Mariah Carey is reportedly in negotiations to sign on as an American Idol judge. Sources are saying that the singer wants it and that “she’s seen what America’s Got Talent has done for [hubby Nick Cannon] and thinks it will be a good career move.” Even though her reps are saying that there is nothing to report, I actually like this possibility. She’s got better chops than Jennifer Lopez but I’m not entirely sure that replacing one diva with another one would be smart. However, I have a feeling that Mariah would be as fun to watch as Paula Abdul.
As they say, misery loves company. Not only does Crystal Bowersox have to deal with losing out to Lee DeWyze as this season’s American Idol, the singer now also has to deal with a broken heart. The runner up revealed that she and her boyfriend Tony Kusian have decided to split. Crystal shared “[My boyfriend] Tony, he went home. He wasn’t cool with the lifestyle. We’re both logical, grown adults. He’s a small town guy and it’s fine. But I’m a small town girl but I want this. I want this more than anything — this career, this lifestyle. I didn’t think he was up for it. He didn’t think he was up for it. It’s kind of tough at times but you get used to it and we’re all happy. Some days are more fun than others. But it’s been hard to find friends out there. I want to keep it low key. I don’t need the attention. He’s been amazing. He stuck it out through this whole thing.” I’m sure Crystal will be able to bounce back.
It’s inspirational week on American Idol with Alicia Keys serving as the mentor. The theme for the week was to go in line with Idol Gives Back. Casey James sang ‘Don’t Stop’. Lee DeWyze took on ‘The Boxer’. Tim Urban sang ‘Better Days’. Aaron Kelly did ‘I Believe I Can Fly’. Siobhan Magnus took on ‘When You Believe’. Michael Lynche sang ‘Hero’. And finally, Crystal Bowersox sang ‘People Get Ready’. Pretty predictable choices for most of the aspiring singers but I wasn’t really all that inspired. It really makes me question how the heck these people got on the show in the first place.
Adam Lambert has a new song out called ‘Voodoo’. The song is actually featured on international versions of the American Idol alum’s album ‘For Your Entertainment’. The 28-year old singer linked to the song on his Twitter and shared that “Song will be released soon in US on [Whataya Want From Me] & [For Your Entertainment] Remix EP!” Adam also shared that the track was co-written with Australian artist and producer Sam Sparro. If you’re a fan of Adam, make sure that you catch him on VH1’s ‘Unplugged’ tomorrow to hear acoustic versions of his hits. I wonder what his cover song will be.
Taylor Hicks is still starring in the national tour of ‘Grease’ as ‘Teen Angel’ and he doesn’t seem to have any other musical prospects in sight. Are we sure that this is the guy who won American Idol? I would say that he’s a pretty poor guy but at least he’s working. That’s more than what I can say for the other aspiring singers that were on the reality TV competition show and just disappeared into obscurity the moment they were booted off. But then again, I’m not really sure if being ‘Teen Angel’ is something to really boast about.
American Idol alum Adam Lambert is speaking candidly about his past drug use with the media opposed to pretending that part of his life never occurred. The singer said “I went wild and I was experimenting with certain substances… At 26 I started running with hippies, going to underground events, I was really drawn to that crowd, everyone embraced each other’s differences. It didn’t get to the stage where it ruined my life or where it was anything too serious but it was definitely something I tried. There are certain drugs out there that are really fun and recreational and can mean a good time. I’m not an advocate for drugs but it is all rock and roll and we are all adults.” That’s definitely not something that you would want to hear from someone that you look up to.
It seems that she didn’t even get a good chance to get famous and already Fantasia Barrino is getting a taste of the more bitter parts of fame. The singer apparently received a very hateful letter recently from a supposed security guard at Fox during the third season of American Idol when Fantasia Barrino rose to fame. Among the more colorful messages contained, the following stands out: “Go back where you came from and die.” Ah, such prices stardom has! They probably didn’t include stuff like this in the job description when Fantasia Barrino signed up for American Idol. Actually, this is one of those ever-so famous perks of being famous. Happy days await!
Who would have thought that Simon Cowell is a fan of Miley Cyrus? For whatever reason, the mean American Idol judge likes the Disney star enough to pick arguably her most popular song as the musical selection for the X Factor finale. Simon chose Miley’s ‘The Climb’ to be sung by the four remaining contestants, each will perform a rendition of the tune for the show. However, insiders say that the song choice has two older contenders nervous as they fear that the song, clearly meant to attract a younger audience, means that one of the two younger contestants are more likely to win.
Singer David Archuleta’s parents are splitting up! I can’t say that I’m surprised after his dad was busted in that massage parlor sting earlier this year. James Jeffrey Archuleta has filed for divorce from his wife of over 20 years, Lupe Marie. The couple have 5 kids together, including the American Idol alum, 3 of which are minors and they’ll share joint physical custody. They are divorcing due to irreconcilable differences. The couple actually filed for divorce back in 2002 but after David placed first in the Star Search competition, they reconciled. It sounds like they’ve been having problems for a while now.
Jennifer Hudson is going to host a holiday music special shot in her hometown of Chicago called ‘Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas’. The one hour special event on ABC will take viewers along with the American Idol alum as she “relives her childhood Christmases with musical performances shot on location at the small neighborhood church where she brought the congregation to its feet week after week; the music academy where she studied; and other Chicago sites.” There’s no air date yet for the singer’s show. I’m excited to hear what she’s going to sing. It’s only October but Christmas is already a hot topic!
American Idol champ Carrie Underwood has been selected as one of three musicians that will be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame this year in September. Is Oklahoma that starved for musicians to honor? The country singer is still pretty young to be inducted into a Hall of Fame. But in any case, she already is pretty deserving of that accolade. She’s already achieved so much in her short career and we all know that there’s more to come from her in the future. Carrie joins keyboardist Rocky Frisco and vocalist Ramona Reed. Congratulations to all the inductees!
We’ve all seen this scenario before: latest it-thing rises to sudden massive stardom, it-thing spends newfound wealth all in one place, new it-thing comes along, people lose interest in former it-thing, has-been it-thing goes bankrupt. I’m not saying that Adam Lambert is headed towards that fate but with reports that the singer is looking into buying some property in our current economy, he needs to be warned to invest wisely. The American Idol alum recently said “I think I’m going to buy a house. It’s a little ways off. I’ll probably wait until the end of the year. That’s exciting to me, to have a home.”
Kelly Clarkson is still being hounded with rumors that she’s a lesbian. In a recent interview, the 27-year old original American Idol said “I’m actually extremely flattered when I get hit on by girls I think that’s hot but I’m not into it. I prefer boys. All these rumors don’t help on the dating front though!” The singer also talked about her weight as pregnancy rumors have also started hounding her, saying “Unless immaculate conception is back in, I’m not pregnant. I have nieces and nephews which is pretty cool because you get to give them back but I’m not about to have my own kids just yet.”
David Cook and David Archuleta visited the Philippines last week but before they were allowed to perform in the country, they were politely asked by Philippine health authorities to have themselves checked for the swine flu. The director of the quarantine bureau, had official go to the boys’ hotel and arrange a mandatory health check, one they should have had when they arrived at the airport. The two American Idol alums were even reminded that they could be arrested if they did not cooperate, so they did. Part of the briefing after the examination was a reminder to keep a distance of six feet from other people, how to identify flu-like symptoms and to use hand sanitizers.
Former American Idol finalist, MICHAEL JOHNS will be performing his new single “Heart on My Sleeve” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show next Monday, May 25th. The Aussie vocalist will be releasing his first post-Idol solo album, Hold Back My Heart on June 23rd. Encouraged by his mentor David Foster, who invited Johns to appear on his star-studded David Foster And Friends PBS special in December 2008, Johns chose the road less traveled, and for the first time in his adult life, went to work on an album with no deal in place. “Foster always said that the secret of his success is to look at whatever lane is open in the music industry and take it,” Johns recalls. “And the way my record combines old and new, I could open for Alicia Keys one night and John Mayer the next, it’s right in the middle.” Songwriter Diane Warren, who penned the knee-buckling ballad “Heart Is Weak,” was another key endorsement. “There’s nothing more validating than having these heavyweights behind you,” says Johns. “It’s like screw winning American Idol when people like David Foster and Diane Warren are saying you have the real thing here.”
With an album completed and ready to turn in, Johns had the rare freedom to shop it around, and when Downtown Records, home to Gnarls Barkley, Cold War Kids and Santigold, showed interest in a licensing deal, he jumped at the opportunity to finally control his own fate. “I think we’re in the most exciting period of music ever, because there’s so many ways to do it,” he says. And like most of his plans thus far, Johns is thinking big for his future. “The live show is going to be great,” he says excitedly. “I might even take it old school with different bands in different towns — almost like what Chuck Berry and all those guys used to do.”
Tune in to see Michael Johns on The Ellen DeGeneres Show next Monday, May 25th. Check your local listings for times.
“HEART ON MY SLEEVE” audio embed code:
After an 11-year battle with brain cancer, Adam Cook, David Cook’s older brother, has passed away. David announced the sad news about his 36-year old brother this past Sunday at the Race for Hope 5K fundraising race in Washington DC which raised money to support finding a cure for brain cancer. The singer said “Like everybody here, I’m affected by this disease. I actually lost my brother yesterday to a brain tumor and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else right now. I lost one today, but I gained 9,000, and I will be here every year that they will have me.”
Audrina Patridge is apparently a big fan of American Idol. And who does she want everyone to vote for? Adam Lambert of course. The Hills star blogged “For those of you avid American Idol fans, I just wanted to remind you guys to tune in tonight to vote at 9 p.m. on FOX! One of the contestants, Adam Lambert, is a close friend of mine and he’s one of the most talented and sincere people I know — he definitely has my vote 
” Audrina even posted a picture of her and Adam which was taken at his birthday party at West Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont.
The American Idol contestant apparently soared through the idol meter this week due to his rendition of “The Tracks of my Tears” by Smokey Robinson. But then again that was the judges’ assessment too so it’s no big surprise. It looks like Adam Lambert is holding the victory torch for this week. It would be very ironical for him to trip and take a nose dive next week, but then again, that might just be what the judges are keeping up their saves for. Still there might be a slight bond forming in daddy-Cowell’s eyes for Adam Lambert… after all, the judge did call him the best performance of the night.
American Idol comes up with the darnedest things. Why trade cards of your favorite athletes when you can collect and trade all of your favorite Idols? The singing contest is dipping into the trading card business by releasing a line of trading cards through baseball card giants Upper Deck on April 21st. The cards will come in packs of 5 with 138 unique cards featuring Idol contestants and hosts with six special packs including autographed cards of past Idols. Honestly, who would buy these things, especially if the cards would feature the biggest Idol rejects and fallen Idols? This is just a waste of paper.