Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
Country’s glamour gal
…Others might suggest that image has been an especially touchy issue since last fall. That was when television cameras caught Hill throwing her arms up backstage at the Country Music Association Awards and apparently yelling “What?” when American Idol winner Carrie Underwood scooped the female vocalist of the year award.
Underwood repeated the upset at this spring’s Academy of Country Music Awards. Hill, who blends media savvy with unexpected forthrightness, insists that she was delighted that Underwood nabbed both awards, which Hill had previously won a total of 15 times, along with five Grammys.
“I was really happy for her. As long as she knows that, everybody else can kiss my ass.”…
A Weekend at the Cape
…For the main course of my trip on Sunday night, it was time for some soul food. Taylor Hicks was playing at the Cape Cod Melody Tent and we had sweet 6th row tickets. Not that there are really any bad seats at the tent. The stage is small and the seats are close…
Count your blessings, Kelly
I’m afraid of what Kelly Clarkson is becoming.
What started as a phenomenon has slowly turned into a mild bout with megalomania, à la Britney Spears. America’s first Idol is slowly turning into the next industry-versus-the-rock-star story primed and ready for the pages of entertainment weeklies, nightly gossip hours and the merciless blogosphere. The Internet loves Kelly Clarkson, but after her recent behavior, it’s only a matter of time before the likes of Perez Hilton and TMZ get going about her spiral into self-controlling hysteria.
As a former Stater Forum editor so quaintly put it, “That girl ain’t right.”……..
Chicago Fire Soccer Presents Faith & Family Night on July 1
…Fans attending the game on July 1 can enjoy the pre-game interactive Faith Festival starting at 4:30 p.m. CT, just inside gate B, including live performances by former American Idol finalist Brooke Barrettsmith and Christian ska band, “Hook Line and Sinker.”…
Ryan Seacrest wants us to get him an Emmy
…Any win for “American Idol” would sure be appreciated at this point, considering it may soon become the biggest loser in Emmy history. Having been snubbed 22 times in the past, even in the tech races, it’s just 3 losses short of tying the record held by “The Bob Newhart Show.” In the rop race, for best reality program, “The Amazing Race” has zoomed past it every year since the category was created in 2003…
Kelly’s sales are a little idle
Kelly Clarkson is suddenly in danger of driving right off the radio - a stunning turn for an artist who, since winning the first “American Idol” in 2002, has become arguably the biggest mainstream pop star of the decade.
“Never Again,” the first single from the “My December” CD due out next Tuesday, has made barely a ripple on local radio compared to her previous hits.
“We’re disappointed,” says Tom Poleman, program director of WHTZ (100.3 FM). “She’s been a core artist for us with her last several records. She’s been a big part of the revitalization of top 40……
Rush & Molloy
Side Dish
…”American Idol” castoff Sanjaya Malakar hasn’t given up hopes for a career in showbiz. “My first objective is to legitimize my music,” he told Steppin’ Out’s Chaunce Hayden, “then do modeling and acting.” But his brief fame may soon be overshadowed. Buzz is that his sister Shyamali - ousted from “Idol” long before her pony-hawk rocking bro - has been offered nude magazine spreads. Not that she’ll be tempted, says Sanjaya: “She was never the type to flaunt it.”…
Former `American Idol’ Employee Ordered To Arbitrate Harassment Complaint
Arbitration was ordered today in a case brought by a former assistant production accountant for the company behind “American Idol,” who claims he was fired for complaining of sexual harassment by a male contestant….
CABLE NETWORKS GETTING THEIR FEET WET WITH UPFRONTS
…Meanwhile, the major broadcast networks - ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox - said they are fast approaching the finish line and could complete their negotiations by week’s end.
Fox, home to “American Idol,” is expected to be the first to wrap up negotiations. Fox has fewer hours of primetime to sell than its rivals.
“We are near completion of our upfront sales, and are on target to top last year’s best-ever upfront market,” Fox said in a statement.
Fox is part of News Corp., which also owns The Post…
Who do you want your daughters idolizing?
MeMe Roth, a spokeswoman for the National Action Against Obesity, has been dodging verbal shrapnel ever since she implied that “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks, 17, is overweight.
Roth says she’s simply worried about the potential health hazards Sparks could face as a result of excess weight.
Roth is blaming the blowback she’s getting from Sparks’ furious fans on the Fox Network, where she was first heard expressing concern for a teenager who has publicly declared that she’s perfectly happy with her body….
The Record Industry’s Decline
Record Sales are tanking, and there’s no hope in sight: How it all went wrong
This is the first part of a two-part of series on the fall of the record industry. Today we’re including Brian Hiatt and Evan Serpick’s report on where the music business went wrong, from the current issue of Rolling Stone, as well as an interactive graphic illustrating the industry’s slide. Tomorrow, check back with RollingStone.com for interviews with the industry leaders on the future of the music business.
For the music industry, it was a rare bit of good news: Linkin Park’s new album sold 623,000 copies in its first week this May ? the strongest debut of the year. But it wasn’t nearly enough. That same month, the band’s record company, Warner Music Group, announced that it would lay off 400 people, and its stock price lingered at fifty-eight percent of its peak from last June……
Related Posts
Tamyra Grey performed a few songs with the AI3 tour.
And look where that got her!
Tamyra Gray Joins ‘Idol’ Tour
July 07, 2004, 11:20 AM ET
Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.
Billboard.com
First season “American Idol” finalist Tamyra Gray will bring a seasoned perspective to the upcoming tour of the latest finalists from the Fox competition. The singer has signed on to perform on most dates of the upcoming Pop Tarts Presents American Idols Live! trek.
As previously reported, the tour kicks off July 14 in Salt Lake City and will close with three recently added shows on Sept. 28-30 in Honolulu. Gray will appear as a special guest on all of the dates except those in Salt Lake City; Portland, Ore. (July 16); Columbus, Ohio (July 31); Nashville (Aug. 14); Atlanta (Aug. 15); Green Bay, Wis. (Sept. 18); and St. Louis (Sept. 19)
So Tamyra was along for all but six shows, 43 out of 49.
Actually, I was surprised to see Tamyra performing with the AI3 Tour. While I enjoyed her performance, I was there to see the contestants from AI3 and felt Tamyra was out of place.
Kelly Clarkson would be insane to perform with the Idols tour. That will never happen. However, it would be smart if they booked other “guest stars.” I think this tour is going to need something “extra” to bring out the fans.
Clarkson Battled Bulimia
Singer Kelly Clarkson suffered from bulimia after missing out on a role in a high school musical. The American Idol star spent half a year battling the eating disorder.
She tells the upcoming August edition of U.S. magazine Cosmo Girl, “I thought if I come back and I’m cuter and thinner… then I’ll get the role. I became bulimic for the next six months. One of my guy friends caught on to it, and I just felt so ashamed and embarrassed.”
However, Clarkson ended her bulimic suffering without outside help. She adds, “I literally went cold turkey and snapped out of it.”
Starpulse.com
Is Kelly trying to steal Kat’s thunder?
Why Kelly, why talk about your bulumia now? (unfortunately can answer this question, career on the rocks, here comes the pr for some damage control, Kelly, after five yrs of a career, shame girl..
shame)
and to state that you quit it cold turkey, without “outside help”
really wish you hadn’t gone there
Not for me! I’m going to 3 concerts this year. And I didn’t even go to the tour before last season.
But oh yeah, I forgot. Season 6 sucks. They need all the help they can get. *repeats mantra like a good little sheep*
Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire Feel the Love at CMT Crossroads
They Sing “Because of You,” “Why Haven’t I Heard From You”
Despite her international fan base and the daily demands of being the original American Idol, it isn’t hard to track down Kelly Clarkson — if your name happens to be Reba McEntire.
“Any time Reba’s involved, everybody knows I’m gonna do it,” says Clarkson, who pairs with her musical idol on the latest episode of CMT Crossroads. “My management didn’t even ask me. They told CMT ‘yes’ and came to me and said, ‘They want you to do Crossroads with Reba.’ I was like, ‘I’ll do it!’ I’m pretty much on board with anything because I learn so much by just watching her.”…………
CMT.com
I’m beginning to wonder what else Ms. Clarkson will bring up in order to sell her CD.
OMFG. You owe me a new screen Mary, because this one just got Mountain Dew spewed all over it.
Seriously, I would pay good money to see this and the disappointed faces of all the “tweentards” who think Blake and/or Chris R is going to marry them.
*adding Massachusetts to my list of tour stops*
I step away from my computer and come back and you guys are trying to kill me with laughter on these Kelly stories..
If she does go on tour, she may want to close the show. I wonder how Jordon will feel. It’s bad enough Season Six did not get much attention, isn’t getting much attention and won’t be getting much attention if the said rumour is true. Kelly is already sucking up all the attention from the Season Six guys to begin with.
I doubt it’s true thou. As much as I object to Kelly’s rebelious way, I will draw the line at her partaking in the AI tour. What would be even more sad is, if she joins and tickets still don’t sell that much better. But, I know my girl won’t take the bait..
Also, I see Kat and Kelly does have a lot in common…Oh no..
Season 6 did not get much attention? The highest vote totals ever? The most polarizing contestant ever? The highest ratings ever?
Wow, I must have been living on a different planet.
I guess I should repeat the “season 6 sucks” mantra some more so I can get it in my stubborn little head. Oh wait! I must be Kelly!
One more thing. Kelly’s REBELLIOUS ways? Wanting to make a cd that follows your artistic vision and stays true to WHO YOU ARE and what you’ve been dealing with is REBELLIOUS?
Is there a link about the idol tour sales being poor? Cause I can only go by NJ but NJ sold out in one day and they had to add another show. I paid $220 for 10th row seats..Looking at ticketmaster some rows were going for almost 300 a seat. Is NJ and NY the only sold out shows?
15 million CD’s sold and everyone in the world knows your name and your face…and still you complain.
Get over yourself, Kelly.
I heard that the AI tour was selling faster than other concerts, Ealbino. I’m very bummed that I can’t go but I must be living on the same planet as Sarah, lol.
Would a Wash-n-Dri do? I’m kinda broke this month…
ealbino, NJ sold out fast last year too. It’s the top grossing venue, if I recall correctly. I remember there were seats going for over $1000 for the Thursday show on TicketMaster for a while but a few days before the show, some good seats were made available for face value.
I went to one of the Meadowlands shows last year. It was “sold out” for weeks and I bought the ticket on e-bay. A few days before the concert, more tickets appeared on Ticketmaster and while the house was packed, it was not sold out. There were seats available better than the one I bought on e-bay. Many tickets are sold to ticket agencies and will not be released until a week before the show. I’d say nothing is actually “sold out” except the hometowns of some idols. So in the future (if I ever go to another idol show), I wouldn’t actually buy my ticket until a week before the show.
Obviously, if you have kids, this is a special event, you love the idols, none of this applies.
Ealbino, just an innocent question. Who on this tour is worth $220 to you? OMG. I wouldn’t even pay that amount for my favorite from last year.
There *is* interest in Season 6. You don’t see it on this blog, but it’s there. I really hope more Season 6 fans find their way to MJ’s so that we can get lots of concert recaps this summer! They’re always fun to read.
As far as comparing this year’s press to last year’s…well, Jordin and Blake did all the usual Idol press. They were just on The View last week. Blake is in People’s Hottest Bachelor issue, just like Taylor and Ace were last year. The only difference I’ve really noticed is that Jordin doesn’t have a Ford commercial, and Blake doesn’t have an eating disorder to chat about with the media. *shrug*
But yeah, I know - like Sarah said, Season 6 sucks.
I was being “tongue in cheek”.
I’m sorry if it just came off as dogma because I’ve lost touch with reality.
I’m not trying to be a creep, but I checked Ticketmaster. The idol shows at the Meadowlands are not sold out although only the upper level is available. Like the Mastercard commercial says, if you want to go, the experience is priceless.
I don’t want to bash Season 6 but the ratings were down about 20% for most of the season as far as I remember, so highest ratings ever I don’t think so.
Ya know, no one is saying there is NO interest in Season 6. There have been plenty of members of Team Plaid posting here, as well as fans of almost every Season 6 finalist.
My opinion is that it FEELS like there is less overall interest in this season. Admittedly, as a Taylor fan I was firmly invested in last season. But I have warm and cozy feelings about a few of the Idols from Season 5. Kat still amuses me, I like Elliott a lot, and Chris is fun to follow. I look back at Kat’s missing tour dates and my two shows from that tour fondly.
Just because I don’t feel warm and fuzzy about this season doesn’t make me wrong or fanatical. And conversely, no one who loved Season 6 is wrong, either.
I’m sensing irritation from those who liked Season 6 but just so you know, I don’t disagree with you. It’s completely subjective, with no right and wrong. It’s your right to love Season 6, just like it’s my right not to.
MNSue - My favorite is Chris R. I just love his sweet demeanor and the tone of his voice not to mention his smile. I would have paid 220 for him alone but the fact that he comes along with my 2nd and 3rd favorites, Jordin and Blake, then it was a no brainer for me.
I have been to every idol concert and have enjoyed immensely every one of them! My favs were Justin/Kelly, Ruben, Carrie, Bo, Fantasia,etc. I love that cheesy show and I love this site!
Its not that I don’t like anyone from Season Six. I really enjoyed the good and the bad this year had to offer. Its just that I don’t think I should have to work so hard to care about them. Seeing the tour live this year - no. Interested in recaps and video captures - you bet.
I think I get it. The Idol experience is just as much a pull as your personal favorites.
And I forgot Elliott!!! I love him.. I just saw him a few weeks ago and almost cried he was soo good.
I’ve been trying to get spoilers on the show and saw that Chris S says there will be things done on this show never before done in other shows. Plus a great top 10 beginning so I’m excited. I got this info from the Chris S blog link that I found here. Thanks MJ!
Eh, it’s okay Abily. :D Here’s a new Blake interview for anyone that’s interested…
American Ideal
Why Seattle Should Love Blake Lewis
For most career musicians and music devotees, American Idol is a farce that’s best ignored. Even Lewis will tell you so.
“The whole ‘Hey, hey we’re the Monkees’ aspect of things,” is how he puts it during a quick Seattle stopover between wrapping the show and hitting the road for a four-month Idol tour. “I stopped watching TV eight years ago because I can’t stand it. Going into American Idol, I was like, what the fuck am I getting myself into?”
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=247465
Oh, Blake said a bad word. I believe, if history serves me right, this calls for a prayer thread.
Katharine revelead on extra that she has a small role in a major film but she couldn’t say anything more.
And for Kelly, yeah she’s sold a lot of albums, yeah a lot of people know who she is. She should still be allowed to complain, she’s still a person, she’s not perfect, not everything goes her way 100% of the time.
YAY Elvis on SYTYCD.
Rad - who danced the Elvis tune? My local weather guys keep breaking into the show to give us severe weather reports. GAHHH!
Uhm…Fiana and Cedric they did a fox trot. “Who’s the Boss” Elvis Presley and Ann Margret from Viva Las Vegas
Taylor is singing Don’t let me down in Iowa!
Thanks Rad. I missed all of that.
WAHOO, WOOT and WOWZER!!!!
LISAB:
Thanks for this news link.
OK, how lame am I? That is a rhetorical question so no need to answer. LOL. With as much as I LOVE Taylor, I must confess that I have not made it through all the songs fromn the posted videos yet (thanks MJ) beacause I have been listening to Mr. Potts’ performances of Nessun Dorma and Con Te Partiro. The man is brilliant.
And yes, I am going to suffer through Matt Lauer and watch Mr. Potts on the TODAY show Thursday morning. WOOT!!!!
ETA:
LisaB, even though it appears that a CD will be available in the US, I would still love one from UK. So, keep me on your Xmas list. :)
I keep reading this quote. Wow, Kelly must have been really listening to her fans..artistic vision…It’s simply not that deep.
Reminder:
When disagreeing with a fellow poster, please don’t make it personal or twist around their words. If you see your post edited, you’ll know why.
I’m beginning to sound like a broken record on this one.
Nevada, I was paying pretty close attention during the Season 3 tour. I attended 4 shows, and I remember clearly that Tamyra was taken off the tour pretty early on. I saw the LA, Worcester, Manchester and Providence shows and Tamyra did not appear at any of them.
The original plan may have been for her to do nearly all the tour dates, but it did not end up that way in the end.
I seriously hope that Kelly would not consider making an appearance on any AI summer tour. Tell me she won’t do this.
The Blake Lewis link doesn’t work for me. :(
As I am typing this, Kelly’s Sober is playing on my local radio station. The (female) DJ introduced the song by saying that when she first heard that song, she went “Wow! Who’s singing this song? Really, Kelly Clarkson?” She obviously liked it. That’s more or less my reaction, too. I was never very familiar with Kelly and was not a big fan, but I’m in awe of her (voice) now.
I guess it depends on how you define early on. The tour began on July 14, 2004, and Tamyra was still with the tour on August 1, 2004, according to this mention in the Indianapolis Star:
After intermission, first-season contestant Tamyra Gray performed songs from her debut album, “The Dreamer.”
She’s a dynamite singer, but she faces the same hurdles that await Barrino: There’s no shortage of accomplished female R&B vocalists.
Tamyra was still with the tour on August 5, 2004, in Chicago, IL, according to the review in the Chicago Sun-Times:
Sure, the chances of any of these folks being around next year are slim – a lengthy cameo by first-season has-been Tamyra Gray attested to that. But long-term success is of minimal concern for the companies behind this low-budget cash grab anyway – just ask any of those other runners-up from previous seasons, like that one guy, with the hair, or that girl who did, you know, that song about the dreams.
Tamyra was still with the tour on August 10, 2004, in Grand Prairie, TX, according to the review in the Dallas Morning News:
But Idol alum Tamyra Gray, a special guest during the second half of the show, not only kept on her dancing shoes, she’s kept up her vocal talent. Wearing a sparkly pink halter and matching stilettos, she worked hard to please the crowd with her original songs, including the moving ballad “Raindrops Will Fall.”
Almost ‘Idol’ Covington rocks some Country
…
These days it appears that all the rules have gone out the window. Take Bucky Covington for example. He got into the top eight on “American Idol,” toured major stadiums with the Idol top ten, and had his debut album sell over two-and-a-half million copies – yet, when he came to our neck of the woods, he was the headliner at the 800- seat Brandin’ Iron in San Bernardino.
If going mini affected Covington, he did not show it at the Brandin’ Iron. He took the stage and ripped through an energetic show that had the audience cheering loud and often. He made a strong connection with the audience…
http://www.highlandnews.net/articles/2007/06/21/entertainment/01covington.txt
Dang! It looks like the Hannah Montana crew and dingo’s bus have been after the wrong Idol all this time…LOL
Hi Purps
I’ll put that up on todays headlines.
HMWD!!
Now the New York Post is repeating it.
‘IDOL’ TOUR INVITES KELLY BACK
…Now comes word that the “Idol” tour - set to begin July 6 in Florida and starring the top-10 finishers from this year’s competition - is inviting Clarkson to make a “special cameo” appearance on the tour, according to a report on the music-industry Web site Geno’s World…
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06212007/tv/idol_tour_invites_kelly_back_tv_.htm
Geno IS influential. Heh.
here is something for todays update Jordin Sparks will be on the B.E.T Awards tonight June 21st.
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=154369
Why has AI spent so much time and energy promoting Tamyra? She is talented, but so are lots more Idol contestants who havent been invited to AI tours they werent originally part of . She got to write 2 of the coronation songs or collaborate on them, was on the show performing numerous times also early on. Who does she know or who is she related to?
Tamyra only co wrote one of the coronation songs .though there were rumors she did write a song that was in the running for season 5.