CONCERT REVIEW: American Idols Live!
WASHINGTON: If this seventh season of …American Idol finalists are the strongest top 10 the show has ever produced ‘ and they just might be ‘ then why are parts of their live display so ¦blah?
Now six weeks into their summer tour, the Idols are understandably fatigued. A grueling schedule has them on stage six nights a week, with an endless loop of press conferences, meet-and-greets and other promotional activities scattered throughout the daylight hours.
Of course they should be thankful that anyone cares about them, considering eight months ago they were no different than any audience member.
David Cook & American Idol Fans Flock to DC Concert
WASHINGTON D.C. — David Cook and the rest of the American Idol tour group stormed Washington D.C. this week. Myfoxdc spoke to a number of the Idols and their fans. You can see a complete photo gallery by clicking on the link in the sidebar to this story. Cook & his cohorts come to Kansas City August 29 & 30 at the Sprint Center.
20 tips to ace the ‘American Idol’ audition
But impressing the panel and making it to the first official round – and then on to the finals in Hollywood – takes a lot more than just belting out a cheesy Whitney Houston song.
Here are 20 proven tips – including some from “Idol” veterans – on how you can beat the odds:
Line-up finalized for motorcycle celebration of the year
The complete entertainment line-up for what Harley-Davidson is hoping will be the motorcycle event of the year has been announced.
The 105th Anniversary celebration scheduled this Labor Day weekend in Milwaukee is a four day event that will feature motorcycles, music and more are Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Foo Fighters, Daughtry and Kid Rock. Attendees even have the opportunity to visit Harley-Davidson’s new museum, just recently opened.
In addition to the H.O.G. event and ticketed events outlined below, Harley-Davidson will also offer free musical entertainment that is open to the general public at Main Street at the Lakefront and the Harley-Davidson Museum campus, Thursday through Sunday. There are some well known names as well as newer acts such as Amanda Overmyer who made it to the top 11 on the most recent American Idol talent competition.
Lip synching at the Olympics? What is this, reality TV?
With all the stories about apparent fakery production enhancement at the Olympic opening ceremonies, I imagine Nigel Lythgoe reading an item like this one (about the adorable floating girl who, it seems, lip-synched her song because the real singing girl wasn’t deemed cute enough) and thinking to himself: “Blimey, why didn’t we do this with Kristy Lee Cook?”
Then I get another horrifying thought: What if the evil alien scientists Idol producers really did do that with Kristy Lee Cook, and that was just the best voice they could find for her? (For all you Idolatry/Mechagodzilla fans, a trip down memory lane follows, after the jump.)
Jennifer Hudson: An exclusive first look at her debut CD
From the moment Jennifer Hudson made her Oscar-winning debut on screen as Effie White in 2006 Dreamgirls, fans have been wondering only one thing: When is her album dropping? More than two years in the making, the golden-throated singer long-awaited debut CD will finally be released on September 30, and she gave EW.com an exclusive in-studio preview.
Carrie Underwood Captured Beautifully
From a baggy Arkansas sweatshirt in 2005 to a patent leather hat and cranberry eye shadow in 2008, Carrie Underwood: The Style Icon has certainly come a long way. And this photo gallery from the beauty magazine Allure takes readers on a visual journey of Underwood precipitous ascent to the top of the fashion hierarchy. The bottom line? She looks just as good dressed down as she does dressed way, way up.
Clay Aiken and Marty Stuart Answer the Question …Why Music? as Students Head Back to School
RESTON, VA (August 14, 2008) — MENC: The National Association for Music Education released the newest edition in its series of radio public service announcements featuring top pop and country musicians for …Back to School 2008. The series, called Why Music?, features musical stars talking about the value and importance of music education.
New artists joining the lineup for Back to School 2008 are Clay Aiken and Marty Stuart. Returning artists include Trisha Yearwood, Al Jarreau, Kathy Mattea, Gloria Estefan, Vanessa Williams, Patty Loveless, Janis Ian, Faith Hill, Chely Wright, Tim McGraw, Roger McGuinn, Bonnie Raitt, and others. (A complete list of artists participating in the series since 1997 can be viewed at www.menc.org/resources/view/why-music-radio-psa-series.)
They couldn’t have gotten a more personable co-host than Ace Young on MDA telethon
I make it a point to catch the MDA telethon on television each Labor Day weekend to hear the inspiring stories of those living with a debilitating disease.
I also enjoy the up-and-coming young talent brought on stage from all over the world. But what makes the telethon work is who they have as co-hosts. That, in itself, moves me to want to join in the fight against the disease.
One such co-host this year will be “American Idol” finalist Ace Young.
Those of us who saw Ace perform locally this year at the Cabaret Stage at the Mayfair Festival of the Arts in Allentown were WOWED by his awesome ability to be as personable on stage as he was off stage in a meet-and-greet.
“Gone Country” is a surprisingly funny trip
No, really. I just ran the season-two premiere screener for CMT’s “Gone Country, ” and we cackled our way through it. Seven C-list stars travel to Nashville in hopes of being turned into country stars by host John Rich of Big & Rich; one of them will win the chance to make a record that “JR” will produce. The show debuts at 8 tonight, to be followed by the bow of its season-one spinoff, “Outsiders Inn.” You can watch “Gone Country” for the show itself, which is better than you’d think once it gets going. Or you can just watch to point out all the little bits of reality-TV fakery, of which there are plenty.
‘American Idol’ finalist bringing his hit Christian music to state
How could anyone forget Chris Sligh?
Nothing about the independent-minded singer is forgettable.
There’s the big booming voice that captured the attention of the judges on Fox’s “American Idol. The afro of curly brown hair raised eyebrows and set him apart from many of his slick, carefully coiffed peers.
Then there’s the wisecracking that earned Sligh a bit of respect from some “American Idol fans (and judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson) who always wanted to exchange witty barbs with acerbic “Idol judge Simon Cowell.
American Idol visits Task Force Warrior Headquarters
…Thank you very much for coming, your visit represents the resolve of the American people as we stand strong and defeat all who attempt to bring us harm, said Lt. Col. Stephen Jeselink, Deputy Commander of Task Force Warrior, to the four former American Idol contestants visiting Brigade Headquarters today to entertain troops, pose for pictures and receive tokens of appreciation for their willingness to sacrifice time and efforts to show support.
Katharine McPhee Talks About Role In “House Bunny”
Katharine McPhee, the runner-up on the fifth season of “American Idol, ” is co-starring in the new movie “The House Bunny” which will be in theaters on August 22. McPhee appeared on “Live With Regis and Kelly” Friday morning to talk about the new movie and her singing career.
Celebrity News Service has been a big fan of the singer says her days on “Idol, ” and was pleased to see how much she enjoyed filming the movie. It isn’t her first film, however, as she was also in “Crazy” and did guest appearances on television’s “Ugly Betty, ” and “Lonelygirl15.”
She also said she will be busy in the recording studio this fall and plans on releasing an album in the spring of 2009.
Braves fall to Mud Hens
RECORDING ANOTHER HIT: Elliott Yamin, Richmond’s 2006 “American Idol” finalist who now lives in Los Angeles, shagged some balls in the outfield, took batting practice, signed autographs as part of the Inspired by Diabetes campaign and sang the national anthem.
Yamin managed to make contact on some pitches during his two rounds of batting practice, hitting a few infield grounders and one looper over shortstop.
“It’s just real cool, man, ” Yamin said between rounds. “I’ve always dreamed of being a singer or a professional athlete. Obviously, if I was a professional athlete, I’d be one of the smallest.”
Yamin is 5-6, 152 pounds.
“After watching him swing, he’s got potential – to be a good singer, ” R-Braves manager Dave Brundage said. “He looks to be a prospect – just not in baseball.”
Nigel Lythgoe Tells About Choreographing After 26 Years
So You Think You Can Dance executive producer Nigel Lythgoe not only tap danced on last weeks season finale, but he also choreographed the group dance for the Top 5 Guys. It was an upbeat, and totally fun dance to watch, but in this clip, we find out that it was the first time he had choreographed anything for 26 years!! (I think he proved that he can still do it!) ;-)
He tells what it like to try to do what he did when he was younger, now that he nearly 60 years old. I think he looking and acting quite a bit younger than anyone would suspect for his age!
I loved the routine and here how he went about creating it:
Has New X Factor Got What It Takes?
But here’s a question for you: how bowled over are you by the news that The X Factor is back this weekend?
Me? Well, it’s a TV show isn’t it. I enjoy watching it when it’s on, but I’m not quite the sort to rush back home to see it.
I fall on the side of those who enjoy the hilarious auditions, but think the elimination rounds drag on a bit too long.
At the launch in London there weren’t enough seats to hold all us journalists as we squeezed in to watch episode one, then threw questions at judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Danni Minogue and new addition Cheryl Cole from Girls Aloud.
As X Factor returns, we reveal how Simon Cowell makes do on his paltry £35m salary
Recent estimates have put his wealth at £112million. Throw in earnings of at least £10million for hit shows on this side of the Atlantic and it becomes clear that Simon Cowell just can’t help earning vast sums of money.
But TV’s Mr Nasty is also an expert when it comes to spending.
Here, on the day a new series of X Factor hits our screens, we reveal the extraordinary lifestyle of the man who left school at 16 to be a humble record company mail boy.
Asked if he thought there was anything obscene about the money he is paid, Simon’s response was typically frank: ‘I don’t have any conscience about this at all.’
