June 2006 News Archive (Page 2)

Fans of hip hop legend Snoop Dogg were stunned Saturday by the appearance of American Idol winner Taylor Hicks at one of the Doggfather's concerts.

Unbeknownst to fans until they saw him in person, Hicks joined the rap star on stage and played harmonica to one of Snoop's signature tracks, "Gin and Juice," at the Birmingham (Ala.) City Stages festival.

Hicks also performed some of his famous dance moves later in the rapper's set. The Alabama native was thrilled to share the stage with the rap mogul.

"I have the greatest respect for Snoop Dogg as an artist, but also as a family man, a businessman and an integral part of pop culture," he said. "Rap music has the most advanced lyricism there is. Rap is real. There's nothing pretentious about it. I'm very excited about appearing with Snoop. I think it's great."

Could their be a duet on the horizon for these unlikely friends? Probably not. But we'd like to see it. The two share such undeniable chemistry. Please send any bootlegs from Saturday to us immediately. We have got to hear this.

It may seem impossible to believe now, but TV Guide reports there was a time when no one wanted to hear Elliot Yamin sing.

"I was always loud, interrupting my mom on the phone or my brother doing his homework," the 27-year-old Virginian said. "I would annoy everybody."

Not anymore. The third-place finisher on Season Five of American Idol, Yamin actually placed fifth in an AOL poll ranking the best Idols of all-time.

In just a few weeks, Yamin transformed himself from a loser with a bowl cut and goofy grin to everyone's favorite underdog. His health issues - partial deafness and diabetes - inspired millions with similar conditions.

Elliot's mom, Claudette, summed it up when she saw her son dressed in white in the May 22 edition of TV Guide: "Elliott looks sexy."

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Taylor Hicks has always been a charmer... even way back in the day when he had brown hair.

At least according to Brooke Kelley Campbell, who dated the American Idol star and took him to her senior prom at Hoover High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Hicks' former girlfriend reflected on her time with the newest Idol singing phenom in an interview with People Magazine.

"Taylor was a fashion guy and he wanted to make sure that he matched my gloves and all that. My dress was green, and his tux was like a crisp green and navy plaid," said Campbell, now 29 and married, living with her husband and 18-month-old son in Roswell, Ga.

At the prom, Hicks was the center of attention, showing some signs of the choreography that helped him shine on American Idol, where he edged out Katharine McPhee to win the fifth season's top honor.

"[Taylor] was such a good dancer. He did what he called the 'Carlton Dance,' from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," Campbell said.

The singer's romance with Campbell lasted well after prom, as the pair dated for about a year. Hicks even went on a family vacation with her to Highlands, N.C., during that time.

"My mom thought he hung the moon. He was one of those guys that, if he was coming to pick me up to go somewhere and I wasn't quite ready, he would sit down in the den with my parents and just talk and talk and talk," Campbell said. "I would come in and say, 'OK, it's time to go. C'mon, Taylor, let's go.'"

It was also hard to drag him away from the basement of one of his friends, an early performing venue for Hicks.

"Taylor would be playing music, and that is just where we would go. Taylor was right in the middle of it. We all went over there because there was going to be entertainment, and Taylor happened to be the entertainment," Campbell said.

Some things never change.

Katharine McPhee can't go anywhere without causing a stir these days.

People Magazine reports that after attending a recent Broadway show, the 22-year old starlet was mobbed by tourists. McPhans, if you will.

"I try to look at it as, well, we're all hot right now, but let's remember that this is a dog-eat-dog business and it could all go as fast as it came. I just keep that in mind," McPhee said.

Humility is healthy, but it's doubtful McPhee will be fading from the spotlight anytime soon, with a new record contract under her belt and two singles -- her original song "My Destiny" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" -- coming out on June 27.

She will be on tour with her fellow American Idol finalists beginning July 5. Katharine is also going to begin working on her full length debut album soon.

"Definitely, it'll be pop," she told People regarding her upcoming CD at the Brooklyn, N.Y., launch of the new Princess Cruise luxury liner. "It'll be on the radio, on the Top 40 charts hopefully." Stay tuned.