
‘American Idol’ vs. ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ judges
Reality competitions are only as good as the judges who preside over them. The “American Idol” panel, the gold standard of the genre, proves that the right combination of critiques can add professional insight, comic relief or a verbal jab (much to the delight of the audience). So how do the folks of Fox’s summer series “So You Think You Can Dance” measure up to the “Idol” ideal?
Nashville Star’s fallen season
Nashville Star moved from cable’s USA Network to NBC this season but if you think the move to the majors has boosted this show’s already weak grip on talent or ability to make stars, think again. If Nashville Star was a lame American Idol-with-a-twang knockoff before, the episode I caught Monday night was so embarrassingly inept it almost makes me want to rewrite all my criticisms of Idol’s Jason Castro this season. Jason would outshine the 10 remaining NS contests — that’s how low the bar for this show is.
NBC’s ‘Nashville Star’ in a ratings slide
The country crooners on NBC …Nashville Star hit an off note in their second outing last night. Though the series continues to improve on its ratings from last year, when it aired on USA, the show saw a substantial decline in its second week of competition.
…Star averaged a 1.8 adults 18-49 rating last night from 9 to 10:30 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, off 18 percent from an opening-week 2.2. That still well ahead of what the show averaged on USA last year.
But …Star finished fifth in the 9 p.m. hour, behind even Univision …Fuego en la Sangre, and it barely topped ABC bomb …The Mole during the 10 p.m. half hour, averaging a 1.9 to the latter 1.6.
‘Nashville Star’: Is John Rich out of control?
I like me some John Rich, but our relationship is becoming love/hate thanks to Nashville Star. Let’s get right into last night’s show…
Canadian Idol Announces First-Ever Top 24
The talent was too good and the stakes too high. On tonight’s Canadian Idol broadcast on CTV, it was revealed that the standard group of 22 semifinalists would expand to 24 this season to accommodate the wealth of talent seen by the judges during this week’s Top 200 episodes. The names of the Top 24 revealed on tonight’s broadcast also indicated another
change: the Top 24 semifinals and Top 10 finals will no longer be split along gender lines. Fifteen men and nine women begin competing for Canada’s votes with the first live Top 24 performance episode next Monday, June 23 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV.
For the first time ever, the Top 24 will perform in mixed groups over the next three weeks, instead of in groups of guys and girls – meaning that there will be no gender division when it comes to eliminations. The most talented performers will move forward regardless of gender, resulting in the best group of Top 10 performers possible.
Canadian Idol now moves into its most crucial and important stage. In total, 14 competitors will be eliminated in just three short weeks.
Canadian Idol Recap: And the Top 22 are…actually 24
Just a pre-show note: Is it just me, or are the audition rounds going faster this year than normal? I’ve found it hard to keep up, and keep track of everyone I liked in the first round. Personally, I think the whole month of June should be dedicated to auditions – spread out the first round more so we see more of each city (maybe cap it at two cities a show tops) and then move on to the top 200, then the top 22 starts in July. Just a thought.
Sharon Osbourne and Jerry Springer dish on ‘America’s Got Talent’
America’s Got Talent executive producer Simon Cowell has stated the NBC reality show’s third season will feature “one of the most talented people on any show I’ve been involved in.” However neither the show’s judges or host are ready to reveal which contestant Cowell — who has certainly had no problem making his favorites known while judging American Idol — considers worthy of such lofty praise.
“I do know who he’s talking about but you’re going to have to wait and see, ” America’s Got Talent judge Sharon Osbourne told Reality TV World during a Friday conference call.
Unlike Osbourne, host Jerry Springer said he doesn’t know of whom Cowell is speaking about in the third-season promos — but said even if he did he wouldn’t give his opinion on the talented individual.
America’s Got Talent: Episode 301 (season premiere)
“Single worst tribute act I have seen in my entire life.” – Piers to hopeful Bill
The greatest search for talent is back with a bang! Even if we only saw 12 complete acts during this two-hour premiere of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, I must say I was highly entertained. What I love about this show is that you never know what will come next. Will it be yet another singer? Dancers? An illusionist? A puppeteer? A guy twirling batons? A burlesque act? Unknown. It’s like a surprise bag. And surprises we’ve got in this third season premiere. Bad ones, funny ones, weird ones, and amazing ones.
Join me in a slightly-longer-than-usual review of this two-hour entertainment packed premiere!
