‘America’s Got Talent’ Standout Archie Williams on Connecting With Stevie Wonder – “It’s just about the direction the world is going. Sad. It’s something worth singing about though, you know,” Williams expressed, adding, “Stevie Wonder is my king and when it comes to music, that’s my king. That’s what kept me alive most of the time in prison. Listening to him all day, every day.” Williams was able to Zoom with Wonder himself, telling ET, he was in “tears.” “It was like tears through the whole Zoom. It really was,” he confessed. “I let him know he was my king of music. When it comes to king of soul, you are my king of soul Stevie.” – Read more at Entertainment Tonight
‘AGT’s Archie Williams Loves Having Kelly Clarkson Fill In For Simon: ‘I Can Learn A Lot From Her’ – When Archie Williams took the stage during the first America’s Got Talent live show, Simon Cowell was missing. The judge broke his back just days before the live show, and Kelly Clarkson came in as a temporary replacement. For Archie, having Kelly as a new judge for a short time is an incredible opportunity. “It’s very exciting,” Archie told HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY. “I love Kelly. I always watch Kelly, and I watched it when she first won her show [American Idol]. She was very touching. I love Simon and hate to see what happened to him, but with Kelly, I can learn a lot from her.” – Read more at Hollywood Life
Gabby Barrett Performs ‘The Good Ones’ For Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood Event – Country singer Gabby Barrett performed her song “The Good Ones” for Variety‘s Power of Young Hollywood special. One of this year’s honorees, Barrett told Variety that she wrote the ballad about her husband Cade Foehner, who joined her on guitar during the performance. – Watch it at Variety
Jordin Sparks Opens Up About Raising a Black Son in America: ‘I Want His Future to Be Better’ – The American Idol alum, 30, tells PEOPLE she and her husband, model Dana Isaiah, 28, have daily conversations about how they will teach their 2-year-old son DJ about racism. “How do we tell him that he may be treated differently because his parents have melanin in their skin? It’s devastating,” says Sparks. “It’s so hard that we have to have that conversation; he’s so young, and it’s hard to chip away at his innocence in that way. We’re going to have to have a conversation that’s going to shatter some things for our son.” – Read more at People
RaeLynn Says It’s ‘Hard for Women’ to Carve a Path in Country: ‘Might as Well Put Out Music I Love’ – The Voice alum proved her songwriting prowess on her 2016 debut, Wildhorse, but she’s never sounded as comfortable as she does on her new EP Baytown, out Friday. Baytown, named after RaeLynn’s Texas hometown, blends genres she was raised on. “I’m from outside Houston, so you’ve got all these hip-hop artists, and then you’ve got the Houston Rodeo,” RaeLynn, 26, says. “Growing up on those artists — I’d go from the Dixie Chicks to Destiny’s Child — has become part of who I am.” – Read more at People.com
‘AGT’ Judges on Whether Simon Cowell Will Be Back This Season and Kelly Clarkson Filling In – “We have been told he has been recovering tremendously,” Mandel, 64, said of Cowell. “I would not count him out before the end of this season.” “You’re right,” Klum, 47, agreed. “He’s had a six-hour operation and he is already on his feet, which is above and beyond expectation, so I am thrilled,” Mandel added. “I love the guy, I miss the guy, and my hearts and minds are with him and each and every moment.” “Obviously we miss the boss. There is no one who could actually take his place, even though Kelly did absolutely amazing today,” Klum said. “[She did] an amazing job and she had so much fun, but no one is like Simon. That is just the way it is.” “I think that Simon is irreplaceable and Kelly was brilliant,” Mandel agreed. “She’s done it. She’s a pro. She brings something to the table.” – Read more at Entertainment Tonight
Howie Mandel Gives an Update on Simon Cowell Following His Back-Breaking Accident – Thus, while discussing filming the first live episode, Mandel gave an update on the America’s Got Talent boss. “We didn’t know what to expect. I knew that we could expect something spectacular because we have, I believe, the most talented crew in the world, in every possible department,” the 64-year-old comedian told E! News. “We were a little bit in disarray because we were worried. We were worried about our friend, and our boss, and our leader, Simon Cowell, who we hear is doing spectacularly well, considering.” As he continued, Mandel remarked that the production for the live show “was spectacular.” – Read more at EOnline
Howie Mandel shares an update on ‘AGT’ co-star Simon Cowell – Comedian and television personality Howie Mandel tells Jenna Bush Hager that his friend and co-star Simon Cowell is recovering well after he broke his back in a biking accident. He also talks about how Kelly Clarkson is seamlessly filling in for Cowell as “America’s Got Talent” continues filming.
‘America’s Got Talent’ Judges Talk Simon’s Absence During Live Shows
