Idol Headlines for 10/17/08

American Idol Says Simon Cowell Cruelty Led Her to Depression, Drugs

American Idol alum Nikki McKibbin, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, has revealed Simon Cowell led her on a downward spiral.

“I came out of Idol with a lack of self-confidence, ” McKibbin tells the new issue of Us Weekly. “I think I had my first solo in school when I was 5, and I got more as I got older: That’s the biggest compliment in choir. I had never been told I wasn’t good enough. Having to hear it for so many weeks from Simon Cowell killed me inside. I couldn’t get the s–t he had said to me out of my head.”

She continued: “It drove me deeper into my depression. I wouldn’t say that this was Simon’s fault. It just added to the addict that I already was.”

US Magazine

David Archuleta: “I Was Nervous” Acting!

The American Idol runner up recently shot a guest spot on Nickelodeon’s iCarly (to air next Feb.) – and show star Miranda Cosgrove can’t stop gushing.

“He is pretty close to my age so it was fun getting to hang out with him, ” Cosgrove told Usmagazine.com at the 10th Anniversary of Yoplait’s Save Lids to Save Lives event in L.A. Friday.

“He was really good, ” continued Cosgrove, 15. “He said it was his first big acting part and he just kind of came in and we didn’t even rehearse or anything. We just went for it and it went really well.”

Cosgrove admits even she was a little star struck to meet the Idol she voted for.

US Magazine

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

Musicians Hall of Fame Readies for Award Show & Induction

The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum will hold its 2008 Induction ceremony on October 28th at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville.

2008 Inductees include: Booker T & The MGs, The Memphis Horns, Muscle Shoals Rythm Section, The Crickets, Al Kooper, Duane Eddy and Billy Sherrill.

Guest artists scheduled to perform are: Percy Sledge, George Jones, Barbara Mandrell, Kix Brooks, Phil Everly, Eddie Floyd, Melinda Doolittle, plus a special surprise guest.

hofmag

Atlanta Motor Speedway news 2008-10-16

HAMPTON, Ga. (Oct. 16, 2008) — Atlanta Motor Speedway has secured singer and heartthrob Michael Johns to sing the National Anthem and a mini concert as part of the Kroger Pre-Race Show before the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Oct. 26.

Johns, who quickly gained national fame for his soulful voice and handsome looks on American Idol’s seventh season, recently wrapped up performing on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008. The Perth, Australia native with ties to Georgia is geared up to perform before the Pep Boys Auto 500.

Motorsport.com

David Cook gets Stretched and Acid Washed

American Idol winner David Cook’s post-coronation album drops on Nov. 18, so there’s still plenty of time to change this “Make The Pretty Boy Look Tough” album cover. First off, it’s pretty clear that they’ve stretched David, Paula Abdul-style, here’ no human being has a head that narrow. Maybe Cook (a pretty good-looking guy!) was packing on the pounds in the offseason, but this picture looks like the photographer forgot to set his camera to widescreen’ and that fauxhawk is doing him no favors. Can you say “reservoir tip”?

Idolator

‘American Idol’: David Cook heading to ‘SNL

Last May David Cook made history triumphing in the greatest upset in “American Idol” history. Now the reigning Season 7 champion is about to break another sound barrier: On Nov. 1 he will become the first idol to appear as the musical guest on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” immediately upon release of his debut album.

LA Times

David Cook Gearing up for Debut Album Release

Get ready, Cookie fans! American Idol winner David Cook is putting the finishing touches on his debut album.

According to EW, Cook’s album, which releases Nov. 18, has been mastered, and the singer is personally overseeing the final steps in the process. Cook wrote or co-wrote 11 of the disc’s 12 tracks, working with the Goo Goo Dolls’ Johnny Reznik, Our Lady Peace’s Raine Maida (who gets credit on four tracks) and Chris Cornell, who penned the first single off the album, “Light On.”

TV Guide

‘American Idol’ Alum Nikki McKibbin Says Simon Cowell Drove Her To Drink, Drugs

“American Idol” judge Simon Cowell has said some harsh things to contestants over the years. He’s accused contestants of being borderline mentally challenged, said they “killed” his favorite songs, called their singing “dreadful” and told an number of budding singers that they’ll never, ever have a chance at a career.

But, according to “Idol” season one’s third-place finisher, flame-haired Nikki McKibbin, Cowell’s particularly harsh comments about her talent sent the Texas native into a downward spiral of drugs, alcohol and depression that at one point landed her in a mental ward. McKibbin tells Us Weekly that she “came out of ‘Idol’ with a lack of self-confidence.”

MTV

Ryan Seacrest Locks Lips With Mystery Woman, Jennifer Hudson Wants Simon Cowell Criticism

The temperature may be dropping in New York City, but Ryan Seacrest reportedly got steamy with a hot lass while hanging out with fellow “American Idol” star Randy Jackson at the Plunge at the Gansevoort South last Thursday.

Were told the boys were “definitely looking to party” as they took over a private cabana and ordered bottles of Grey Goose and Patron immediately upon arrival, followed by a few rounds of shots. True to form, ultimate ladies man Ryan Seacrest was apparently then joined by a mystery date identified only as Mariana.

“Sparks were flying, as the two locked lips immediately and would not stop making out the entire afternoon, ” said an eyewitness.

Fox News

Review: ‘American Idol’ contestant Lewis shines at The Jewish Mother

Appearing on the TV talent review …American Idol can be a mixed blessing. Sure, it seems like a great shortcut for getting into the music business, but even if you win that does not guarantee you a seat at the table of bona fide music stars. Just ask Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks, two winners dropped from their record contracts.

One could in fact argue that booted Idols face more challenges than opportunities, as they try to climb into the business with the tag …former American Idol contestant hanging from them like a ball and chain.

Hampton Roads

Jennifer Hudson Chats About Her Oscar and …The Secret Life of Bees

Jennifer Hudson is an Oscar winning actress with the voice of a true diva. This American Idol cast-off career has taken off over the past few years to great heights. In her latest venture, Hudson co-stars in the upcoming film …The Secret Life of Bees where she plays the part of Rosaleen, a young black woman living on a peach farm in the south during the volatile sixties hired to care for Lily Owens; a young white girl with an abusive father whose mother died tragically when she was a child. Rosaleen is Lily surrogate mother and dearest friend and when the two take the monumental yet dangerous step of trying to register Rosaleen to vote, they find themselves in a world of trouble and are forced to go on the run.

Eclipse Magazine

We get the “Buzz” from Jennifer Hudson!

We had a blast sitting down with Jennifer Hudson at the Toronto International Film Festival to talk about her new movie, The Secret Life of Bees, based upon the popular novel by Sue Monk Kidd. Jennifer joins the power-packed cast of Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, and Sophie Okonedo in this story of sisterhood, love and survival in the 1964 South.

Teen Hollywood

Jennifer Hudson on Life in the ‘Spotlight’

The first time Jennifer Hudson sang in public she was so nervous she squeezed her eyes shut until the song finished. Today, the former American Idol finalist and Academy Award-winning actress still gets awestruck when she thinks about her career.

“I’ve waited my whole life for this moment and this time and it’s finally, finally here, ” she told “Nightline.”

ABC News

The Secret Life of Bees (2008)

Adapted by Gina Prince-Bythewood from the best-selling novel by Sue Monk Kidd, …The Secret Life of Bees unfolds in a sentimental, honey-glazed land that vaguely resembles South Carolina in 1964. It would be wrong to say that the troubles of that time and place have been wished away ‘  on the contrary, the movie begins with a scene of horrific domestic violence and includes child abuse, a racially motivated beating, suicide and the threat of a lynching ‘  but from the opening voice-over to the final credits, every terror and sorrow is swaddled in warm, therapeutic comfort. The film insists so strenuously on its themes of redemption, tolerance, love and healing that it winds up defeating itself, and robbing Ms. Kidd already maudlin tale of its melodramatic heat

NY Times

‘The Secret Life of Bees’ stars Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys

The real shame about ” The Secret Life of Bees” is that it tries so very, very hard to hit all its marks: Reasonably faithful adaptation of New York Times best-seller? Check. Heartfelt message of racial tolerance? Check. Highly marketable cast? Double check. You can practically feel the sweat dripping from the movie’s earnest brow.

Sweat and good intentions, however, will take you only so far. And they take “Bees” right up to the threshold of entertaining’ but not one step further.

Chicago Tribune

Review: ‘The Secret Life of Bees’

I get why Dakota Fanning keeps getting offered these motherless waif roles in Southern-fried melodramas. Those saucer eyes, that lunar pallor, the Georgia accent, the guts to rat her hair into a dull mat and skulk around in shabby rooms that scream my-daddy-drinks. What I don’t get is why she keeps taking them.

Not that ” The Secret Life of Bees, ” Gina Prince-Bythewood’s high-minded and expensive-looking adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s bestselling novel, exists on the same plane as “Hounddog, ” the scrappy little howler otherwise hysterically (and speciously, it turns out, but that’s show business) known as “the Dakota Fanning rape movie.” On the contrary, what’s being sold here is the movie equivalent of the honey-drenched sweet potato biscuits that are forever being passed around on-screen. Their nutritional value may be nil, but they sure look comforting.

LA Times

For this weekend: Hudson’s new flick? Or her new music?

Everyone knew she could sing; after all, it was her soaring, gospel-inflected voice that made her famous during her finalist run on “American Idol” in 2004. The question was whether her considerable talent extended to acting when she was cast in the drama-filled role of Effie in the movie adaptation of the musical “Dreamgirls.”

An Oscar win for best supporting actress answered that question handily, and roles in the summer blockbuster “Sex and the City” and “The Secret Life of Bees” have only reaffirmed her newfound gift. But as Hudson puts the focus back on her singing with her self-titled debut CD, she has to answer more questions ‘  like whether winning an Academy Award last year has made it easier or harder for her to be seen as a singer.

Denver Post

Mandisa Christmas CD Review: Not Just the Same Old Stuff

Last Christmas, Mandisa gave us the EP, …Christmas Joy, which featured four songs.

This year, she back with a full-length Christmas CD, …It Christmas, which contains 11 holiday numbers, including three from the EP.

With all the Christmas CDs out there, it hard to find one with any original takes on the same old songs. But Mandisa manages to do it more than once ¦

The CD starts out with the same song the EP did, …What Christmas Means to Me, which gets things off to a rollicking start ¦

Herald-Dispatch

Tracked down: Carrie Underwood, Shonda Schilling, John Henry, and more…

TRACKED DOWN: …American Idol songbird Carrie Underwood taping a promotional spot at WCVB-TV for the upcoming Country Music Awards . .

Boston Herald

Underwood reveals more personality, but her voice carried the night

SOUTH KINGSTOWN ‘  Carrie Underwood show at the Ryan Center last night was pretty much like the show on the Carnival Ride Tour that came to the Dunkin Donuts Center earlier this year, and while the differences were few and far between, the singer did show a bit more confidence and individuality on a few occasions.

Underwood considered a country singer, but most of her material is more reminiscent of 70s hard rock (the Bad Company-style opener …Flat On the Floor) and 80s-era Heart (…Some Hearts, …Twisted) ‘  of course, that could describe most of what coming out of Nashville these days.

projo.com

Kathy Griffin Becomes a Claymate

Kathy Griffin has a newfound respect for former American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken after he decided to come out of the closet, the comedienne says in a new interview.

“Well, I think it’s really great that he came out, ” Griffin told the Windy City Times. “The picture of him holding the baby is such a powerful image because gay adoption is such a hot issue. He came out at a relatively young age. I very much applaud him for coming out at this time. He’s still facing the people on Broadway every night. He’s being honest with himself and his kid, and I think it’s great. Doesn’t mean that I am not going to make fun of him for the rest of my life, but I still think he’s great.”

Bgay.com

Voice of reason

“Sing the first verse again, and sing it to . . . excuse me, in the third row, what’s your name? Hannah? Sing it to Hannah, and your goal is to get her phone number.”

Those are a few of the pearls of wisdom dispensed at Berklee College of Music this week by Dorian Holley, the associate music director and vocal coach on “American Idol.” Holley, who has been conducting workshops on the art of the audition, is the sort of musician who doesn’t register on many people’s radar. He’s neither a famous pop star nor a struggling lounge singer nor a member of a band. Holley is a working singer – a 21-year veteran of jingles, soundtracks, album sessions, television shows, and concert tours. He’s backed Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, James Taylor, Kanye West, Queen Latifah, Sheryl Crow, and the list goes on.

Boston.com

Brit bosses deny Cowell award rumours

Brit Awards bosses have denied reports that Simon Cowell will be honoured at the 2009 ceremony.

Rumours surfaced in The Sun yesterday claiming that the impresario was to receive the Outstanding Contribution to Music prize next year, making him the first non-artist to pick up the award.

A spokesperson for the Brits refuted the rumours, saying: “Contrary to reports in a tabloid newspaper yesterday, Simon Cowell has not been approached, invited, selected or confirmed to receive any awards at the Brits 2009.”

Sir Paul McCartney was handed the Outstanding Contribution to Music award at the Brits in February.

digital spy.co.uk

Roger Daltrey slates Cowell

ROGER DALTREY has offered his expert opinion on the possibility of SIMON COWELL landing a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

And it doesnt make pleasant reading for the X Factor judge and his high waistband trousers. The legend from THE WHO said: Cowell has done for music what Gordon Brown has done for the economy ‘  nothing.

the sun.co.uk

Cowell team in stage play legal drama

A PLAY poking fun at the X Factor has been forced to close after angry TV chiefs claimed it breached their hit show copyright.

Comedy musical eXtra Factor was just halfway through its 13-city tour when its producers were sent a …cease and desist letter.

Lawyers for the ITV1 show created by judge Simon Cowell, 49, said the spoof infringed the X Factor trademarked brand and logo.

They threatened further legal action unless the issue was sorted.

The Sun.co.uk

ABC cancels ‘Opportunity Knocks’

Alphabet made its first cancellation of fall, pulling the gamer after three episodes. ABC will air cut-down, hourlong “Dancing With the Stars” recap episodes, leading into the night’s live results show, starting next Tuesday.

Variety

About mj santilli 34833 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!