Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
Celebrities join in spirit of Christmas
The Rev. Gordon Godfrey Jr. of Pensacola’s Marcus Pointe Baptist Church knew exactly what message he wanted to convey Sunday during the church’s 16th annual Spirit of Christmas event.
“I brought in two individuals, whose lives are examples that, though they’re famous, they still have a relationship with the Lord,” Godfrey said after his morning service. “These two guys have huge influences, especially on our young people.”
The two ? major league baseball player Jeff Francoeur of the Atlanta Braves and former “American Idol” contestant Chris Sligh ? didn’t disappoint the congregation of more than 800 at the church at 6205 North W St.
Sligh, who attended Pensacola Christian College from 1996 to 1999, thrilled the crowd with songs such as “Please,” “I’m Clean” and “Empty Me.” He is completing a Christian album, he said after the performance.
“My goal is to bring people to Christ through my songs,” said Sligh, who finished as a top 10 finalist in the “American Idol” contest in 2007…….
Troops to Sierra: At Ease, Idol!
Looks like Jessica Sierra’s patriotic duties won’t be a part of her Christmas plans! The pro-troop organization Move America Forward wants nothing to do with the currently jailed former “American Idol.” What a surprise!
The fallen “Idol” finalist had previously posted on her offical website that she would be performing at a holiday tribute concert for the troops — arranged by MAF. Guess again! ………..
Jessica Sierra won’t sing for troops
The organizer of an upcoming patriotic concert say former “American Idol” finalist Jessica Sierra was uninvited from performing after reports of her recent arrest and rumors of a sex video.
The concert, scheduled for Friday at the Lincoln Theater in Washington, D.C., is billed as a holiday tribute to U.S. troops. Event organizers said Sierra needed to devote her time to getting her life back together.
But even if Sierra wanted to sing at the event, she couldn’t………
IDOLS, WORSHIP
First Presbyterian brings American Idol contestants to Christmas on Main Street
Christmastime in Salinas means cool weather, a parade of lights and, thanks to George Huff and Mandisa, “American Idol.”
For the fourth year in a row, the First Presbyterian congregation will host Christmas on Main Street, a musical event for the whole family. The event runs consecutive weekends, Dec. 7-9 and Dec. 14-16.
This year’s event marks the second time that Huff, a Season 3 contestant on “American Idol”, will perform. He will be joined by Mandisa, a Season 5 contestant.
“Last year was just a blast. We’re going to have a great time and I’m really really excited to be a Salinian,” said Huff, on the phone from his home in Dallas. “I’ve adopted the city as my third home now. I’m ready to come out there and jam.”
Mandisa is equally psyched for her Salinas visit…………..
OneRepublic puts the hit before the horse
Not too many bands have hit singles before they have albums out.
And not too many hit singles break Billboard chart records before the bands behind them are even household names.
But that’s the unusual road OneRepublic is on with the unexpected cart-before-the-horse success of its debut single, “Apologize.” The Los Angeles-based band, formed in 2004, broke the one-week Top 40 airplay record with more than 10,600 spins (besting Nelly Furtado’s previous record of 10,330). A remix of the sensitive single with hot producer/rapper Timbaland hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 16 weeks on the charts. The band’s debut album, “Dreaming Out Loud,” was released Nov. 20.
While OneRepublic is just now beginning to make a name for itself in the industry, lead singer Ryan Tedder had been penning hits for other stars.
He wrote “Do It Well” for Jennifer Lopez and “Love Like This” for Natasha Bedingfield, and he co-wrote “He Said She Said” for Ashley Tisdale and “Bleeding Love” for Leona Lewis. He also has written for Paul Oakenfold, Chris Cornell and Ludacris, and he contributed to more than half of “American Idol”-runner up Blake Lewis’ debut album, “A.D.D.,” out this week.
Tedder spoke about the band’s breakout success and future hopes……..
Bush Attends Star-Filled Holiday Benefit
…..Internet sensation Colbie Caillat sang “I’ll be Home for Christmas” and joined R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo for a duet of “Silent Night.” Tenor Andrea Bocelli performed “Adeste Fideles,” and “American Idol” runner-up McPhee took over the tune to sing “O Come All Ye Faithful.”…..
Former American Idol Kelly Clarkson merely lip-synchs for charity
…..This year, the Salvation Army launched the “e-Kettle,” where people can make donations online. This year, Clarkson is the honorary chairperson for both Red Kettle operations.
Clarkson told the press that you can donate to her e-Kettle, which should be found at www.kellyclarkson.com. But it’s not there.
It would seem that someone with her fame-power could generate a lot of charitable giving, but an extensive search of her Website produced no kettle.
And since I couldn’t find the kettle, I couldn’t find out how much in donations she’s generated thus far, because she hasn’t followed through on her advocacy.
I would be willing to chalk this up to an inefficient webmaster, someone who doesn’t update the Website as often as they should, but no - there are press releases from more recent than Thanksgiving on her site, and an even bigger surprise came when there was no news of her half-time event at all. Her Wikipedia entry did mention the game, but there was no mention of the Salvation Army.
What about your fans, Ms. Clarkson?
Common sense stipulates that if you have a fan site, and you want your fans involved in your career (what performer can do without their fans?) you tell them about every event you perform at, especially big media events like NFL half-time shows………
As I Lay Dying, Shadows Fall and Course Of Nature React To Grammy Nominations
….Silent Majority Records congratulates Mark Wilkerson of Course Of Nature for his songwriting Grammy Nomination. Wilkerson is nominated for BEST ROCK SONG for his work on the mega-hit “Its Not Over” performed by American Idol alum and multiple nominee - Chris Daughtry. “I am honored to be nominated for a Grammy for ‘It’s Not Over.’ This is the ultimate goal as a songwriter. I am so happy for Chris and everyone involved.” says Wilkerson.
LaBelle says she turned down ‘Idol’ job
R&B singer Patti LaBelle revealed to Newsweek that she was once offered Paula Abdul’s job on “American Idol,” but she turned it down because she didn’t want to be mean.
“I said no because I didn’t want to be someone giving bad news by saying you didn’t make it,” she said. Her interview appears in the Dec. 17 issue of Newsweek, which is on newsstands today………
High School Musical 3’s Vanessa Hudgens & American Idol Katharine McPhee Rehearse For Christmas Show
American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee and Vanessa Hudgens, star of the upcoming High School Musical 3, took the stage together to rehearse for the TNT Holiday special Christmas In Washington.
Katharine McPhee has been in the headlines recently due to her reported recent engagement to 42 year old Nick Cokas. Vanessa Hudgens has been in the news for signing a hefty contract to appear in HSM 3, as well as for being a search-engine star for those nude photos back in September. But we’ve forgiven her for that……….
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YES! That needs to be a live performance! Where can I get tickets?
Two hot drummers, two hot lead singers… it might be too much for this fangirl to handle. ;)
Don’t get too excited, Sarah. I’m not sure the rumor is true. After all, Blake has more in common with Taylor (musically, that is… they both love the funk). But with Taylor you get a hot keyboardist, so you can still be a good fangirl! :) And Kent is adorable!!!111!!!!
Katharine’s version of O Come All Ye Faithful available on Itunes tomorrow:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20165309,00.html
I can’t wait to have a remastered version of this song for my ipod- it’s my FAVORITE Katharine recorded song.
B-b-b-b-b-but PJ — with the Blake/Chris combo you get two “energetic” bass players with RAWKING hair do’s. The mohawk do (one of the J boys) and the pink/koolade hair dude (don’t know his name)!
j/k
FYI, Blake is the lead-in - out music for MNF…Break Anotha’……(my ears)….
BTW, according Ken Barnes’ USA Today column on the Radio & Records Adult Contemporary charts for the year ending 2007; JTFTW by Taylor Hicks, comes in at #47.
LOL, Julie… pink hair guy is the guitar player, Johnny Nails. He sends out informative emails.
Nostradamas, I had heard that Blake is being featured on MNF, but I don’t get ESPN, so didn’t post it. I hear they also featured the song Chris Rich co-wrote, “Whatcha Got 2 Lose.”
Too bad your ears are bleeding. I’m jellus. ;-)
Nostradamas - do you not have a mute button on your remote? :)
This is true. Hmmm. Possibilities, possibilities.
I guess someone thought I was playing a joke about ESPN doing a small promo spot during the Saints game last evening, ’cause my post disappeared. It was true. When they returned from halftime, his single was playing and the NFL announcers had a little chat about him. One had never heard of him, and the other was explaining that he was the 2nd place runner up to Jordin on AI.
I found it surprising that Blake would find his way to ESPN.
The announcer even said Blake Lewis was the “Monday Night Artist.”
Sorry if I offended anyone.
What? I didn’t delete any posts yesterday… It must have been the gremlins. :).