Kevin Covais
News

As new American Idol contestants - such as Sundance Head, Chris Sligh and Brandon Rogers - try to make a name for themselves, past singers from the show will grace your TV screen in the near future.

On Friday, February 9, past finalists Kevin Covais (pictured), Melissa McGhee, Diana DeGarmo, Ryan Starr, LaToya London, and Frenchie Davis (the disgraced, disqualified finalist) will be guests on The Dr. Keith Ablow Show.

According to a blurb on the official American Idol site, the finalists will "reveal the inside scoop about the hit reality show and share their opinions about Simon Cowell and the great success of fellow Idol Jennifer Hudson."

We've shown your Clay Aiken yukking it up on stage and Chris Daughty rocking out on a similar platform.

One place the American Idol Picture of the Day has not taken fans, however? DisneyWorld. We figured it was time to change that.

Below, Kevin Covais, Mandisa, Paris Bennett and Ace Young all take in the sights. Among them, of course, was a certain happy, silly dog. He's quite goofy, if we do say so ourselves.

Ace Young and Kimberley Locke (pictured) will appear in Denver, Colo., on November 5 for Operation Holiday Spirit, a fundraiser that strives to raise money to send "packages stuffed with holiday treats plus personal messages from the stars and gifts like portable DVD players and iPods" to troops overseas.

The group aims to raise at least $100,000 at the event. Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Rosie O'Donnell and Cher have already donated items for a silent auction.

Red carpet begins at 5:30 p.m. outside Denver's Paramount Theater. The show starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale through TicketMaster and the Paramount box office. Tickets range from $65-85 and include parking.

Meanwhile, two time zones away, another American Idol finalist from this past season will be a presenter at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame's first annual Induction Gala.

Chicken Little, a.k.a. Kevin Covais, will be on hand and performing at the Patchogue Theatre on October 15. Some of the inductees include Billy Joel, Joan Jett, Twisted Sister, Little Anthony, Leslie West and Mountain, and Peter Criss of KISS.

An all-ages crowd of about 500 gathered at Foster Field in West Texas to see and hear finalists from American Idol on Tuesday, the San Angelo Standard-Times reports.

Some danced, some sang along. Some nabbed autographs from their favorite performers. Others just sat in the stands and enjoyed the performance.

Bob King and his wife, Barbara, were given tickets up front as a present for their 47th anniversary, but traded tickets with a couple of kids from the stands so they could enjoy the show from good seats without the extra noise.

"The performers are good, and I enjoy watching the young kids enjoy it,'' said Barbara, excited to see her favorite pick from the show last season, Kevin Covais.

"I wanted him to win. He's a nice kid."

The audience also loved William Hung, the season three reject who became an unexpected fan favorite, and Justin Guarini, the first American Idol runner-up.

Brenna Gethers, a popular American Idol finalist, said before the show, "I'm looking forward to bringing some good music to Texas," and she delivered. Her a cappella version of Selena's "I Could Fall In Love" was a hit with the audience.

Performers included Anthony Federov, Olivia Mojica, Lindsey Cardinale, Will Makar and Melissa McGhee. But Perhaps the most popular Idol Tuesday night was season two winner Ruben Studdard (pictured) who noted that this was his first visit to West Texas.

Pearl Hardin won her tickets by being the 24th caller at a local radio station Tuesday morning. She and her 14-year-old daughter, Brittney, said they were excited about seeing Studdard.

Rebecca Baxter brought her 10-year-old daughter, Allison. The Baxters recently moved to San Angelo from Tampa, Fla.

"At least San Angelo is big enough to bring in some big name entertainment. Hopefully it will kick-start bringing some other shows here," Baxter said.

Barbara King agreed.

"I just don't think there's enough entertainment like this in San Angelo, so we go to whatever comes. We've got to back the city," she said.

American Idol's second season winner, Ruben Studdard, and the first season runner-up, Justin Guarini, will be taking part in a mini-tour in Texas the first week in October. The tour will be called, fittingly, "Superstar Idols Live!"

The concerts will be sponsored by several Texas radio stations. Joining Ruben and Justin will be Olivia Mojica (Season 2), Anthony Federov and Lindsey Cardinale (Season 4), Kevin Covais, Brenna Gethers, Will Makar and Melissa McGhee (Season 5), along with the incomparable William Hung.

Here are the dates and ticket info:

San Angelo, TX
October 3, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Foster Field Stadium
Tickets: $25-90; 325-942-6587 or Etix.com

Laredo, TX
October 4, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Laredo Veterans Field
Tickets: $25-90; 956-723-BASE or Etix.com

Edinburgh, TX
October 5, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Edinburgh Stadium
Tickes: $25-90; Etix.com

Corpus Christi, TX
October 6, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
Concrete Street Amphitheater
Tickets: $35-85; Ticketmaster.com

Beaumont, TX
October 7, 2006
Beaumont Civic Center
Tickets: $30-50; 409-833-7747 or Ticketmaster.com