Terre Haute’s Adam Cook travels to see brother compete on ‘American Idol’
It was a dream come true for a Terre Haute man as he and his wife left a cold and blustery Hulman Field on their way to California on Sunday.
Wearing a Valparaiso University Law sweatshirt and a navy baseball cap, and waving to friends and family, Adam Cook, with the help of a cane, boarded the Leer jet that would take him almost 2, 000 miles to watch his brother, David Cook, attempt to become the next American Idol.
The trip nearly didnt happen.
Adam Cook, 36, is undergoing chemotherapy for his second diagnosis of brain cancer, which has spread to his spine. A plan to travel to California to see his brother perform was grounded earlier in the week when Adam doctors told him he could not fly commercially in his condition.
Stupid changes introduce problems for ‹Idol
Considering its long-standing status as television’s 900-pound gorilla, you’d think that “American Idol” would have no problems just sitting on its laurels and cursing the need to purchase yet another bill counter to handle all the money pouring in. Add a well-timed writers strike putting the kibosh on its scripted competition and it seems like the show would be content to simply do what it’s always done just the way it’s always done it.
But the current season features the most substantial restructuring since “Idol” began. Despite the show’s longtime attitude of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it (and if it is broke, people will still watch, so don’t fix it then, either), ” there have been countless changes to both the presentation and the competition itself.
Carly Smithson – An Undiscovered Idol?
A tattooed Irish coleen with blue eyes, black hair and a voice to die for is causing a huge stir in the USA on hit show American Idol. Simon Cowell sure aint no fan of Carly Smithson, but we were back in 2003 when she won a Meteor Award. Undiscovered talent you say? Hmmmm…
‘Idol’ fave Johns isn’t the only one ‘shocked’
It’s American Idol clockwork: First the unexpected ouster, then the speculation.
Michael Johns’ elimination last week drew surprised reaction, from the Internet to the water cooler to the singer himself.
“I would be lying to say I wasn’t shocked, ” Johns said in a conference call Friday. “I hadn’t been in the bottom three, and I thought the last two to three weeks have been my strongest. But we’re in the competition and stuff can happen.”
That “stuff” has stirred Idol buzz, drawing more attention to TV’s No. 1 show. (Thursday’s results show, on what is usually a non-Idol night, drew an uncharacteristic 20.1 million viewers, the lowest since a 2005 “worst auditions” special.)
*Now* it’s a party: Marcia Brady, Whitney Houston’s ex & me
Also went to hear Carrie Underwood do her sound check for tomorrow night’s CMT Awards. Amazing fact about Carrie: She can walk and chew gum at the same time! In fact, she can walk, chew gum and sing her hit “All-American Girl” at the same time, too! She did it today. (A lot of artists chew gum to cut down on their saliva.) I like her pretty flatter hairstyle. If she were taking applications for people to comb her hair, I would totally apply!
My best new gal pal, Diana DeGarmo, was there, looking fabulous. She updated me on her meeting Dolly yesterday. She was all excited. She and I will chat more tomorrow. You and I will, too. Riight now, I’m pooped. You know I’ve got to be. After all, I can’t even muster the strength to go hang out with Bobby Brown.
Underwood, Urban worth ticket price
Carrie Underwood screamed to a Bryce Jordan Center crowd Saturday night that there were more people present in the arena than living in her hometown.
She then launched into “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore, ” a song about her modest Oklahoma beginnings.
Although there were a few empty seats for Underwood and Keith Urban’s Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride tour stop at the BJC, more than 10, 000 people were in attendance, and it was hard to take one’s eyes off stage while the delightful duo served up excitement and enthusiasm during a nearly four-hour show.
Business calendar
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
Minneapolis Urban League’s 82nd annual dinner. 5:30 to 7 p.m., Hilton Hotel, 1001 Marquette Av., Minneapolis. $80. Call Sylvia Loveless Amos, 612-302-3102. Donna Brazile, founder and managing director of Brazile and Associates, Washington, D.C., and chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute, is the keynote speaker. Former Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton will be mistress of ceremonies, and American Idol finalist Paris Bennett will provide entertainment.
