February 2007 News Archive (Page 9)

Jordin Sparks is no stranger to fame. Her father, Phillippi Sparks, played professional football for a number of years.

Family connections remain a significant part of this American Idol hopeful's life - her maternal grandmother, Pam Wiedmann, is the singer's manager.

Sparks auditioned for both American Juniors and Star Search in 2003, before appearing on America's Most Talented Kids twice in 2004 and winning on her first appearance.

Finally, just like other Idols before her - such as Carrie Underwood - Jordin Sparks is a national anthem soloist, performing for various teams, such as the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

On American Idol, Denise Jackson made a name for herself. Literally. She referred to herself as a "crack baby" to Paula, Simon and Randy.

The declaration captivated American Idol's producers. It flabbergasted her family. It made a bystander to the interview cry.

But for Denise - she was telling her truth. The "crack baby" tale is her own. Hers. Just like her singing voice: a rich, soulful sound, untutored and yet knowing, mature beyond her 16 years.

And like her stage presence: so charming, so poised, that it earned the La Follette High School junior nearly four minutes on American Idol, centerstage in what has become a 21st century pop-culture phenomenon.

On Wednesday night, Madison viewers will learn whether their hometown girl is among 24 finalists selected on the show to belt it out in the show's sixth season. Denise already has beaten the odds, rising above 10,000 Idol wannabes in a Minneapolis talent search.

But those odds? Nothing. Not compared to her life, which, at times, has been harrowing. A brutal Chicago ghetto. Drug-addicted mother. Poverty. No father.

There's no guarantee she'll make the cut in Hollywood. In fact, chances are American Idol will send a disappointed Denise Jackson back to Madison this week.

And yet, she could surprise everyone.

She always has.

Hard-knock Chicago life
Denise's grandmother, Elaine White, sent her to school for her third-grade class picture in a ruffly pink dress and patent-leather shoes, overflowing at the ankle in a fluff of lacy socks. In the photo - back straight, legs crossed at the ankle - Denise stares at the camera intently, her lips closed in a determined, solemn smile.

"My grandmother always says, 'You're too serious!,'" Denise says with a laugh, a few days after the airing of her first televised "Idol" audition.

Then her mood darkens. "You know how you're supposed to have a childhood?" she explains. In the Chicago housing project where Denise lived off and on, "You don't really get to have that childhood."

With a mother who was largely absent and a father who vanished before her birth, Denise grew up thinking at times that her eldest sister, Nicole, was her mom.

To read the rest of this Madison State Journal article, click here.

Remember that these American Idol spoilers must be taken as mere rumor at this point.

While we've heard that hopefuls such as Paul Kim and Brandon Rogers are moving on to the top 24, nothing is confirmed yet.

But can you really imagine Jordin Sparks being sent home any time soon? Neither can we. That's why we feel confident posting the following American Idol photos of these future finalists ...

While viewers are developing favorites this season, such as Tami Gosnell and Sundance Head, is there any doubt that an American Idol All-Star show would be a ratings bonanza?

The idea has veen brought up, says executive producer Nigel Lythgoe:

“Yes it has. It’s something that I’m trying to make work this season.”

This is Lythgoe’s idea for an All Stars version: a special with ten former finalists occurring during this season of American Idol.

“They’re talking about doing a song competition on the Web, and have people write songs for the next American Idol finale," he said. "Because whenever they come out and sing a song on the finale, the only criticism Randy Jackson can do is, ‘I don’t like that song.’ That’s not very helpful. They’re going to be putting it out next week and trying to sell it, and here’s you saying, ‘I don’t like the song.’”

Lythgoe continued:

“So the way to do it ... why don’t we let America choose the song they’re going to sing, as well as their Idol? Then, we sort of encapsulate the whole thing. My idea was, okay, well give me ten songs, and I will bring back ten Idol finalists to sing them on a special, and then America can really see them rather than just have them on the Web and download them or whatever.

Let’s see Constantine Maroulis again, let’s see Ace Young, let’s see Vonzell, Tamyra Gray, and all of the great people that we voted for over the years. I’d love to do that. And with good reason at the end of the day for doing it, which is to produce the song that the next American Idol is going to sing.”

So will an American Idol All Stars edition actually happen?

According to Lythgoe: “I’ve pitched it to Fox, and Fox hasn’t come back to me yet and said yes or no.”

We're glad to bring American Idol fans free videos of their favorite past and potentially future stars. Check out Chris Sligh, for example.

Meanwhile, here's a clip of the latest Clay Aiken clip for the song, "A Thousand Days."

Enjoy:

Whether you're the current stars of American Idol or a breakthrough actress who got her start on the show, the FOX series opens doors for you.

Recently, those doors led to an Entertainment Weekly party for rapper and producer, Timbaland. Randy Jackson was there with the guest of honor, posing alongside Ryan Seacrest.

Also on hand? Jennifer Hudson. She was fortunate enough to find time with Justin Timberlake. Every other woman at the party probably hated her for it.

She's not dating Tony Romo.

But it's no surprise that a beautiful, talented woman such as Carrie Underwood wouldn't be single for very long.

Underwood has been seeing a new guy: British singer Oliver Trevena. The pair, says a source, began dating just weeks ago, and on January 28 got cozy when he dropped her off at LAX airport in L.A.

After a long farewell hug and kiss, the American Idol winner “was walking on air, she was so happy,” witness Alison Sultan tells Us Magazine. “She took over her shoes to go through security and did a twirl through the metal detector!”

American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe spoke about the recent controvery surrounding a dismissed contestant at a press conference today.

Lythgoe was asked why, if the show cut Akron Watson back in November just before he was to leave for Hollywood, did they run the audition clip?

"Because it was a very important part of the show that was unique," said Lythgoe, of the man who's mug shot we've posted here. "It's like a lot of other people. Their stories are in there because I believe it's a good story that will disappear in Hollywood. This boy is being pulled out before he disappeared in Hollywood."

Added Lythgoe: "I'm not privy to what the guy's done for the rest of his life. We treat everybody the same and he was part of that process."

The producer did not comment on Ashlyn Carr and her fate.

Paul Kim is an American Idol hopeful.

On Wednesday night's show, the Asian singing sensation was adament that he was no William Hung. He then went ahead and proved it with an audition that impressed all three judges.

According to a few American Idol spoilers, Kim will indeed move on to the final 24. So he's worth keeping an eye on.

If viewers are to take American Idol at its word, Wednesday’s episode was a public service announcement of sorts. The point of the extra-special bonus episode was not only to highlight more of the best and worst auditioners, but also to show how to succeed on Idol without really trying.

The show offered six steps to consider, some more obvious than others. The trick is, most of the advice was tongue-in-cheek. Follow it and a contestant might get on TV — but probably not a ticket to Hollywood.

For example, the first step — or “The Look.” As Ryan Seacrest explained in his voice-over, “In a sea of 100,000, it us very easy to get lost. A snappy little outfit might be just what you need to stand out.”

Of course, standing out might get a contestant on the show to be mocked, but costumed people tend not to have a high success rate of actually advancing.

Christa Fazzino showed up in a funky outfit that extolled her individuality, but uniqueness in fashion sense isn’t what the judges are interested in. She got her few minutes of airtime — but she ultimately also got the boot.

As a counterpoint to that, the show brought out Tami Gosnell, a Colorado native who didn’t show up in costume, didn’t have a particularly fantastic personality, and didn’t look like a candidate for the cover of teen magazines even after a makeover. One mitigating factor was in her favor: She could sing.

Her rendition of “Whipping Post” proved that, as Ryan conceded, “mad skills” outweigh the need to play dress-up.

The next lesson was to “Seek Inspiration,” with some predictable clips of Taylor Hicks wannabes. But the world doesn’t need more than one prematurely gray harmonica-playing pop singer, and therefore none of the imitators did very well.

On the other hand, Paul Kim (pictured), a Los Angeles pool boy, said he was inspired by William Hung, which sounds like a trainwreck waiting to happen. Instead, it was all good.

The inspiration came from wanting to show that an Asian could succeed on the show as something other than a good-natured joke, and he accomplished that with a strong performance that wowed the judges and got him a unanimous pass into the next round.

To read the rest of this MSNBC article, click here.