July 2007 News Archive (Page 3)

Courtesy of USA Today, here's a look at how American Idols are faring in terms of downloaded albums on the charts...

• Daughtry drops from number-22 to 23, selling 28,000, down 12%, with a total of 2.91 million.  His two hit singles are still on the digital songs chart, Home moving 32-31 despite a 13% sales drop (it was a mediocre digital track sales week as well), and totaling 876,000; and It's Not Over falling 72-77 after selling 12,000, down 15%, with a total of 1.39 million.

• Carrie Underwood drops 26-29 on the chart, selling 23,000, an 11% drop, for a total of 5.77 million, around 30,000 shy of Kelly Clarkson's mark.  She's down to two songs on the digital chart: Before He Cheats, 24-26, 29,000, off 16%, total 1.62 million; and Wasted, 161-180, about 6,000, off 13%, total 359,000. Jesus, Take the Wheel falls off the chart.

• Elliott Yamin takes a dive on the album chart, 59-77, selling around 9,000 copies, down 26%. His total is 315,000. But Wait for You is the highest-charting digital track this week, climbing 23-22 despite a 6% sales drop to 32,000. The song has sold 392,000 to date.

• Bucky Covington holds his own at 81 on the album chart, selling a little less than 9,000, a 6% drop, with a total of 214,000. A Different World takes a big jump on the track chart, 131-115, but that's more a consequence of the weak sales tallies for the week than anything else, as he sells the same slightly less than 8,000 amount as the previous week. Total for the track is 115,000.

• Fantasia drops 126-130 on the album chart, selling in the 6,000 range, down by 4%, with a total of 437,000. Single When I See U rebounds hugely on the track chart, 185-152, and gains 5% in sales, up to midway between 6,000 and 7,000. Total is 99,000.

• Kellie Pickler is the last Idol on the album chart, but drops 136-157 to endanger that status, selling a bit less than 5,000, a 10% drop. She's sold 580,000 so far. Her I Wonder stays even on the track chart, 146-146, but drops 8% in sales down to the mid-6,000s

As she leads the American Idols Live tour, Jordin Sparks is the subject of a recent article in her home state Arizona Republic. Here it is...

For years, Olivia Nunley simply walked upstairs to a home nursery to watch close family friend Jordin Sparks sing and play guitar for her three young daughters.

To get the same show this time around, Nunley followed slightly different protocol: she stood in line and bought tickets.

"It's so foreign . . . its like our Jordin isn't our Jordin anymore," the Peoria resident said.

On Wednesday night, thousands of concertgoers embraced Sparks as their own when they saw the hometown girl sing as part of the 2007 American Idols Live concert tour when it stopped at Glendale's Jobing.com Arena.

An estimated 14,000 fans filled the arena. Several in attendance said they came solely because of Sparks.

The show was the American Idol winner's first Arizona concert since she taped the show's hometown visit episode in May at Westgate City Center. The tour includes the top 10 competitors of last season's Idol, including Sanjaya Malakar, who sang backup on several songs.

Before the concert, Sparks answered questions while sporting a jersey that read "Glendale's got game," a present given to her by Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs during her Westgate performance.

In an interview with The Republic before the concert, Sparks said she has not been asked to sing the national anthem at the 2008 Super Bowl hosted by Glendale, but that regardless she would try and get tickets to the game.

"I'm a football freak, I would love to sing at the game if I can," she said.

Shortly after the interview, several familiar faces gathered outside at the arena's will-call box.

Many were regulars from the Tuesday night viewing parties held at Westgate while Sparks was on American Idol.  Just like at the parties, hundreds of fans toted glittery Jordin posters and wore Jordin T-shirts in the Westgate courtyard.

Sandra Witt and her daughter, Danielle, wore hot pink and white "team Jordin" shirts. The pair drove from Tucson to support the Arizona headliner.  Sandra said she is proud that Sparks is a local, but also because she is the show's first biracial winner.

"She's been very inspiring to my daughter and very positive. We can relate to her very well because we come from a mixed family," she said.

Sparks and the other traveling Idols had little time to take in Valley attractions. The group left soon after the concert for San Diego.

"It's so weird to be home, but not actually be home," Sparks said before the show.

The concert did offer a little time to spend with family and friends. A handful of Sparks' former high school classmates and young cousins visited with her backstage.

To welcome the other contestants to her hometown, Sparks' uncle made gift baskets that included T-shirts and John Deere hats. The group also went to Sparks' house for a home-cooked turkey dinner.

"Her entire family has just been so welcoming," said Haley Scarnato.

Kellie Pickler recently sat down with Star magazine. Here is the interview with the former American Idol finalist...

Are you still touring?
Yeah, I'm on the Brad Paisley tour right now. I am having so much fun out on the road with Brad. Every night its something new there is never a dull moment.

Tell me about the CMA Music Festival.
It was so much fun. I've never performed in a stadium. I was very privileged when they asked me to be a part of the special. I actually got to surprise this girl — she is a big fan of mine so I surprised her with tickets to the show. I took her backstage, she had a wonderful experience and we had so much fun getting to know each other. I think I made a good friend.

What was the most memorable part of CMA Music Festival?
Oh my gosh the whole thing. To be able to share the stage with all these artists that I've admired my whole life, there's just nothing better. I'll never forget coming offstage and Jewel said to me "Great job, Kellie. I love your song, you did an awesome job." I'll never forget that. She was very very nice and beautiful. That was a special moment for me.

Being famous and being on the road, are there any down sides?
You have to take the good with the bad. I really can't complain but I guess if I had to, even though I don't like to, it would probably be that it's kind of weird when you hear different rumors about yourself. My friends had read in some magazine that I was getting married, and it's just weird. I guess things can be misconstrued and fabricated. You just have to laugh at it.

For the record you're not getting married [to boyfriend Jordin Tootoo, a hockey star]?
I'm not getting married, I'm not having a baby. I am adopting a kittens, that's about as close to motherhood as it's gonna be for a while. Trust me, I am about as far away from the altar as it gets.

What are you naming your new cat?
Pickles. I thought it was destined to be that!

The following is taken from a newspaper in San Antonio, written prior to Sunday night's show...

When "American Idols Live!" is in town who's got time to plan a wedding?

Hometown sweetheart Haley Scarnato, who is tying the knot soon, will be among the performers tonight at AT&T Center. She and a few of her American Idol cohorts - winner Jordin Sparks, Sanjaya Malakar, Chris Sligh, Melinda Doolittle, Phil Stacey - were on hand at the venue on Monday afternoon for some quickie media interviews.

All of the finalists looked relaxed and casual.

Scarnato was bubbly and cute as always. While she revealed that she has fall colors picked out for upcoming wedding, she admitted those plans aren't exactly at the forefront of her mind at the moment.

"My focus toward the wedding has kind of, uh, gone away," she said with a chuckle. "But when I get back home I'll start thinking about the wedding more. It's too hard to plan on the road."

Onstage tonight, she'll sing Martina McBride's "When God-Fearin' Women," among others. A stylist is responsible for her look onstage, Scarnato said a bit coyly.

Her future plans, include recording in Nashville. Will she remain in San Antonio? "I would love to stay here," Scarnato said.

"Now, I'm just kind of living the dream. I'm on tour now," she said. "It's like a family."

Stacey is talking to labels in Nashville and hopes to have a country music album out by the end of the year. "For me, that's where I belong," Stacey said. "I'm a country artist that has roots in gospel."

Stacey said he is most grateful for the new friendships and for meeting stars like Bono and Gwen Stefani.

"There were times that I was so nervous meeting those people," he noted, saying that he was literally shaking when he was trying to sing for McBride. All of them were almost too nice.

He's very much aware that people are looking at him for inspiration. "It's funny. I guess people are just desperate for role models these days and people that they can look up to," he said. "I would put anyone that's here in that role. That's one of the cool things about the show. It's very wholesome, family-oriented show."

Sparks is ready for her solo guitar spotlight on Jewel's "You Were Meant for Me." "It's one of the first songs I taught myself on guitar," she said. "I still feel very vulnerable when I'm out there. There's an Em and a C, D and D-sustain."

She won't reveal anything about the one track that she has recorded for her debut album, except to say that it's "a radio song" and "kind of Beyonce-ish."

Sligh works the room with a perpetual smirk. He doesn't seem too swept up with the American Idol hype. He likes to remind anyone in earshot that he was a seasoned musician before he was ever on the show. "I came in as a fully formed musician. I knew what I wanted to do as an artist," Sligh said. He acknowledged butting heads with the judges was inevitable.

"The judges comments are more about the TV show, then they are about real life," he said. "They say it's a singing competition. But it's not really a singing competition. It's more about being able to turn into a star."

Continue Reading...

There's a lot of American Idol album news going around these days, from Kelly Clarkson's latest effort, to Mandisa, to Constantine Maroulis.

Following that trend, here's news on the next Carrie Underwood CD...

Arista Records and 19 Recordings announced yesterday that the follow-up to the country crossover star's mega-hit debut Some Hearts has been slated for an October 23 release.

As E! Online reports, the hit-filled album, which dropped November 15, 2005, has been certified six-times platinum in the U.S. and is the best-selling country disc/download of 2007 so far, with nearly 1.1 million copies sold just this year.

After the American Idol-assisted success of the Grammy-winning "Jesus Take the Wheel," it was unsure whether Underwood would have mass-market appeal, but with spunky tunes such as "Before He Cheats" and "Wasted," she's become a powerhouse on the pop charts, as well. Some Hearts was named the best-selling album of all genres at the Billboard Music Awards in December, Underwood's eighth sales-fueled trophy in two years.

Some Hearts spawned seven singles, three of which went platinum, and Underwood also had a hit with her cover of the Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You," which she performed on the Idol Gives Back charity special in April.

The 24-year-old Oklahoman's as-yet untitled sophomore effort is being produced by Some Hearts collaborator Mark Bright and will feature some more songwriting by Underwood, who co-penned the tune "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore" on Some Hearts.

Before she repeats, however, Underwood can be heard on Brad Paisley's latest album, 5th Gear, on the tune "Oh Love," and she's set to help kick off New York's Fall Fashion Week by performing Sept. 6 at the fourth annual Fashion Rocks! gala at Radio City Music Hall.

Because individual label announcements of gold and platinum awards usually precede the official releases from the RIAA, this news will surprise few fans. But the June list of RIAA certifications came out today, and two Idols are on the album award list.

Daughtry's self-titled debut album, Daughtry, is certified for triple platinum (3 million copies shipped). It has sold 2.88 million, according to SoundScan, so the shipment-sales gap will close shortly.

Meanwhile, second album from Fantasia Barrino gets a gold award (500,000 copies). It has actually sold 431,000 and has been selling around 6,000 copies a week lately, so assuming it maintains that pace or close to it, three months ought to bring it to actual gold sales status.

It's a busy week for American Idol gossip.

First, we had the talk that Jordin Sparks is in love with Chris Richardson.

Now, there are rumors that Paula Abdul will be replaced on the panel by Sharon Osbourne.

Here's what the always reliable National Enquirer had to say on this possibility:

“They’re looking to give Idol a face-lift, and they think Sharon - who’s rated highly with viewers on Simon’s other show, America’s Got Talent - will bring a fresher look. And they’re sure Sharon will play will off Simon’s sharp tongue.”

What do you guys think? Wanna see a new judge? And would Osbourne be a good choice? What about Britney Spears?

Let's move away from recent American Idols on tour, such as Sanjaya Malakar, for a moment.

USA Today recently reviewed the upcoming album by Constantine Maroulis. Here is its take:

Good things about it: Constantine's voice, which stays mostly free of Broadway boom-the-room excess and displays appealing grit. On one song (I Thought It Was Something) he sounds quite similar to Julian Casablancas from The Strokes, not what you might expect.

Also, some of the songs are pretty impressive, notably Right to My Head, which is a little like Bowie/Mott the Hoople's All the Young Dudes, and Child of the Revolution, which echoes the similarly titled T. Rex song (Children of the Revolution) in more than name. (It's not just '70s songs he's good at evoking; the '80s-ish rocker Heaven Help the Lonely could be the album's best track.)

What's not so good: other songs, which range from overblown (ballads Sister Sister and So Long, the end of Midnight Radio) to simply dull (Everybody Loves) to downright awful (Several Thousand).

The start of the “American Idols Live!” tour was just a little over a week away, and Sanjaya Malakar was raring to go when he phoned in for an interview.

Whether he knew the exact date of the first show might have been another issue.

“I’m really excited about the tour. It’s going to be a blast,” he said. “We’ve been doing rehearsals for the past, a couple of days, I think. I don’t know, I have kind of a warped sense of time now.”

Malakar can be forgiven for losing his bearings a bit. Since his debut on the mega-popular talent show American Idol last spring, his life has been the epitome of a whirlwind.

He didn’t win the competition. In fact, he was voted off the show in April and finished seventh. But that doesn’t change the fact that Malakar was the story of “American Idol,” season six.

On the one hand, Malakar quickly built a fanatic following — especially, it seemed, among young girls drawn to his charismatic stage presence, boyish good looks, and of course, his full mop of hair, which turned out to be one of the biggest topics of discussion as he changed styles from episode to episode. One audience member, Ashley Ferl, even made a name for herself after cameras caught her bursting into tears whenever Malakar was on stage.

But many others weren’t at all impressed. A “Vote for the Worst” Web site that supported voting for Malakar to sabotage the show became news nationwide. Howard Stern started a similar campaign on his radio show.

Malakar was also savaged in the media (the Washington Post labeled him a “talent amputee”). The always-blunt “Idol” judge Simon Cowell at one point said he would quit the show if Malakar won.

So while this summer’s tour may be headlined by the winner of this season’s competition, Jordin Sparks, and runner-up Blake Lewis, the top drawing card may well be Malakar.

Click here to continue reading this article from The Herald-Tribune...

Is Jordin Sparks dating Chris Richardson?

TMZ reports that the American Idol winner has fallen hard for this Justin Timberlake clone. Previous rumors of Jordin and Blake Lewis as an item are false, but the celebrity gossip site says the 17-year old truly is smitten with C-Rich.

We wonder how Lauren Conrad feels about that.

Sources on the tour say Sparks' family is trying to keep her mind focused on music. But that's a tall order. Have you seen Chris Richardson?!?