American Idol News

posted by AINews on Aug 31

The agent selling a Seattle home where “American Idol” contestant Sanjaya Malakar lived concedes he’s using the “Sanjaya card” to market the property.

The house — a five-bedroom, one-bathroom split-level built in 1963 — is where Malakar called home for two years while in high school, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.

Its musical connection goes beyond “Idol” chatter. Chad Quist, the fiance of Malakar’s mother, is a professional musician who played with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin’s old band.

“We’re going to be moving to Hollywood in October,” Malakar’s mother, Jillian Blith, told the Post-Intelligencer in a phone interview from New York, where the American Idols Live Tour ‘07 was playing.

Realtor Dennis Fletcher, who once worked with Quist writing radio and TV jingles, said he expects to put the house on the market for $360,000 Sept. 4.

Fletcher plans to include an autographed photo of Malakar on the listing flier, and will run similarly-themed house ads in local newspapers and magazines, among other things.

“I’ve probably spent, so far, about $2,500, $2,600,” Fletcher said. “It’s marketing for me, too.”

posted by AINews on Aug 30

Former “American Idol” contestant Jessica Sierra is in a rehab program, her attorney told a Florida judge hearing her battery and cocaine possession case.

The charges of battery and possession of cocaine against Sierra, of Tampa, Fla., stems from a confrontation with a patron in a nightclub.

Her attorney, John Fitzgibbons, told Judge Gregory Holder that Sierra entered the program in July in California and was expected to be in rehab for several months, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported Wednesday.

“I believe this is in her best interest,” Fitzgibbons said. Outside of the courtroom, he wouldn’t specify Sierra’s exact problems but said the comprehensive program covers drug and alcohol abuse, and other issues.

Holder rescheduled Sierra’s trial for November.

posted by AINews on Aug 29

Fox has announced the former American Idol finalists Clay Aiken and Kellie Pickler will both compete in special celebrity Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? episodes that will air on Thursday nights during the November ratings sweeps period.

Additional celebrities who will be appearing on the Mark Burnett-created game show’s November episodes will include Live with Regis and Kelly host Regis Philbin; Access Hollywood correspondent and former Grease: You’re the One that I Want host Billy Bush; skateboarding star Tony Hawk; and Miss America Lauren Nelson.

Similar to Burnett’s recently announced celebrity The Apprentice edition plans, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?’s celebrities will be donating all of the money they earn to charity.

New episodes of Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? will air on both Thursday and Friday nights this fall, beginning with a special two-hour episode on Thursday, September 6 at 8PM ET/PT.

posted by AINews on Aug 23

Ryan Seacrest says he’s a tad nervous about serving as host of the Primetime Emmy Awards telecast in Los Angeles, People.com reported Wednesday.

“I’m scared because it’s a room full of actors who probably hate me,” Seacrest said Wednesday during his morning radio show on KIIS-FM in LA.

The “American Idol” emcee said he isn’t going to let that get in his way, though.

“I’m going to have a good time hosting that thing,” he promised.

Dick Askin, chairman and chief executive officer of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences — the group that hands out the awards — said he hoped Seacrest will “serve as a magnet for attracting a diverse array of viewers to our Emmy telecast.”

The 59th Annual Primetime Emmys is scheduled to air Sept. 16 on Fox.

posted by AINews on Aug 23

“American Idol” finalists Elliott Yamin and Constantine Maroulis will share a stage in Los Angeles during an episode of CBS’s “The Bold And The Beautiful.”

Maroulis, aka record promoter Constantine Parros on the daytime serial, will be joined by cast members Mackenzie Mauzy and Kyle Lowder, CBS reported Thursday. The concert is linked to the online contest “Boldface Challenge” that ran in early August.

During the concert, Yamin will perform his single, “Wait For You.” Joining the ‘Idol’ alums on stage will be singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin, who will perform “Beautiful Disaster.” while Maroulis will cover Celine Dion’s hit “Falling Into You.”

Yamin was a contestant on season five of “American Idol,” finishing in the top three before being eliminated. Maroulis was eliminated after making it to sixth place during season four.

posted by AINews on Aug 21

Ryan Seacrest of “American Idol” is hosting next month’s Emmy ceremony.

Seacrest’s appeal is expected to be a “magnet” that pulls viewers, especially younger ones, to the awards show on Fox, Dick Askin, chairman and chief executive officer of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, said Monday.

The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 16.

Last year’s Emmys, hosted on NBC by Conan O’Brien, drew about 16.1 million viewers, the second least-watched Emmy telecast since 1991. It aired unusually early, in August, to make way for NBC’s National Football League telecast.

The awards ceremony rotates among the four major broadcast networks.

The Emmys were to have even more of an “Idol” touch, with two of the talent show’s executive producers, Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, producing. But they withdrew from the job earlier this year, citing their demanding schedules, and veteran producer Ken Ehrlich stepped in.

HBO’s recently departed “The Sopranos” is the most-nominated series with 15 bids, while the made-for-TV movie “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” has the most nominations, 17, for all programs.

Cutting-edge shows such as “30 Rock” dominated the comedy series category, with “Ugly Betty” leading the charge with 11 nominations. Fox may also be hoping that another hot new show, NBC’s “Heroes,” proves an Emmy draw for advertiser-favored young adult viewers.

posted by AINews on Aug 21

Nashville star Travis Tritt credits soul great Sam Moore for hooking him up with “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson.

Jackson produced Tritt’s new album, “The Storm,” the country artist’s first release on his independent Category 5 label. The two met when Jackson produced a duet between Tritt and Moore on the latter’s most recent album.

“When I came out of the vocal booth, Randy was looking at me kinda strange,” Tritt recalls. “I said, ‘What did I do wrong?’ He said, ‘Man, I’ve been listening to you for years. I just had no idea you had such blue-eyed soul in your voice,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, well, I do that.’

“He said, ‘Man, if you ever want to do an album where you focus a little more on that side of it, I’d love to work on it with you.’ That’s what got it started.”

“The Storm” features guest appearances by Charlie Daniels and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, as well as a cover of Hank Williams Jr.’s “The Pressure is On.” Tritt co-wrote one track, “What if Love Hangs On to Us,” with matchbox twenty’s Rob Thomas.

posted by AINews on Aug 20

Nearly three months after her crowning, sixth-season American Idol champion Jordin Sparks has officially signed a recording contract.

The 17-year-old Glendale, AZ native will cut her debut album with 19 Recordings/Jive Records. Jive is part of the Zomba Label Group, a division of Sony BMG. 19 Recordings is part of 19 Entertainment, the company founded by Idol creator Simon Fuller.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the partnership with 19 Recordings and Jordin Sparks as the first Idol winner to make her home at Jive,” said Barry Weiss, CEO and president of Zomba. “Her poise, her amazing vocal ability, her relentless optimism has been apparent to millions of fans all around the world. We’re honored to have this burgeoning worldwide superstar on Jive Records.”

Jive is scheduled to launch Sparks’ first single “Tattoo” on August 27 for radio airplay, with plans to drop her debut album in November.

“Jordin is a terrific young singer who has found a great home at Jive,” said Sony BMG chairman Clive Davis. “[Weiss] and his successful team know how to patiently nurture career artists, and Jordin Sparks hints of a legacy and longevity waiting to be fulfilled.”

Sparks can currently be seen performing on Idol 6’s summer tour, which is scheduled to come to an end September 22 in Manchester, NH. In addition, she’s also scheduled to appear on Fox’s The Teen Choice Awards on August 26.

posted by AINews on Aug 9

Many singers labor through their “American Idol” tryouts, but one singer was in labor at the Dallas audition site.

Hair-stylist Antornia Gillon, nine months’ pregnant, went into labor as she waited with 3,500 hopefuls at Texas Stadium, Fox News reported Thursday. The 20-year-old, however, was undeterred.

“I didn’t want to turn around after being there all those hours in the heat with people pushing,” Gillon said. “So my friend helped me walk through the line. I wasn’t going to leave without singing.”

Once in the audition room, the performer “gave it my all through the contractions. They were back to back and getting harder and harder but I was more than willing to have my baby right there,” Gillon said. “I wasn’t leaving without my golden ticket to the next round.”

A judge offered a chair to Gillon during Monday’s audition. When the ambulance arrived, Gillon refused to leave, saying she wasn’t finished.

Upon hearing she was still in contention, she was taken to a nearby hospital, where she had a boy, Jamil Labarron Idol McCowan. Gillon’s second child arrived early Tuesday, weighing six pounds, seven ounces.

posted by AINews on Aug 9

New York-based “American Idol” finalist Constantine Maroulis wanted to be diverse on his debut album, “Constantine.”

“Anyone familiar with my run on the show knows I like to do a lot of different styles,” says Maroulis, who finished sixth in “Idol’s” fourth season in 2005.

“It’s rooted in rock ‘n’ roll, but I like ballads, I like pop, I like this, I like that. “I just tried to make a feel-good rock ‘n’ roll record with good songs that are radio-friendly and is diverse from song one to 12.”

Maroulis has been busy since his run on “Idol.” He’s appeared on Broadway in “Rent” and “The Wedding Singer” and has a recurring role on the TV soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

He also started his own record company to release “Constantine.”