David Cook, front and center
After a quick trip back to his hometown of Blue Springs last weekend, …American Idol winner David Cook is back in Los Angeles, where he started work this week on his first post-‹Idol album. He talked with us on Wednesday about that record, his hometown and other …Idol-related issues.
Castro shares his daydream with the hometown crowd
What a day for a daydream, what a day for a hometown boy. Jason Castro celebrated his much awaited return to Rockwall on Thursday to an estimated crowd of 15, 000 anxious and cheering fans.
Preparing for the celebration was more than a month in planning. Castro family friend, Carol McMillan, met with city officials before the American Idol Top 3 were announced to make plans for Jason hometown visit. Although Jason did not make the Top 3, the city of Rockwall kept the plans in place to honor Castro for his achievements and welcome him back home Texas style.
David Cook: A Hairstyle Even A Mother Can’t Love
KANSAS CITY, MO. — A lot’s been said about American Idol David Cook’s hair. He’s made fun of it himself on VH1’s Best Week Ever. And, his look has certainly gone through a transformation since he went from Tulsa bartender to American Idol star. Now, his mother, Beth Foraker, admits to FOX 4 she asked him to change his hair a long time ago. But, Cook stood firm until the Idol stylists got ahold of him.
Julianne Hough, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift to Host ‘CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock’ on ABC
NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 6 /PRNewswire/ — It’s a raucous girls’ night out when “Dancing with the Stars” champion Julianne Hough, former “American Idol” finalist Kellie Pickler and reigning CMA Horizon Award winner Taylor Swift host “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” Monday, Sept. 8 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.
“The summer’s hottest concert special, just got hotter with the addition of these three beautiful, talented performers as hosts, ” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Tammy Genovese. “They are all America’s sweethearts and I know they will each add sparkle and fun to a great night of musical performances.”
Filming Thursday through Sunday, June 5-8, during the annual CMA Music Festival, the special features today’s most exciting Country Music stars during a four-day party and music celebration in Nashville.
Kellie Pickler & Taylor Swift Team Up for New Song
Kellie Pickler is teaming up with fellow country star Taylor Swift for a new song on the former Idol’s upcoming album.
On the track, the singers mine some ex-boyfriend territory for a get-back tune called “Best Days of Your Life.” Although Pickler is mum about exactly which ex the song refers to, she tells PEOPLE, “You have to be careful when you date a songwriter. We always get the last word!”
American Idol’s Blake Lewis Wants His iPod to Do Unspeakable Things
Hey, remember Season 6 of ‘American Idol’? Remember that guy, what’s-his-name, the hot one that did beatboxing and almost won but then didn’t? Well, he didn’t need your deciding votes! Runner-up Blake Lewis is doing just fine, thank you ‘ after being ranked 21st-hottest on AOL’s 21 sexiest single men list last July (aw, that’s kinda sad actually), he cut an album with Arista records, and Lupe Fiasco was on it!
May 13th marked the release of his latest endeavor, a remix EP for the hit single “How Many Words.” Even though he’s rolling with big name producers and DJs like BT, DJ Dan, and Britney collaborator Dave Aude, he still found time to tell Switched about his sex, um, we mean, tech life. Read on to find out more, but Blake, you’re a winner in our book!
“Idol” Winner Hicks Will Sing on “Regis” as Part of Broadway Week
Taylor Hicks, the “American Idol” winner who has joined the Broadway company of Grease, will perform on the June 13 broadcast of “Live with Regis & Kelly.”
Hicks will be joined by members of the Grease company to perform “Beauty School Dropout, ” as part of the syndicated talk show’s “Broadway Week 2008.”
This is her now
When talking to Jordin Sparks, what really jumps out is how young the former “American Idol” winner still is. The 18-year-old singer from Arizona says frequently that the toughest part of dealing with the “Idol” process and the subsequent recording and promotion chores is being away from her family.
“You don’t know how much I miss them, and it’s really, really tough, ” Sparks says, sounding just like someone who’s no more than a year out of high school.
In Concert
Sparks adds that the books she likes to dip into when she gets moments away from the music grind are those in the popular teen supernatural “Twilight” series. She takes a deep breath and sighs before admitting to the TV show she watches most frequently. “It has to be ‘SpongeBob SquarePants.'” A giddy laugh emerges. “I know I shouldn’t, but I do. It’s so great.”
American Idol Justin Guarini to perform at Snowfest
The public is invited to a free concert by …American Idol Season One runner-up Justin Guarini at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 21, in Jordan Valley Park, 735 E. Trafficway. The concert is part of the 7th annual Springfield-Greene County Park Board Summer SnowFest.
SnowFest runs from 4 to 9 p.m., and includes a …mountain of snow to play in, military equipment, interactive games, snowman-building contests, inflatables for the smaller kids and giveaways. Local live entertainment acts will include Hotbox at 4 p.m. and C-Club at 5:30 p.m.
A summer of jams is ready to roll
Of course, the National Cherry Festival will have its stage at Traverse City’s Open Space park for eight days of musical acts.
“A Celebration of Faith” on Sunday of Cherry Festival week will include performances by Christian pop artists Jared Anderson, Chris Sligh and Krissy Nordoff.
Bo Bice to headline July 4th concert at Silver Springs
What better way to celebrate American Independence than with two “American Idol” contestants?
Silver Springs attraction has announced its Fourth of July Fireworks and American Idol Concert will feature Bo BIce, the first-runner up from season 4 and Robbie Carrico, a top 24 finalist from the current season 7.
Carrico, from Melbourne, was a rocker who survived the first cut from 24 down to 20, but did not make the second round of cuts. He was one of four voted off on Feb. 28 this year.
He will open the performance. According to the Silver Springs Web site …This native Floridian style is strictly rock n roll and is a perfect addition to any patriotic celebration!
Henner, Lake, Lewis, Manchester, McGovern, Moreno, et al. Set for Help Is On the Way Benefit
Help Is On the Way XIV: Blame It On the Movies, a gala concert to benefit five Bay Area AIDS service organizations, will be held on Sunday, August 3 at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.
The line-up of performers currently includes Carole Cook, Marilu Henner, Tim Hockenberry, Ricki Lake, Vicki Lewis, Kimberly Locke, Melissa Manchester, Maureen McGovern, Rita Moreno, Jai Rodriguez, Paula West, Lauren Wood, as well as cast members from the national tour of The Drowsy Chaperone. The show will be directed by David Galligan, with musical direction by Michael Orland and Mary Eckler.
Paula Abdul’s Feathers
With the exception of those damn feathers adorning her breasts, Paula Abdul looked gorgeous in white at the Spring Gala Dinner for the Neuromuscular Disease Foundation held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Friday night.
Sharon Osbourne leaves the X Factor
Sharon Osbourne has left the X Factor after four years as a judge on the television talent show.
In a statement, she thanked Simon Cowell, a fellow judge on the show, and the British public for their support.
The judging panel for the show had included Cowell, Osbourne, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh. Despite Walsh being previously dropped from the show, he was later asked back onto it and said he was …thrilled”.
An ITV spokesman later said: …Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave the X Factor after four fantastic years. ITV thanks her for her immense contribution to the show and for all her humour, compassion and energy.
Punters expect Lulu to join ‘X Factor’
Lulu has emerged as the bookies’ favourite to replace Sharon Osbourne on The X Factor.
Ladbrokes have named the Scottish singer as the 2/1 favourite after a flurry of bets from punters. The firm had previously been accepting bets on her X Factor chances at 8/1.
Nick Weinberg, Ladbrokes’ spokesman, said: “It’s been one-way traffic for Lulu. In terms of the betting, she’s got the X Factor.”
American Idol judge Paula Abdul, who previously joined the X Factor panel as a guest in series three, is at 3/1, as is Kylie Minogue, the sister of current judge Dannii. Sharon’s daughter Kelly is seen as her fourth most likely successor, with bets being taken at 4/1.
Four Utahns on new season of hit Fox show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’
Four professional dancers from Utah are competing to high-step their way to stardom on the newest season of the hit Fox reality show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Two of the dancers, Matt Dorame, 22, and Thayne Jasperson, 27, trained at the Odyssey Dance Theatre company in Salt Lake City. Chelsie Hightower, 18, Pleasant Grove, is a teacher at the Center Stage Performing Arts Studios in Orem. The fourth contestant is Gev Manoukian, a 21-year-old hip hop/break dancer originally from Kazakhstan living in Centerville.
Meet Your New ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Top 20
FOX’s summer hit “So You Think You Can Dance” cut down to the Top 20 for its fourth season on Thursday (June 5) night.
If you’re looking for trends, this season features several foreign-born contestants (a “So You Think You Can Dance” tradition) as well as several Utah-based dancers whose credits include the ultra-popular “High School Musical” franchise. And, as usual, nobody with a tap-dancing specialty is included.
Reality Check: ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Not for the Weak
From the last round of auditions in Milwaukee to the top-20 selection in Vegas, it was an action-packed week for “So You Think You Can Dance” as the show said goodbye to more than 180 dancers.
Erica Gee was one of the first sent home, but her tearful parting words rang true throughout the entire Vegas episode: “If you dont have a thick skin, you probably shouldnt be a dancer, ” she said.
Amen! You need a thick skin just to watch half these people get the ax, let alone be the ax-ee.
Though Im not sure you can really call Robert Murraine an ax-ee. Nigel “favorite dancer of 2008” (and mine, too) sent himself home after feeling defeated by the first round of Vegas choreography. Luckily, it gave everyone a chance to see his solo one more time (which was so good I had to rewind and watch twice more).
But despite words of encouragement from the judges and thunderous applause from the audience, the pop-n-locker decided he just wasnt cut out for this competition.
