Idol Headlines for 2/17/08
Why has no one else picked up on the fact that Carly Smithson previously worked with Randy Jackson?
Even though Yahoo and Reuters have finally picked up on the Carly Smithson debacle this week (the same story that we posted before Christmas and then again a week later… seriously, you guys should lurk here more often, you’re way behind), no one else has picked up on the fact that Randy Jackson worked for MCA Records the same time Carly was there. Randy was the senior vice president of A&R. That’s big stuff. Come on guys… we posted about that one back on January 28th. So who will be the first news outlet (besides us) to post about it?
 More Idol Headlines After the Jump
Talking with Michael Johns
On Thursday, i did nab a few minutes to gab with Michael Johns, the Aussie native and former Atlantan (plus an early favorite who has gotten plenty of love from the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ judges and producers.)
First off, heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s 29 and for most of his life, he was known as Michael Lee. Last year, he changed it to Michael Johns. (Lee was his dadà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s name and he hasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t been in contact with his dad since he was 15.) Johns is a multiple of his middle name John and his stepdadà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s name John.
Access Atlanta
Plus-sized ‘American Idol’ ambitions
“American Idol” contestant Joanne Borgella has been hearing for years that she’s too big to make it in show business.
She’s just never listened.
“Because of my size, every producer, everyone I ever met, would say to my parents, ‘Your daughter doesn’t have the package. She’s an amazing singer, but she has to have the look,’” the 25-year-old plus-sized model from Hoboken told the Daily News. “Because I’ve come from such a strong family, I stayed true to myself and just kept at it.”
It’s a good thing she did.
Paula Abdul: Judge for Yourself
She may not be the most eloquent of speakers, and her singing abilities may have seen their day, but when Paula’s out — people can’t help but watch her every move.
Will Celebrities Remember “the Lyrics?”
Every game show seems to eventually turn to the “celebrity” edition. Fox’s “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” is calling on the celebs sort of early in its run.
Starting next week, celebrities will join host Wayne Brady, singing for their favorite charity.
Those scheduled to “perform” include Poison singer and reality TV lover Bret Michaels, REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin, and former “American Idol” contestant Kimberly Locke. Also expect “surprise” appearances by Kenny Loggins and Gloria Gaynor — the surprise being that they will both sing their own hits.
Soul Patrol, You Have My Apology
It all started with what I thought was an innocent joke – “Taylor Hicks? The guy can sing, but he can’t ball.” Little did I know my well-intended joking jab would come back to haunt me. Yes, Hicks’ fans came here in droves with several people leaving comments and several more personally e-mailing me.
Other than learning this weekend that two seven-footers can shoot way outside from the post area (Tim Duncan and David Robinson during the Shooting Stars competition to lead Team San Antonio to the win), it’s that you do not, I repeat, DO NOT mess with the Soul Patrol!
‘Idol’ Stacey performs at Griffins game
Phil Stacey is about to experience his first hockey game, and he is stoked.
“I used to only follow the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team,” he said in an interview before his appearance at the Grand Rapids Griffins game against the Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday night.
“Because of ‘American Idol,’ (and the opportunities that came from being on the show), I am a huge sports fan these days,” Stacey said.
Singing the national anthem and sitting on the sidelines of a Jacksonville Jaguars game has been only one dream come true for the budding sports junkie.
Rock, country stars join benefit lineup
The organizers of next weekà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s massive benefit concert for the Station Family Fund say the goals of the concert are to raise money for the survivors of the fire and to keep the people and the problems left in the wake of the blaze in the publicà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s memory.
The Phoenix Rising concert on Feb. 25 at the Dunkinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Donuts Center, in Providence, will bring a bill including a country segment à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ with John Rich, of Big & Rich; Gretchen Wilson; Dierks Bentley; Randy Owen, of Alabama; and American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Kellie Pickler à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ and a rock segment à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ featuring an acoustic performance by Staind frontman Aaron Lewis; Twisted Sister; Winger; Tesla; Kevin Max; Stryper; Tom Scholz and Gary Pihl, formerly of the platinum-selling group Boston; Carmine Appiceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s SLAM!; Danny Seraphine and more.
Concert review: Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood both fall under the country music banner. Thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s where most of their sales come from, despite some crossover success. And their awards are in the country category.
But ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not really country music theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re playing. Instead, ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a crowd-pleasing blend of pop and rock, with traditional country instruments providing color.
Their crowd à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ a sold-out 8,426 at the Roanoke Civic Center à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ was there to rock with them. The audience had to wait about a half-hour after the announced starting time because of logistical difficulties. Urbanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s huge setup had forced some on-the-fly audience shuffling, and many people were left standing.
Rascal Flatts `feeling good’
The crowd at the i wireless Center Friday night sure “felt good,” as Rascal Flatts performed once again for a sold-out house.
The show opened with Kellie Pickler, whose vocals were just as sweet as she was. Interacting with the crowd, she strutted back and forth across the stage.
As she sang “One of the Guys,” and “Things that Never Cross a Man’s Mind,” the crowd was laughing, dancing and singing along. Then she brought the crowd home with her by singing the first song she ever wrote, “Small Town Girl.”
Kelly Clarkson tour
KELLY Clarkson will kick off her Australian tour March 1, with special guests Sean Kingston and Mandy Moore.
Clarkson’s new single à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t Waste Your timeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ has powered onto airwaves nationally.
à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t Waste Your Timeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ was the second Most Added Song at Australian radio last week and is the third hit from the platinum à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“My Decemberà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ album.
The results reaffirm the powerhouse Texan singerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s status as one of the countryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s most popular artists.
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29 Responses to “Idol Headlines for 2/17/08”
Grammie Kari makes a good point, but as long as she adheres to the rules, I don’t think it disqualifies her. Is there a COI in the AI contract? I don’t think so. But it will cause eyebrows to be raised and she might face backlash from the public.
Jason Castro: Is he the dreadlocks guy? Better get rid of the locks dude. The public won’t go for it. And if he’s Columbian, he’s South American/Hispanic, and they come in all colors, just like African Americans do. There’s as much interracial mixing down there as there is here.
While I don’t think that all the “Claymate” behaviour can be blamed on psychotic Ruben and Kelly fans, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that some of it is due to impersonating of fans. Certainly, fan bases do attack critics and such (especially at the beginning before they discover that it is counter-productive to do so…people will go back to their own fan sites to brag about how they told so-and-so off), but some fans seem so determined that their Idol outlast, outperform and outsell the competition that they do seem extreme enough to want to tar the names of other fan bases.
Many long time posters here at MJs may remember Kenneth who was a hate-filled, mysognistic, racist, homophobic “Kat” fan who turned out to be a dedicated psychotic fan of another Idol (and, for once, it wasn’t a Taylor or Chris D fan).
I think, though most of us would like it to be otherwise, there are some amongst each fan group who are both crazy and stupid enought to think that “defending their Idol” with hate-filled rants is actually helpful. I think that is where the bulk of the hate-filled rants come from. But, I wouldn’t put it pass some other equally crazy people to stir the pot.
That’s my point. A fan group doesn’t get a bad reputation unless there are a lot of shenanigans going on. I don’t believe rival fans playing the impersonation game are solely responsible.
No one said that there aren’t over zealous fans. There are in every fan base and no one can convince them to dial it down but there is solid evidence that rival groups were largely responsible. They were proud of what they did and have admitted it. Maybe you are not aware of all that went down, MJ.