American Idol News

posted by Administrator on Jul 1

Simon Cowell had stated Kristy Lee Cook’s odds of winning American Idol’s seventh season were “one million to one,” but that hasn’t prevented her from inking a record deal.

The 24-year-old Selma, OR native has signed a recording contract with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville, and her debut album is currently scheduled to drop this fall.

“I’ve wanted this for so many years. To have the chance to be a country singer — to make the music I love — and to have enjoyed the support of so many American Idol fans this past season, it all means more than I can put into words,” said Cook. “Thank you so much to everyone. I’ll do my best to make you proud!”

Cook is the third seventh-season Idol finalist to have a recording contract signing announced, following in the footsteps of champ David Cook with 19 Recordings/RCA Records and runner-up David Archuleta with 19 Recordings/Jive Records.

Similar to RCA Records and Jive Records, Arista Nashville is a label that operates under the Sony BMG umbrella.

“Simon Cowell told Kristy Lee Cook on American Idol that she is a country singer. We definitely agreed and followed her very closely during the season,” said Sony BMG Nashville Chairman Joe Galante. “We have been anxious to get her into the studio. Kristy Lee will be very relatable to the country audience and is destined to have hits.”

Of course, while Cowell did say Cook was a “country singer,” he didn’t say she was a particularly good one. During a Larry King Live appearance in April that featured Cowell and fellow Idol judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, Jackson was the one who thought Cook would make a good country recording artist.

“I don’t think she’ll win but I think she definitely could have a recording contract somewhere down the road,” said Jackson during the appearance. “She’d definitely make a good country girl.”

“The trouble is, I mean, she does sound okay doing country music,” retorted Cowell. “She’s just not a great country singer, that’s the problem. It’s all about being invisible and forgettable.”

Cook subsequently finished seventh during Idol’s seventh season. She then revealed she had been engaged to boyfriend Andy Dobner since March 15 but decided to keep it secret because she “just wanted to focus on music and American Idol.”

While Cook is currently participating in the American Idol Live 2008 tour, she is also working on her debut album with producer Brett James between stops.

Her first single — “15 Minutes of Shame” — is slated to hit the radio on August 11.

posted by Administrator on Apr 18

By Joal Ryan

Kristy Lee Cook’s American Idol run was marked by a number of stays in the bottom three and, as it turns out, a secret engagement.

Cook’s boyfriend popped the question in the sauna of her Idol apartment on March 15, days after she survived her first elimination round as a finalist.

The country-inclined singer was able to share this detail with reporters Thursday because she did not survive Idol’s latest elimination round Wednesday night.

After an especially Byzantine results show, Cook, 24, was revealed to be the odd singer out, exiting in Mariah Carey week with the inaptly titled “Forever.”

“I was kind of upset that I went home because I thought I was getting stronger and stronger,” Cook said. “I thought [”Forever”] was my best performance so far. I thought I had at least another week in me.”

Read the Full Article >>>>

posted by Administrator on Apr 17

The praise of Mariah Carey couldn’t rescue Kristy Lee Cook from elimination on “American Idol.” The 24-year-old resident country singer from Selma, Ore., was the latest casualty as the Fox sing-off narrowed the competition to six finalists.

Though guest mentor Carey said Cook’s rendition of “Forever” gave her chills, Simon Cowell was not so impressed.

Brooke White and Syesha Mercado joined Cook with the lowest number of votes on Wednesday’s results show. When asked to predict the loser, Cowell said: “Maybe Kristy — you know, your time’s up this time, sweetheart.”

Cook cried but took the eviction in stride. She directed her reprisal of “Forever” to Cowell, who grinned awkwardly.

The telecast also featured performances by “Idol” also-ran Elliott Yamin and Carey, who sang “Bye Bye” from her new album “EMC2.”

By ERIN CARLSON (AP)