Singer Jessica Sanchez Joins All-Star Line-up For PBS’ NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT – WASHINGTON, May 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — PBS’s NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT welcomes Jessica Sanchez this Memorial Day weekend to perform “God Bless America” at the annual tribute honoring the service and sacrifice of all our men and women in uniform, their families at home and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The concert will air live in HD on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, May 26, 2013 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) before an on-site audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. American Idol winner, Candice Glover and The Voice alum, Chris Mann are also set to perform – Read more at The Wall Street Journal
Candice Glover tweets an update on her debut album, “Good morning. I’ll be in the studio recording my second single tonight :) I’m so excited. I hope you guys enjoy your day!” She’s also in the process of picking songs for her album, “In a meeting picking songs for the album :) I have so many favorites!” and “listening to some of the songs I picked yesterday ^_^”
Kelly Clarkson is working in the studio on her next album. She posted an update: “In the studio with @shanemcanally and friends recording :) Seriously, Nashville musicians are so talented and just cool people. Today is an awesome day. Can’t wait for y’all to hear this stuff!”
OFFSTAGE: Kree Harrison’s Top 10 Reflections – Now that American Idol is over, runner-up Kree Harrison’s country career is about to begin. She’s back in Nashville, ready to make music, and talked to me about all things Idol and beyond. On how she felt when her name wasn’t called: “It was a win-win situation either way. And I got to perform my single at the finale. I couldn’t ask for anything better than that.” – Read more at CMT
VIDEO: Was American Idol’s Angie Miller as Surprised as Viewers Were By Her Elimination? – “I never knew the amount of work that went into a two-hour show on Wednesday and Thursday,” she admits. “I’d like to see a past American Idol contestant [on the panel], so that they really understand what this process is really like and what we do during the week — someone who gets it.”
Read more at TV Guide
Here’s a fun fact. THR reporting that Demi Lovato’s latest single “Heart Attack” was recorded by Pia Toscano for her debut album on Interscope – The X Factor judge Demi Lovato is No. 14 on the Hot 100 with “Heart Attack,” a song that peaked at No. 10 in April. If you listen carefully, you can hear an Idol’s vocals on the track. The song was previously recorded by Pia Toscano and intended for her debut album. But Interscope abandoned the project, so the album was never released and the song went to Lovato, who recorded her vocals over the original track. – Read more at The Hollywood Reporter
Tom Cruise Praises Pia Toscano After American Idol Alum Sings National Anthem at Kings Game – A source tells E! News that Cruise went up to Toscano in the Chairman’s Room in between first and second periods to congratulate her on her performance. “He said, ‘You’re an amazing singer. You were awesome. That’s not an easy song to sing,'” our insider tells us.
Toscano herself was able to keep a memento of her run-in: She posted an Instagram pic of the two of them, along with the caption, “So great meeting @tomcruise at the @lakings game :)” – Read more at EOnline
Randy Jackson: Why He’s Leaving ‘American Idol’ – Golodryga caught up with Jackson at the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., where he’s meeting the troops and donating guitars from his home shopping network guitar collection. “You know, a bit of what I’ve done on ‘Idol’ for 12 seasons is that same sort of thing. I love inspiring people,” said Jackson. His response begged the question of why, then, Jackson would give up being on the show now. “I don’t think it’s a ‘Why give it up now?” Jackson said. “I just think that I’ve been through a lot of iterations of the show.” He added, “It was definitely a little hard to take” when the original judging group disbanded, “Because we rode to the dance together. And we made the dance what the dance was.” – Read more at Yahoo.com
The Elvis Presley Family Supports Potential Sale Of CORE Media’s Majority Estate Stake – As we reported earlier this week citing the Financial Times, CORE Media Group is exploring a sale of Elvis Presley Enterprises as well as Muhammad Ali Enterprises. There had been no official comment on the potential sale until now. Deadline has obtained exclusively a statement from the Presley family about the development. “Our family enjoys a strong working relationship with CORE and is supportive of their process,” the statement says. “Lisa [Marie Presley] will maintain her interest in EPE and ownership of Graceland Mansion and looks forward to whatever opportunities enable the best long-term interests of the family.” – Read more at Deadline
Exclusive: Usher Says Michelle Chamuel Will Win ‘The Voice’ – Speaking exclusively to Yahoo!’s Reality Rocks at Beverly Hills’ Montage Hotel the day after this week’s “Voice” results show, Usher gushed about Michelle, saying: “I’m in love with her! I think I have an incredible artist, and I’m gong to continue to nurture her…I think she has what it takes to go far beyond what ‘The Voice’ is doing, so to start by catapulting her career with ‘The Voice’ would be incredible.” – See the Video at Yahoo Music
‘The Voice’ Alum Josiah Hawley Faced A ‘Difficult’ Battle – “I think it’s tough when I’m introduced as the model,” Hawley revealed to MTV News. “Automatically that makes people have assumptions and then they’re viewing you in a different way. It’s very difficult. As the show progressed, they were able to show more of who I am, more of just, my life.” Hawley received tough criticism on his last live performance on Monday night, taking on Coldplay’s “Clocks.” Levine and Shakira both felt the song was too lofty a choice for the pop rocker, although Hawley has no “regrets” about his decision, “Honestly, I feel good about the whole process. Like I’m bummed to have left the show, that’s a bummer, I really enjoyed working with Usher and I really enjoyed all the people.” – See the Video at MTV
Derek Hough likely to leave ‘DWTS,’ strut his stuff elsewhere – As Derek Hough basks in the glow of having won his fourth “Dancing With the Stars” mirrorball trophy, this time with Kellie Pickler, there’s a lot of backstage buzz at “DWTS” that the talented performer will again exit the show — likely this time for good. “Derek has always wanted to eventually get back to the stage or other kinds of TV projects and even films,” said a veteran “Dancing” insider. “I know he’s had lots of offers. This seems like the right time for him to pursue all that.” – Read more at the Chicago Sun Times
‘Nashville’ TV show looks to build audience – ABC’s “Nashville” ended its first season on Wednesday with a serious cliffhanger, leaving the lives of two major characters dangling in the balance. But the cliffhangers aren’t all on the screen. Though ABC announced earlier this month that the country music industry drama — set and shot on location in the real Nashville — will return for a second season, few other details regarding Season 2 have been announced, including whether production will resume in Nashville. – Read more at The Tennessean
The Bachelorette Premiere First Look: This Guy Thinks He Has the Key to Desiree’s Heart – It’s not The Bachelorette without some awkward and uncomfortable interaction between the Bachelorette and a contestant right out of the gate! In this exclusive clip from the season premiere, Desiree is introduced to a guy who thinks he has a smooth plan and the key to her heart. Turns out, it’s just a room key and a letter asking her if she wants to go directly to the fantasy suite with him. Her response is simply priceless. – Watch the Video at E Online
Mark Burnett on ‘Voice’ Win Over ‘Idol’: ‘It’s a Kinder Show’ (Exclusive) – “Amazing. Absolutely amazing,” Burnett said in an interview with TheWrap. “I felt that in the first three seasons the audience had gravitated toward ‘The Voice’ mainly because it’s a kinder show. There’s no humiliation on it. I feel that that’s very, very important with audiences. And also our coaches are very, very current in their careers. I feel like it’s become young America’s favorite show.” Burnett also explained why he’s avoided making ratings predictions about “The Voice” and “Idol.” – Read more at The Wrap
