Kellie Pickler
News

Last night on the American Idol results show, Kellie Pickler wowed viewers with her latest single, "I Wonder."

But the beginning of the clip below shows Ryan Seacrest wondering about something else. He is asking Kellie if she's had breast implants, isn't he? Seems like the sort of personal question Simon Cowell would ask. Either way, see for yourself ...

It's a good week to be one of the talents who did NOT win American Idol.

First, Jennifer Hudson won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Sunday night. It was a signal to hopefuls everywhere that simply being on the show can do wonders for your career.

Now, it's been announced that a finalist from last season will appear Thursday night. Following in the footsteps of Fantasia from a week ago, look for Kellie Pickler to perform during the American Idol results show this Thursday.

We can't wait.

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.

Kellie Pickler will be one of the supporting acts on the 2007 tour by country star Brad Paisley, the Bonfires and Amplifiers tour.

The 37-date our kicks off April 26 in Chattanooga and winds up August 23 in St. Paul. Kellie's fellow opening acts on the tour will be Jack Ingram, who's an excellent Texas country singer/songwriter; and Taylor Swift, a talented teenage singer and songwriter with a cool name.

Sadly, the problems with Kellie Pickler and her mother are well-documented. But recent reports now state that the singer's father has sold her out, as well. Almost literally.

A source tells Us Weekly that the American Idol contestant’s father, Clyde (pictured here with his daughter) - who was released from jail in May after serving three years for assaulting a cop – auctioned off some of her belongings on eBay while she was on tour this summer.

“It was personal effects that he had from her childhood, like shoes,” says an American Idol insider. “When Kellie found out, she was crushed. Everything was gone.”

Here’s some information we’ve come across from around the world of American Idol. There’s certainly a lot going on with our favorite stars, as we try our best to keep you updated...

KELLIE PICKLER

Although she confessed terrible details of her childhood this week, there's been nothing but good news for Kellie Pickler (right) in terms of album sales and critical recognition.

Her CD, Small Town Girl, sold 79,000 copies in its first week and debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Country chart! Good for her!

CHRIS DAUGHTRY & ACE YOUNG

Tickets are now on sale for San Diego Star 94.1's Jingle Ball, a concert takeing place Friday, December 8 at 7 p.m. Chris Daughtry and Ace Young will appear, along with Jewel, Smashmouth, Five for Fighting and 3 Doors Down. For ticket information, check out the station's website.

Also, if you want to hear a preview of the debut album from the Daughtry band, the Sony music store has put up a few clips to stir fans' appetites.

FANTASIA BARRINO

The release date for Fantasia Barrino's CD has been moved from November 28 to December 12. Not clear on why this delay is taking place, but we look forward to hearing the album in December.

KATHARINE MCPHEE

The debut album was first moved from November 28 to December 5, and now, we're told it's been moved again, back to December 19, barely enough time to capitalize on Christmas sales. Of course, as tends to happen with Katharine McPhee, rumors are swirling regarding the delay. Does the starlet continue to have voice problems? Are there issues between her and the producers?

One item that has not been delayed is Katharine's appearance on VH1's Big in '06 on Sunday, December 3. She'll also be presenting on the American Music Awards along with Taylor Hicks and Clay Aiken. Carrie Underwood will be a performer. The AMA's will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and will air live next Tuesday, November 21!

Former American Idol star Kellie Pickler, 20, may have a sitcom in the works, and a debut album, Small Town Girl, that's sitting at No. 1 on country charts, powered by the success of her debut single, "Red High Heels."

But success hasn't come easily.

Fans of American Idol who got to know a little about Kellie Pickler last spring know that she suffered a traumatic childhood.

But the extent of that was not widely known. In the latest edition of Us Weekly, Pickler reveals that she was a victim of physical and mental child abuse -- at the hands of her mother.

Her father, a drug abuser, cycled in and out of prison for armed robbery, a fact that American Idol producers mentioned more than once in creating a marketing hook for Kellie's inspiring rise to stardom on the contest.

But that wasn't the only hardship encountered by Pickler back in her formative years. In fact, there was a lot more we didn't know.

She's breaking her silence about a violent home life, recounting a chilling moment from her childhood when her mother told her to commit suicide:

“I remember my mother and I were in the kitchen and I said, ‘I wish God would take me away, I’d much rather be dead than live here with you.’ She took a knife out, set it on the counter and said, ‘Here, do it then.’ I was in fourth grade. Of course I never would have acted upon it, but it’s done a lot of emotional scarring.”

Pickler's home life has been anything but stable, making her success this year even more incredible.

Pick up Us Weekly to read more from the talented starlet, and be sure to buy her new album, too. We're working on getting the lyrics to it up on our site. That should be done this week!

Here's some information we've come across from around the world of American Idol. There's certainly a lot going on with our favorite stars, and we try our best to keep you updated! Below is our breakdown...

CARRIE UNDERWOOD

As you’ve probably heard, Carrie Underwood will perform at the Charleston Municipal Auditorium December 9. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m.

Speaking of Carrie, we caught her video for "Before He Cheats" the other day. Though she’s come a long way from her simpler American Idol days, it is still not easy to believe she's the kind of girl who would bash her boyfriend’s headlights in with a baseball bat.

Look at her! She's just too sweet! We don't buy the vengeful angle... we will, however, buy her music!

KELLIE PICKLER

Kellie Pickler’s CD, Small Town Girl, is in stores as of today! Be sure to check out our review in a separate post, coming very soon. Kellie will perform her first single, "Red High Heels" on The Tonight Show Friday.

BUCKY COVINGTON

Bucky Covington and his wife are moving to Nashville today. We hear he plans to go straight to the studio to record some tunes. Good luck, Bucky!

ACE YOUNG

The new single from Ace Young, “Scattered,” is officialy available for download on iTunes. We thought it was a little cheesy, to be sure, but it grows on you. And yes, his falsetto is on full display. As far as we know, though, Ace has not signed with any record label.

KATHARINE MCPHEE

Looks like Katharine McPhee’s a little gutsier than I gave her credit for. Katharine was scheduled to sing “Over the Rainbow” at the Carousel of Hope Gala, but when she saw Whitney Houston in the audience, she changed to “I Have Nothing.”

Considering the performance of that song that she gave on American Idol, it was certainly a testament to McPhee's courage to get up there and try it a second time. It paid off, though, as Whitney nodded her head in approval at the performance.

You might remember that Katharine (seen here with beau Nick Cokas, right, at the event in Beverly Hills) was roundly criticized by the judges after performing "I Have Nothing" On American Idol. The viewing audience, however, disagreed and voted her into the Top 2. Simon Cowell apologized to her on that week's results show.

TAYLOR HICKS

Taylor Hicks’ CD release date has been moved to December 5, which means he will be after Katharine (November 28) and on the same date as Fantasia. According to GrayCharles.com, he continues to work on his upcoming album, 75 percent of which is complete.

The producers are beginning to mix some of the songs. If you, like many of his fans, are eagerly looking forward to seeing Taylor Hicks in concert, the Soul Man will start a three-month tour in February and plans to "play lots of different size towns, even smaller ones."

Hopefully, that's going to be a town near you.

CHRIS DAUGHTRY

Chris Daughtry’s release date is still set for November 21, but he's ditching the first name thing... the release will come from Daughtry -- the Bon Jovi-esque name of his new band. Howard Benson, who worked with All-American Rejects and My Chemical Romance, is the producer. Chris says he realizes not winning Idol was better for him.

According to a blurb posted on puretonemusic.com, here are all 12 confirmed song titles (in sequence): It's Not Over, Used To, Home, Over You, Crashed, Feels Like Tonight, What I Want (featuring Slash), Breakdown, Gone, There And Back Again, All These Lives, and What About Now.

The site also reported that the song, "Sorry" will be exclusive to iTunes and the newly recorded acoustic versions of "Home" and "Crashed" will be exclusive to WalMart.

JOSH GRACIN

Josh Gracin’s next CD, All About Y’all will be released in early 2007. I was a little worried about Josh since his original release date came and went and his website had not been updated in months. His new single, "I Keep Coming Back" is from the same songwriting team that wrote "What Hurts the Most."

KIMBERLEY LOCKE

The second CD released by Kimberley Locke, Based on a True Story, will hit the shelves of record stores in March 2007. It will be great to hear what the Supawoman has in store for us then!

CLAY AIKEN

The one and only Clay Aiken is scheduled to appear on The Megan Mullally Show this Thursday, November 2.

And, as we reported last week, Clay will also appear on Days of Our Lives as himself December 22, serenading Steve and Kayla with “Everything I Have.” Clay’s version of “O, Holy Night” will also be featured in the episode.

FANTASIA BARRINO

Fantasia Barrino's single, "Hood Boy" is being released to radio. Her album is set to be released on December 12. You can listen to a stream at her MySpace. Lastly, Season 5 semi-finalist Patrick Hall releases his single "One For the Ages" tomorrow. The album, One For the Ages, will be available February 2007.

It may not have been easy to take the calamari-phobic gal from Albemarle, N.C., seriously, at first, but Kellie Pickler has won us over.

Her debut single, "Red High Heels," has been out for just a few days now, and already, having heard it streaming over Internet radio stations, it made us wonder how we ever doubted her... or why we don't listen to more country!

"Red High Heels" is a terrific little ditty about a small-town gal who's finally finished with a ne'er-do-well man. The song comes complete with lyrics about putting a barbed wire fence around her heart, and kickin' his broke behind to the curb.

In short, it's vintage Kellie Pickler. Great stuff, sung with a natural exuberance that has me ready to grab a marker and a piece of poster-board and write "Pick Pickler!"

Sorry, that was lame. But we're excited to add her upcoming CD to our collection of American Idol albums! Is it November yet?

The wonderful Kellie Picker seems to be gaining credibility these days, as she is set to storm the most hallowed bastion of country music, the Grand Ole Opry, on October 27, playing on a bill that includes Glen Campbell and bluegrass great Del McCoury.

A North Carolina native, Pickler was a finalist on last season's American Idol. The previous season's champion, Carrie Underwood, is currently one of country music's brightest stars. Carrie performed, and was well received, on the Opry, so the precedent is there for Kellie.

Underwood, by the way, returns to the Opry stage herself on November 7. Pickler's debut album is due to be released later that month. Good to see these country cuties making names for themselves!