Anoop Desai: Success is being ‘the next Daughtry, the next Jennifer Hudson’
It’s hard out here for an American Idol contestant on the road with the post-show tour, especially when (unlike Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, and Allison Iraheta) he hasn’t yet been signed by 19 Entertainment. But fret not for season 8 heartthrob Anoop Desai. He’s got a plan to move to Los Angeles this fall, where he’s hoping to get in the studio, make ‘music for music’s sake, ‘ and turn out material that’ll fit very nicely alongside such non-vocoder-reliant R&B artists as Ne-Yo, Chrisette Michele, and Musiq Soulchild. If you love Anoop (and why wouldn’t you?), then pressing play below is required by law. (Gratuitous leg shots included! If you appreciate them, follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak!)
Michigan native Giraud returns home on ‘Idols’ tour
The last time Matt Giraud was at the Palace was for a “Disney on Ice” event he attended when he was about 10 years old.
Fourteen years and one high-profile TV stint later, the Ypsilanti native was at the Auburn Hills arena Wednesday performing as part of the “American Idols Live!” tour. In the crowd, he said he’d have about 180 friends and family members cheering him on.
“I’m very thankful for the whole thing, ” said Giraud, sporting a newish faux hawk atop his head, during the press hour prior to the show. “I think I’m going out there every night and really showing people me and that’s what makes me so excited. I haven’t gotten sick of my set or anything. I love living on the road and doing music. I can see myself doing this for a living.”
More Idol Headlines After The Jump…
Lambert wows Palace crowd
The “American Idol” runner-up stole the show at Wednesday’s “American Idols Live!” concert at The Palace of Auburn Hills, and earned the lion’s share of the applause from the spirited audience.
“American Idol” has never seen anything like Lambert, who is like a glam rock serpent formed from the DNA of David Bowie, Freddie Mercury and Trent Reznor. As he tore through a super-sexualized version of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” you could sense the unease from the parents who brought their small children to the concert.
My Complete Recap of the Idols Live in Columbus
You guys count on me to be as thorough as possible, so let me start my recap of the Columbus stop on the ‘American Idols Live Tour 2009′ with a word or two about the venue’ ¦
I have to give MAJOR props to the people at the Schottenstein Center for switching one of the men’s restrooms to a women’s since there were WAY more women at the show. Although, I have to say that it was a little freaky walking into a men’s room’ ¦
I also have to give them props for opening the doors an hour and a half before showtime, since I was there so early because of the afternoon press hour. It gave me a chance to chill out and have a little snack before the show.
Queen Latifah Talks ‘Idol’ Opportunity, Weight Loss
Queen Latifah is slimming down Ԡand expanding her career.
Her latest CD, ‘Persona, ‘ hit stores yesterday, and she has been asked to be a guest judge on ‘American Idol’ following Paula Abdul’s exit.
‘I don’t know if I’ll come on the show or not, but it would be an honor, ‘ Latifah told Access Hollywood.
While she is still considering the opportunity, should Latifah accept, she made it clear, she wouldn’t be filling Paula’s shoes.
‘I don’t want to replace Paula Abdul, ‘ Latifah said. ‘I feel like she is irreplaceable.’
Milwaukee Event Calendar
Join the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired to celebrate and thank the dedicated volunteers for all of their time and support with the Association! Hear the inspiring success story of keynote speaker Scott MacIntyre’s amazing American Idol journey. The dinner will be held in Potawatomi’s new ballroom. Tickets are $50. For more information, please visit the website linked above.
Idol sales: Most down, ‘Already Gone’ grows
Daughtry’s Leave This Town and Jordin Sparks’ Battlefield respectively remain the top-selling American Idol album and single this week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Though none of the current top-selling Idol releases had overall sales increases (Daughtry’s first album did get a 4 percent bump), a couple of them did have better weeks on the digital side, with Leave This Town and Kelly Clarkson’s All I Ever Wanted seeing double-digit growth. Kelly’s Already Gone is the big gainer among Idol’s digital tracks, its 20 percent increase meaning it sold nearly 32, 000 downloads, bringing it to 183, 000 overall.
Ted Kennedy Remembered By Diddy, John Legend, Demi Moore On Twitter
The Twitterverse exploded Wednesday morning (August 26) with thousands of tributes to the “Lion of the Senate, ” Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, who died Tuesday night at 77 after a battle with brain cancer.
Among the thousands of eulogies that went up once the early morning news broke were kind words from celebrities who’d met or worked with Kennedy or who were simply touched by his lifelong service to his country.
Diddy weighed in early, tweeting, “We gonna miss you uncle Teddy! R I P!!!!” Singer John Legend was short and sweet, posting, “RIP Teddy Kennedy. Sad, ” while “American Idol” winner David Cook tweeted, “My sincere condolences go out to Ted Kennedy’s family ~D.”
Extended David Cook tour makes a stop in Mitchell
Millions of people across the country became fans of rock singer David Cook during the seventh season of TV’s singing competition “American Idol.”
Cook won, appears to have maintained his Midwestern charm and now has a self-titled album he’s supporting with his five-piece band on tour. He makes a stop at the Mitchell Corn Palace on Saturday.
His “Idol” win thrust him onto the national music scene.
Britney Spears Tour ‘Intimidating’ For Opener Jordin Sparks
It’s been quite a busy summer for Jordin Sparks. Right after wrapping up a stint opening for the Jonas Brothers, she hit the road with Britney Spears for her Circus tour ‘†needless to say, it’s been a whirlwind few weeks for the “American Idol” winner.
“It was a little intimidating, just because it’s such a different crowd than the Jonas crowd, ” she told MTV News as she made her way over to Madison Square Garden for the her third night on Britney’s tour. “And you go to a Britney concert and it’s all of her fans and they have grown up … but if they scream, they’re screaming ’cause they want to. They don’t scream at just anything, so when I took that stage and I could hear a little bit through that they were excited and that I wasn’t so out of place, it was awesome.”
Jordin Sparks ‘Can’t Wait’ To Reunite With Paula Abdul At VH1 Divas
Jordin Sparks will be joining previously announced divas Miley Cyrus, Adele, Kelly Clarkson and Leona Lewis at the revamped VH1 Divas concert September 17. Sparks said she would love the opportunity to put her own spin on Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” for the show.
“You know what? I would take ‘Party in the U.S.A.’ in a second, ” she told MTV News. “I would take it in a heartbeat. I love that song.”
NUNN ON ONE: THEATER Fantasia’s colorful life
Fantasia Barrino rose to fame with the third season of American Idol in 2004, winning the title. Since then, she has been the first artist to debut at number one, has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards and is currently touring with the musical version of The Color Purple. Windy City Times discussed how her life really is a fairy tale.
Windy City Times: Hi, Fantasia. I am excited about The Color Purple tour coming to a few select cities’â€and Chicago is one of them! Tell our readers about your road to playing the role of Celie.
Phil Stacey’s ‘Into the Light’: views and reviews
Having just released his first contemporary Christian album, Into the Light, Phil Stacey tells Lucas Hendrickson of The (Nashville) Tennessean that he feels less pressure to perform than he did during his days with American Idol and country’s Lyric Street Records.
Says Phil: “My wife, Kendra, would remind me constantly, ‘Phil, if God has given you this platofrm, then this isn’t about you. You can only do so much. You pray about it and put it in His hands, He’ll take it where He wants to.’
Michael W. Smith Brings His “New Hallelujah World Tour” To The U.S. With Announcement Of Fall Dates
Following a successful run in 12 European countries over the summer, GRAMMY ® award-winning and multi-Platinum selling artist Michael W. Smith will bring his ‘New Hallelujah World Tour’ to the U.S. this fall. Traveling to major markets across the nation in October and November, the tour will feature some very special guests including renowned artist/worshipper Matt Maher, ‘American Idol’ alum Phil Stacey and new artist/worship leader Meredith Andrews.
Sickle Cell association to hold convention in Orlando
BALTIMORE ‘ The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America will hold its 37th Annual National Convention Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at the Caribe Royale Orlando. The theme for this year’s convention in Orlando is ‘Building Bridges for Change.’
The conference is the centerpiece of National Sickle Cell Awareness Month activities designed to increase awareness of this genetic disease, which contin- ues to affect more than 80, 000 men, women and children in this country.
Other program components will be a series of events ranging from a Chairman’s Reception and the Dorothye Boswell Gala Awards Banquet featuring recording artist Ruben Studdard.
District Fair star Bucky Covington sings what he knows
Bucky Covington has sipped from the garden hose, used pliers on his TV and, with his siblings, ridden sprawled out on the hump of the family Chevette.
Ordinarily this should be of no consequence, but the 31-year-old finalist from the 2006 edition of ‘American Idol’ ‘†whose self-titled debut CD emerged the following year ‘†released as his first single ‘A Different World, ‘ a nostalgic song detailing the myriad ways in which America has changed over the years.
Mya’s ‘Worst Fear’ Is Being Injured During ‘Dancing With The Stars’
You might have seen her getting down in music videos, but Mya said she still has a lot to learn before she shimmies and shakes on “Dancing With the Stars” starting September 21.
“So far, rehearsals have been really tough, ” she told MTV News. “So it’s kind of like reversing my thinking, ’cause hip-hop is so loose and not structured, and tap is so loose and close to the ground and not structured, so it’s so different. I have a lot of work to do in reversing how I think. And I have a lot of partner work to do, so I hope it doesn’t hurt me. But I think music and musicality is going to help me stay on the beat.”
America’s Got Talent: Results show four (Top 20 list)
The Hoff must not be watching the same show we are, eh? Because the talent is definitely not off the charts. Yes, there are some very good acts but compared to previous seasons, this year’s Top 48 was rather poor in talent.
The last Top 48 acts performed earlier this week and now came the time to reveal who would fill the remaining five spots in the Top 20. Except for three or four acts, this week’s performance show was so-so, making it difficult to predict how America would vote.
