Wrote His No.1 Single “23” Before Alcohol Nearly Ruined His Life – “Going through the experience of being judged by a panel of superstars—Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie—was extremely humbling,” he admits over the phone to American Songwriter. “I’m surprised I made it through in the shape that I was in.” Just two weeks before his audition, he was involved in a near-fatal car accident. After weighing what-might-have-been, and witnessing the fear in his family’s eyes, Beckham decided it was time to make a real change. “On the show, I learned how to be myself without all those substances,” says the artist. “I learned how to address my nerves without those things, and found the same person I was without those crutches or vices by confronting all of those things head-on. So it was a beautiful experience to build myself back up on the show to where I started, and not let those things defeat me” – Read more at American Idol Songwriter

Adam Lambert interview: “The idea of community is more important than ever” – “I am so excited about what Lil Nas X did,” says Adam Lambert down the phone. “I just think it’s high time we had somebody out there being exactly who they are.” The American singer-songwriter is full of passion and praise for pop culture’s latest queer superstar, commending him for forging a successful and fruitful music career as an openly gay man. It’s something Adam knows all too well. When he was catapulted to global fame following his memorable run on American Idol back in 2009, Adam had to navigate being unapologetically queer while cultivating a successful career that wouldn’t offend Middle America. More than 10 years on with millions of records sold, having toured the world, and fresh from launching his own philanthropic initiative to help LGBTQ+ people called the Feel Something Foundation, we’d say he’s done a decent job doing so. – Read more at Gay Times

‘Just grateful’: A&T’s Victor Solomon talks about his time on ‘The Voice’ and the future – “The experience has been an incredible experience, and I’m just grateful to have been a part of it,” Solomon said this week from Detroit. Solomon expressed gratitude for his time on the show, meeting “incredible artists, incredible contestants and making some really good friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life.” Thanks to “The Voice,” he has lined up several gigs for summer, fall and next year to sing at weddings and at a baseball game and gala in his hometown of Peoria, Ill. “It makes me feel good, and it’s helping me stay busy and keep my mind focused on moving forward,” he said. – Read more at News & Record

Rock, McConaughey Will Be Hated … Political Fallout is Real!!! (Clay Aiken)– Clay joined “TMZ Live” Wednesday to share just a slice of what the experience was like, and it doesn’t sound pleasant … and definitely not something a couple of universally cherished actors would want to go through. Ultimately, he thinks neither Rock nor McConaughey will opt to run, like Caitlyn Jenner already has — but Clay’s adamant she’s already experiencing the blowback … just for different reasons. – Read more at TMZ

Scotty McCreery Shares Forthcoming New Album Details, Talks “You Time” And Upcoming Tour – “I’m still kind of looking through the songs and just trying to get my theme together and seeing if there’s one that sticks out that kind of wraps it all together with a nice bow,” McCreery told Music Mayhem of the not-yet-released and currently untitled forthcoming project. Within the album, fans can expect to find the North Carolina native leaning into his country roots with storyteller lyrics that focus on topics of life, love, and the current state of the world coupled with the traditional sounds of fiddle and pedal steel. – Read more at Music Mayhem Magazine

BWW Exclusive: Haley Reinhart Sings ‘No Regrets’ in AN IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT – “American Idol” finalist Haley Reinhart performs several songs in the documentary “An Impossible Project,” which was released today! Watch an exclusive clip of Reinhart singing “No Regrets” in the film below. Reinhart recorded multiple songs for the film, which is about the man who saved Polaroid and his quest to protect the future of analog (including vinyl records!). For the soundtrack, Haley recorded 100% live, with Sasha Peres and a forty-piece Jazz orchestra directly to vinyl, including her original song “I Don’t Know How To Love You”. – Read more at Broadway World.com

Gabby Barrett Opens Up About Her Baby Girl’s Food Intolerances