UPDATE: I just got an email from somebody who is in regular contact with Syesha Mercado, and according to this source she told him that she is NOT scheduled to perform on Idol.
Billboard Magazine interviewed a slew of Idols the day they taped performances for Fox Reality’s American Idol Extra. Each mini-interview gives a summary of where the Idols are in their careers at the moment. Also, each Idol gives advice to the new crop of Idols.:
- Blake Lewis – VIDEO – Blake is signed to Tommy Boy records and is working on his second album, which he describes as pop/electro/hip-hop and very danceable.
- Syesha Mercado – VIDEO – Syesha is working on her album with “amazing Grammy award-winning producers and songwriters.” Some folks she’s working with include the “Listen” writers, Scott Cutler and Anne Preven and one of Babyface’s producers. Plus, she’s reading some scripts. Note: According to Vote for the Worst, Syesha is set to perform on the Top 5 Results show.
- Kristy Lee Cook – VIDEO – Kristy Lee is working on some music and has some gigs coming up this summer. She bought a house and is working with her horse rescue foundation.
- Taylor Hicks – VIDEO – Taylor just finished his album The Distance. He thinks it’s his best work as an artist to date. Currently, he’s playing Teen Angel in the national touring company of Grease.
- Brooke White – VIDEO – Brooke is working on her new album High Hopes and Hearbreak due to be released June 2. Her single “Hold Up My Heart” hit the iTunes Top 10 after its release.
- Michael Johns – VIDEO – Michael is releasing a single and album, but the release dates have been pushed up since this interview. The album, Hold Back My Heart will drop June 23rd. The single, “Heart on My Sleeve” April 14. More HERE.
- Carly Smithson -VIDEO – Carly was just putting the finishing touches on her record. “Industry felt differently about a direction for me,” says Carly, “I felt I needed to go away and finish songs I had already written to show them, ‘No, this is who Carly really is.’”
- Jason Castro -VIDEO – According to Jason, he’s been signed. “I found a home at Atlantic Records,” he says. The plan is to release an album out by summer. There’s more about Jason’s upcoming album HERE.
Ok, I may be the only one, but I would love to see Blake Lewis come on and do one of his new dance track type songs.
He was “kinda” on for IGB last year with the acoustic What About Now clip from the band’s trip to Africa. IIRC, that version of the single went on sale on iTunes for charity or something? And his songs got used a bunch of times last season in clips and stuff. But yeah, not the same as a results night performance slot I guess. I’m super surprised about the rumor about Syesha getting a slot. How many slots are there left after Jhud next week? We know Archie’s got one. That leaves what, like 4? I agree with everyone who says they should really only give it to Idols with something to promote.
I wonder if they do market research to see who is likely to draw the biggest ratings. That may decide who gets the call. First priority would be 19 artists, then ones likely to pull in the ratings. I’m guessing Pickler was there to try to keep the country fans tuned in.
I wonder how compensation works for artists who appear. None? Artists pay to be on due to the “promotion value”. AI pays the artists for the ratings boost?
OK. I just heard from somebody who is in regular contact with Syesha. He’s somebody who has slipped me reliable Syesha info in the past, so I know he is legit.
According to this source, he contacted Syesha and she told him that she is NOT scheduled to appear on Idol at this time…
I would LOVE that. (:
And yay. Syesha is not performing.
Me too! I’d love to see what he’s been working on since leaving the Idol Machine.
LOL everyone sure is hard on Syesha. I wouldn’t mind seeing her again. Even though it seems vftw had bad info.
I hope Melinda gets to come back.
I’d Looove Blake Lewis to come on and sing. It would be a great season for him to sing a dance track. I think the whole vibe this year is current, young and fun.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Syesha again…as long as she’s performing new material. If it’s just a cover, then I’d rather see people who actually have something to promote.
Now that Jason has signed with a non-Sony major label… does it mean we can write off him being a guest in AI? Has an idol who has signed with a non-Sony major label ever guested to perform in AI?
This is one of those times where I wish VFTW was right. I would’ve LOVED to see Syesha come back and perform. She wrote on her Facebook page that Idol hasn’t asked her to come perform which is a bummer. She did say she’s working with some grammy award winning producers and writers, so she must have a song she can promote. Maybe she is gonna sing, maybe Idol just hasn’t asked her yet, i dunno. Either way, I’d love to see her on that stage again.
I would like to see Season 5 winner, Taylor Hicks on the show!! Having Melinda would also be nice.
Well, Lil’s lucky that Syesha’s not coming back. Love her or hate her, Sy schools Lil when it comes to the big belting.
Agreed that Melinda should be brought back. She’s got a cd out, plus has done charitable stuff with First Lady Laura Bush and has received several accolades (I guess that’s the word). And why not even Chris Sligh or Phil Stacey? Chris has done pretty well in Christian music and his one song is being sung by Rascal Flatts. Phil has toured like crazy and has done so well with his patriotic single, reaching out to the military and performed for them overseas. Evenif his cd has not done as well, his songs have done well with those doing fundraisers and such, because they are so positive and encouraging. And he constantly “tweets” about what is going on with his new cd. Seems like many have something against season 6 and its contestants.,
So true. I just don’t get Lil. I think Syesha’s a great singer, and am glad things are going for her, but I just don’t think she should be invited back until/unless she has original music already out for sale. It’s a waste otherwise.
You know, I was never a big fan of Syesha myself, although I think she has a fabulous voice. I did think that she was totally underappreciated by the judges much of the time last season. I find it ironic that there was so much emphasis on the “package artist” concept this season, as Syesha is really the ultimate package – drop-dead gorgeous and much more talented than any of the “packages” the judges served up this season. Too bad she didn’t wait until season 8 to audition. (not that 3rd place is anything to regret, of course)