September 2006 News Archive (Page 3)

Denis Fedorov, brother of former American Idol finalist Anthony Federov (pictured) has died of cancer at the age of 28, American Idol Worship has learned.

Condolences can be posted on his official website. Below is what Anthony, 21, wrote about big brother Denis:

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Hey everyone. I am sorry that I have not posted anything for a while. I have been very busy trying to help my family.

I want to thank each and every one of you for all of your prayers and good wishes and you have been sending my brother's way. Unfortunately our prayers were not answered. My brother passed away last night around 11:30 pm. The funeral will take place on Tuesday.

All I ask is that you pray for him on that day so he can be happy and healthy in his next life. I want you to know that our family will be alright and we will get past this. We are very strong and the love that is in our family, will get us through this.

The most important thing now is that Denis is not hurting. That's the one thought that will always keep a smile on my face. I want you all to smile with me. Let's not mourn his death but let celebrate his life that he lived.

I will keep you guys updated and I'll be putting together a concert in his memory. As soon as things clear up a little bit, you will know all the details. Once again, my entire family and I send you nothing but love and gratitude for all of your support.

LOVE YOU ALL,
ANTHONY

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American Idol Worship would like to take this opportunity to send its condolences and prayers to Anthony Fedorov and his family. May Denis rest in peace.

In the second installment of a two-part interview on Good Morning America, Clay Aiken clashed with Diane Sawyer for asking him whether he is gay.

"I don't understand why you want to know. I don't understand why it's any of your business. At some point, [the question] becomes just really rude, you know?" he said Thursday.

Clay Aiken has, sadly, been the subject of gossip about his sexuality ever since he became a star on American Idol in 2003.

Sawyer went right after him, asking at the top of the interview if he was "ready to come out and say you're gay."

"That would not make sense for me do to that," Aiken said.

"You think I'm rude for asking?" Sawyer asked.

"I've gotten to a point where I feel it's invasive. Forget it. What I do in my private life is nobody's business anymore, period. I don't think you're rude because I figure people have a job to do," replied Aiken, whose album, A Thousand Different Ways, was released this week. "I just don't understand why people care, to be honest with you. anymore... This is a waste of my time."

Sawyer's questions, understandably, drew criticism from Clay's fans and gay groups.

"Media speculation about people's sexual orientation is not something we support," said Damon Romine, an official of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). "Coming out is a very personal, private decision that needs to be made by the individual."

GMA viewers also expressed their outrage at the treatment of the former American Idol star and global humanitarian.

"A person has a right to his or her privacy," one viewer wrote on the GMA message board. "Clay is trying to preserve this. I agree with him. What difference does it make?"

"Clay Aiken seems tired and beaten down by this issue," wrote another viewer. "People with no lives buy into the media speculation on his sex life ... Now, Mr. Aiken sees this is a no-win."

Seriously, can't people leave Clay alone? This is a man who gives so much back to the world. If he were gay, that wouldn't change any real fan's opinion of him. More importantly, it's no one's business but his. Personal privacy is a basic desire, and one Clay certainly deserves.

He was the North Carolina boy who made it big on American Idol.

But for Clay Aiken, who opened up to ABC's Diane Sawyer in the first part of an ongoing interview this week, fame came with a price.

"Clay, don't take this the wrong way, but I prefer you when I shut my eyes," said Idol judge Simon Cowell to Aiken after one performance.

It was one thing to smile through the brutal verbal barbs fired off by Cowell, but yet another to be Clay Aiken this past year.

The tabloids have taken aim at everything from his sexual orientation to his mental equilibrium. The late-night comedians have launched a non-stop assault, making jokes that were initially funny to Aiken, but eventually took their toll.

This year, Aiken moved back home to Raleigh, N.C..

"I need to get out of Hollywood," he said.

The geeky, skinny kid who was bullied by his classmates is no stranger to tough times. He experienced the trauma of his sister's suicide and has worried about his brother, a Marine currently fighting in Iraq.

"I always prided myself on the fact that I was able to handle this on my own, pray about it, talk to my family, talk to my friends, and just get through it, you know, being tough," Aiken said.

But eventually the fame and ferocity of public inspection started to take a physical toll when he walked into a public room. He often felt like he was going to have a heart attack when he would make public appearances. So Clay decided to talk to his doctor.

"I said, 'Listen, here's the, here's the thing. I don't understand why I feel like I'm gonna have a heart attack when I go into these rooms. I don't get it," he said.

Continue Reading...

Well, sort of. Read on.

If you've ever wanted to witness the ramblings of American Idol judge Paula Abdul up-close and personal, well, now you can... and for a good cause!

A new eBay auction promises an all-inclusive trip for two to meet the Idol judge in all her amazed, inspired, sometimes indecipherable glory.

The VIP package includes first class airfare to Los Angeles, transportation via limousine, accommodations at the five-star Peninsula Hotel, two $1,000 AmEx gift cards, and tickets to a live taping of American Idol, followed by a meet and greet with the pint-size pop star and TV personality.

Bids are starting at $25,000 with all proceeds going towards The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. The auction for this important cause ends September 24.

Be forewarned, however: The winner is required to sign a waiver "absolving all parties of liability for potential injuries, loss or harm which may be incurred."

Huh? We've always thought Paula was kinda scary, sure, but apparently she's even more dangerous than we ever imagined! At least Simon Cowell probably stops at berating people.

If you think the Thursday TV lineup already has too many can’t-miss shows scheduled at the same tim, don’t finish programming your TiVo just yet.

According to the L.A. Times, Fox is openly dangling the possibility of moving American Idol to Thursdays when the show comes back in January.

Wasn’t this season already insanely competitive enough? Starting this week, ABC’s gutsy move of Grey’s Anatomy to 9 p.m. Thursday will set off a fierce ratings battle with CBS’ hit whodunit, CSI.

But Fox Entertainment President Peter Liguori said he believes that the top three networks could still profit with their respective No. 1 series airing on the same crucial night -- maybe even at the same time.

“When you have a number of great shows on the same night, the audience expands,” Liguori said last week, openly broaching the possibility of a regular Thursday slot for Idol when it returns in January.

Fox isn’t ready to commit, and in fact, it may not nail down plans until Christmas rolls around. Is it all just Idol speculation? Maybe.

After all, Fox made similar rumblings about moving its singing contest to Thursday last year and never did it, although the gossip helped knock NBC off stride: The network waited to move My Name Is Earl to Thursdays last season until it was sure Fox would not put American Idol on that night.

But Fox is, again, openly mulling the risky move for TV’s most popular show this year. It shows how crazily competitive the business is becoming, with no firmly entrenched leader among the adults aged 18-49 demographic group that advertisers covet (CBS has for years been No. 1 in total viewers, a distinction that means little on Madison Avenue).

By moving American Idol, Fox could conceivably control the most lucrative ad time in prime time -- and also foil rivals’ efforts to dominate that night with their own top shows. Suffice it to say, we'll be following Ryan Seacrest (pictured) and company wherever they go.

The big day is here.

As Clay Aiken fans and much of the music world know, his third album came out today.

A Thousand Different Ways features four original songs and 10 covers. The original songs are titled “Lonely No More,” “These Open Arms,” “Everything I Have,” and “A Thousand Days.” That proportion may be disappointing to those who hoped his first record in two years would be full of new music, but surely Claymates will eat it up.

In a press release, Clay said he and his producer “started out with one or two covers,” and then “slowly discovered that it’s harder these days to come by songs that are as superb as the songs that I grew up on.” He also says “this new album has much more of me in it.”

The first single is "Without You." Writers of the four new songs include Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson, Jeremy Bose, Aldo Nova, Samuel Waermo, Mimmi Waermo and Aiken himself.

Clay appeared on Good Morning America today, performing a few songs and doing an interview, then will appear on GMA again Wednesday and Thursday for an in-depth interview. He will sing on The View on Friday, come back to GMA for a song and interview on the 24th, then hit ET on the 26th, along with Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Once again, Kellie Pickler brings us her thoughts. On her tour, her new album, and on life. What could be better? In her previous journal entry, Kellie wrote about experiences on tour with her fellow Idols. In her latest diary entry, written for USA Today, she talks about recording her upcoming CD as well as maintaining her small-town appeal.

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Hi again! Since I last wrote, we have traveled from city to city every night singing our hearts out and living out our dreams. We have toured in cities from New York all the way to California, and it is not over yet!

In the meantime, on our days off I have been in the studio trying to finish up the album, which comes out October 31. I just recently finished my first single, Red High Heels, which is a really sassy, upbeat song.

I am so excited about my single going to radio! While we were on tour in Texas I autographed 200 red high heels so we could send one to all of the radio stations along with the single. I felt like I was in heaven surrounded by all of those shoes!!

As far as the songs on the album, I have helped write a lot of them, so they are all very personal to me. I can relate to all of the songs ... it's almost like the album is an open book of my life. I have tried to put as much of myself into creating this album as I can.

I just decided that I wanted the album to be called Small Town Girl, and it's really neat because the first song I wrote is called Small Town Girl.

Aimee Mayo, a songwriter in Nashville, and I sat up until about 4 am writing this song. It talks about how much fun it is growing up in the country, in a small town.

Plus, I want all of my fans to know that I am still that same small-town girl that they voted for on American Idol. The album consists of songs that are fun and upbeat, and then there are songs that are about being in love and getting your heart broken. There are what we call girls' anthems as well as guys' anthems.

I can't wait to get it on the shelves, I think that is when it will really set in. I must say that I didn't realize how much time and hard work it takes to make an album. It’s been a blast in the making!!!

Xoxo Kellie

Allow AIW to officially put smaller venues throughout the eastern U.S. on notice. You may find your phone and online ticket systems crashed by eager Claymates.

We're talking, of course, about our man Clay Aiken and his scheduled holiday appearances with local symphony orchestras. Below are the dates. Look up the contact info for these venues and inquire about tickets -- more info can be found at Clay's official fan club site.

Also, be sure to pick up Clay's new album tomorrow (as if we had to remind Clay Nation)!

12/02/06
Star Plaza Theatre
Merrillville, IN

12/04/06
Turning Stone Casino
Verona, NY

12/05/06
Bergen PAC Center
Engelwood, NJ

12/06/06
Lyric Opera House
Baltimore, MD

Continue Reading...

American Idol's second season winner, Ruben Studdard, and the first season runner-up, Justin Guarini, will be taking part in a mini-tour in Texas the first week in October. The tour will be called, fittingly, "Superstar Idols Live!"

The concerts will be sponsored by several Texas radio stations. Joining Ruben and Justin will be Olivia Mojica (Season 2), Anthony Federov and Lindsey Cardinale (Season 4), Kevin Covais, Brenna Gethers, Will Makar and Melissa McGhee (Season 5), along with the incomparable William Hung.

Here are the dates and ticket info:

San Angelo, TX
October 3, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Foster Field Stadium
Tickets: $25-90; 325-942-6587 or Etix.com

Laredo, TX
October 4, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Laredo Veterans Field
Tickets: $25-90; 956-723-BASE or Etix.com

Edinburgh, TX
October 5, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Edinburgh Stadium
Tickes: $25-90; Etix.com

Corpus Christi, TX
October 6, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
Concrete Street Amphitheater
Tickets: $35-85; Ticketmaster.com

Beaumont, TX
October 7, 2006
Beaumont Civic Center
Tickets: $30-50; 409-833-7747 or Ticketmaster.com

Well, not on screen anyway! Rumored to be under consideration for the movie role of Wonder Woman, apparently Katharine McPhee doesn't want to don the tiara and gold wrist-cuffs after all.

The American Idol star tells Entertainment Weekly that doing the iconic superhero role would be "a huge mistake," and that she's not going to be some "slutty female" when she poses on the cover of Shape magazine this fall.

The songstress thinks that the prospects for "Wonder Woman" aren't very good, and that the production is in an incredibly early stage anyway.

Wonder what Katharine's high school friend, Rachel Bilson, who is rumored to be in consideration for the role as well, thinks about that!

She hasn't ruled out a photo spread later on if things don't quite work out, however. "If my career's going downhill, then I'll do Maxim or FHM," she jokes.

McPhee, 22, also says that any suggestion that she skipped the first three weeks of the American Idol tour are false, and that her new record will surprise her fans.

"People in the industry are hearing about what I'm doing, and they're really surprised, and I like that," she said.