American Idol auditions underway in Florida – Dozens of American Idol hopefuls showed up at the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami Wednesday to see if they had what it takes to be part of the show’s upcoming second season on ABC. Wellington resident Emily Shecter said singing is something she loves. “I came to American Idol to audition because it’s always been my dream to be on the show and I’ve been singing since I was 5, so it’s always been a part of my life,” said Shecter. Supervising Producer Patrick Lynn encourages contestants to give it their best shot. “If you make it through today you’re going to see our executive producers and then you’re just one step away from seeing Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.” – Read more at WPBF.com
It’s a Twister! ‘America’s Got Talent’ Contortionist Lands ‘The Flash’ Role – A classic DC Comics supervillain is coming to The Flash and he’s sure to leave Barry and company bent out of shape. TV Insider has learned exclusively that America’s Got Talent alum and contortionist Troy James has been tapped to play Peter Merkel, aka Rag Doll, in the fifth episode of the upcoming Season 5. The character was introduced in a 1942 issue of Flash Comics as the triple-jointed son of a carnival barker who fell into a life of crime after hiding himself inside a child’s toy to knock over a department stores. Most recently, the character appeared in an episode of The Batman. – Read more at TVInsider
Carrie Underwood Celebrates Cry Pretty Release Party With Husband Mike Fisher – The singer hosted a gathering at The Parthenon in Nashville, Tenn. for a select group of guests, including her doting husband Mike Fisher. He praised the celebration and shared a photo of his wife giving a speech on Instagram: “Parthenon release party last night was unreal! But not quite as good as the new @carrieunderwood album!! This album is something special!! #crypretty.” Other people who attended the party complimented the album and the singer. Nashville baker Ivey Childers called it “one for the books” and “very special.” – Read more at Eonline
Alisan Iraheta Sings Backup for Ariana Grande
I LOVED singing with the great Ariana Grande this week on Good Morning America on ABC7. Did you catch it?
Stream my new album here: https://t.co/O7cfQUPbgW#RobotsAndWranglers Halo Circus… https://t.co/Tpbg0d6jVk— Allison Iraheta (@AllisonIraheta) August 23, 2018
Lauren Alaina Costed ACM Honors
The American Idol season 10 alum hosted the ACM Honors Wednesday night (Aug 22)
It was my “honor” to co-host the ACM Honors last night. Thank you @ACMawards. It was such a beautiful night. pic.twitter.com/iwzCjHws5e
— Lauren Alaina (@Lauren_Alaina) August 23, 2018
The Voice alum Cassadee Pope also attended
https://twitter.com/CassadeePope/status/1032617185074655232
Al Sharpton, Fantasia and Babyface Share Personal Aretha Franklin Stories – I was able to sing for her when they were honoring her [at a 2007 tribute concert] at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, which is actually where I won American Idol. I was stupid nervous because I was the little girl that was listening to Aretha. My first cassette was Aretha Franklin. They took us downstairs [after the show], and I remember the door opening, and I just burst out crying as she came in. She walked around the room gracefully, as Aretha would do — very smooth. She shook hands, gave people one or two words and kept it moving. She finally gets to me, and she looks at me — I’m still crying. And she said, “You can sing — but I’m the bitch around here.” I’m thinking, “Wait a minute! That’s not what I was ready for!” But she was serious. She said it, and I said, “Yes, ma’am.” And I understood exactly what she was saying because she was that in my life, for me. There will never, ever be another Aretha Franklin. That’s what she was letting me know: “You’re good, but always know, I’m the head chick.” And that’s what it is. – Read more at Billbord
Maddie Poppe on Mollie Tibbetts: ‘It’s on my mind constantly’ – “It’s hard to believe that something that awful would happen so close to home,” Poppe, who grew up less than 90 miles from Tibbetts’ hometown, told me. Poppe and Tibbetts’ lives mirrored each other in myriad ways. Both were the same age (20), lived in small towns (Brooklyn and Clarksville’s populations both hover around 1,500 people) and graduated with small classes (about 40 students in each). “I’ve got a younger sister back home that I can’t be with, and so it worries me,” Poppe said. – Read more at Des Moines Register
Interview: Ada Vox – There are American Idol contestants, and then there’s Ada Vox, who this year became the first drag queen front-runner in the show’s history. Though many have flexed their vocal muscles on the television singing competition, few have captured the hearts and minds of the viewing public like Ada Vox. With her bold personality and covers of songs like Wicked’s “Defying Gravity” and Radiohead’s “Creep,” Vox has shown herself a talent to be reckoned with. Vox headlines the upcoming Pacific Pride Festival at Chase Palm Park on Saturday, August 25, at 5:15 p.m. I spoke to Vox about the festival, dream fulfillment, dealing with rejection, and Pokémon hunting. – Read more at independent.com
David Cook Takes On Seven Questions About Kinky Boots, Dressing Room Must-Haves, & His Upcoming Tour – You are about to embark on a new acoustic tour. How is caring your voice on tour different than a Broadway run? You can get away with a little more on tour without the eight-show-a-week schedule. There’s more discipline to this for sure, and it’s a different style of singing. My stuff I can sit on the larynx a little more and grit it out, but if I did that here, I’d be done by Thursday. [On Broadway], you have to know your body and know your voice and learn how to pick your spots. I would compare it to a boxer verses a brawler. It’s finding your jab where my stuff is more just let your arms flail and see what happens. [Laughs] – Read more at Broadwaybox.com
Former ‘American Idol’ winner Scotty McCreery says his mountaintop wedding was ‘like Beauty and the Beast’ – Former “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery’s life hit a high note this summer when he married his high school sweetheart and longtime girlfriend, Gabi Dugal, in June. “Married life is awesome,” the country star told ABC News during an interview for ABC’s Robin Roberts’ CMA Awards special airing this November. “I didn’t know it could be like this.” – Read more at ABCNews
Former ‘American Idol’ contestant Noah Davis stops by ABC11 – Former “American Idol” contestant Noah Davis stopped by ABC11 Wednesday morning to talk about his experience on the show and the audition process. – Read more at ABC11.com
Simon Cowell Reflects on Early Days of Reality TV While Building Multi-Generational Empire – “If I were to just look at what really gets him out of bed, what really drives him, I think it’s that thrill of discovery,” says Frot-Coutaz. “At the end of the day, he’s passionate about breaking new artists, and I don’t think that’s going to stop.” Case in point: His discovery of Camila Cabello during the American version of “The X Factor” in 2012 (it’s now in 178 territories). He was taking a cigarette break when he spotted her backstage, crying, because the producers wouldn’t let her audition. He persuaded them to give her a shot, and the girl band “Fifth Harmony” was born. “You’ve got to keep your eyes and ears open, because you don’t want to miss these diamonds,” he says. – Read more at Variety
‘I never should have used tanning beds’: ‘DWTS’ star Witney Carson on being diagnosed with melanoma at 22 – Witney Carson was 22 when she learned that a discoloration on her foot was actually melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Sadly, stories like hers are becoming all too common. The American Academy of Dermatology and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries say melanoma is on the rise, especially among young women, ages 15-29, and is the second most common form of cancer in this age group. In this exclusive Yahoo essay, Carson discusses how she was treated for melanoma, the upcoming season of DWTS, and what she wants everyone to know about this potentially deadly form of skin cancer. – Read more at Yahoo.com
