Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
Jordin Sparks is Living the ‘Idol’ Dream
JORDIN SPARKS is gearing up for the Pop Tarts™ Presents American Idols Live! Tour 2007, kicking off on July 6 in Sunrise, FL. But as the youngest-ever “Idol,” Jordin can’t go alone, so she will be taking her family along for the adventure of a lifetime!
ET caught up with the 17-year-old from Glendale, AZ, at her rehearsal in Burbank, CA, and this is what she told us:
Melinda Doolittle to Travel to Africa with First Lady Laura Bush to Distribute Bed Nets Funded by American Idol Viewers
American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle will travel to Zambia on June 28 with Malaria No More to see and participate in malaria prevention programs as a part of First Lady Laura Bush’s upcoming trip through Africa. During the four-day tour, Doolittle will see the impact of malaria on the continent firsthand and assist in a distribution of 500,000 bed nets in Lusaka, Zambia to at-risk populations.
Doolittle’s visit is a part of the First Lady’s five-day tour through Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, and Zambia to highlight the Administration’s work on HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and education in Africa….
‘Idol’ finalist accused of keeping rental car
American Idol finalist Jessica Sierra kept her rental vehicle 12 days over its due date without paying, said a local rental car company manager…….
‘My December’: Kelly Clarkson, Striking Out On Her Own
That screechy sound you’re hearing right now? It’s the driver of Kelly Clarkson’s pop-star bandwagon slamming on the brakes, attempting to avoid a spectacular wreck. Not an easy thing to do, given that the American Idol’s bandwagon is hurtling along without wheels — all of which have come flying off in recent months…..
Kelly Clarkson - My December Review
Why’s Kelly Clarkson so pissed off?
My Story
This year was the first time I’d endured a full season of “American Idol” since the show premiered. Like many other TV viewers, I always enjoyed the first rounds as losers and assholes were put in their place by the acid-tongued Simon Cowell, seeing their dreams crushed before my very eyes. But once the contest proper kicked in, I just couldn’t enjoy the cookie-cutter karaoke that was the standard of being put down. This year, however, there were some great singers in the competition, making things much more interesting. It took me back to the first season, the year I fell in love with the show for a brief few months. The big reason then? Ms. Kelly Clarkson…..
ALBUM REVIEW
‘My December’ by Kelly Clarkson
Clarkson’s New Album, Though Uneven, Shows Growth
Kelly Clarkson wasn’t looking for trouble when she set out to make “My December,” though she certainly found it.
All Clarkson really wanted to do was to write a bunch of songs and record them, which doesn’t seem unreasonable for a singer who has already released two albums that sold more than 1 million copies each…..
Paula Abdul’s reality series reveals her strange, lonely world
When your best friends are your stylists and your publicist, it’s time for a reality check.
“Hey Paula,” the Bravo reality series following the “life” of “American Idol” judge and frequent tabloid fodder Paula Abdul, begins with its subject telling the camera that she may seem like a fabulous famous person, but like everyone else she has good days and bad days and is really just a normal everyday gal. The proof of this, she says, is her best friends, whom she proceeds to introduce: her stylist, her publicist, her other stylist and her four cushion-reclining Chihuahuas…….
FRENCHIE ALLEGES RACISM ON ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT: It all started when boy says he doesn’t want to be near “big black person.”
Frenchie Davis says she was a victim of racism by a passenger and flight attendants on Alaska Air, and plans to discuss her ordeal in a press conference scheduled for this week in Los Angeles. Her rep, however, has already told EUR what went down. Her account is as follows:
‘PURPLE’S’ FANTASIA CONTINUES TO BANK GREEN: Church groups encompass bulk of the audiences at Broadway musical.
While “The Color Purple” has enjoyed a steady stream of business last year, the addition of “American Idol” winner Fantasia in the lead has led to a huge financial windfall for the production.
According to the New York Post, the play has been grossing more than $1 million a week since Fantasia’s arrival in April, and advance ticket sales are nearing $10 million, thanks in large part to scores of church groups across the country who board buses and attend shows as part of package deals….
Fox ain’t no spring chicken
Once-youthful network growing older
Don’t be surprised if Fox suddenly buys a Ferrari and acquires a hot young girlfriend: The once-youthful network has officially hit middle age.
Fox’s median age passed the 40-year-old threshold for the first time last season, according to a new study from Magna Global USA’s Steve Sternberg. The net, which boasted a median age of 35 just four years ago, aged up to 42 last year.
That still makes Fox the youngest of the Big Four — although the gap is narrowing.
Fox doesn’t have much to worry about, however, as its median age is still in check with the national population, and reflects a broadening out of its schedule. Shows like “24,” “House” and even “American Idol” reach a wider age range than the net’s shows did even a few years ago — and have helped lead the net to the No. 1 spot in adults 18-49….
Elliott Yamin goes his own way
For 2006 “American Idol” finalist Elliott Yamin, it’s time to leave the show behind and focus on his self-titled Top 10 album. For starters, in concert, don’t expect Yamin to pay homage to the top-rated show.
“No, no, I don’t do any of the songs from the show,” Yamin told LiveDaily. “I do more stuff from the record. We do some covers, but I try to stay away from songs that I did on the show.”…
Jamboree’s new show has something for everyone
…”Dexter is probably me in real life,” Mitchell said with a laugh. “I really snort when I laugh like he does, which is embarrassing. He’s a combination of Jerry Lewis and (Steve) Urkel (from “Family Matters”).”
A Knoxville native and University of Tennessee graduate, Mitchell performed at Dollywood for six years. He auditioned for season four of “American Idol” and made it to the Hollywood round before being eliminated in the third stage.
“That was a great experience,” he said.
He added that being able to sing gospel music during the show fulfilled his dreams. “It was a real blessing,” Mitchell said. “I’ll just continue to go wherever the Lord leads me.”…
Keith Urban joins Live Earth
Aussie country icon Keith Urban is the latest name on the bill of the New York leg of Al Gore’s Live Earth gig on July 7.
Nicole Kidman’s hubby joins chart-toppers Fall Out Boy, former American Idol Kelly Clarkson, rock legends Bon Jovi, Roger Waters and The Police, rappers Ludacris and Kanye West, plus KT Tunstall, Alicia Keys, John Mayer and many more in an all-star line-up….
Kelly Clarkson’s dispute with Clive Davis has made her music hard to hear
‘My December’ faces a kind of prejudice.
It’s not the actual content of “My December,” Kelly Clarkson’s just-released third album, that currently makes it unlistenable. I’m not saying that it’s a bad album — it’s a solid, heartfelt, occasionally beautiful exercise in mainstream modern rock, and most reviews are confirming that. “My December” is unlistenable in the sense that nobody can really hear it. Sometimes this happens to a work of art: The din around it from a controversy renders the thing itself mute…
SOUL STARS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF STAX
ISAAC HAYES, MAVIS STAPLES and BOOKER T. & THE MG’S were among the soul stars who reunited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of record label Stax on Friday (22Jun07).
The 50 Years Of Stax concert was hosted by American Idol judge Randy Jackson and Public Enemy star Chuck D. at the Orpheum in Memphis, Tennessee, where Stax Records was based.
Also in attendance were Eddie Floyd, William Bell and Mable John.
Hayes played his hits Theme From Shaft and Walk On By, while the late Otis Redding’s sons Dexter and Otis III performed two of their father’s songs, Try A Little Tenderness and Hard To Handle.
Hayes says, “I really enjoyed the whole thing. Guys I hadn’t seen in a long time, we just had fun.” The record label was founded in Memphis in 1957 as Satellite Records, before changing its name to Stax in 1961.
Idol auditions in Miami! Your 15 minutes…
.. start here! Or should I say there, as in lovely downtown Miami at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Aug. 22. You must be between 16 and 28 years old on the date of the audition, and legally allowed to work in the United States.
Those are the official rules. Here’s Cousin Leslie’s rule - Please be able to sing. Seriously. Please don’t go down there acting like a fool or wearing a Big Bird costume or cussing Simon out and then telling people you’re from around here. Do not make Palm Beach County the new American Idol Clown Town. We’ve got enough problems…
‘Idol’ Employee Told to Settle Harassment Claims
Do You Want To Be On Reality TV?
Attend The World’s Largest Casting Call & First ‘How To’ Of Its Kind!
…Attendees will also get to hear from current and former reality TV stars who got their start just the same way; they include William “She Bangs” Hung from American Idol, Bachelor Rome runner-up Sadie Murray, two-time Deal or No Deal contestant Brooks Leach who pocketed a cool $410 for his two hours of fame, Craig Murray from Atlanta and on The Apprentice, Kristen Johnson – Miss Kentucky and a contestant on Fear Factor and Treasure Hunters and more!…
Curve Set To Open Eight-Game Homestand On Tuesday
…The Curve Idol Series presented by the New AT&T continues on Wednesday as Kevin Covais from the popular Fox television show American Idol will make an appearance at BCB…
Clarkson’s latest tangles with ‘Idol’ factor
In pop music it’s all about the dollar signs
Kelly Clarkson’s new album “My December” hits stores today; the next few days and weeks will tell us whether it hits with a bang or a whimper. (Judging from the tepid response to the first single, “Never Again,” it’s not looking good.)
Not as much launched as dribbled out by Clarkson’s record company, RCA — which is headed by Sony BMG chief Clive Davis — “My December” comes with an avalanche of sketchy press, controversy and bad feeling on both sides, not to mention a recently canceled summer arena tour, which would have been Clarkson’s first….
Country music veteran teams up with Idol contestant
Tracy Lawrence played first in a co-headlining capacity opposite Josh Gracin, much to the confusion of some of about 5,500 fans in attendance Monday night at the Greeley Stampede at Island Grove Regional Park Arena in Greeley….
Caption this: Airport McPheever!
Last week, the Gossipaholic blog featured some photos of Katharine McPhee at an unnamed airport. I’m usually nonplussed by such photos — uh, so, people go to the airport sometimes? — but one of these caught my eye.
Care to try your hand at captioning this little gem? I’m stealing the obvious one. (Sorry. Not really.)
Would-be ‘Idols’: Get outta town!
New Yorkers who happen to be Jordin Sparks wanna-bes will have to hit the New Jersey Turnpike if they want a piece of the “American Idol” action next season.
The nearest auditions for the next outing of the hit Fox series will be held in - get this - Philadelphia…..
WE HEAR
THAT Victoria’s Secret Beauty is setting up a beauty candy store at 52nd Street and Broadway tomorrow and that supermodels Heidi Klum, Selita Ebanks and Alessandra Ambrosia and recording artists Katharine McPhee and Kat Diluna are expected…
Related Posts
Thanks for the pics, griz. May I say, apparently, Dan Akroyd, in addition to being a wine connosieur, (sp?) is also a big fan of food. Will that obesity woman have a fit like she did over Jordin? I think not.
Purps, if JPL played anywhere around here, I’d go in a heart beat. I wonder what his sales are like, too.
jersey… did you know that Dan A. is still married to Donna Dixon? ya think she’d get him on Adkins. There’s a long celebrity marriage.
I don’t know if you know that Canada has strict rules involving Canadian content on radio and tv. I don’t know what it involves but remember that several years ago Bryan Adams cowrote one of his hits with an English guy and it didn’t qualify as Canadian content.
I’m sorry but not surprised that Chris Sligh has suspended posting on his blog. I wonder if he was talking about the Twop forum? They have a lot of snark going on and they’re writing their own Sligh blogs.
You know I love Blake but I really, really hate that hat.
Dean Martin Is Forever Cool With New All-Star Collaborative Album
Also Features Previously Unreleased Dean Martin Vocal Track and Witty Studio Banter
….Forever Cool’s inspired new recordings, woven together with several rare and previously unreleased clips of Martin’s witty studio banter, feature Grammy winner Joss Stone, two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, saxophonist Dave Koz, Grammy winner Shelby Lynne, trumpeter Chris Botti, international superstar Robbie Williams, “American Idol” finalist Paris Bennett, country music star Martina McBride, French entertainment icon Charles Aznavour, Italian chart-topper Tiziano Ferro and other music greats….
Keyt.com
Kelly Clarkson’s Solo Debacle
Pop music Svengalis have never been beloved figures. In crafting a performer’s image, producing or writing their records, or all of the above, they’re part bully, part stage mother, and part egomaniac, and inevitably, the singers under their strict control rebel against them….
Time.com
Lisa B
Jun 26th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Mark Broussard: S.O.S.: Save Our Soul
Louisiana soul singer Marc Broussard has a credibility that fellow Southerner Taylor Hicks would kill for….
Earvolution.com
Yeah, Baby! Hubby is bringing it on home to me, yeah!
Love this man so much!!!!!!
I don’t care for Kelly’s new CD; but congrats to her fans on it’s dropping. BIG, BIG, BIG congrats to the Hannah Montana fans! Go HMWD!!!!!!!!
Oh, and congrats to Marc Broussard!!!!! Your Soul melts my Soul!
Keep ‘em coming……
An interesting article in Forbes regarding a slightly different strategy by record labels looking for a glimmer of light at the end of a self-dug tunnel:
http://www.forbes.com/2007/06/25/music-recording-sony-biz-media-cx_lh_0626older.html?partner=links
Moreover, most of their fans are older consumers who are less likely to be satisfied with a single-song download from Apple’s iTunes Store, says John Kellogg, an entertainment attorney who teaches at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. “These older artists’ fans are CD or album-buying fans and that’s one reason why record companies like them,’‘ Kellogg says.
Oh yeah? You could have fooled me. The Top 40 market seems to be what the record companies care about.
Generic mainstream is what sells. That’s what the record companies care about.
Hey Griz, so tell us, how many of those pictures of Taylor did you buy????
Thanks for the link. Oh, to be one of the rich and famous at that party….
If you look at the sales every week, there’s quite the variety that does well. The top 10 at HDD for last week contains Bon Jovi, White Stripes, Brad Paisley, Toby Keith, Linkin Park, Paul McCartney, Amy Winehouse, Maroon 5, Fabolous, and T-Pain (not sure who the last 2 are). Obviously they’re not all going to be top 40 on the radio but that doesn’t mean their cds won’t sell well.
My 19 yr old bought the Paul McCartney cd for my hubby for Father’s day but he and his 16 yr old brother wanted it for their iPods. My kids do download when they want just one song but usually buy the cd when they can.
Where do you get that info…….do you have a web page?
I don’t know where to look for album sales.
All of them of course!
Some of them were priceless tho, I must say!
Jennifer Hudson performed And I Am Not Telling You with original Dreamgirl Jennifer Holliday tonight on the B.E.T Awards . Hudson did a great job but Holliday was screaming and made real crazy faces .
I guess you haven’t seen any of Holliday before the movie of Dreamgirls, she pulls crazy faces all the time.
Regarding Broussards latest album (which i’m listening to right now) the background music is just overproduced, that’s all. If he recorded it in the same room with the musicians using the different mics to the same reel I think you’d get a totally different record.
Radname perhaps you missed ***’s CD?
I don’t see what Katharine has to do with what i’m saying. But as far as todays production is, i think it’s all overproduced, from Katharine to Marc Broussard. Having electronic sounds in your songs does not equal overproduced by the way.
IMHO, Paris’ strong suit is jazz. Although I completely understand why her album was aimed towards the tween-top 40 market, I personally would have been more inclined to purchase something smoother and more jazzy. I look forward to hearing this track, actually.
The photos of Taylor with Dan Akroyd are fantastic. Looks like they had a fun time. I have a desire to watch The Blues Brothers now.
Also, Marc Broussard’s album is quite good. I’ve already given it four spins, and while I really do like it, the reviewer was spot on when he said that “…Broussard’s band lacks the heart and passion that make soul worth saving in the first place.” Some of the covers just fall a bit flat compared to the originals, but there’s some great material that makes up for the low spots. His duet with Toby Lightman on “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” is fantastic, as is his lone original.
ETA: Personally, I don’t think the album sounds over-produced; there are certain songs that musically lack “umph,” imho, but that does not equate to being over-produced. The songs themselves did, however, sound more polished than the originals, but I just chalk that up to modern recording techniques.
For those looking to usher in HMWD, when I stopped by Wal-Mart at 7:15 this morning to pick up Broussard’s CD, the new releases had yet to be displayed. So, one of the associates and I looked through the boxes of new releases on the music department floor for the CD, and we dug through two boxes full of the new Hannah Montana CD, and one box packed with Kelly’s “My December.” HMWD FTW!!111!11
Jennifer Hudson’s no stranger to crazy faces, either; that’s what I liked best about her on AI. :)
And Lunchbag’s playing the Roxy??? Awesome! :banana:
I’ve tried asking him on his website, but they dont answer. I dont think he did that well.
Hey, dcd, I know it isn’t you. I was referring to the whole crew and the battlecry. (Lisa might understand better…) ;-D
PJ, I hope you get a chance to see JPL soon. :)
GOING, GOING, BON
Bon Jovi Nabs First-Ever #1 Debut, White Stripes, Brad Paisley Debut Top 5
…Give a tip of the old cowboy hat to sheriff L.A. Reid, Steve Bartels and company for pulling off the biggest-ever first week for the venerable Joisey boys. Thanks to performances on American Idol, The Today Show and MTV Unplugged, as well as an innovative Ticketmaster promotion offering a free digital download of the album, Lost Highway found its way to the top of the charts…
http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi
IDOL CHATTER
Ken Barnes
Idols on the radio — checking the format charts
…Finally, in the overall national picture (based on the more updated 100-position national radio airplay audience chart), Daughtry is No. 6 in the country with Home, same as last week, with a slight gain in total audience. Carrie’s Before He Cheats is No. 8, again with a slight audience gain. Fantasia’s When I See U roars up to 13 from 17. Elliott’s doing well, up 54-45 with Wait for You. Daughtry’s It’s Not Over is up 48-46 but that’s a mirage; it continues to decline in total audience. Bucky’s A Different World drops 73-75, but that’s also a mirage; it’s up 5% in total audience. Carrie’s Wasted drops 70-81, and that’s not a mirage; it’s done. Kelly’s Never Again has fallen off the top 100, but she’s back on the chart with her new duet with Reba McEntire on Because of You, new at 87. And Kellie’s I Wonder finally makes the national chart at 97.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/idolchatter/2007/06/idols-on-the-ra.html#more