February 2007 News Archive (Page 8)

It hasn't been an easy season already for Paula Abdul. People are accusing the American Idol judge of drunken, irresponsible behavior.

But she can handle it.

"People are being mean, but I can take it," she told Entertainment Tonight's Jann Carl Sunday night at the Grammy Awards, right before former Idol winner Carrie Underwood won a paid of awards. "You know I am a warrior. I am on a show that is the biggest show in history, practically. It is crazy. People are going to try to make things up and look for things, but I love what I do, and I am going to keep on doing it."

Abdul says her 20 years of experience in the business have given her the fortitude to handle the ups and downs of this volatile industry. And she is facing the adversity with a positive attitude, standing up for herself and rising above it all

"You take it with what you are given," she continues. "Knock on wood, I am on a show that I absolutely love and adore. What comes with that is a whole lot of controversy. I am good at weathering the storms and the controversy."

A major fan of Elliott Yamin at Entertainment Weekly has previewed his latest single, "Movin' On." Here's the review:

Thankfully, Elliott's in great voice on lead single "Movin' On," a kiss-off to a fickle lover that could just as easily be interpreted as a message to all those major-label execs who failed to snatch him up after his third-place finish on American Idol's fifth season.

The song's got a '70s, smooth-jazzy vibe that vaguely reminds me of "Just the Two of Us," but I don't think it would be totally out of place on today's pop radio, either. All in all, a very wise choice.

Sad news for American Idol fans:

Season 5 finalist Bucky Covington and his wife Crystal, a nurse, have separated after seven years of marriage. In a statement issued through his record label, Covington said: "This is a difficult time for both of us and I would ask that everyone respect our privacy."

The couple has no children.Covington, who won fans over with his unapologetic country-boy style, released his first single, "A Different World," in January and has a debut album due April 17.

No, seriously.

Here's part of a press release from Dreyer's Slow Churned regarding its American Idol-themed product:

Watch out Idol fans, five new contestants are taking the stage and vying to be cream of the crop! Dreyer's Slow Churned is debuting its first-ever AMERICAN IDOL ice cream flavors. Ice cream lovers are urged to cast votes for their favorite flavors - offering glitz, glam and Hollywood fun for the whole family.

The toughest Idol competition this season may be on freezer shelves: will Choc 'N Roll Caramel melt the hearts of Americans or will Hollywood Cheesecake strut its way to victory? Perhaps it will be the smooth groove of Soulful Sundae Cone that steals the spotlight. But, don't rule out the melodious trio of Triple Talent and watch out for the cool sounds and hot moves of Take the Cake - basking in confetti sprinkles.

David Luner, SVP Interactive and Consumer Products, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, North America, licensor for AMERICAN IDOL added:

"We're always looking for fun new ways to engage fans of the show and this campaign is a perfect fit. You can't get much more popular than AMERICAN IDOL and ice cream. Put the two together and you've got a real show stopper!"

So there you have it, fans. Put aside the stress of deciding betwee Sundance Head and Paul Kim for a moment. There are other, yummy choices to be made.

It's time for our friends at TVGuide.com - Kimberly Caldwell and Rosanna Tavarez - to discuss the current season of American Idol. Let's see what they have to say ...

TVGuide.com: Was it just me, or was Week 4 a little bit stronger? They seemed to offer us more warblers to watch, to keep an eye on.
Rosanna Tavarez: Yeah! I have a feeling they were listening to some of the grievances that some people had, about listening to too many bad auditions. It was a welcome respite from previous weeks. I was enjoying it, though. I know a lot of people were over it, but I laughed through most of them. I really liked "the belter" [Lakisha Jones, pictured, who sang Aretha Franklin's "Think"].
Kimberly Caldwell: I feel like Week 4 completely and totally faded into Week 3, and I don't remember anything from this week. [Laughs] You know what I'm saying? They're all starting to look the same, and no one is standing out anymore. They're showing little clips of the good people, and then 20 bad people. But Tami Gosnell is probably one of my top two as of right now, with Sundance Head.

TVGuide.com: I was reading one blog that said Tami perhaps should lose the lip piercing, because it might turn people off. What do you think of that?
Kimberly: Oh, I don't think so at all! The reason people have been so successful on Idol is because they're original, they don't look and conform like everybody else. Ruben Studdard is not the typical American Idol, and neither is Clay Aiken....

TVGuide.com: But maybe in this instance, the issue is courting the vote from middle America, where a "scary" piercing might turn people off.
Kimberly: Right, but you can't change yourself for middle America. If that's who Tami is as an artist, you can't take it away just because it might piss off somebody.
Rosanna: The most important thing is to stick to your guns and know exactly who you are and not try to sell out, just because somebody is telling you the piercing is not going to appeal to certain people. There's always going to be something that doesn't appeal to people.

TVGuide.com: Meanwhile, "rollergirl" Ebony Jointer, I understand, is no stranger to reality TV. She was in one of those Lingerie Bowl things, alongside the likes of Adrianne Curry (America's Next Top Model).
Kimberly: Oh, my god — I was asked to do that, actually. And then I saw what the Lingerie Bowl was.... [Laughs] A bunch of hard-core bitches bringing each other down in hot lingerie? I was like, "No way. Not happening. Never." But Ebony, she was amazing. I don't think she should have gone in there with her two friends, but maybe the reason she did was, subconsciously, she wanted to show the judges how good she was in comparison. Did you notice that she went last?

TVGuide.com: Is your expert intel telling you anything as to why Akron Watson, who received a golden ticket on last Tuesday's show, was "disinvited" shortly after revealing he was once busted for pot? I mean, people with known rap sheets have made it to Hollywood before....
Kimberly: I actually think it's silly. I don't understand why he's being kicked off, when off the top of my head I know 10 [previous contestants] who have been arrested for something or other. As long as you're up front about it, normally they're cool about it. If he wants to audition for Idol and clean up his life and do something with himself, he is probably not able to do that now, because they're not giving him a chance.
Rosanna: Didn't Bo Bice have some [legal] troubles as well? There have been a lot of people whose "dirt" has come out halfway through the finalists' competition, so... I'm not exactly sure why this year is any different from any other year. Yes, an American Idol should be an American Idol and not have any previous offenses, but again, I think it's odd.

TVGuide.com: What has the typical golden-ticket holder been doing these past weeks in preparation for Hollywood?
Kimberly: There's really no way to prepare for Hollywood. When you go there, you have a list of songs you have to choose from, and they're like, "Sing it tomorrow."

Life is good for Chris Daughtry.

Not only does he possess the number-one album on the charts right now - he gets to hang out with a Grammy Award winner.

Here's Daughtry with Carrie Underwood, the latest American Idol champ to earn a pair of Grammy gold trophies. The future couldn't be brighter for both these stars.

American Idol star Kellie Pickler is singing the blues following the news that her father is again behind bars.

A rep for Pickler confirmed to Us Magazine that the America Idol alum’s father is back in prison.

"This information is correct and Kellie is aware of the situation. We have no comment," said Wes Vaughn, Senior Director of Media at SONY BMG.

Clyde Pickler was initially released from a Florida prison last year after serving a three-year sentence for stabbing a neighbor. Currently, Pickler is in a Stanley County, North Carolina jail, where he’s facing multiple charges, including assault on a female, communicating threats, and assault with a deadly weapon.

His wife filed charges last Wednesday, claiming that he threatened her with the following statement: "You know that guy I stabbed in Florida that didn't die? Well it's gonna be different this time because you are going to die."

Pickler is now being held on a $20,000 bond. His next court
appearance will be on February 28.

Meanwhile, Kellie is focusing on her singing career. The North Carolina native is currently scheduled to appear in concert with Brad Paisley in her home state in July.

After the latest round of auditions, and the moving of the competition to Hollywood this week, it's time for a new American Idol Power Poll.

Thanks to our friends at Entertainment Weekly for sharing their following rankings with us ...

1. SUNDANCE HEAD (last week No. 1)
Burly, genial son of '60s hitmaker Roy Head was a bluesy delight delivering ''Stormy Monday'' in Memphis. It's early, but he remains the heavy favorite.

2. CHRIS SLIGH (last week No. 2)
Jack Osbourne clone hooked us from the get-go with his Hasselhoff joke, and his vocal and emotional range on Seal's ''Kiss From a Rose'' proved equally appealing.

3. TAMI GOSNELL (new this week, pictured right)
Brought a soulful magnetism to the Allman Brothers' ''Whipping Post'' and evoked memories of the great Janis Joplin. Still, the Colorado pedi-cab driver could face an uphill climb in the competition, given her makeup-free, slightly androgynous exterior.

4. EBONY JOINTER (new this week, pictured left)
Auditioned with two gal pals, but this leggy lass didn't really need a gimmick, not with a schlock-free ''I Believe in You and Me.''

5. BAYLIE BROWN (new this week)
''Commercial with a capital C'' was how Simon Cowell described this Denise Richards look-alike after her powerful, controlled rendition of Faith Hill's ''Stronger.''

6. SANJAYA MALAKAR (last week No. 4)
Younger half of a potent brother-sister combo tackled Stevie Wonder without sacrificing melody for melisma. With the help of a stylist, there's no telling how far he'll go.

7. PORCELANA PATINO (last week No. 3)
Okay, so she shares a name with a face cream and snagged only 1 percent of Entertainment Weekly's votes in its reader poll, but her rendition of ''Love No Limit'' was the best thing to come out of Queens since Ugly Betty.

8. MELINDA DOOLITTLE (last week No. 6)
It'd take a Grinch not to root for this 28-year-old backup singer, who fought off a mean case of the nervous shakes before her home-run audition of ''For Once in My Life.'' Still, lack of confidence may not look so cute in front of a live audience.

9. JENRY BEJARANO (last week No. 5)
What's this? A 16-year-old who looks like Tyson Beckford's far hotter younger cousin? And who delivered an above-average version of Gerald Levert's ''I'd Give Anything to Fall in Love''?

10. LAKISHA JONES (new this week)
Perhaps the only thing bigger than this soul sister's voice is her appealingly confident personality. Admit it: You got a little misty when she tearfully embraced her daughter after getting a ticket to Hollywood.

11. BRANDON ROGERS (last week No. 7)
His smooth, seductive ''Always on My Mind'' was the lone cause for celebration from Idol's lackluster Los Angeles audition episode; is it any wonder Christina Aguilera and Anastacia brought him along for backup support on their respective tours?

12. PAUL KIM (new this week)
If this big-voiced poolboy loses the breathy affectations that hindered his take on Shai's ''If I Ever Fall in Love,'' he might just get his wish and replace William Hung as the nation's best-known Asian-American Idol — and not a second too soon.

13. RACHEL ZEVITA (last week No. 10)
Brilliantly neutralized Simon's accusation of musical schizophrenia by pointing out that Idol wannabes need to tackle different themes each week. But while she aced the rock, AC, and opera genres, she desperately needs a tutor in Style 101 — and a tweezer.

14. ANTONELLA BARBA (last week No. 8.)
Untrained half of New York episode's ''Jersey girl'' duo proved to be a surprisingly powerful vocalist with a great sense of rhythm on Deniece Williams' tricky ballad, ''Free,'' but is there enough genuine fire beneath that low-wattage façade?

15. SEAN MICHEL (last week No. 17)
It takes chutzpah to point out your resemblance to Osama bin Laden, Jesus, and Fidel Castro, and while his audition sounded weak to me, the dude is shockingly popular in our reader polls. Plus, rumors of his elimination for refusing to submit to a makeover in Hollywood week have kept his buzz going.

16. SHYAMALI MALAKAR (last week No. 12)
Sure, her jazzy take on ''Summertime'' wasn't at Fantasia levels, but at least she did it her way. Not only that, Sanjaya's sister is sassy without being mouthy, and her success would leave Simon regretting that ''nothing unique'' critique.

17. GINA GLOCKSEN (new this week)
Tattooed rock chick was impressive in Hollywood week during season 5, but didn't make the top 24. And while her season 6 audition of ''Black Velvet'' wasn't as vocally impressive, her flirtation with Simon was cute. This year's Melissa McGhee — but with a personality?

18. SARAH KRUEGER (last week No. 9)
She's pretty, she's unassuming, and she gave a lovely rendition of ''Somewhere Over the Rainbow'' at her Minneapolis audition. But three weeks after her initial appearance, the buzz on the curly-haired diva is quieter than a dog whistle.

19. JIMMY MCNEAL (new this week)
His very jaunty version of ''Cupid'' prompted Simon to describe him as ''a little, fun Ruben'' — which isn't the worst comparison in the world. Bonus points for his hilarious exchange with the little girl outside the audition room. Him: ''I'm goin' to Hollywood!'' Her: ''So?''

20. NICHOLAS PEDRO (last week No. 14)
Yet another chap who had Paula salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs, but his ''Fly Me to the Moon'' proved he's more than a handsome face. Still, after botching his lyrics and bailing during season 5's Hollywood round, his guts remain a question mark.

Robyn Troup beat out thousands of other hopefuls last night and found herself on stage with Justin Timberlake at the Grammy Awards.

The Houston native won the show's "My Grammy Moment" and belted out a pair of hit songs with the pop star and rapper, T.I.

In an interview before the announcement was made, Troup told The Houston Chronicle that she actually tried out for American Idol this year. Here's the excerpt."I actually did American Idol. I can't really talk about it. You just have to watch this season. Just watch San Antonio."

After her performance with Timberlake on stage, Troup said she couldn't really talk about whether or not she moved on in Idol. Fans will have to tune in this week and find out.

Finally, the Chronicle also asked Robyn about recent concerts she's attended. And Idol was once again part of her response:

"The only concert I've been to since I've been here is Kelly Clarkson. I entered another singing contest. People laugh at me so much. There was a "Kelly-oke" contest for tickets and backstage passes," she said. "I ended up winning. I didn't really listen to Kelly Clarkson, but as soon as I got there, I was like, 'Jesus, she's amazing.' I had to like buy both of her CDs."

When Carrie Underwood picked up two Grammy Awards last night, she underscored the growing impact of the TV talent show that tracks the rise and fall of musical wannabes on U.S. pop culture.

Underwood, the American Idol Season 4 champion, took home the Grammy for best female country vocal performance and best new artist becoming the latest in a growing list of Idol winners to score the music industry's most valued prize.

"This is my first Grammy, hopefully, the first of a few more," Carrie said.

In accepting her Grammy, she thanked God and Simon Cowell, along with various others including record mogul Clive Davis.

Underwood's single, "Jesus, Take the Wheel" also earned a Grammy for Best Country Song, a songwriter's award. The songwriters were Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson.

Kelly Clarkson, American Idol's first winner, took home two Grammys in 2006, while another winner, Fantasia Barrino, scored four Grammy nominations in 2006 and winner Ruben Studdard also received one nomination at the 2004 Grammys.

On the big screen, of course, Jennifer Hudson took home a Golden Globe for her role in the film Dreamgirls and is up for an Oscar for the same performance.

The Grammys even stole a page from American Idol this year: the awards show ran an Idol-like contest to choose a singer to perform a duet with Justin Timberlake on Sunday's telecast.

"We thought we could try a new and fresh element that would speak to the world about the next generation of undiscovered young talent," Neil Pornow, president of the Recording Academy, which hands out the Grammys, told Reuters in a recent interview.