David Cook Album Arriving Nov. 18
“American Idol” champ David Cook’s 19 Recordings/RCA debut has been penciled in for a Nov. 18 release date. The set is being produced by Rob Cavallo and will likely include co-writes with Collective Soul’s Ed Roland, Our Lady Peace’s Raine Maida and Kara DioGuardi.
Today (Sept. 15), Cook launched a social networking component at DavidCookOfficial.com, where fans can interact with one another and receive news updates before the general public.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Kristy Lee Cook, Why Wait: * * — Musical wallpaper
Cook signing to 19 Entertainment and Arista Records (where she spent about six months as a teen) ranks as one of American Idol great mysteries. After all, the woman gave some of the most disastrous performances in the show history, ones Simon Cowell described, not inaccurately, as …whiny, …terrible and …horrendous. Working with Brett James, who produced Jessica Simpson latest and co-wrote Jesus, Take the Wheel, Cook avoids the kind of embarrassments she visited upon the viewing public on an almost weekly basis last season. She does, however, return to her strength ‘ a cover of Lee Greenwood God Bless the USA. That, plus the year pettiest country single (15 Minutes of Shame) and eight songs that could form the foundation of a mediocre Lorrie Morgan album, brings to mind one of Cowell more generous assessments ‘ …musical wallpaper … you notice it, but you cant remember it. We should all be so lucky. ‘ Brian Mansfield
David Cook to Make Kansas City Appearance for Album Release
American Idol David Cook will make an appearance in Kansas City to promote his new album now slated for release on November 18.
On David Cook’s official fan site, he plots Kansas City among the 18 cities with an “appearance event” planned. Cook is originally from the Kansas City area in Blue Springs, Missouri. His family still lives in the area. He’s already been home a few times as the American Idol winner. Each time has drawn a big crowd.
Taylor Hicks slides into starring role on national tour of ‘Grease!’
Taylor Hicks, who recently concluded a Broadway run in “Grease!, ” will star in a national tour of the musical, his publicist announced today.
Hicks, 31, a Hoover native, will take on the same role — the rocking Teen Angel — when the tour begins Dec. 2.
Although the schedule for “Grease!” doesn’t include Birmingham or the Southeast, stops in 14 cities are planned through May 30. They include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago.
Ace Young, American Idol, GREASE Video Interview
Ace Young has come a long way from season five of American Idol. Taylor Hicks passed the proverbial GREASE and Broadway torch on to Ace. What did Ace like most about being on American Idol? What advice did Taylor give Ace in being in GREASE? What does Ace like about being on Broadway? Any plans for the future? Find out by watching the video interview.
Ace is a great down to earth guy. We wish him the best of success in GREASE and on Broadway.
Broadway To Go
On Sunday, the annual Broadway on Broadway concert, signaling the kick-off to the 2008-2009 season, was held in Times Square. Drew Lachey, who just played his final performance as Patsy in Monty Python’s Spamalot, hosted the show, while radio personality and actress (and soon-to-be TheaterMania contributor) Valerie Smaldone was the show’s announcer.
Here’s former American Idol contestant Ace Young, who recently joined Grease in the role of Kenickie.
Swenson, Barrett & More Join Constantine Maroulis in Rock of Ages
In Rock of Ages, it’s the late 1980s and the final countdown is on for a legendary Hollywood rock club facing its demise at the hands of eager developers. When a young rocker hungry for his big break and a small town girl chasing her dreams land on the scene at this infamous venue, how far will ambition drive them? And will it be lights out for the club and all the regulars and rockers who have made it their home?
Written by Chris D’Arienzo, Rock of Ages features the music of rock icons including Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and more. The show ran in Los Angeles for seven weeks in 2006 (starring Cry-Baby leading man James Snyder), and also played in Las Vegas for a week later that year. Variety reports that the off-Broadway production will have a budget of just under $2 million.
‘American Idol’ finalist to perform in Ocala
Phil Stacey, an American Idol top 6 finalist from last year’s season 6, is set to perform an outdoor concert Saturday, Oct. 18 at First Baptist Church of Ocala.
The concert will benefit Delivering Dreams, a local organization that strives to improve the quality of life and provide an escape for adults suffering from cancer, terminal illness, personal loss or tragedy.
Gates open at 5 p.m. for the 6 p.m. concert. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $60.
Caught in the Act!
Kelly Clarkson, giving friend and fellow musician Cortney Tidwell a big hug following her show at Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom as part of the Next BIG Nashville Music Festival. Clarkson called the venue to be added to the guest list earlier that day and kept a low profile at the show. In fact, the first-ever American Idol champ arrived with two girls and wasn’t recognized by the crowd.
Beyond Stress, Beyond Idol
Most would say that you have to have a lot of confidence to try out for a national TV show like American Idol. And most would also say that you have to become a top 12 finalist on Idol to earn a lucrative recording contract. Brooke Barrettsmith proves both assumptions wrong. As a teenager, she struggled with panic attacks throughout her high school years. In time she overcame that and auditioned with her sister on Idol purely for the fun of it. To her surprise, she became a Top 40 finalist among the likes of Chris Daughtry and Mandisa. Though she didn’t make it into the finals, the experience gave Brooke confidence and affirmation to keep after a music career that would glorify God and minister to others. Now signed with Essential Records, the 26-year-old “rock chick” shares her journey in overcoming her anxieties ¦ and Simon Cowell.
Surgery-free Jennifer Hudson shines in photos from ‘American Idol’ to now
Singer/actress Jennifer Hudson moved back into the spotlight this past weekend with an announcement that she’s engaged to reality TV performer David Otunga, also known as “Punk” in the reality TV show “I Love New York 2.”
For a slide show of Hudson’s career, from “American Idol” to her Oscar-winning “Dreamgirls” performance and beyond, click on MORE PHOTOS. The slide show includes photos from the Toronto film festival showing of her next movie, “The Secret Life of Bees, ” which is scheduled to open in the United States Oct. 17. Hudson stars in it with Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning.
Fantasia slays Jennifer Hudson at ‘An Evening of Stars’
To whom did Patti LaBelle pass the mic while singing “A Change Is Gonna Come” during the finale at Saturday’s “An Evening of Stars” at the Kodak Theatre, the annual benefit for the United Negro College Fund, which honored the down-home diva this year? The stage was crowded with LaBelle’s spiritual daughters, from Jennifer Hudson to Yolanda Adams, LeToya Luckett to Chrisette Michele, but who did Mama think could match her glorious high notes?
Who did the night’s producers task with LaBelle’s most famous song, the definitive funk-rock jam “Lady Marmalade”? And who returned later in the long program (taped live for television, with all the gaffes and replays that process requires) to bring tears to LaBelle’s eyes with a spirit-touched take on the Bunny Sigler-penned ballad “Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is)” — earning standing ovations for both?
Fantasia Barrino, that’s who.
New Video: Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce Sing Praises for Patti Labelle
ET’s own Kevin Frazier was on hand this weekend for the United Negro College Fund’s “An Evening of Stars, ” which paid tribute to singing sensation Patti Labelle.
Rockin’ the house was former “American Idol” and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, her fellow Idol Fantasia and Beyonce.
Chris Botti plays with Boston Pops, pop stars
Chris Botti has a few surprises up his trumpet when he makes his debut with the Boston Pops this week at two concerts that are being taped for national broadcast next spring during PBS’ annual pledge drive.
The chart-topping trumpeter has enlisted a star-studded lineup for the Thursday and Friday night concerts at Boston’s Symphony Hall that reflect his genre-bending musical tastes from jazz and classical to rock and pop.
His touring band ‘ with such jazz stalwarts as pianist Billy Childs, drummer Billy Kilson and guitarist Mark Whitfield ‘ will be joined by Sting and his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller; Josh Groban; Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler; “American Idol” runner-up Katharine McPhee; cellist Yo-Yo Ma; violinist Lucia Micarelli; and a major pop vocal star who will make an unannounced surprise appearance.
This Year, the Emmys Get Real
Ryan Seacrest (American Idol), Heidi Klum (Project Runway), Jeff Probst (Survivor), Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars) and Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal) will be competing in more ways than one at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday (8 pm/ET, ABC). Theyre cohosting the show, and theyre also the five nominees in the new category of Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program. Here, they go head-to-head for Best Answers to Emmy-Related Questions.
Reality show hosts finally recognized by Emmys
This year, for the first time in its history, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will award a prime-time Emmy to the best reality TV show host. Considering that hosts have been an integral part of many unscripted programs, they absolutely deserve recognition ‘ and they’ll get it, as the nominees will have to work, collectively hosting the telecast Sunday night.
In a time when reality show hosting is filled with personality-deficient talking heads being commanded by off-screen producers, all five nominated hosts are talented. Still, four of the five have vastly different roles because, just as during the early years of the other reality TV-related categories, the Academy hasn’t yet figured out the category’s parameters.
POP SUPERSTAR NATASHA BEDINGFIELD TO PERFORM ON AMERICA’S #1 SHOW, ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
BURBANK, Calif. – September 15, 2008 -Grammy-nominated singing sensation Natasha Bedingfield will perform her latest hit single “Angel” on NBC’s hit series “America’s Got Talent” results show Thursday, September 18 (8-8:30 p.m. ET). The Top 10 acts will perform LIVE for America’s votes on Wednesday, September 17 (8-10 p.m. ET).
America’s Got Talent to become mobile game
Hit TV show America’s Got Talent is now available as a mobile game following a deal between Fremantle and distributor Player X.
The production company has granted Player X’s publishing arm Studio X exclusive rights to distribute the game across the US and Canada. It has rolled out on all the top US operators over the past several weeks.
The game, which tests players’ puzzle and rhythm skills, is being supported by a integrated US marketing campaign.
Lance Bass Talks Marriage, Kids and Same-Sex Dancing
Lance Bass wouldn’t mind dancing with a man on a reality competition show, but he doesn’t think ABC’s Dancing With the Stars is the right place for fancy same-sex footwork.
“I think it would be so silly that it would just overshadow everything else going on, ” Bass tells me. “It would just be like making fun of something. Bit if it was another show with all guys dancing and all girls dancing, that’s a different story. I think that’s sexy.”
He adds with a laugh, “I should pitch that.”
Rockin’ the Dance Floor With Rocco DiSpirito!
With the highly anticipated premiere of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” less than a week away, wannabe dancing king Rocco DiSpirito lets ET in on his private rehearsal!
As the hunky chef shows us a few of the moves he and pro dancer Karina Smirnoff have perfected, his mom stops by with a special treat!
“They told me Karina Smirnoff would be teaching me how to dance, ” Rocco proudly tells ET about his dancing coach. “I figure if you learn how to paint from Da Vinci, physics from Einstein — you take it, right?”
Who is Miley Cyrus’s New Guy?
Miley Cyrus has been hanging out with a new guy ‘ and he already met her parents.
On Sunday, Justin Gaston, a model and aspiring country singer, attended church in Pasadena, Calif., with the Hannah Montana star and her family. Later that night, he hit Disney Concert for Hope where Cyrus performed with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato.
MTV bids adieu to ‘TRL’
The suits over at MTV have decided to pull the plug on Total Request Live after 10 years on the air — which for MTV is equivalent to maybe 200 in human years. Executive producer Dave Sirulnick says the show, which will conclude on a Saturday in November with a two-hour special, isn’t gone for good, but just taking a rest — which sounds a bit like a concerned parent telling the children at Grandpa’s funeral, “See, it’s kind of like he’s sleeping.” Apparently, MTV’s new Pete Wentz-hosted FNMTV show is being touted as the next-gen TRL.
