posted by AINews on Jun 29
Blake Lewis is apparently ready to pay his fans back for their support during his Idol run with a debut album.
“I’ve been working for such a long time writing a lot of songs in different genres,” Lewis told TV Guide on Wednesday. “The first album is really a testament of who you are.”
Blake has a busy summer ahead as he’s working on his debut album while at the same time preparing for American Idol’s 2007 concert tour, which kicks-off Friday, July 6 in Sunrise, FL and spans 56 dates and 35 states over the course of two-and-a-half months.
Lewis said he hit the studio on Monday, June 18 in Los Angeles to begin laying the groundwork for his debut album, with electronic musician BT already signed on as a producer, according to TV Guide.
“I just recorded my first track last night,” Lewis told TV Guide. “I’ve already written seven songs.”
In addition, Lewis said fellow beat-boxer Doug E. Fresh — with whom he performed a memorable duet of the rapper’s 1986 hit “The Show” during Idol 6’s finale — is currently “in talks” to beatbox on one of the album’s tracks. However Lewis’ eagerness to perform with others from the industry doesn’t stop with Fresh.
“There’s a couple of emcees I’d like to work with,” he told TV Guide. “I’m going to have four or five people beatbox between tracks.”
Lewis also doesn’t want to just collaborate with some of his musical inspirations, as he’s planning to pay them homage through the album’s sound.
“I’d classify it as electro-funk-soul-pop if you need to label it,” he told TV Guide. “I really love the sounds of the ’80s so I hope to ring some of that back. I’m really inspired by electronic music.”
Lewis told TV Guide his debut album can be expected to drop before the end of the year “because they want it out by Thanksgiving or Christmas.”
posted by AINews on Jun 29
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and finalists Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle join superstar Martina McBride on the live broadcast of the “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® Spectacular.” Jordin, Blake and Melinda will perform one song together in tribute to the Nation’s 231st birthday. Check your local listings to find out where and when.
Then, only two days later, they join the other Top 10 Idols on tour. Find out more about the American Idols Tour.
posted by AINews on Jun 29
InStyle Magazine gets up close and personal with seven popular female artists in today’s music scene to find out what music inspires them, and two of them are American Idol’s own! First up is Carrie Underwood, who tells InStyle that she is inspired by the true pioneers of country music. “In country music, we remember the people who came before us: singers like Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton. It is awesome for me to have a chance to honor them—they are the reason I’m here! Growing up, I listened to their old 45s on our record player all the time. It was great to see strong women doing so well—and to know it was possible to become like them.”
The original American Idol and two-time Grammy winner, Kelly Clarkson, is featured in the issue next to Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, both pictured with their mouths agape, which seems to have become Steven’s signature pose. Kelly tells In Style, “[Tyler] is the ultimate rock icon. I remember being completely enthralled the first time I heard ‘Dream On.’ Steven has the perfect voice, but I have no idea how he keeps it. He came to my show once—it was the first concert of my tour—and I tried to impress him. I ended up throwing my voice out. At my next gig I sounded like Janis Joplin.”
posted by AINews on Jun 29
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has announced that the American Idol fourth-season champ has been voted the world’s sexiest female celebrity vegetarian for 2007, an honor she was also given in 2005.
“I quit eating beef when I was about thirteen,” said Underwood. “I do it because I really love animals and it just makes me sad. I don’t like to watch commercials where they have meat. It weirds me out.”
In addition to living a meat-free lifestyle for more than a decade and sometimes sporting a “V is for Vegetarian” shirt at concerts, PETA also recognized Underwood for rescuing stray animals.
Along with Underwood, PETA named Tonight Show with Jay Leno band leader Kevin Eubanks the world’s sexiest male celebrity vegetarian for 2007. Both were recognized by the animal rights organization after “tens of thousands of votes” were cast via PETA’s website. American Idol second-season champ Ruben Studdard was also in the running against Eubanks for the male honor in 2007.
posted by AINews on Jun 29
American Idol 2006 winner Taylor Hicks rocked through Atlanta Thursday night. He hit the Southern Star Stage at Six Flags performing before hundreds of fans.
The gray hair Hicks has been touring since February promoting his most recent self-titled album.
The road is nothing new for the Alabama native. Long before American Idol fame came calling, he was hitting the roads all across the southeast, playing in bands since he was 19 years old. He adds that touring back then has prepared him for the lifestyle now, a lifestyle that includes performing at night, sleeping during the day from time to time, and plenty of time of the open road.
While some past contestants of American Idol have been quick to abandon their ties to the show, not so for Hicks. He says he understands what a great opportunity performing on American Idol in front of millions was, and he continues to learn more and more about it each day.
From here, Hicks continues the tour, a tour he describes as high impact soul aerobics, a modern day approach to soul. Next month, Hicks the artist turns into Hicks the author. He’s got a new book coming out called ‘Heart Full Of Soul’. In it, he tells how a gray haired guy beat the odds, finding his own voice and seizing the opportunity when it came his way. He’ll be back in Atlanta on July 24th at the Barnes & Noble on Cobb Parkway to promote it.
posted by AINews on Jun 28
During last night’s BET Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, American Idol’s Jennifer Hudson took home best actress and best new artist honors for her portrayal of powerhouse singer Effie White in Dreamgirls.
“I can’t believe I’m still winning awards!” exclaimed Hudson upon being named best actress, according to People.
Hudson has claimed numerous awards — from the Golden Globe and Oscars to the Screen Actors Guild and British Academy of Film and Television Arts — for her portrayal of White.
In addition to taking home two awards at the annual BET ceremony, Hudson also performed a duet of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” with Jennifer Holliday, who first recorded the Dreamgirls song following her Tony Award winning role in the Broadway musical in 1981.
posted by AINews on Jun 28
It’s shaping up to be a busy summer for recently crowned sixth-season “American Idol” champion Jordin Sparks, who’ll be juggling preparations for her debut album with her participation on the Fox mega-hit’s 2007 summer concert tour, Reality TV World informs.
“Nothing can prepare you for what happens afterwards,” Sparks told “Entertainment Tonight” on Tuesday about life following her Idol win.
“I still can’t believe it is actually happening. It has been great. I asked for it, and I am so glad I got it,” she added.
Beginning next week, the 17-year-old Glendale, AZ-native will embark on the show’s American Idol 2007 concert tour that will span 56 dates and 35 states over the course of two-and-a-half months.
Flights between tour locations and Los Angeles will be the norm for Sparks this summer, and while she’s confident her stamina won’t fail her, she’s hoping the same can be said for her talent that won over the Idol audience.
posted by AINews on Jun 27
A new rumor has come out. “American Idol” champ Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis might have a little romance going there. They have denied it time and again of course but AOL’s Celebrity website TMZ.Com still dares to go there in a report from the newsroom on Friday.
They note that the unlikely but kinda of cute would be couple Jordin and Blake have been looking awfully cozy in the afterglow of their “American Idol” glory, The National Ledger informs.
The website report notes that a TMZ spy spotted the “Idol” finalists “holding hands” while shopping at a Fry’s Electronics store near Los Angeles. The report claims that the spy dished that they did what couples do, they wandered around the store, unmolested, and seemed “happy” together.
posted by AINews on Jun 25
Just a month after “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks was showered with confetti on the Kodak Theatre stage in Los Angeles, the top-rated Fox series is gearing up for Season 7 auditions, USA Today informs.
San Diego, a first-time audition site, will kick off the seven-city tour July 30. New audition cities Omaha, Charleston, S.C., and Philadelphia join Dallas, Atlanta and Miami on the tour, which last year attracted 100,000 hopefuls, according to Fox estimates.
“We do like to see America,” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says of the annual search for vocal talent. Smaller cities, such as Charleston or an earlier site, Greensboro, N.C., “produce some wonderful stuff.”
The tryouts will start a week earlier than last season because producers also will be conducting auditions for a new Fox reality series, “The Search for the Next Great American Band.”
“Idol” will hold most auditions indoors, save for Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego and Dallas’ Texas Stadium, which has a partly covered roof.
“Idol” producers will narrow each city’s field to 300 to 400 of the best and worst singers. Lythgoe and co-executive producer Ken Warwick will then cull to about 120 per city to sing to judges Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
Producers want to find a way to make sure more good singers make it through the initial auditions and the Hollywood round and into the final 24, according to USA Today. Auditions are open to 16- to 28-year-olds as of July 28.
SAN DIEGO AUDITIONS
WHO: Men and women 16 to 28 years old on July 28, 2007 and eligible to work in the United States. Restrictions apply – please go to Americanidol.com for specifics.
WHEN: Monday, July 30
WHERE: Qualcomm Stadium
9449 Friars Road
San Diego, CA 92108
LINEUP: Wristbands will be given out from Saturday, June 28 (starting time TBA), until 8:00 AM on Monday, July 30. Auditioners will not be permitted to camp out; therefore, once they obtain their wristbands, they will be asked to return to Qualcomm Stadium on Monday, July 30. Additional information will be available on Americanidol.com.
Auditions will continue in the following cities:
Dallas, TX: Monday, Aug. 6 at Texas Stadium
Omaha, NE: Friday, Aug. 10 at Qwest Center
Atlanta, GA : Tuesday, Aug. 14 at TBA
Charleston, SC: Saturday, Aug. 18 at North Charleston Coliseum
Miami, FL: Wednesday, Aug. 22 at AmericanAirlines Arena
Philadelphia, PA : Monday, Aug. 27 at Wachovia Center
Season Seven of AMERICAN IDOL premieres in January 2008 on FOX.
posted by AINews on Jun 23
It’s been a good week for American Idol album sales, as reported by USA Today.
They were up 10%, while most Idols enjoyed increased figures. Once again no Idols made the Billboard top 10, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Daughtry led the pack at No. 13, down from No. 12. But he sold 56,000, up 4%, for a total of 2.78 million, American Idol UNofficial fan site says.
Similarly, Carrie Underwood dropped 16-22 on the chart but registered a 2% sales increase, to 41,000, to bring her total to 5.66 million.
Fantasia Barrino is the only charting Idol to drop in sales: She’s off 7% to 7,100 and falls 97-116 on the chart. Her sales total is 413,000, making it likely that she’ll eventually hit gold, though.
Kellie Pickler climbs 128-122 on the chart, with a 12% gain to 6,700 and a total of 559,000. She could end up outselling Taylor Hicks and wind up as the season’s No. 2 seller.
Mandisa has the No. 1 single in the country with Only the World; it sold 1,900 copies, down from 2,000.
