Winehouse, West Win Big At 50th Annual Grammys
Alicia Keys “dueted” with a vintage performance by Frank Sinatra of “Learnin’ the Blues” to kick off the 50th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, but the real magic came from leading nominees Amy Winehouse and Kanye West.
Winehouse led the field with five wins, while West scored four. But both were shut out of the album of the year Grammy, which unexpectedly went to Herbie Hancock’s Joni Mitchell covers album, “River: The Joni Letters,” in the biggest upset of the night.
Grammy Awards Light Up With Kanye West’s Future-Shock; Hit A Solemn Note With MC’s Tribute To Mother Donda
Already a multiple Grammy Award winner Sunday night (February 10), Kanye West lit up the show with a future-shock performance that was part swagger and part humble tribute to his mother. It was an early celebration for a night during which he won won multiple awards — including Best Rap Album — as did Foo Fighters, Amy Winehouse and Alicia Keys.
Leaders of striking writers accept studios’ deal
Membership to vote Tuesday on whether to end three-month-old walkout
LOS ANGELES - The Writers Guild of America moved swiftly Sunday toward a resolution of its three-month-old strike, with guild leaders deciding to recommend a tentative contract to members and ask them to vote on a quick end to the walkout.
By calling for separate votes on ending the strike and accepting the new three-year deal, the union cleared the way for the entertainment industry to return to work almost immediately.
More Idol Headlines After the Jump!
Writers strike left big winners, losers in its wake
The Writers Guild of America strike, which lasted three months, irrevocably changed the TV landscape. There were victims, of course, and not just in Hollywood. Faithful viewers were deprived of favorite shows, and new programs lost potential followings.
But in any war (and this was war), there are profiteers, too. During the past three months, some shows and personalities gained something from the strike.
Here’s a rundown of some of the strike’s biggest winners and losers.
MSNBC
Grammy Red Carpet: Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Fergie Shine Bright
Kudos should unfortunately be taken from Daughtry, however, who proved that not all “American Idol” finalists have undergone a style evolution. Chris Daughtry may have been nominated for Best Rock Album, but that does not give him license to walk down the runway in vinyl. Or pleather. Or any fabric that indiscernible or offensive to the human eye. Swing and a miss.
Of course, everyone’s not always going to get it right, no matter how many hits they’ve gotten on the radio. While Carrie Underwood has broken out of her early country-girl days, her plunging Zuhair Murad floral number couldn’t seem to decide if it was classy or trashy. Sure, it came right off the runway of fashion week, but the runway and the red carpet are two very different things, and her dress clashed with just about everything.
Patrick Stump, Travis Barker And Even ‘Idol’ Blake Lewis Trade Licks At The Roots’ Pre-Grammy Jam Session
WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — “Ya’ll acting real industry right now,” Roots’ drummer Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson joked to the crowd during a lull in his band’s three-and-a-half-hour performance on Saturday night. “If ya’ll were really in the industry, you’d be up at Clive Davis’ party right now.”
And he couldn’t have been more correct. For five years now, the Roots’ pre-Grammy jam session has been the most unpredictable, least industry party during the most industry week in Hollywood. And this year’s was no different. If anything, it was the most free-flowing and lively session yet. And it certainly ended later than ever before.
And the guest stars just kept on coming. The Roots then brought Bilal up to jam through a couple of numbers — including the aforementioned take on Radiohead — which unfortunately killed off the momentum Seal had built. Perhaps realizing that, Black Thought called hip-hop legends MC Lyte and Doug E. Fresh up to the stage, for a medley of old-school hip-hop hits (”Cha Cha Cha” and Slick Rick’s “La Di Da Di” being two of the standouts), which got the crowd back on their feet, and by the time 3 a.m. hit, Fresh, Thought and “American Idol” runner-up Blake Lewis were engaging in a beatboxing battle that blew the roof off the place.
Foo Fighters, Alicia Keys, Daughtry play pre-Grammy party
Lewis proves in her single that she can ride a slow-paced groove, and offers up just the right amount of vocal acrobatics to please an “Idol”-trained audience. But when she tackled “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” a song popularized by Roberta Flack, the young Lewis lacked the personality to give it anything more than a cabaret-like treatment.
But then the show soon took a severe turn for the worst. Daughtry was joined by Slash and Nickelback’s singer Chad Kroeger. The group of super-famous musicians butchered Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Born on the Bayou” with a gratuitous guitar solo, and also let its two singers, Chris Daughtry and Kroeger, get locked in some weird machismo battle for the most flamboyantly strained vocals.
The “Idol” train kept-a-rolling with Fantasia, who performed a cut from her role in Broadway’s “The Color Purple.” And while she has a bit of grit to her vocals, she wailed as if she wanted Manhattan to hear it.
Grammy Performances Meld Classic, Contemporary
Alicia Keys opened the telecast with “Learnin’ the Blues,” a virtual duet with Frank Sinatra on a white screen in the background. The show then segued into Carrie Underwood embodying the bad-girl revenge anthem “Before He Cheats” while wearing a black cat suit and knee-high boots on a stage set with wrecked cars in the background.
Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban Among Grammy’s Early Winners
LOS ANGELES — Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and the Eagles are among the early winners at the 50th annual Grammy Awards show taking place Sunday night (Feb. 10) in Los Angeles.
Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” was named best female country vocal performance. “Before He Cheats,” written by Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins, was also named best country song.
Carrie Underwood On Her Grammy: ‘I Vote For Myself Often!’
Carrie Underwood picked up a Grammy Sunday night for her single, “Before He Cheats,” and she revealed she had a hand in her win.
“I was only up for two [Grammys], but yeah, I vote for myself often,” the blonde said backstage at the event. “I have no shame. I pay to be a member.”
Underwood said picking up her latest Grammy has been another exciting moment on her rise to fame since winning “American Idol.”
“I think it’s all been such a whirlwind,” she said. “It started so quickly and it’s never slowed down — it’s amazing to think I ever ended up here, I don’t know how it happened. But I’m glad.”
Exclusive: Chris Daughtry’s Parents Speak on Son’s Success
Sandra and Pete Daughtry sat and watched the 50th Grammy Awards from the comfort of their Fluvanna County home.
Even though we may see a rock superstar on TV they just see their son.
“It’s amazing. Everybody says, how do you feel? It’s just like the feeling you have of any of your children achieving something,” said Chris’s mother Sandra, “Every time I hear him on the radio I just turn the radio up. We want to try and catch every little thing on TV that we can.”
But when your son has hit records on the radio and music videos on MTV, it’s hard not sit back and think: Is this really happening?
Your next `American Idol’?
It’s Hollywood time on “American Idol,” and at least two Carolinians will be there.
The Fort Mill brother/sister team of Michelle and Jeffrey Lampkin managed to stand out among the 100,000 hopefuls who auditioned this year, earning two of the 164 “golden tickets” to Los Angeles. Those auditions begin airing Tuesday on FOX.
“Expect the unexpected,” said Jeffrey, 25, a music minister in Newberry, S.C. “Hollywood’s going to be exciting.”
It’s unclear whether other Carolinians made it to the Hollywood stage — “Idol” is notoriously secretive. And because of “Idol” contract restrictions, the Lampkin siblings can’t say how they did or whether they made it to the top 24, when viewers get to start voting.
American Idol: Murray teen travels to Hollywood for the hit reality show
Sixteen-year-old Murray High School student David Archuleta went from national singing sensation and winner of television’s “Star Search” five years ago to a boy who couldn’t chirp a note due to an underdeveloped vocal cord.
But despite that - maybe because of it - the teen with the big voice is roaring back on a different national stage: He’s going to Hollywood for the newest season of “American Idol.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the top 10,” said David’s vocal coach, Dean Kaelin. “David’s going to do great.”
Garrett couple wed on live TV show
Kim Knigga wanted a Garrett woman “to feel like a princess on her wedding day.”
“Live with Regis and Kelly” granted that wish Friday when Kacy Hardenbrook and her fiance, Jordan Edsall, were married live on the national television show.
Jordan Edsall escorted his mother and grandmother down the aisle as American Idol winner Taylor Hicks sang “The Right Place.” Hicks also performed at the wedding reception.
‘Idol’ Week 4: Power Rankings
1. Kristy Lee Cook
Gorgeous Oregonian’s ”Amazing Grace” was the hands-down highlight of the American Idol audition season, and Internet backlash about her one-time deal with Arista Nashville hasn’t stopped her from scoring high in our weekly reader polls. (Last week: No. 1)
2. David Cook
Beat-down fauxhawk aside, this congenial rocker proved his smarts (studying Daughtry tapes before auditioning), fashion sense (rocking a cool argyle sweater vest), and vocal ability (delivering a unique take on ”Livin’ on a Prayer”) in one fab audition. (Last week: No. 3.)
Augusta County man will compete in American Idol
Since Colton Berry’s ecstatic face popped up briefly at the end of “American Idol” two weeks ago, friends and fans of the thespian-savant have been anxiously awaiting the start of the Hollywood round of the show Tuesday.
“American Idol” has been airing audition clips of hopefuls from across the country since Jan. 15. With those over, this week’s episodes will feature clips of contestants chosen by judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. The judges will whittle down the competitors to 24 finalists consisting of 12 men and 12 women.
Can ‘Idol’s Jackson deliver auditions?
Jackson will take time out from “American Idol,” TV’s No. 1 show, to promote heart health Feb. 29.
The “Idol” judge, a type 2 diabetic, will spend the day on a media blitz with Oakley resident Harry Moore, also a diabetic. Moore, 58, taped a national public service announcement with Jackson and two other diabetics in November in Los Angeles for the American Heart Association’s “Heart of Diabetes” campaign (www.iknowdiabetes.org).
Reba and Kelly rock Wright State
Sometimes seemingly odd collaborations can turn out harmonious results.
That was certainly the case recently at Wright State University’s Nutter Center in Dayton when a sold-out crowd of 9,694 caught the “Two Worlds, 2 Voices, 1 Stage” tour featuring country music icon Reba McEntire and original “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson.
The pairing may seem odd, but the connection between the two began years ago when Clarkson was in the sixth grade and a friend turned her onto McEntire’s music. After Clarkson won “American Idol,” McEntire made a guest appearance on the show to surprise Clarkson and perform with her. A friendship was formed, and last year, they performed on CMT’s “Crossroads” together, sparking the idea of a tour.
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Backstage at the Grammys
Carrie Underwood, who won in a surprise over Grammy pet Alison Krauss (in the Best Female Country slot), thanked the voting body, then added that she was also thanking herself. “I voted for myself,” she said, “and I have no shame in admitting that.”
The guys who wrote the Best Country Song (”Before He Cheats”), were asked why Carrie Underwood was the right singer for it. (The cut was originally offered to Gretchen Wilson). “She pulled it off because she wasn’t the bad girl,” said Chris Thompson. “Maybe it wouldn’t have worked if the bad girl sang it.” (Meaning Wilson).
Daily News
Blake’s recent interview with Blender (sorry no link) It’s question and answer style.
“Ever trash a hotel room?
Oh yeah. My band and I, we throw down.
Worst rumor about you?
I’m gay.
Largest number of people you’ve woken up next to?
Five maybe? Maybe more were scattered around the room. There’ve been nights of deabuchery.
Biggest celebrity whose home you’ve gotten drunk in?
Rupert Murdoch. A bunch of celebs were there: Tom Cruise, Tom from myspace. It was surreal.
Worst tour horror story?
I go commando onstage, and once my jeans crotch ripped and my penis fell out.
Ever been declared legally dead?
Almost. I built an igloo and stayed in it for a week when I was 13, and I almost got frostbite.
Ever wreck a car?
I did. It was icy out, and my bitchin’ Camaro slid and hit a tree. It was cool!
Ever harbor a fugitive of the law?
No, but I would totall employ an illegal.
Ever gotten lucky on an airplane?
No. I’ve been waiting for the invitation, as long as it doesn’t come from Jordin Sparks.
Stupidest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Someone dared me to eat a slug once.
What drug won’t you ever do again?
Mushrooms. It’s sensory overload!”
Doesn’t 19 have PR people that go with them on interview to cotrol the damage? He’s giving Kat a real run for her money.
While watching the Grammy’s last night a thought occurred to me about this year on American Idol, yes to my critica I sometimes have a good one. It was about the so-called pros on the show which did happen before and that really does not bother me. This is what it does is some of the pros even if dropped caught the interest of a major label or a tv program thus given them an advantage somewhat. They have the talent and the expeariance probably against some who have very little who need time to grow.
So when the judges say will be wowed it is not surprising at all some of the contestant have the experiance and talent do not have to be groomed as much thier used to the game. The producers also maybe are picking them and good or bad the way it going now.
Where did this come from? I can’t find it on the Blender site.
I like linkage.
“That was certainly the case recently at Wright State University’s Nutter Center in Dayton when a sold-out crowd of 9,694 caught the “Two Worlds, 2 Voices, 1 Stage” tour featuring country music icon Reba McEntire and original “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson.”
This has been a really successful tour for them! Reba and Kelly have been selling out arenas and getting great reviews.
I only glanced at the Grammys…did Chris win nothing???
This discredits about how an artist is doing good in downloads myth(not in cd sales) because lack of cd sales may off set that money . This statement in the NYTimes to paraphrase it: ” Digital sales are on the increase do to itunes and such it does not make up for the loss of cd sales.”
I reckon this will cahnge in the future and probably have artists or record companies more a piece of the pie.
The last part was in the paper I read but cut off on the internet.
I found the Blake interview on ONTD. Supposedly this is a a transcript of the interview found in the current Blender(Britney on the cover) I know they do a q/a feature. I hope it’s legit.
http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/20248087.html
Thanks…
Frankly, I am not really bothered by the Blake article. After all he is a fledgling pop star, he wants to create the aura of a badass, taking a walk on the wild side. I mean if it’s all true he’s taking a serious bite outa life, and if he lying he got your attention. Well done Blake. LOL!
I don’t get what’s so terrible about that interview. It’s Blender magazine, they asked him goofy questions in the first place, and he gave them what they wanted:
That said, I always enjoy the interviews in which Blake talks about his music the most. There’s a good one on this site. They offered him a Timbaland beat and he turned it down!
Right, because Katharine is the only other Idol to have ever said something dumb.
It’s all a blur now but I thought Kat did some interviews that were kind of “foot in your mouth” maybe even one for Blender. I think Blake was going for humor here. Rereading the interview, it really isn’t that bad (or funny).
Now that I agree with.
From what I understand, those Blender Q&A’s are often a bit tongue-n-cheek. That said, I was amused that when asked about rubbing elbows with celebrities he brought up Tom from MySpace.