We've never heard of the magazine 944 before - but we may need to go pick up a few copies of it now.
After a beautiful Katharine McPhee photo spread in Stuff, the former American Idol finalist is at it again. Check out this picture of her from 944:
To Melinda Doolittle, the Factory at Franklin will seem like a homecoming.
A finalist on American Idol, the Brentwood resident will take the stage once again - and for one night only - in a fundraising concert for the Boiler Room Theater in November.
âWe are so excited to have Melinda back with us. Itâs such a joy to hear her sing,â said Sondra Morton-Chaffin, a member of the nonprofit theater group.
The event â billed as "Melinda Doolittle and Friends" â also promises some other famous faces backing up the performer.
A Belmont University music major, Doolittle performed with Boiler Room in stage productions such as The 1940s Radio Hour and Big River before appearing on the television show.
The concert begins at 8 p.m. November 9 in The Factory at Franklinâs Liberty Hall. Tickets are $50 in advance or $150 for the first three rows. If any general seating remains the day of the concert, spots will be sold for $100.
All proceeds go to the theater organization that also supports youth programs such as performance workshops, summer camps and three fully-staged childrenâs productions each year.
Might Britney Spears appear on American Idol next year?
Probably not. But the judges are fans of the pop star/train wreck.
"We have decided we can bring Britney back," Simon Cowell said in offering to help Spears's career. "We are serious. We plan to buy her underpants, get her bigger shorts to perform in and get her away from her stupid friends."
Paula Abdul said:, "We always have time for Britney. We love her."
Finally, Randy Jackson added: "We'd love to take care of you, Spears! We will make you a superstar again!"
Here's a great stocking stuffer:
On October 2, a high-profile country Christmas anthology comes entitled Hear Something Country Christmas.
It will feature Carrie Underwood singing Do You Hear What I Hear and Kellie Pickler singing Santa Baby.
Congratulations to Brian Melo.
The raspy Hamilton rocker with a thing for headwear received over five million votes to beat out teen Jaydee Bixby in Canadian Idol. He joins American Jordin Sparks as this year's new, fresh singers crowned after reality competitions.
"This is incredible. I didn't think a year ago I'd be standing here," said the construction worker who probably has a new job to enjoy for the rest of his life.
By now, everyone has heard about how awful Britney Spears was during the MTV Video Music Awards.
Therefore, you'd expect Simon Cowell to completely lay into her, right?
Wrong.
"She stole the show, whether you liked it or not. The only thing you heard about the following day was Britney Spears," the American Idol judge said.
Granted, Cowell admitted: "It wasn't the best performance. She wasn't ready for it." However, he notes, "She's had more attention in the last 48 hours than any artist on the planet."
True. But, come on. Does anyone want this sort of attention?
Jennifer Hudson has snagged another big time starring movie role.
The American Idol finalist and Oscar winner will portray Carrie Bradshaw's assistant in the highly-anticipated Sex and the City movie.
Shooting begins this fall.
Tamyra Gray is earning rave reviews in the play Rent. She recently sat down with Broadway.com and talked about the experience...
With the return of Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, it must be an exciting time to be in Rent.
It's like a rock concertâat every show. At the beginning, it felt like we were at Madison Square Garden! The energy from the audience since they've been back has been absolutely amazing. Knowing the guys' history with the show just makes you up your game that much more. You don't want to disappoint them, you don't want to disappoint yourself, and you don't want to disappoint the audience.
How did you get involved in Rent? Did you audition?
I did. I had a proper audition, and it took them two weeks to let me know I got the job. I was upset because I was thinking, "They told me the audition was great," so I thought that meant I should get the part. Finally after the second week I got the call.
You had to sweat it out a bit.
I did, and it was great, because I had really fought the audition. I live in San Francisco, but I was in L.A. and there was a nor'easter going on in New York, so I was stuck in the airport for 10 hours. I thought, "I'm just gonna go home and forget it," and I almost did. But instead I went and got a copy of the Rent movie and spent the entire time studying it.
Studying?
I didn't understand "Without You" or "Out Tonight." It had been almost eight years since I had seen the show, and I couldn't put into context what the deal was with "Without You" and why she was howling in "Out Tonight." I just didn't get it. But I watched the movie, and everything made sense. I was like, "Okay, 'Out Tonight' is a performance piece, she's at a strip club, she's doing her thing. Got it. 'Without You' is a memory piece. She's going through her memories because she just lost the love of her life. Got it."
So if there hadn't been a snowstorm, you might not have gotten the part?
I am so thankful for that nor'easter, because otherwise I wouldn't be here! It's like one of those God things, where's he like, "No, no, no, you're gonna stay put." I'm glad I was listening!
When you first saw Rent on Broadway eight years ago, what did the show mean to you?
I was in New York doing an industrial video for Coca-Cola, and I was broke, and I saw every show that I wanted to see for $20. I saw Rent sitting in the front row, and I thought it was amazing. But I also saw Aida, and I have to admit, I was affected more by that than I was by Rent. Watching Aida made me want to do Broadway.
Few American Idol contestants from this past season connected with audiences like LaKisha Jones. Everyone seemed to love this single mother.
Now, in the middle of that show's summer tour, Jones sat down with TV Guide to discuss the past and future...
TV Guide: How will you juggle being a parent with working if you get a record deal?
LaKisha: Well, when I get a record deal, then I call the shots. That's going to be a part of my deal. I need to take my baby with me. I've seen plenty of artists who have their children with them. So it's possible.
TV Guide: So you'll get a nanny?
LaKisha: Probably my mom. It just depends.
TV Guide: You sound hoarse. Did you lose your voice?
LaKisha: I'm good. It's just that I got a massage after just waking up.
TV Guide: I forgot, the Idols have a massage therapist at every tour stop, don't they?
LaKisha: Yes. That's one of the luxuries â I will miss that!
TV Guide: What do you do to lift your spirits when you get tired?
LaKisha: I pray and listen to inspirational music. I talk to my baby, my mom... and I get massages.
TV Guide: Is there anything you're doing to keep your energy up?
LaKisha: Nothing out of the normal. I drink my tea and my Emergen-C and all of that stuff.
TV Guide: Blake Lewis said one of the biggest challenges is you're force-fed junk food every night. Is it the same for you?
LaKisha: We have pizza and all of that stuff. You can choose not to eat it.
TV Guide: Did you do anything different on stage when the tour came to your hometown?
LaKisha: We did the reprise at the end of the show. Then I did the "And I Am Telling You" song.
TV Guide: What's been the biggest surprise for you about the tour?
LaKisha: Just checking in to hotels every day and getting up at four o'clock in the morning and getting off the bus. That's the hardest part for me, breaking my sleep up.
TV Guide: So you're not a morning person?
LaKisha: I am somewhat, but not at four in the morning!
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Fantasia Barrino recently opened up about her run in The Color Purple on Broadway.
"I never thought I'd be on Broadway!" said Fantasia in the September 10 issue of OK! Weekly. "The Color Purple was the first show I ever saw. It's hard work, but it's an amazing thing to do."
The 23-year-old joined the cast of Oprah Winfrey's Tony Award-winning Broadway show in April, playing the role of Miss Celie,the abused young woman played by Whoopi Goldberg in Steven Spielberg's 1985 big-screen adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
"I know how it feels to think you're nothing or ugly, so I put myself back into the time when I felt that way," Fantasia said about how she relates to Celie. "Sometimes I don't want to do that, but it makes it easier to play her."
This American Idol's original run in The Color Purple was only supposed to last until October; however the show's producers extended her stay in the cast until January 2008 because it received a box-office boost after she joined the production.
"Sometimes I don't know how I make it through," Fantasia said. "When my body wants to quit, I have to say, 'Okay, just keep pushing.' Once I get on stage and I see and hear the audience, I get some energy."
Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul have already seen Fantasia's Broadway debut in The Color Purple, but fellow judge Simon Cowell has yet to make an appearance.
"Maybe he's afraid he's going to watch it and shed a tear!" Fantasia joked.
Following her run in The Color Purple, Fantasia said she plans on going on tour in the U.S. and abroad.
"Music is my first love," she said. "I really miss it."
