`Idol’ auditions attract thousands in Mass.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Thousands of “American Idol” hopefuls made it through the rain — and the cold — hoping to find their singing respected by the judges as Season Nine auditions kicked off near Boston.
Braving showers and unseasonably cold winds, some contestants showed up around 3 a.m. Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. They formed a line that eventually stretched the length of the stadium and into the parking lot.
Host Ryan Seacrest said the bad weather may have been a plus for contestants since it likely reduced the field of competitors. “If you’re auditioning, you want pouring rain, you want freezing weather,” Seacrest said. “It makes the weak stay home.”
CMA Festival hits all the right notes
Caution, superstar traffic ahead: Euphemisms about her looks aside, Kellie Pickler literally stopped traffic Wednesday afternoon while filming bits for ABC’s CMA special airing Aug. 31. Coming out of the world-famous Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Broadway with TV crew in tow, Pickler was instantly mobbed by fans who moved with her in an amorphous blob as she attempted to cross the street.
“This is amazing!” Pickler squealed. “As long as everybody’s having a good time and nobody gets hit, then it’s great.”
That’s dedication: A line started forming alongside the Nashville Convention Center at 9 p.m. Wednesday for signing sessions with Carrie Underwood and Reba McEntire that didn’t start until 1 p.m. the next day. “As soon as we found out they were going to be here, we knew we had to be in line,” said Amanda Breeden of Martinsburg, W.Va., who was in the prime spot for the Thursday sessions.
Twist and shout: Even though Bo Bice was able to use American Idol as a springboard to the music world’s attention, he admits that he can still “goob out” when he sees somebody of whom he’s a fan. That includes Steve McGranahan, the “World’s Strongest Redneck,” who performed one of his feats of strength for Bice on Thursday, hand-twisting a horseshoe into the shape of a heart. “This is going right up there with my gold records, dude,” Bice said, beaming at McGranahan. “I’m happy.”
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Thousands brave the elements for shot at à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ fame
Season 9 of the FOX hit à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ is officially underway after thousands of aspiring singers sloshed around Gillette Stadium yesterday, enduring cold temperatures and torrential rain to audition for the popular TV show.
Though à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ hopefuls didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t sing for the Holy Trinity of judges – Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell – they did get to meet host Ryan Seacrest, who made a surprise Foxboro appearance.
à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The great thing about à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ is that you canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t script it, so thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s that element of surprise,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ Seacrest told the Herald. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s fantastic that people get so involved and are so passionate about it.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬
A shot at the big time
FOXBORO – Beautiful voices trilled warm-up scales outside the entrance of Gillette Stadium’s “American Idol” auditions on Sunday afternoon, but at the exit auditioners’ voices choked as they expressed disappointment to waiting friends and family members.
Most Idol hopefuls who auditioned exited the stadium without good news. Some held back tears, but many remained upbeat.
“Losers all the way!” shouted Doug Glynn from Long Island, N.Y., flashing two peace signs as he walked out of the stadium gates. “We’re both losers!” said his friend, Jessica Long, good naturedly.
Idol hopefuls audition in Boston
It’s been less than a month since Kris Allen was crowned this year’s American Idol, but Idol hopefuls are already lining up for a chance to become the next winner.
Thousands tried out at the auditions in Boston on Sunday, hoping to follow in Allen’s footsteps.
Must List Live!: ‘True Blood’ and Kris Allen, together at last!
This week on Must List Live!, we dish on last night’s delicious True Blood season premiere as I lay out for Jessica Shaw the three important (in my mind) things she needs to know to get into HBO’s juicy vampire drama. But that’s just to start things off. We also have American Idol winner Kris Allen stopping by to tell us all about what’s on his Must List.
True heros: Gokey/Packers’ Jennings
Saturday’s Greg Jennings Foundation Golf Outing was uplifting on many counts. So many of Greg’s Packers teammates came to support Habitat For Humanity. Now, they have one more wonderful cause to back-Sophia’s Heart Foundation. Jennings and Milwaukee’s “American Idol”, Danny Gokey, have become friends. Greg was deeply touched by Danny’s now-well-documented story of his losing his wife to a heart condition. On Friday night, Jennings announced that his Foundation is making Danny’s Foundation a beneficiary of his golf tournament. It seems to be a “match made in heaven”. Both young men are deeply spiritual; and they LIVE OUT their Faith.
Blake Lewis Talks Pickup Lines, Michelle Obama and His New Album
In 2007 Lewis was a contender on Season 6 of American Idol. An accomplished beatboxer and 10-year veteran of the Seattle music scene, Lewis was something different for the television show that usually leans towards singers with big voices instead of out-of-the-box thinking. In his post-Idol career Lewis has jumped between performance, producing and spinning.
à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“When I spin ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s electro and rave style, very party,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ says Lewis, which should serve him well for his next gig after the tour has ended, headlining the LA Pride festivities, usually territory reserved for the few out gay contestants or dance divas.
à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I have a lot of gay friends and fans.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ Lewis tells BGLB. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I grew up with a gay best friend and my parents were hippies, so Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve always felt comfortable. Plus my music really fits.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬
SummerBash a five-hour course in what pops today
The closest I can relate to was Kelly Clarkson — the “American Idol” winner with the commanding set of pipes and a ferocious stage presence who convinced me that indeed, “My Life Would Suck Without You,” Kelly. (And how many people in the stadium sang to the chorus of “Since U Been Gone.”? Every. Single. One.)
Country music festival at Susquehanna Bank Center
A petite blonde with a mammoth voice, Kellie Pickler has often cited Dolly Parton as an inspiration, and she did so again on the stage of the Susquehanna Bank Center Saturday night.
Invoking Parton’s dirt-poor childhood in the Tennessee mountains – as well as, by implication, her own troubled family history – she drew a parallel between their hardscrabble origins and the authenticity of their music. “That’s what I love about country music,” she said. “It’s real.”
That the pronouncement was delivered by a singer who came to prominence on American Idol, and whose name, when it appears in the songwriting credits at all, is inevitably accompanied by a flotilla of hit doctors, speaks volumes about the state of country. As did the other performers at the daylong festival celebrating the 25th anniversary of country station WXTU (92.5).
2006 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“ Contestant to Release 2nd Album
2006 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“ Contestant, Ayla Brown, is hopeful to release her sophomore album after à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Forwardà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“ by the end of the summer.
The last time à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ came to Beantown, 17-year-old high school basketball player, Ayla Brown from Wrentham, Mass., waited anxiously to show her talent off to the judges. Not only did she make it to Hollywood week, she also made the Top 24 and appeared on three episodes of the show before getting sent home.
An incoming senior at Boston College, the 21-year-old NCAA basketball star has recently completed her second album and hopes for its release by the end of the summer. Since her appearance on à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ back in 2006, she has continued her education at Boston College and has made numerous TV and radio appearances.
Idol Chartwatch, June 15: Kris and Adam Hang in There for One More Week
Kris Allen and Adam Lambert remained on the charts for another week, but where did they end up? And what about all the other American Idol alumni from seasons past à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ for example, who is new to the charts this week? Read on for more.
Susan Boyle for hire at $16,000 a minute
REALITY TV singer Susan Boyle is charging $16,000 a minute to perform live.
The troubled Britain’s Got Talent star, who was runner-up in the last series, is being booked by corporate clients for  £100,000 ($203,100) for a 12-minute set, the UK’s News of the World revealed.
The expensive gigs will quickly add to the  £8 million ($16 million) fortune Boyle is expected amass after signing a recording contract with TV show boss Simon Cowell.
Boyle has returned to the stage after suffering a mental breakdown and going to rehab after losing the series when favourite.
Boyle Heading Back to Stage
International singing sensation Susan Boyle is expected to perform tonight after canceling a weekend performance due to health concerns.
“She is due back on stage tonight,” a spokeswoman for the “Britain’s Got Talent” tour revealed to the Associated Press. “On Sunday, she was advised to take a rest day. She hasn’t pulled out of the tour.”
Boyle joined the other “Talent” finalists for a tour that kicked-off on Friday in Birmingham, and for another performance on Saturday in Sheffield. The singer, 48, reportedly suffered an emotional breakdown after receiving second place in the talent competition.
Katie Holmes Shows Off Her Dancing Legs
Looks like Katie Holmes is ready to hit the dance floor.
On Sunday, she was spotted rehearsing at CBS Studios in Los Angeles. (She took daughter Suri there Saturday after a trip to an American Girl store the night before.)
It has been rumored that Holmes will be appearing on the July 8 100th episode of the Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance.
“I think it’s fair to say it’s a rumor,” producer Nigel Lythgoe recently told Usmagazine.com. “I’m not making any comments at this point.”
LindaD4est, thanks for the link. I’ve known the audio was out there (Scott put it on his MySpace page but the AI PTB made him take it down before I got to listen to it.
Even without BJ, that was phenomenal. :wub_tb:I’m a Scott fan, so I’m prejudiced. However, I’m still wondering why they’d have Tatiana or Bikini Girl sing before Scott and Matt? :wallbash_tb:
Oops. LOL. Maybe they aren’t signed to 19 management. Here’s the press release from today which people over on the forums think it means management. 19E is management. 19R is the recordings side which the Idols have to sign so Fuller gets a portion of their music. I believe, after some Idols sued to get out of their contract, no body HAS to sign managment deals with Fuller. (19E) Well, they are all managed by them through the tour and then they are free. But all of this is still not confirmed. How do you guys read this?
http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06-15-2009/0005043946&EDATE=
This can’t be repeated enough. It comes from multiple Idols and sources”
“Idol has been known to do what is best for the Idol franchise as opposed to the actual client, so the potential for them to really screw one of them over is there.”
19 E is the umbrella….It is the entity to which the Idols signed up with for the AI season which basically ends mid August. Anything the artist is doing, right now, as far as appearances is still associated with “AI finalist”.
Under 19E is 19 R (in this case RCA and Jive recordings) which are in charge of the album production and it’s promotion.
Under 19 E is 19M which is the management arm. This division is in charge of the Artist. Appearances, tours, PR, damage control, marketing of the person, often contributes legal expertise, business management.
Seperate contracts would bind the Artist to 19E and to 19M.
This is my very layman’s explanation.
edit: don’t criticize posters or tell them how to think
Well, Ricky Nelson was actually pretty cool (and very pretty!). But a soundalike with Kris? nah. different timbre, different phrasing, one jazzy the other not.
Give a listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0janfcZ8LUw — Ricky
http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/kris_allen_how_sweet_it_is — Kris
I don’t think “new” management deals can be announced until after the AI Tour. Technically they are still managed by 19 under the Idol contracts. Again, Archie’s new management deal was announced in early October of last year.
colette - maybe this one is what was meant by Kris sounding like Ricky Nelson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3fs2FO1zYo&feature=related
Some people decided to make a caricature of this event. Have a LOOK. :laugh_tb:
Every newborn boy in my neighborhood born in 1960 was named Ricky…and it wasn’t for Ricky Ricardo. And yes, Kris does have that Ricky Nelson vibe (of his post Ozzie and Harriet era) when he was into songs like Garden Party. Rick Nelson had a very good voice and accoustic guitar skills but was never really allowed to break free from his Teen idol status.
That is what always scares me about marketing to the Teen/tween set. Sometimes they just don’t want the artist to grow up and embrace adult things and adult lifestyles…slippery, slippery slope that.
By the way, somebody, someday will need to write a book about David A. and his tweets…nobody in the world is as innocent as he is.
Archie is on PopEater’s photo lineup of predicted Hot Celebrity Summer Hookups… :laugh_tb:
OK, I don’t want to start a duel here about Ricky Nelson of all people! But I don’t see the resemblance AT ALL except they both have wholesome images, are incredibly easy on the eyes, appeal to some young’uns and have pretty voices.
Kris is far more adventurous as a musician than RN ever was, before or after he was able to free himself of the “little Ricky” label. He was kind of folk-rock-country toward the end, with “Garden Party” and similar songs. And some of his early stuff is really wonderful — “Dream Lover” is one of my favorite ’50s ballads, by Bobby Darin (a very underrated artist) and covered sweetly by RN.
HOWEVER, one cannot imagine RN having the voice, creativity and musical chops to bust outa the box the way Kris did on AI. I mean, that amazing “Heartless”? Kris has more vocal range, a real jazzy-soul vibe that RN could have displayed as an adult and never did, nor does his share the cute “catch” in Kris’s voice and his head tones.
And look, Kris has never in my estimation courted to “tween” crowd specifically. Sure they love him, probably voted their little fingers off for him. He’s adorable, and can melt your heart with a romantic ballad. But he isn’t presenting himself that way, and RN was completely “packaged” from Day 1 as an adolescent heart-throb.
If Kanye loves Kris, and Jamie Foxx, and Chris Daughtry are also into Kris, I believe it’s safe to assume that he won’t be trapped in that image unless he does it himself. And that’s probably the last thing he wants!
Ricky Nelson?
Kris doesn’t sound anything like Ricky Nelson. And his musical tastes are FAR less vanilla than people want to give him credit for. He covered Kanye, and if you read his interviews, you would learn he loves bands like Kings of Leon and Mute Math and he grew up listening to a lot of R&B.
I get what you’re saying oceana, but have you seen his interviews with the AI peeps (or others) lately? Mispronouncing names (sometimes a few different ways in the same show, not having a clue who anyone is (I know the Idols aren’t REAL stars yet for the most part, but couldn’t he at least look like he tried to prepare just a little?), repeating questions already answered, not following up on answers that obviously call for a follow up, looking like he couldn’t give a shit about their answers (which he probably doesn’t but c’mon!), etc. It gets pretty excruciating actually and when you can tell that the kids are game, are in a chatty mood and want to engage him, it makes his interviews even harder to watch. Ugh. I’m sure he used to be good but when all you see is what he is now, it’s hard to muster up a lot of respect for his past glory. By the way, I’m hardly young (40) and I have never been able to get into LKL. (And let’s not even talk about the “Larry King Please Retire Already” calls by Beatles fans after his interview with Paul and Ringo (and Yoko and Olivia) a while back.)
ETA: Why is Kris being compared to someone whose heyday was more than 20 years before Kris was born? I’m 40 and even I had to google Ricky Nelson. AI forums/fansites are the only places I can visit on the internet and feel like the young ‘un. Interesting though not very promising for AI’s future.
http://www.examiner.com/x-2734-Newark-Starland-Ballroom-Examiner~y2009m6d15-Idol-worship-Cook-just-the-latest-AI-hero-to-grace-Starland
Idol worship: Cook just the latest ‘AI’ hero to grace Starland
With David Cook confirmed to perform at the Starland Ballroom on July 30th (tickets go on sale Friday at noon), we thought we’d take a look at the history of American Idol contestants and New Jersey’s most popular concert nightclub
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Constantine Maroulis: Before the TONY nominations and stints in regional Jesus Christ Superstar productions, Constantine Maroulis roared out of the fourth season of Idol and into the hearts of teenaged girls (and cougars) everywhere.
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Elliott Yamin: Idol’s fifth-season star is almost a household name at this point; his songs “Wait For You” and his recent smash “Fight For Love” are pop radio staples.
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Taylor Hicks. Over 1,000 people were on April 11, 2007 when “Gray Charles” himself took the Starland stage.
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David Archuleta. Without a doubt, the biggest Idol commotion ever created at Starland belonged to David Archuleta. “Archie” visited Starland earlier this year, following a general-public onsale that saw every last ticket gobbled up in minutes.
more at link
This STILL cracks me up ROFL wth david….
Evidently, those cats cost him some beauty sleep…
I wonder where David’s flying off to now? I thought he was going to be doing some writing and recording all this week.
Cay – When Fuller confirmed signing Adam, he said that Kris and Adam were going to get equal money spent on both and equal promotion. In Idolatry interview, Adam seemed really happy and appreciative of 19. He seems to think they will treat him right.
He still doesn’t fit in the mold and IMO that’s a good thing. His new electro-glitchpop-dance-singer/songwriter-trancy record should be very interesting.
http://vimeo.com/808870
Oldie but goodie tweet that showed up today…. enjoy.
Kind of a minor quibble, but I don’t see this happening as much any more – everyone and their mother now knows that winning really doesn’t mean that much, in the end. 19 will do what makes sense for the bottom line, which, fingers crossed means they see all 3 of them fitting unique niches and selling pretty well. After all, how many times have we heard Adam and Kris remind us that they didn’t even feel like they were in competition with themselves, because obviously they were not going after the same style.
So I don’t really see a “winner gets all” mentality in terms of PR, etc.
Kelly and Adam on EW bullseye page
http://i39.tinypic.com/2cem3dc.jpg
Just wanted to post that iTunes has pulled all of the idols’ songs EXCEPT for Kris and Adam (And in their case, only the studio and video collections are still available). And only Kris’ No Boundaries is left up as a song download. I wonder if Kris’ and Adam’s albums will be left up for the duration of the tour – I hope they will since I think that both will continue to sell.
I wouldn’t compare Kris to Ricky Nelson, but I also would not give short shrift to Nelson.
Nelson had a wonderful voice, he surrounded himself with wonderful musicians, and is considered one of the first pop/rock singers to venture into country rock. Nelson was imaginative, but in a different way than Kris. Kris will be lucky to have half the career that Nelson did.