Carrie Underwood to Wed in Nashville
Well, this is certainly a fitting location for Carrie Underwood to tie the knot.
A source close to the country cutie and her Canadian hockey beau, Mike Fisher, tells E! News the couple plan to marry this summer in Nashville.
“They’ve already picked out the location, ” says the source. “Invites are going out soon.”
‘American Idol’ Ratings Hit a Low Mark
The chops-licking over the declining performance of Fox’s “American Idol” may grow more intense in the wake of the Tuesday night ratings for that perennial powerhouse. Fewer people watched “Idol” on Tuesday (when the contestant Crystal Bowersox performed with the didgeridoo player Ernie Fields, both left) than watched ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” on Monday. (“Dancing” runs performance episodes on Mondays, with results on Tuesdays; “Idol” generally has performance on Tuesdays with results on Wednesdays.)
And for a second consecutive week, in the category Fox cares most about — viewers between the ages of 18 and 49 — “Idol, ” if the Tuesday overnight ratings hold, will post its lowest number ever for a two-hour edition of the show. It will also be the lowest-rated Tuesday edition of the show since an hourlong episode on Aug. 13, 2002, in its first season, when the series played in the summer. “Idol” had a total audience of about 20.4 million on Tuesday, below the 21.2 million that “Dancing” averaged for its performance show on Monday. (The “Dancing” results on Tuesday averaged a total audience of 12.3 million.) But the “Idol” 7.1 rating among viewers 18 to 49 is what will be most noticed. That is down from a 7.7 a week ago and down from the 8.1 the show averaged for the three previous weeks.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Idol Gives Back Online Auction
Beginning today, Idol Gives Back is partnering with auction management agency Vonality to launch an online auction in which American Idol fans from around the country will be able to bid on a unique selection of donated items and once-in-a-lifetime experiences at www.idolgivesback.org. Net proceeds will benefit the Idol Gives Back Foundation and the auction will run from Wednesday, April 7 to 11:59 PM PT on Tuesday, April 20.
Items featured in the online auction include:
Your weekly Idols sales fix: The albums
Several Idols saw week-over-week sales growth last week, with Carrie Underwood’s Play On leading the way. Others with double-digit percentage increases include Daughtry, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Kellie Pickler.
And here’s a fun fact: With Usher’s performance on American Idol, Justin Bieber’s appearance in the Wednesday audience and the inclusion of Idols on the latest Now compilation, Idol had a tie last week to Nielsen SoundScan’s three top-selling albums — Usher’s Raymond v. Raymond, Bieber’s My World 2.0 and Now That’s What I Call Music! 33.
Good grief, it’s Wednesday!
And I completely forgot about SoundScan numbers!
So let’s look at some, shall we?
Adam Lambert attends the G-Star Raw Fall/Winter 2010 fashion show at Hammerstein Ballroom on February 16, 2010 in New York City.
Adam Lambert continues to have the top-selling track with Whataya Want From Me, and it sees a small week-over-week increase (as do most of the Idol tracks on both Nielsen SoundScan’s Top Digital Tracks and Top Country Digital Tracks charts). Adam’s at nearly 812, 000 downloads now, plus he has a two-night stint on American Idol coming up next week. It’s not out of the question that the subsequent sales boost could push him easily past a million downloads within three weeks.
Adam Lambert: Off to Vancouver for Tour Duties
Picking up some pre-flight beverages, Adam Lambert was spotted at a convenience store in West Hollywood yesterday (April 7).
The “American Idol” stud carried a bottle of water and a Starbucks bottled frappuccino as he headed to the checkout counter, sporting a black t-shirt, black trousers, and black boots.
Rihanna Talks ‘Idol’ and Her New Tour
ET’s Kevin Frazier joined Rihanna at “American Idol” as she rehearsed for her live performance.
She told Kevin of squeezing her “Idol” performance into her busy schedule preparing for her upcoming “Last Girl on Earth” tour: “It’s my first time performing on ‘Idol’ and it’s a little nerve-wracking because we’re in the middle of our tour rehearsals and it’s a really time-demanding experience and we just had to fit this in there.”
In fact, she told Kevin, “We just came up with what we’re going to do right here, right now.”
Tim Urban: ‘American Idol’ punching bag’s favorite pasttime involves…Simon Cowell?
Don’t cry for Tim Urban, Idoloonies. While American Idol’s judges have frequently expressed their bewilderment that the show’s most maligned contestant maintains a permanent grin even as they’re telling him he’s irrelevant, out-of-tune, and in need of singing lessons, Tim finds his bliss in the angry mob that sits behind the firing squad of Simon, Kara, Ellen, and Randy. “I think my favorite thing is watching Simon’s face, when he says something and someone boos. He’s like [jerks head up, looks around confused]. He’s like, ‘Wait! Come on now, I’m right!’ And they’re like, ‘No you’re not!’ It makes me laugh. I love that, ” Tim told EW backstage after last night’s Lennon-McCartney Songbook telecast. “I love when the crowd gets into it, ” he added. “It totally boosts us on stage.” –Reporting by Whitney Pastorek
Siobhan’s dress, Tim’s hair, the didgeridoo… Your ‘Idol’ burning questions, answered!
Once again, we got a chance to speak to the remaining “American Idol” contestants after Tuesday’s mostly stellar performance show. Naturally, we had to ask Siobhan about the story behind her dress. Ditto for Crystal’s didgeridoo and Lee’s bagpipe accompaniment. Read on for answers to more of our “Idol” burning questions.
What was up with Siobhan’s outfit?
Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze talk about bringing didgeridoo and bagpipes to the ‘American Idol’ stage
OK! Interview: Idol Castoff Didi Benami!
Didi Benami may have cried often on her American Idol journey, but the 23-year-old from Knoxville, Tenn., is still smiling after getting cut on March 31. By coming in 10th place, Didi will be on the Idol summer tour and as Didi puts, “I’m going to open the tour!” The bubbly blonde stopped by the OK! offices to chat about her awkward moment with Ryan Seacrest, her pre-Idol encounter with Kris Allen and how she wants to be like Jennifer Aniston!
Jason Castro
The American Idol season 7 finalist’s debut album comes on like an early spring day. You can feel the sun shining through ?hummable tracks like ”Closer, ” but hints of a harsher season remain on ”It Matters to Me” and the heartbreaking ”You Can Always Come Home.” (FYI: The deluxe version, with six extra tracks, is well worth springing for.) B+
‘American Idol’ vet Giraud to sing anthem at Tigers’ Opening Day
Before the Detroit Tigers throw the first pitch at their home opener Friday at Comerica Park, a familiar face will be belting out the national anthem: “American Idol” finalist Matt Giraud.
The Ypsilanti native and eighth season “Idol” contestant was booked to sing the anthem for the Tigers during last year’s postseason, but those plans hit a snag when the Tigers, in an extra-innings heartbreaker, failed to make the playoffs. But the extra time gave Giraud, who calls Kalamazoo home, a chance to polish his national anthem chops.
“The first time I ever sang the national anthem, for anybody, was in front of 12, 000 people at an NBA game on New Year’s Eve, ” says Giraud, who performed at an Oklahoma City Thunder game before ringing in 2010. “It was so nerve-racking: the spotlights, the cheerleaders, the players — everyone’s looking at you. I was like, ‘OK, don’t mess it up.’?”
‘Idol’ Guest Blog: Kim Caldwell Checks Out The Mess That Is The Top 9
Let’s face it: this season of American Idol has been… confusing. The judges have offered contradictory bits of advice, voters have kept certain cute-but-less-than-stellar talents, and this week, somebody played the bagpipes. We had a feeling this kind of thing might happen, and that’s why we called in the experts. We’re completely thrilled to welcome our new guest blogger, Kimberly Caldwell!
While Kim’s busy prepping her debut album, Without Regret (and playing for select crowds—catch her at the chic Aria resort in Las Vegas this Saturday), we’re stoked that she’s also also taking time to help us figure out the chaos unfolding on Idol. Which of Simon’s reactions last night was “unnecessary”? And who’s “the lost Jonas brother”? Check her take on Lennon/McCartney week below.
Photo Coverage: Stars Celebrate ROCK OF AGES Anniversary & Constantine Maroulis Portrait at Tony di Napoli’s!
‘American Idol’ Midterm: Experts Grade Ellen DeGeneres So Far
As anyone who has switched high schools mid-year can tell you, it’s never easy fitting in with the cool kids.
Midway through her first season on “American Idol, ” talk-show host/ comedian Ellen DeGeneres hasn’t tripped and dropped her lunch tray in front of the whole school yet, but she also hasn’t exactly gotten the lead in the school production of “Grease, ” according to our panel of experts.
‘American Idol’ finalist Katharine McPhee comes to Baltimore
It’s not uncommon for “American Idol” winners and finalists to sell countless albums after appearing on the show.
But Katharine McPhee is one of a few “American Idol” contestants to break into film, TV and music alike. Besides releasing two albums, McPhee, 26, has appeared in ” The House Bunny, ” “Community” and ” CSI: NY.”
When she’s not shooting the pilot for an NBC comedy called “The Pink House, ” McPhee is playing sporadic live shows — such as the Care For Kids Concert at Goucher College on Saturday.
STAGE TUBE: Ace Young Talks HAIR On Fox’s Good Day NY – VIDEO
Former ‘American Idol’ finalist and new HAIR tribe member Ace Young talks HAIR on Fox’s Good Day NY.
HAIR on Broadway plays the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, and is presented in New York by The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Gary Goddard Entertainment, Kathleen K. Johnson, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Fran Kirmser Productions/Jed Bernstein, Marc Frankel, Broadway Across America, Barbara Manocherian/WenCarLar Productions, JK Productions/Terry Schnuck, Andy Sandberg, Jam Theatricals, The Weinstein Company / Norton Herrick, Jujamcyn Theaters, Joey Parnes and by special arrangement with Elizabeth Ireland McCann.
Jimmy Fallon spoofs Kate Gosselin’s ill-received ‘Paparazzi’ performance on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ – VIDEO
Imitation may not always be the sincerest form of flattery – at least in Kate Gosselin’s case.
The tabloid target mom got a dose of reality Tuesday night when “Late Night” host Jimmy Fallon took a jab at her less-than-stellar “Dancing with the Stars” performance this week.
“I was attacked by the paparazzi again this morning, ” Fallon somberly told his audience. “I’m pretty upset about it. I think my feelings can be best expressed in dance.”
Erin Andrews Death Threats Causing Stress Backstage at ‘DWTS’
“Dancing with the Stars” sweetheart Erin Andrews is apparently causing quite a bit of extra mayhem on the CBS studios lot – although it isn’t exactly her fault.
In the wake of recent death threats directed at the ESPN sportscaster and e-mailed to sports talk show “The Dan Patrick Show, ” officials have introduced extreme TSA-style screening precautions. We’re told every single person, from media to audience and even the cast/crew, has to arrive early and have their cars and personal possessions checked and double checked.
And while Andrews’s safety is obviously of paramount importance, the beefed-up security is adding pressure to those involved with the already super-intense reality show.
“It is definitely causing added stress on everyone, ” dished our insider. “And it is now really difficult for people to even be allowed into the show. The cast/crew used to be able to get people on the list, but now it is very hard to do that.”
