Clay Aiken performs at Avalon Theater in Easton, MD.
Carrie Underwood performs at United Center in Chicago, IL.
Constantine Maroulis performs in Jekyll & Hyde the Musical at the Winspear Opera House in the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, TX.
Taylor Hicks performs at Bally’s Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV.
Lee DeWyze performs at Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem, PA.
Lauren Alaina performs at the Ramada Oasis in Springfield, MO. Read more at AmericanIdol
‘American Idol’ Goes To NAB Hall of Fame – American Idol, the reality musical competition series that launched the careers of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Jennifer Hudson, Phillip Phillips and many other artists, will be the television inductee into the National Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The series will be honored at the 2013 NAB Show Television Luncheon, to be held April 8 in Las Vegas. – Read more at Music Row
Kelly Rowland, Adam Lambert, Keri Hilson To Perform Donna Summer Tribute At VH1 DIVAS – Can you keep a secret? We can’t either! That’s why as soon as we heard, we had to share: Kelly Rowland and Keri Hilson are joining Adam Lambert on the VH1 Divas stage to pay homage to late, great – and newly minted 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee – Donna Summer. First Adam’s Madonna news, now this? I love to love this lineup! – Read more at VH1.com
American Idol alum Syesha Mercado apparently replacing Stephanie Umoh in Chicago cast of Book of Mormon – The show’s producers didn’t respond to multiple inquiries over the last week. Yet while the Chicago Tribune and Playbill.com both continued to describe Stephanie Umoh as a member of the cast in new items today, Umoh’s public Twitter feed seemed to indicate that she wasn’t in Chicago. Multiple attendees of last night’s invited final dress rehearsal told me that the actor playing the featured role of Nabulungi wasn’t Umoh, though with no programs handed out they couldn’t say who it was. Tonight’s first public preview provides some answers. The above photo from tonight’s Playbill, passed along by a paying ticketholder at tonight’s show, lists Syesha Mercado, the former American Idol contestant who went on to perform in a national touring production of Dreamgirls, as Nabulungi. Though Book of Mormon’s producers have remained mum on the cast switch, Mercado hasn’t: – Read more at Time Out Chicago
Check out these photos from last night’s Ronald McDonald House event in New York City, feat. Melinda Doolittle, Kris Allen and Lee Dewyze
Melinda, Kris and Lee via @melindadoolittle
Melinda and Kris via @melindadoolittle
Lee, Melinda and Kris with Stevie Van Zandt! via Maureen Van Zandt @MVZaGoGo
Interview: Phillip Phillips Talks New Album, ‘Idol’ & Hanging With Pete Townshend – In conversation, Phillip Phillips is as easygoing and unassuming as you’d imagine that any 22-year-old pawn shop worker could be – which leaves one a bit bewildered, when considering his “American Idol” win this year and the release of his highly praised debut album The World From the Side of the Moon (check out the album sampler player at bottom). Phillips, whose soulful inflection sounds far more like a mix of Dave Matthews and Mumford & Sons than anything crooning alongside the Glamor Shots sheen of previous “Idol” winners, wrote or co-wrote the entirety of The World From the Side of the Moon, and in his drive to maintain integrity and creative control he’s found himself in the welcoming company of some of rock’s most respected figures. We caught up with the singer/songwriter to discuss a few of those, as well as what the future holds for the bright young star. – Crave Online
Demi Lovato sizes up ‘X Factor’ Final Four – Demi Lovato, who was the judge/mentor of the Young Adult group and who hasn’t been afraid to take on Cowell whenever she felt like it, has seen all of her acts exit the show. So we turned to her for an impartial assessment of the singers who are still standing. – Read more at USA Today
