Idol Headlines for 9/24/08

Clay Aiken: I’m a Gay Dad

Following the Aug. 8 birth of his son Parker, singer Clay Aiken is following through on a promise he made to himself as a new dad: to publicly acknowledge that he’s gay.

“It was the first decision I made as a father,” Aiken, 29, tells the upcoming issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday. “I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn’t raised that way, and I’m not going to raise a child to do that.”

He adds that he hopes his fans “know that I’ve never intended to lie to anybody at all. … But if they leave, I don’t want them to leave hating me.”

The born-again Christian singer also reveals how he told his mother Faye he’s gay four years ago. After dropping off his younger brother Brett, who was being deployed to Iraq, at Camp Lejeune, “I started crying in the car,” Aiken remembers. “It was dark. I was sitting there, thinking to myself. I don’t know why I started thinking about it … I just started bawling. She made me pull over the car and it just came out.”

People

Chris Cornell Co-Writes David Cook Single

“American Idol” champ David Cook has selected “Light On,” a co-write by Soundgarden/Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell and Hinder/Puddle Of Mudd collaborator Brian Howes, as the first single from his debut album.

The track debuts tomorrow (Sept. 24) on AOL and Sept. 30 on iTunes. It will begin impacting U.S. radio outlets this week.

Billboard

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

David Cook’s review-proof ‘Light On’ hits Web in time

David Cook’s debut album is still months away, but his first single, “Light On,” is out now and sure to be inescapable this holiday season, or at least until the next Daughtry song comes out. Cook’s “Light On,” in fact, is firmly in the Daughtry mode, albeit there’s a little bit more stubble and gruffness in his voice.

It’s full-on, cellphone-waving arena rock schmaltz, with husky, slow-moving guitars and a wallop of meaninglessly earnest vocals. Cook is undoubtedly straining his face red as he oh-so-desperately wails that the object of his affection “try to leave a light on when Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m gone / something I rely on to get home.”

LA Times

Andrew Cook Reviews Brother David Cook’s New Single

“The song is a great representation of why my brother is not only good enough to win a television show but good enough to be a successful artist in today’s music scene.

“Light On” is a great transition song to get fans of “Time of my Life” to become fans of the David Cook sound as opposed to the American Idol sound. Only a little over a month to hear the rest of the album and I know I am not the only person waiting on the edge of my seat for it to come out.

My Fox KC

David Cook’s Mother Cries Over New Single

American Idol David Cook’s mother, Beth Foraker, just couldn’t hold in the emotion when she heard her son’s new single ‘Light On.’ She shed tears of joy upon hearing it on the radio. Mix 93.3 shared her interview with us.

My Fox KC

Lance Bass Congratulates Clay on Coming Out!

Following in the wake of the not-so-shocking confirmation from singer Clay Aiken that he is indeed gay, OK! spoke to openly homosexual former N-Sync member à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  and current Dancing With the Stars competitor à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  Lance Bass to get his reaction to the news.

“It’s great!” Lance told OK! at Tuesday night’s live DWTS broadcast. “I’m so happy he’s finally going to be happy with himself and share that with the world.”

OK Magazine

Clay Aiken finally admits he is gay!

It looks like the day has finally come when Clay Aiken is ready to come out of the closet. PerezHilton.com published this People magazine this afternoon declaring that Aiken is finally admitting that he’s gay!

In 2006, Clay told People.com:

“What do you say (to that question)? à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ It’s like when I was 8. I remember something would get broken in the house, and Mom and Dad would call me in and say, ‘Did you do this?’ Well, it didn’t matter what I said. The only thing they would believe was yes. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ People are going to believe what they want.”

I guess a lot has changed.

Gay Socialites

Clay Aiken Reveals He’s Gay

ET has learned Clay Aiken is “coming out” as a gay man in the next edition of People magazine, which hits stands this Friday. Aiken will be pictured with his newborn son, Parker, and talk about the importance of being truthful regarding his sexuality.

Aiken is scheduled to appear in an already-taped interview about this headline-grabbing revelation with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, with promos beginning to run Wednesday morning, and the interview running on “Good Morning America” starting Thursday.

ET Online

Clay Aiken, Broadway Star and American Idol, Reveals Shocking Gayness

Not since the University of Alaska’s 2006 study proving that bears do, in fact, sh*t in the woods has a more exciting and revelatory discovery been made: on the cover of the new issue of People magazine, American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken comes out of the closet. Yes I know. Take a seat and a deep breath before continuing.

Gawker

Clay Aiken Comes Out Of The Closet: Nation’s Craft Stores Prepare For Lower Aiken-Related Revenues

The new issue of People hits newsstands tomorrow, and on its cover is a story that’s half-blockbuster, half-not all that surprising: American Idol runner-up and Manilow-mirroring crooner Clay Aiken is gay, and he’s finally come out of the closet (after years of telling inquiring interviewers that their questioning of his sexuality was “really rude”) because he wants to set a good exampleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ in the not lying about things sense, above allà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ for his newborn son, Parker. While I’m happy that Aiken has gone public with his sexuality, admire his devotion to his child, and wish him (and his son) all the best, I have to wonder just what is happening in the universe of Claymates right now.

Idolator

Are Those Breast Implants on Katharine McPhee?

Could singer/actress Katharine McPhee be keeping a plastic surgery secret from her fans and public? In a recent appearance at New York Fashion Week, Katharine caught the attention of many onlookers with larger-than-usual cleavage flowing out of a very low-plunging pink dress. Her à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“accentuatedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  breasts left many wondering whether or not she has joined the breast implants club.

Make Me Heal

Apple, Oprah Dubbed Artists’ Best Friends

According to Billboard, placement on an iPod/iTunes ad was the No. 1 way for an artist to break through to the mainstream.

Although, as Jerry Seinfeld can attest, appearing in a Microsoft ad can draw in a fair share of press as well…

Second to iPod power is Oprah Winfrey, who apparently does for albums almost what she does for books. Namely, make them fly off the shelves.

Other Top 10 powerhouse placements: a spot on a commercial running during a special event, i.e. the Super Bowl or the Olympics (No. 3); getting a tune butchered, er, covered on American Idol (No. 5); placement in either the Guitar Hero or Rock Band video games (Nos. 6 and 10, respectively); or having the honor of being chosen for the opening credits of a movie (No. 7).

Eonline

Carrie, Little Big Town Hit Road

Carrie Underwood kicks off the 51-date fall leg of her tour in Cleveland on Tuesday, and sheà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s bringing along Little Big Town for the Carnival Ride.

The opening slot has multiple benefits for the band, which is relaunching its third album, A Place To Land, with four new songs on Oct. 14. The tour allows LBT to showcase its tight harmonies in front of 10,000 people or more every night. And it also is allowing them the best production values theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve ever had on the road.

GAC TV

Carrie Underwood takes Cleveland’s Wolstein Center on Carnival Ride

CLEVELAND — Hi, everybody. Brian Seacolgate here, and welcome to another edition of “American Idyll.” Tonight’s installment looks at former contestant Carrie Underwood’s performance Tuesday at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center.

Thus, we turn to our panel of judges: Simmons, Paulette and Dandy. First up, Dandy.

“Dawg, check it out, check it out. Like, parts of it didn’t really work for me. I mean, it was cool and all, but five costume changes was more like a Reba show. As a matter of fact, I think Reba did that whole ballroom gown-into-a-miniskirt thing with “Fancy” a few years ago. Still, Dawg, I gotta give you props on that whole ‘I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore’ thang. True to your roots, and that’s cool.

Cleveland.com

So You Think You Can Dance Tour

After a remarkable season of So You Think You Can Dance, the top ten contestants took the show on the road. Tonight their stop was Salt Lake City, Utah. My wife and I watched every episode and enjoyed this past season and anxiously waited for them to stop here in Utah. Three of the contestants were from Utah and all three were on stage tonight performing and doing what they do best – dance, dance, dance!

I called ahead and got a photo pass and was able to get some fun shots. I haven’t edited them all, but here are some of my early favorites.

Kenphoto

‘Dancing with the Stars’: Second dance, first cut

Oh Dancing with the Stars. We’re only on the second episode and you’ve already managed to tick me off. Not a good way to end your birthday.

As the show goes on, they will be revealing who is safe to dance one at a time causing some of the contestants to be nervous to the point of probably passing out. They better call Toni Braxton’s name early…but who knows since they’re calling names “in no particular order.”

Zap2it.com

Mondayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s DWTS: What You Didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t See

Cloris Leachman gets a leg up on the competition, Brooke Burke dances one for the soccer moms and Warren Sapp scores his first post-retirement touchdownà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

Showing Up the Competition What Cloris Leachman lacked in athleticism she made up for in showmanship. Her first night on the ballroom floor the 82 year old showed the kids that ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not just a dance show. After performing an elegant foxtrot with partner Corky Ballas, Leachman appealed to the judgesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ hearts by putting her left leg up on the podium, then mock praying to Len Goodman for mercy and crying, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m an orphanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ to Carrie Ann Inaba. It was a move that stole comedian and fellow contestant Jeffrey Rossà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢S heart. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I was jealous she did that,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Ross said of Leachmanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s schmoozing. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“She is MY woman!à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

People

‘Dancing With the Stars’: Fringe-worthy

Hi, everyone! I trust that your waking nightmare à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  featuring a closet full of Cloris Leachman’s cleavage, Mark Ballas’ Pepto-hued jacket, and the ”edgy” styling of Lacey Schwimmer à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  has left you well-rested. Me, I don’t need sleep. I’ve been operating on a serum of sparkles and pure joy ever since I saw Misty May serving a disco ball as if it were a volleyball (these are two of my most treasured types of balls) in ABC’s ubiquitous season 7 promo. As soon as Edyta showed up wearing legwarmers in the very first shot of the season, I had a profound sense that Dancing With the Stars had never really gone away. Because it hasn’t.

Entertainment Weekly

“Dancing with Stars” leads TV’s opening night

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Twenty-four hours after co-hosting one of the biggest ratings flops in Emmy history, ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” emcee Tom Bergeron presided over the top broadcast on opening night of U.S. television’s new season.

Monday’s two-hour season premiere of “Dancing with the Stars” averaged 21.3 million viewers to rank as the night’s most watched show and lead ABC to a first-place finish in the overall network rankings, Nielsen Media Research reported on Tuesday.

Reuters

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Dancing with the Starsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢: Brooke Burke takes the lead, but Cloris Leachman steals the show

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Dancing with the Starsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  likes to tout its superlatives and firsts from one season to the next, and season seven is no different: this time, weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve got the largest cast (13 people), the oldest star (Cloris Leachman, 82), the youngest star (Cody Linley, 18), the most nights of any season premiere (3), and the most eliminations the first week (2).

The main stories of the first night were as follows: (a) the judges apparently resolved not to start the scoring inflation so early this time around, (b) Cloris Leachman is a hilarious-yet-disruptive force who cannot last but, oh, how I wish she would, and (c) something terrible has happened to judge Brunoà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s hair. In less shocking developments, co-host Samantha Harrisà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ arms remain remarkably toned and pro Edyta Sliwinskaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s outfits remain completely outrageous.

LA Times

25 Responses to “Idol Headlines for 9/24/08”


  • I was playing around on youtube before work this morning and came across this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr-BM-IRzMI

    Is this a wild rumour, a silly person pulling pranks, or is it really a demo? Does anyone have any info?

  • I don’t think it even sounds like him. My vote- HOAX!

  • It’s not a bad song if Archie does end up recording it. Good for him.

    LOL @ the story about Katherine’s boobs. Weren’t they always kinda… healthy? What difference does it make anyway?

    I’m still amazed that anyone is surprised about Clay.

  • I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think it even sounds like him. My vote- HOAX!

    It’s not him for sure, but it could be a song that was submitted to him in demo form–either a song that he will record or has recorded.

  • Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not him for sure, but it could be a song that was submitted to him in demo formà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’either a song that he will record or has recorded.

    I think I made out the phrase “key to my heart” so I’m hoping for a hoax. LOL

    I hope Clay is feeling more peaceful now. It must have been hard to live with all the speculation.

    I’m looking forward to more Cook reviews! His family is so happy! Aww!

  • delted

  • I tear up a little reading Aiken story…I hope he find peace and support from his family and friends…

  • Funny article about Archie ´s Crush and Jordin, it seems like college boys and girls are liking the songs lol

    Off the Record: On the Newsroom Playlist

    In one 13-hour period last week, we listened to David Archuletaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s first post-”American Idol” single, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Crush,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  a truly disturbing 49 times. We had the song on repeat until the death threats coming from the copyediting side of the room began to take on a serious tone. Sadly, I still canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t wrap my tongue around the blasted lyrics.

    Vulture review of Light On (you know people at Vulture were biased againts Cook)
    http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/09/cover_your_ears_new_david_cook.html

    as should probably have been expected, “Lights Out” is a sludgy, nondescript grunge ballad in no immediate danger of getting stuck in anyone’s head. The track was composed (presumably in 1992) by Chris Cornell and Daughtry songwriter Brian Howes and was produced by Rob Cavallo, who we simply must commend for his humanitarian use of pitch-correction technology.

  • Not a fan of Clay, but I respect this guy even more now. There’s nothing wrong being gay.

  • From the article cruzceleste posted..

    Among the other artists making it onto our playlist this week are Carly Hennessy, Heartbreak, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Stereolab, and Cassie. Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s been a pretty pop-heavy year so far, and not being a big pop music fan myself, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m a little shocked by how much fun Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve had over the past three weeks.

    I wonder if they are playing her old album because it was said that they weren’t AI watchers.

  • wonder if they are playing her old album because it was said that they werenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t AI watchers.

    Probably one of then is an AI fan and don ´t want to look uncool…LOL

  • That LA Times review of Light On — is it just me or did they never say whether they actually liked the song or not? :D Maybe that’s what “review-proof” meant. Like the picture though.

  • More reviews on Light On this is frim USATODAY:

    Just listened to the new single from David C., Light On (you can do the same, if you haven’t already). You know I’m a fan, but this sounds distressingly like Daughtry lite, plenty of unconvincing vocal gruffness and a paint-by-numbers rock-ballad tune (although the chorus has touches of the pop-melodic gifts that I’m hoping will distinguish Cook from Daughtry in the long run).

    MTv ´s Jim talked two years ago about Aiken sexuality with him:

    http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/09/23/clay-aiken-flashback-we-asked-that-question-two-years-ago-and-it-wasnt-pretty/

    BREAKING NEWS! Clay Aiken has apparently come out of the closet! Kudos to Clay for coming to terms with his true self, and kudos to People magazine for paying the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  contestant to talk about his sexuality.

    It was an intense, tough and altogether unpleasant interview. And I take full responsibility for it. (Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m sure you noted my, uh, um, stutters, and at one point in the middle, I lost my train of thought, thanks to an angry glare from his publicist). Did I really think Clay would break down and say, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Yes, random sweaty MTV News interviewer guy. I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t keep this under wraps any longer. I am gay, dammit!à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Apparently, I did.

  • Jason- Date night! He’s still rambling. LOL

    Um, I’m posting far too much today.. where are all of you so that I’ll stop?

  • Jason- Date night! Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s still rambling. LOL

    Um, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m posting far too much today.. where are all of you so that Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll stop?

    I found it on My Space and just posted it on my front page. Thanks :) .

  • Re. clay, I’m not surprised nor does it matter. Re. Kat’s boobs, lol, there was an article online a good while back that she was seen shopping for new implants. Now where one is seen shopping for implants I cant imagine. Maybe in LA they have a store with implants on the wall that you checkout lol. Again, it doesn’t matter. Especially in LA where it seems natural breasts aren’t attractive enough anymore. According to Dr. 90210 episode, photographers want the “plump” at the top look on boobs that natural ones dont have. The doctor said fake boobs start curving or plumping higher on the chest, thats where the implant starts. Natural breasts can’t do that. So I guess that answers the question in my mind that Paula’s are fake cuz they set clear up under her chin almost. Thus, models and actresses are getting enhanced. Heck, my own sister got a boob job here in WV a year and a half ago and I never noticed till she told me rofl. Of course, I dont make a habit of checking out my sister’s boobs.

    I never get really interested in DWTS till its about half over. However, the comediennes that come on the show annoy me. They never shut up. Cloris is the same way, even Marie Osmond was and shes not “officially” a comedienne. Tell your joke then be quiet and let the show go on. IMO anyway.

  • 30 second clip from Let Your Heart Sing is up on the Disney site! It is from the upcoming Tinkerbell DVD release! Kat sounds amazing on this song!

    http://disneymusic.disney.go.com/albums/tinkerbell.html

    Hopefully Disney will fix the misspelling of her name.

    I really like this song from what we can hear. Plus it is great to have a new song from her!

  • Getcranked – I am here and you are toooo funny as usual and never too much!

  • I found it on My Space and just posted it on my front page. Thanks :) .

    I thought I had put the link there for ya. That’s what I get for multitasking. lol
    Thank YOU!

    sumidol, I think I love you! :mrgreen_wp:

    That eonline article was interesting. I missed that earlier today.

    So far with Dave Cook…
    Oprah – check
    Olympics – check

  • 30 second clip from Let Your Heart Sing
    http://disneymusic.disney.go.com/albums/tinkerbell.html

    That is certainly a lot more interesting than the old “are those real” boobage question. Thanks for sharing that link!

  • I thought I had put the link there for ya.

    Uhm, you did. I want people to watch it here. I think I’m a little cranky today. LOL.

    That doesn’t mean you can’t link to Rickey or any other AI site in the future. :)

  • Uhm, you did. I want people to watch it here. I think Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m a little cranky today. LOL.

    Well I thought I was crazy! Good to know I have a little bit of sanity left after all!

    If there are certain things that you would like to have emailed to you instead of us posting them, just let us know. I know that we all want you to have a smooth time of it. :)

  • Slezak Popwatch about Clay article :

    Aiken’s revelation on the cover of People magazine that fatherhood has prompted him to publicly acknowledge what most of us have suspected for a long time now is pretty much the “so what?” announcement of the year.

    And yet I also recognize that as a milestone in the life of Mr. Aiken — and perhaps in the lives of the thousands and thousands of folks across this nation who, for whatever reason, have two very small, very significant words (“I’m gay”) caught somewhere in their throats, or further down in the knots of their stomachs — the People cover is, in fact, a big deal. Of course, in the coming days and weeks, we’ll hear folks yell things like, “keep it to yourself, Clay, we don’t want to hear about your private life!” Yet I suspect such vitriol will come from the same folks who have never once railed against Elisabeth Hasselbeck or Kathy Lee Gifford or Kelly Ripa for yapping incessantly about their husbands and kids — their private lives! — on daytime talk shows.

    I like the article Slezak is a great writter…

  • If there are certain things that you would like to have emailed to you instead of us posting them, just let us know. I know that we all want you to have a smooth time of it. :)

    Just keep posting. I don’t want to miss anything. I really appreciate it. :) .

  • David Foster on Clay Aiken’s Family Life

    Clay Aiken revealed only this week that he is gay, and now his baby son’s uncle, music producer David Foster, is revealing new details about family life at home.

    David’s sister Jaymes gave birth to Clay’s son, Parker, in August. “They’ve found a way to make it work for the three of them,” he tells ET Canada in a new interview. “It’s the perfect, perfect situation — they’re going to co-parent and they’re best friends.”

    David was there from the beginning of his nephew’s life: “I was there for the birth,” he tells ET Canada. “My sister just roared through the delivery, no [whining], like, boom, let’s have this kid. And she did, and the baby is beautiful, and all is good.”

    Regarding talking to the press about his sister and her family, David said, “I talked to Jaymes and Clay this morning, and I said, ‘What’s the parameters?’ and basically they just said, which I [know] is true, ‘One sentence and then move on.’”

    http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/09/65940/index.html

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