Jennifer Hudson, Sofia Vergara to Get Honors at James Corden-Hosted “Unforgettable Evening” – Jennifer Hudson and Sofia Vergara are poised to have an unforgettable Oscars week. The duo will receive top honors at An Unforgettable Evening, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, on Feb. 27. James Corden will take the stage and host the Beverly Wilshire Hotel-set event on behalf of the Women’s Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Oscar winner Hudson will be feted with the Nat King Cole Award for her ongoing philanthropic work around women’s issues, and Emmy nominee Vergara will accept the Courage Award for her continued support and dedication to raising awareness for cancer research. – Read more at The Hollywood Reporter
Harry Connick, Jr. to Star in ‘The Sting’ Musical Production – Harry Connick, Jr. is set to star in the world-premiere musical stage production of The Sting. Connick, Jr. will star as conman Henry Gondorff, the role made famous by Paul Newman, in the new musical based off the 1973 film, which took home the Oscar for best picture. The story centers on a career conman, Gondorff, and a small town grifter, Johnny Hooker (played by Robert Redford in the film, a role for which he earned a best actor Oscar nom) as they plot to bring down Chicago’s most corrupt racketeer in the 1930s. The production will premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey for a limited run from March 29 through April 29. – Read more at Billboard
American Idol Preview
Looking for inspiration? Look no further than Ron, and watch #AmericanIdol beginning Sunday, March 11 at 8|7c on ABC to see how his journey unfolds. pic.twitter.com/QyXCyrhkx7
— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) February 14, 2018
‘American Idol’ winner David Cook starts anew with ‘Chromance’ EP – When it comes to making new music, singer-songwriter David Cook says he’s always up for a challenge. That’s what fueled “Chromance,” his new EP that’s set for release Friday. It’s the follow-up to “Digital Vein” (2015), which Cook considers the perfect bookend to an era of his career. He’s starting anew with “Chromance.” Cook, who won Season 7 of “American Idol,” performs Friday at Delmar Hall. He says he’s always been that “guitar player in a rock band guy,” and it was time for a change. “I wanted to paint with different colors,” says Cook, who started my his first band in Kansas City at age 13. He’s a native of Blue Springs, Mo. “I said, ‘Let’s attack this from a different angle.’ The good thing about this career is that at no point do you reach the top of the mountain. You just keep climbing.” – Read more at STLToday
“Voice” star-turned-city-hire Davon Fleming to hold auditions for youth choir – City agencies put out plenty of press releases but rarely are they delivered via a television singing star, belting out the “where” and “when” in between the lyrics of an upbeat contemporary gospel tune. But that’s how the Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks announced auditions for the “community youth choir” it is forming under the leadership of Davon Fleming, the semi-finalist from NBC’s “The Voice.” In a video released today, joined by a guitarist and another singer, Fleming begins with a bit of Kirk Franklin’s “I Smile.” – Read more at Baltimore Brew
OPEN CALL AUDITIONS? This Thursday at the Rec & Parks Building from 5pm-8pm! Come and be apart of this new and exciting musical journey! pic.twitter.com/n7oKPQDh3y
— Davon Fleming (@DavonFleming) February 13, 2018
Country singer, Stuart native JessLee auditions for ‘The Voice’ – JessLee, who now is based in Nashville, is no stranger to music reality shows. In 2013, she competed on Season 13 of “American Idol.” She has sung “The Star-Spangled Banner” at several Major and Minor League baseball games and says it is one of her favorites songs to perform, according to her website. JessLee has a five-track EP called “Just a Kiss,” released in 2015, singles “Girls Codes” and “Christmas in America” from 2016 and “Burn” and “Apologize” in 2017. – Read more at TCPalm.com
