Kris Allen talks Queen, Adam Lambert, and, oh yeah, winning ‘American Idol’
You seemed really surprised up there when Ryan announced you won.
Always. [Smiles] I’m always surprised, man. For me, making it through each week — everyone is so talented, and, I don’t know, to make it through each week is crazy.
People kept referring to you as the dark horse. When you got to the Top 36, we’d barely seen you. Did it add any pressure, or make it easier, being the perpetual underdog?
For me, it was kinda nice. That’s kinda who I am, and having the spotlight on me would’ve been weird. That’s me. I’m that laid back guy. I stick my head behind everyone else and every once and a while peek out and say, “Hello!” [Chuckles]
Adam Lambert after the ‘American Idol’ finale: ‘I’m really happy for Kris’
I want to just get this question out of the way first, something that’s been dangling a bit over you for the whole season: Would you like to put to rest all the speculation about your sexuality?
It’s not dangling over my head. [Laughing] It may be dangling over yours, but it’s not over mine. Yeah, I think speculation keeps things really interesting.
So you don’t want to say anything one way or the other?
Like I said, I think speculation keeps things very, very interesting. [Laughs]
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Live from the Idoldome: What you didn’t see on TV — the final night!
11:18 p.m. Three hours after being named the latest à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idol,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ it didn’t appear the news had yet to sink in to Kris Allen. “I feel tired but I feel great,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ he said as he greeted the press backstage. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I’m exhausted but I’m shocked, I’m really shocked.”
He wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t surprised to win à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ he was astonished just to have made the final round. “For me, I felt shocked almost every week that I made it,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ he said.
Immediately after being told he won the top honor, Allen remarked on live television that the prize should have gone to Lambert. He echoed those sentiments backstage. “I actually felt that Adam deserves this just as much as I do. He’s really just an amazing guy. It was fun doing this with him.”
Scenes from Nokia Theatre: Despite loss, the Lamberts stay in harmony
The black color of Eber Lambert’s fingernails described the mood for much of America’s music critics and some of its more ardent rock fans. Although the elder Lambert meant it as a gesture of solidarity with his eyeliner-wearing son Adam — who lost his bid to be crowned the next American Idol to mellow underdog Kris Allen — instead it became a commentary for Lambert-lovers.
Though clearly disappointed by the results, the Lamberts showered the Allen family with congratulations and best wishes, and perhaps realized that the Adam phenomenon, now ignited, would continue to burn. The goodwill was more than returned backstage after the show when Allen gave his onetime competitor several bear hugs before a gantlet of press.
Adam Lambert On Rumors: ‘Blogs Have A Lot Of Opinions, Don’t They?’
Q: What’s next?
A: My dream now is to make a really dope record, to do something new, push the boundaries a little bit, push people’s buttons, open people’s minds up a little bit. And you know what’s really, really cool about Kris being in the finals tonight? We are seemingly so different, but we found a way to get along and find a common bond à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ mostly through music, but also just through talking and getting to know each other. And if there’s anything that could come from this experience that I hope all the fans out there can pick up is that even if you’re really different, there’s a way to get along with each other. It’s not about, “Oh, you beat me because of this” or “You’re different.” It’s about finding the common stuff that makes it work. We got up there and did the Queen duet, and we made it work, because we found a common ground with each other.
Kris Allen Reassures Adam Lambert Fans: ‘He’s Gonna Be A Megastar’
“American Idol” fans might have been surprised by Kris Allen’s victory over Adam Lambert on Wednesday night, but no one was more floored than Kris himself.
When “Idol” expert Jim Cantiello caught up with the new champ backstage, he talked about fans Googling his wife, working with Kara DioGuardi and what he has to say to all those heartbroken Glamberts.
‘American Idol’ recap: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark Horse
Five (and only five) words for you: ”Adam deserves this. I’m sorry.”
Yes, folks, the only thing more shocking than witnessing Kris Allen’s upset win over Adam Lambert during tonight’s season 8 finale of American Idol was hearing the unassuming (and yet in my estimation, completely worthy) victor utter those astonished words of apology. I mean, what’s next? Rachel Alexandra giving Mine That Bird some room on the rail to pass her in the Belmont stretch? Federer handing a Wimbledon title to Nadal? Coke and Pepsi swapping cola recipes?
Allen throws a wrench into `Idol’ outcome
LOS ANGELES (AP) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Kris Allen beamed with disbelief, shook his head as if to reject that this was really happening and doubled over in shock.
The fact that he’d just beaten rollicking vocal powerhouse Adam Lambert for the “American Idol” title wasn’t going to sink in quickly for the unassuming underdog from Arkansas. The only downside to this stunning victory: He was going to have to sing “No Boundaries” one more time.
“I’m sorry, I don’t even know what to feel right now. This is crazy,” said the 23-year-old from Conway, Ark., as he leaned on host Ryan Seacrest to keep from staggering.
Allen’s smooth vocals and boy-next-door image gave him the edge after nearly 100 million viewer votes were cast, turning the theatrical Lambert into the most unlikely of also-rans. When the season started, Allen seemed unsure he had a right to take center stage, let alone stand there and snatch victory from such a formidable rival.
How Allen ascended from meek audition to ‘Idol’
LOS ANGELES (AP) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Not much has changed about Kris Allen since his mostly forgettable “American Idol” audition.
Well, except for the winning-it-all part.
When the 23-year-old college student from Conway, Ark., first auditioned with Leon Russell’s “A Song for You” in Louisville, Ky., he seemed nothing more than a boy-next-door “Idol” hopeful, lacking the instant juggernaut feel of showy 27-year-old runner-up Adam Lambert or even plucky 17-year-old spark plug Allison Iraheta.
A newsboy cap pulled down around his eyes, Allen was asked back then by the judges if he was the best singer.
“You know, there’s probably people who are better than me,” was his response, a humility that Simon Cowell said he found off-putting.
à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ winner made himself a star
When Kris Allen was asked by the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ judges at his first audition if he thought he was the best singer in the competition, he replied by saying à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“You know, thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s probably people out there who are better than me.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬
That was true in Louisville, where he first performed for Simon Cowell and company. It was true in Hollywood, when he advanced to the semifinals. It was true in his semifinal heat, when both Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta earned more praise and he tagged along as the third singer to earn the assigned spot among the 13 finalists.
The Rushfield Review: Kris Allen gives ‘American Idol’ back its heart
Finals Some brief thoughts after an emotional night. More post-mortem to follow tomorrow.
Tonight, American Idol found its heart.
In all the talk and punditry about this season, there was often a sense that what was missing wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t a clear problem with the judges or the rules or the format or the contestants — even something almost ineffable, beyond the grasp of producers to help it.
Ann Powers: Kris Allen beats Adam Lambert. A shock? Nah.
Minutes before Kris Allen was announced as the new American Idol, he and Adam Lambert sang à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“We Are the Champions,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ the 1977 smash by the rock band Queen. As the pyrotechnics sizzled and a large choir (including this yearà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s other à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ finalists) backed them up, those two unlikely partners in bringing back heat to the long-running series had one last laugh together.
It was Lambertà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s moment. It felt like his victory. Ever since he auditioned with an a cappella version of Queenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Bohemian Rhapsody,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ fans of the fiery-voiced Southland native had been clamoring for him to sing a Queen song. And here he was doing it, leaning on guitarist Brian Mayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s shoulder, fitting right into the spot originally occupied by Freddie Mercury à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ one of the most sensationally gifted frontmen in rock history. Allen seemed delighted to be his wing man. And then, in a surprise that really wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t a surprise at all, he grabbed away the spotlight.
“American Idol”: And the Winner Is …
Whoa. So it’s really true: Kris Allen is the new American Idol. Really. Seriously? This is the biggest upsetà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ well, ever, in the show’s eight seasons. Even more than when Chris Daughtry was voted out or when Ruben Studdard beat Clay Aiken. It wasn’t just that Adam was pimped out by the judges more than any Idol contestant this seasonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Paula practically crowned him the winner when he sang “Black or White” 11 weeks agoà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ it’s that he really was the best vocalist we’ve ever seen on Idol. Simon Cowell has even said that he thinks Adam’s going to be an international star.
So what went wrong? Here are the top seven reasons why Adam Lambert lost American Idol.
‘Idol’ shocker
Kris Allen (right) could only gape last night in Los Angeles as he learned he had been named winner of “American Idol,” defeating early favorite Adam Lambert of San Diego. Watching at Copley Symphony Hall in San Diego, Adam Lambert’s fans, including Susan David (left) and Gloria Dungco, groaned when the result was announced.
LOS ANGELES à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ In the end, after all 100 million votes were counted, Arkansas’ dark horse triumphed over San Diego’s dark prince.
In a shocking turn of entertainment events, Kris Allen was named this year’s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ winner last night, leaving San Diego’s black-clad, eye-liner-sporting Adam Lambert to settle for second place.
What Are The Lyrics To à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹No Boundariesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ About?
Somewhere in the depths of the Nokia Theatre, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m convinced there is a secret underground vault filled with pixie dust, a man-size vat of Velveeta and a rhyming dictionary that is the source of every à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ winnerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s song.
Jordin Sparksà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“This Is My Now.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ David Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The Time of My Life.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ Taylor Hicksà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Do I Make You Proudà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ (not so much). Kelly Clarksonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“A Moment Like This.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ What do they have in common? All terrible, schmaltzy songs that even the superfans who instantly downloaded them have probably deleted from their iPods long since.
Paula Abdul Sells, David Archuleta Sings On ‘Idol’ Finale Red Carpet
LOS ANGELES à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ The “American Idol” red carpet has to be especially surreal for all the returning “Idol” contestants, kind of like the first day of high school. The vets from the early seasons are the seniors, and the season-eight kids are the naà ¯ve freshmen.
For season-six runner-up Blake Lewis, it’s that dynamic that brought him out for Wednesday night’s (May 20) big finale. “I’m back here, hanging out with friends, seeing the new class,” he laughed.
But fellow seasonf-six finalist LaKisha Jones had her own analogy: “It’s like a family reunion, without the barbecue.”
Why did Janice Thibodeaux choke Terri Seymour? To get even with Simon!
Terri-seymour-simon-cowell- Why did Janice Thibodeaux try to strangle Simon Cowellà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s ex-girlfriend Terri Seymour?
According to Radaronline.com, who talked exclusively to the attacker behind bars, she was doing it for revenge. She watched Simon jokingly choke fellow judge Paula Abdul during Tuesdayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s show . And she didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t much like it.
à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t cool with Simon Cowell choking Paula Abdul on the show last week and with her crying-out à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹helpà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ as he did so,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ Thibodeaux said. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Nobody said anything about that, so I wanted to confront him about it because that is not appropriate behavior, is it?à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬
Carrie Underwood Explains Why She Limped Off American Idol Tuesday
Carrie Underwood told Ryan Seacrest why she limped off stage after performing on American Idol Tuesday night.
“You’re gonna laugh at me, everyone does,” the Season 4 winner jokes on Seacrest’s KIIS-FM radio show.
“I was running last Saturday in my little community [in Nashville]…It’s about three miles,” Underwood says. “I was about halfway through and I fell.
Check out photos of Carrie’s style through the years.
“And this nice lady was driving behind me — I’d never met her before,” Underwood continues. “She saw the incident and was nice enough to pull over and roll down the window and say, ‘Can I take you home?’
Exclusive | Fantasia talks about nearly losing her homes
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There is harmony once again in Fantasia Barrino’s Charlotte house — the one she shares with her mom, her young daughter and many other family members.
That harmony is, in part, from Barrino herself. She and her mom often break out into song.
But the harmony was hard to hear this time last year.
Kelly Clarkson Responds To Haters: ‘I Ain’t Gonna Change’
Kelly Clarkson doesn’t care what you à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ or the gossip blogs, for that matter à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ think about her appearance. In fact, Clarkson doesn’t even have time to worry about it, as she’s too busy making music and touring to even get online.
“I’m rarely on the Internet. I blog every once in a while ’cause my fans will yell at me if I don’t,” she told MTV News. “I check my e-mail on my phone … I’m never really on the Internet.”
EXCLUSIVE – Red Carpet access at the American Idol Finale!
Oh. Em. Gee. What an amazing, awesome, and yet sweaty day. As the second day of the American Idol finale kicked off, the press spent three long hours in the sun on the red carpet. Truth be told, the three hours flew by à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ it was incredibly exciting to see the stars and get an insight into how this whole red carpet, American Idol finale event happens.
The first celebrities on the red carpet are Diana DeGarmo (with purple hair), Kimberley Locke and Blake Lewis. Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s also interesting to note that they were the last people to leaveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦three hours later. You donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t see Simon Cowell mingling on the red carpet for three hours. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m just sayinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢.
Elliott Yamin Fights For Love; Parties in the Back
In a battle of “American Idol’s” nicest guys ever, one artist handily wins and it’s not Kris Allen, David Cook, and definitely not Chris “Sideshow Bob” Sligh. It’s Elliott Yamin, the former pharmacy employee turned overnight “Idol” sensation, who made a habit of wowing judges back in 2006 with his soulful vocals and humble personality. Years removed from the Paula fan club and Randy dog pound, little seems to have changed for the artist. In an interview last week, Yamin discussed his sophomore album “Fight For Love,” which was released earlier this month. The album is especially poignant for Yamin, because his beloved mom Claudette passed away during the recording process. Yamin discussed that, “Idol” (he still watches, and yes, he suspects Adam Lambert will win) and more. Delightfully, he had no problem addressing his much-publicized new haircut from the “Love” music video. Party in the back.
Review: Jennifer Hudson show short but sweet
It was short and to the point. Which fits Jennifer Hudson well right now.
During the singer and actress’s 45-minute set at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre on Tuesday night, Hudson relied on her voice and songs, while being careful not to overextend herself.
It seemed like Hudson was still getting her concert legs under her, two weeks after postponing a handful of shows (including one in Oakland) because of a throat condition. And, of course, she’s still recovering from the murder of her mother, brother and nephew only seven months ago.
While her show didn’t have many moments one might remember in 10 years, it was more than enough for this particular point in her career.
Carrie Ann Inaba says goodbye to ‘DWTS,’ season 8
Great season! It was a close race all the way to the finish line. Great finale dancers = an exciting finish! There was great artistry, beautiful passion, intense competition, graceful athleticism….moments of glory and special moments that will stay with us forever. I love Len and Bruno and have had a wonderful time working with them. Special thanks to our incredible staff and production team, who put our show together. Congratulations to the winners of season 8…
Which is where he should have placed in the competition, so he’s actually in his rightful spot
Er, no, his rightful place is wherever America voted him.
Very true, and thanks for the examples you used to further burtress my point upthread…Ruben,Bo and Taylor…..very telling
What’s wrong with 38 million votes??
Chipmuck kris will do better than ruben,taylor and bo.Its very easy to beat those people in sales/records/tickets.
Sorry, like I mentioned I hadn’t read many comments and also didn’t realize the initial thread mj started was still going strong. My bad.
I guess this whole thing (like anything else) can be spun by either side….I do wish whoever initially reported this would come forward.
Yeah, even now, every time I see your name, I think Ace.
I think my name was “me” back then. I was/am a Taylor fan. The next season I tried to watch, but they were so cruel to Taylor, and I was pregnant with a blood pressure condition and so I hardly ever tuned in. I’m serious when I say that the Taylor treatment could have sent me into premature labor. :eek_wp:
I watched a little last year. I like Cook, but my then 8 month old daughter would only clap for David Archuleta. Seriously, I think that was the first time she ever clapped, and she would do it each time only for him. Too funny.
The Gokey/Sarvor thing. Okay, I didn’t like it either. I am totally for gay rights/gay marriage…all that. But, when I watched the video, for me, I saw Danny as being uncomfortable with each of the things that he said. He started to say “right” and then Sarvor threw in the “Godly” (shutter…I’m agnostic too), Danny repeated it, but he had this look on his face like that doesn’t sound right either.
Anyway, I don’t like it, but I understand that not everyone is at the point in their minds where homosexuality is perfectly fine. I think we will get there, but as a society, we aren’t there yet. Social change takes time. When I look at a person like Danny who is a fundamentalist Christian (again, shutter), I think it’s a good thing that he feels about Adam the way that he does. From everything I’ve read, he seems to really think he’s a great guy. If he didn’t, he could just compliment him on his talent and be done with it. Anyway, I could be wrong, but I don’t see Danny as this cold and calculating guy. I see him as more bumbling, and from his interviews (saying how afraid he was to go onstage), a bit insecure. I think he’s highly emotional and his words just kind of incoherently fall out of his mouth…yeah, he needs to work on that. :wink_wp:
Of course……. :mrgreen_wp: since you’ve said he will
I take it your a Adam fan since i smell of bitter and jealous in your post.I cant wait to see Adam’s sales.
Kris will probably do okay IF AI decides to really promote him. That is actually what happened to Taylor. Major efforts were put forth to push Chris D…not Taylor. But, of course, I will admit that Taylor’s style (although he is very talented) is kind of a throwback, and therefore was probably not going to tear up the charts.
I will say that Taylor did get a decent amount compliments on the show about his “singing” ability, even from Simon. I don’t know if Kris has gotten that too much. I think Taylor would have done even better if instruments were allowed back then.
Ok. I wasn’t upset just thought sarcasm got lost in typing which somehow always seems to happen on message boards even if you’re being obvious… (I was about to leave anyway. :lol_wp: )
ITA.
Me too, but I’m not holding my breath.
aek… thanks for the discussion. YOU are awesome.
Bitter Adam fans, I suggest you check out Adam. Just sayin’.
ETA: And my examples proved my point. Idols get votes from a variety of sources. It’s fair, it’s been happening for years, and anyone who watches the show or participates knows it, including Adam.
Again, sour grapes aren’t doing him favors.
MJ, delete if you must.
Yeah, I don’t get the bitterness either. For me, I thought Adam deserved the win, but Kris got the most votes….end of story. I just don’t buy into all this “America got it wrong.” It is what it is and Kris is the winner. Everyone will have different opinions on their favorites. But evidentally Kris inspired the most votes…it’s not fun to vote for hours.
Anyway, about the bitterness. Why? AI loves Adam. They are definately going to push him. He’ll be fine.
That was my point earlier. Kris won cause he got more votes. You can speculate on the how/why’s all you want but it changes nothing. And at this point the if you think Kris/Adam’s biggest competition is with each other, you need to wake up and smell the Billboard charts. They are off Idol now. It’s the real world where they have to compete with a whole lotta people out there.
Stop making sense.
Hehe! I’ve always loved that song. Terry Jacks – Gotta love my hometown boy (still lives here, in fact)! I remember that song being one of the first to really hit me emotionally & make me have to go in search of kleenex, when I was a teenager.
I gotta remember this at work too. HATE meetings.
NEWS FLASH
Apparently Clay Aiken has apologized to Adam on his blog. I don’t have access to his fan club but maybe someone will bring it over. If I find it anywhere I will bring it over. And I’m glad to hear it. I was so angry at him yesterday for the things he said. I think it’s from self-loathing and bitterness, I really do. His last cds haven’t sold at all, and he wasn’t included in the finale this year or last year, and I think he’s reacting from hurt feelings (and deep-seated self-hatred), not to get too deep about it … but … I’m glad he apologized.
Cook’s cd’s been selling very well, it’s in the top 10 on itunes right now, and was in the top 40 last week before the finale. He’s sold over a million and still selling well each week. I think in terms of mainstream sales he is doing excellently. And I mean in the real world, not in any damned bubble. LOL.
Here is a link to the apology on his blog that was cut and pasted on IDF:
http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=612382
Okay, that is the cutest story. Meanwhile, when I was 7, I was begging my dad to take me to a Prince concert. Not sure what that says about my formative years LOL.
Actually, I think so far Cook’s album has outsold peeps like Gaga and Pink and AAR, who are pretty mainstream and have comparable time on the chart, and is still selling. His singles are charting. Maybe it’s fanwanking, but I attribute the fact that it’s the highest selling album by a debut artist for the chart year to the quality of the album, which is definitely decent and then some. I don’t know offhand where Archie ranks but I’m guessing he is still selling. Which is a longwinded way to say I think your premise is a wee bit flawed because it depends too much on your own perception of the quality of Cook and Archie’s music.
Also important to keep in mind that Sony under Barry Weiss rather than Clive is a different animal. Adam and Kris will probably have at least as much creative input as Cookie did if they want it, which I think will be important in making sure they don’t get stuck with a crappy slapdash album.