July 2006 News Archive (Page 2)

Having recovered from a severe bout of bronchitis and laryngitis, Season Five runner-up Katharine McPhee is finally set to join the American Idols Live tour today.

Doctors ordered the 22-year-old California cutie to rest her voice completely since she was diagnosed at the beginning of the month, but several public sightings of McPhee over the past few weeks have cast doubt -- probably unfairly -- on the legitimacy of her illness.

McPhee has been photographed several times with boyfriend Nick Cokas, who has been serving as her de facto interpreter. She also came under attack for her decision to attend a photo shoot on July 6, the day after the tour began without her.

Then it became known that Katharine, along with Cokas and others, is producing a new Broadway play entitled Red Herring, written by Michael Albanese.

Personally, we aren't sure what the big deal is. If Katharine is using her downtime to focus on her other interests, so be it. As for rumors that her condition was not as serious as she let on? Keep in mind, people, that McPhee battled an eating disorder for years, then sang her heart out on American Idol for months. That combination would certainly be enough to wreak havoc on one's vocal chords, wouldn't you say?

With all the American Idols, past and present, in the news these days, we've taken it upon ourselves to spotlight the one who got away.

Mario Vazquez.

That's right. You may remember the Bronx, N.Y., native as the one who sent the Idol universe into shock when he voluntarily left the show's fourth season, citing personal reasons. This came right as it looked like Vazquez was a lock to make the finals and maybe even make a run at the title. His prompt exit enabled Nikko Smith to return for Top 12.

While the personal reasons have yet to be explained, Vazquez has moved on and landed a record deal with BMG chairman Clive Davis, according to Newsday. Some have theorized that he simply didn't want to get tangled into a super-restrictive record contract that success on the show carries. One current example of this is the inability of Chris Daughtry's former band's to display a picture of him on their website.

But regardless of his reasons were, Vazquez is making his move now.

His first single, "Gallery," a sweet soul ballad written by Ne-Yo, is already climbing the charts in both English and Spanish, having debuted on the Hot 100 at #99, as well as hitting #50 on the Pop 100 and #34 on the Pop 100 Airplay. His debut album is set for release August 29, according to Vazquez's official site, and is packed with producer firepower from the likes of Scott Storch, Soulshock and Luny Tunes.

"[Vazquez] has a voice and charisma that we've been trying to find for a long time," Davis says of the 28-year-old Vazquez.

But his fans already knew that. If Mario is able to build success without jumping through all the show's procedural hoops, he may have pioneered a new path to lasting Idol brilliance.

Clay Nation is getting restless.

At least some members are, according to various blogs. Fans are wondering why their favorite Idol has been absent as of late. While it's true that our main man Clay Aiken hasn't been in the news too much lately, although he's got at least several good reasons. Not only is he busy with his foundation and other charities, but Clay has been working on his new album, the follow-up to his 2003, double-platinum smash hit, Measure of a Man (right).

Dick Hodgin, a partner and producer at Osceola Music in Raleigh, N.C., reports that Aiken was recently recording some vocal tracks at Osceola.

"And we got a keeper vocal on Sunday," Hodgin said.

There's been talk of a fall release for Clay's as-yet-untitled third full-length CD, but his official site is still vague on the release day, and it it looking like it may not hit stores until the end of the year, if not in early 2007.

Two years ago, Absent Element won a local battle-of-the-bands contest.

The prize, according to the News-Observer, was a gig at the Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek, a chance to play early on a Saturday morning during a ticket-sales promotion in Raleigh, N.C.

"We'd been under the assumption we'd be on the side stage inside. Instead, we wound up outside, no stage, in the parking lot. But whatever, it was a little closer to the stage than we'd been a couple of years earlier. And I'd still be there if I hadn't been on the show," recalled that band's lead singer, a young man by the name of Chris Daughtry.

The McLeansville, N.C. rocker probably won't be playing any parking lots anytime soon after his run on American Idol, which a lot of people thought he should have won. Instead, he was surprisingly voted off May 10 and settled for a fourth-place finish.

While Taylor Hicks went on to claim the big prize, Daughtry has had plenty of good things come his way since that defeat. He's on the American Idol concert tour right now alongside Hicks, as well as fellow North Carolina natives Kellie Pickler (Albemarle) and Bucky Covington (Rockingham), and other Season Five finalists. On Sunday, July 30, the Tar Heel trio will have a homecoming of sorts when the show rolls into Greensboro Coliseum.

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Mark it on your calendar, fans.

November 14 will be the day of reckoning -- as well as a day likely to see heavy record sales across the U.S. American Idol winner Taylor Hicks will face off against two of his formidable counterparts from the Fox series once again, as his debut album is released right alongside the efforts of runner-up Katharine McPhee and the always-giddy, newly-signed Kellie Pickler (pictured).

Not only will this mark the first time that Idol finalists have shared a release date, but all three will be crooning for RCA Music Group, having been signed by Idol creator Simon Fuller.

Along with Chris Daughtry (also signed by RCA), the three artists have been all over the news and the digital downloads charts already, so the November release date will be an interesting test of who has the biggest fan base. Unless fans just want to buy all three CDs of course. Good luck to all.

He was in a movie with her, but every American Idol fan knows that Justin Guarini is no Kelly Clarkson. The more appropriate question is, why?

The guy can clearly sing. Yet he has achieved little commerical success compared to his Idol peers. Upon completion of the show, he was cut by his label, RCA, and got virtually no promotion for his self-titled debut album, Justin Guarini, released back in 2003.

That album was followed by Stranger Things Have Happened, produced and released by the label Justice Entertainment. The fact that his movie with Clarkson, From Justin to Kelly, tanked so hard also didn't do him any favors. Not that the movie -- universally panned by critics -- was his fault (Kelly even derided the picture as a contractual obligation, nothing more), but the guy can't seem to catch a break!

Justin makes occasional TV appearances and is still working on his music, but he hasn't had a lot of luck since the original American Idol season. A runner-up finish has proved good enough for the likes of Clay Aiken, Bo Bice and others -- why not Justin? Is it because he rid himself of his trademark afro? Is Kelly just too big? Why has be fallen off the face of the Earth? What do you think?

NOTE: American Idol Worship would like to apologize for its previous remarks about Clay Aiken that some fans have taken exception to. While it was never our intent to disparage Clay, we realize that our attempt at humor was in poor taste and we would like to formally apologize to both the singer and his legions of fans.

It has been suggested by one fan that we highlight Clay's charitable work, and it is our pleasure to give the 27-year-old his due.

Apart from his music career, Clay has dedicated himself to education and children's causes across the world. Few people can match his amazing record of giving and we feel all American Idol fans should be made aware of it, as he is helping make the world a better place.

His interest in autism issues led him, along with Diane Bubel (whose son Michael is autistic, and was tutored by Aiken), to found the Bubel/Aiken Foundation (BAF), which supports the integration of disabled children into the life environment of their non-disabled peers. The BAF, which was given a $500,000 grant from the U.S. government, runs summer camps which reflect this mission, and also presents awards to volunteer efforts of children with physical and mental disabilities.

Aiken has often donated his time and voice to benefit events and concerts, including the 2004 Rosalynn Carter Benefit, the America's Promise Benefit, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and the "Arthur Celebrity Audiobook (Stories for Heroes Series)," which benefits the BAF and other charities.

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Katharine McPhee, the runner-up in the recent season of American Idol, will be the co-producer of a play that will run during the 10th annual New York International Fringe Festival, Playbill reports.

Along with Nick Cokas (who also happens to be McPhee's beau), Robert Hawk, Angelina Bruno and Jeff Kasal, McPhee will be presenting Red Herring, a new play by Michael Albanese. Jonathan Silverstein will direct the production, which will run at Manhattan's Connelly Theatre from August 12-26.

About her decision to co-produce Red Herring, McPhee said she was drawn to the project immediately after reading the script.

"As soon as I read this play, I knew it was something that I wanted to be a part of. Audiences know me best from American Idol, but my passion has always been theatre. So much quality work comes out of the Fringe Festival," she said. "Artists can take real risks and challenge convention. Michael has written a beautiful play that is thought provoking, entertaining and fresh. I am thrilled to bring this incredible play to this year’s Fringe Festival."

Thomas Jefferson Byrd, a Tony nominee for 2003's production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, will be featured in a cast that also includes Take Me Out’s Shane McRae. The creative team comprises Matt Hodges (scenic design), Tara Hawks (costume design), Lucrecia Briceno (lighting design) and Emily Wright (sound design).

According to press notes, Red Herring is set in Death Row, with two men separated by a wall. The play seeks to answer the question of whether an unlikely friendship can defy limitations and keep hope alive for men in desperate situations, while also exploring the levels of forgiveness, fear and compassion between fellow human beings.

McPhee has been following doctors' orders and resting her voice for the past few weeks while her fellow American Idol finalists tour the U.S. Hopefully she can rejoin them soon, but at least she's putting her down time to good use!

The winner of the fourth season of American Idol, Carrie Underwood, is scheduled to perform will perform on "CMA Music Festival: Country Music's Biggest Party."

The show will air tonight, at 9 on ABC. Country music's new "it girl" will showcase her outstanding vocal talent and down-home charm along with the likes of Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, Hank Williams Jr., Wynonna Judd and other country stars.

Also performing tonight? Southern rock icons Lynyrd Skynyrd, who have been gravitating to the sounds of Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson and other country acts these days. It's not like the Skynyrd of old was averse to country music, the band says, just that back in the day, the line between country and rock was more pronounced then.

"What country music is these days is pretty much what Lynyrd Skynyrd has been for the last 30 years," frontman Johnny Van Zant said. "We've done shows with Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr., Montgomery Gentry. We just got off the road with Gretchen Wilson."

Sadly, Carrie's closest Idol competition and devout Skynyrd fan Bo Bice will not be in attendance. At least we haven't heard otherwise.

President George W. Bush will come face-to-face with American Idol winner Taylor Hicks and the other Top 10 finalists from this past season at the White House Friday.

It will be the first time contestants from the Fox hit television show have been invited to meet the president.

Hicks won the fifth season and was given a guaranteed record deal after 63 million votes were cast for him in the May 24 finale. That's more than the 59 million that Bush got in 2004, which is a little frightening. Not because the Idol winner got more votes than the U.S. President, but because 59 million people actually pulled the lever for the guy in the Oval Office. Astounding.

Voters can cast more than one ballot on American Idol, of course. Also attending the White House reception will be runner-up Katharine McPhee, who has been on the mend, along with Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler -- all of whom were recently given record contracts as well.

While all the Idol participants will be warmly received in Washington, the top dog may get an extra-special welcome. The Boston Globe reports that Hicks has a personal White House connection in Susan Whitson, his ninth-grade English teacher at Hoover High School in Birmingham, Ala., and Laura Bush's current press secretary!