‘You’re not immune’: Teen pageant queen and ‘American Idol’ boyfriend get COVID-19 – Winning the Miss Louisiana Teen USA pageant opened a lot of doors for 19-year-old Sydney Taylor. But it’s safe to say that she never thought she would be using her celebrity voice to talk about a historic pandemic. It’s also safe to say she never thought she herself would get COVID-19. But she did. So did her boyfriend, Laine Hardy, the 2019 winner of “American Idol.” He, too, is 19. Taylor doesn’t know where they got exposed, or even who had it first. “I don’t want anyone mad at me. I didn’t give it to him!” she said, laughing. She feels fortunate that her case was “very mild. I didn’t have anything serious,” she said. “After that I feel like people should know that we shouldn’t be just going out like nothing’s going on.” In her town of Livingston, Louisiana, “I could probably tell you about 10 to 15 people that I know my age who have tested positive,” said Taylor. “I know a ton of people who have gotten it. Taylor said she was already wearing a mask, unlike many of her young friends who have the mindset of “oh it’s not going to affect me.” She’s not sure she’ll be able to change those minds. – Read more at KansasCity.com
‘World of Dance’ Partners With EMPIRE to Launch Record Label (EXCLUSIVE) – “World of Dance,” the popular NBC dance competition show judged by Jennifer Lopez, NE-YO and Derek Hough, is adding a record label to its brand portfolio which includes a YouTube network, tours, a brand management company and the U-Jam dance fitness program. Music released will be co-managed, marketed and promoted with digital and physical distribution via a global partnership with San Francisco-based EMPIRE. – Read more at Variety
Louis Knight Shares The Best Advice He Received From Katy Perry on ‘American Idol’ – “What stuck with me most out of the comments from the judges would definitely have to be Katy [Perry] when she said to me in Hawaii to just get back to singing from my heart and to always sing from my heart … that’s just why I love to sit down at the piano, singing. When it all just comes out and it’s all just an emotional release, that’s when I feel the best,” he explained. – Listen at Tiger Beat.com
Paula Abdul on American Idol — and Why Simon and Randy Still Make Up Her Dream Judging Panel – Paula Abdul is a forever American Idol fan! The former judge, 58, tells PEOPLE she caught a few episodes of the most recent season from her home in California amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic — and loves winner Samantha ‘Just Sam’ Diaz. “It was a very interesting season that no one will ever forget, because a lot of it was virtual,” she says. “The contestants were also really good, and it was cool to see them in their own environment with their families.” If she ever returned to Idol, Abdul knows who she’d want in the chairs next to her. “The OGS, Randy [Jackson] and Simon [Cowell]!” she reveals. “As excruciating as it could be, I had the best time.” – read more at People
