Idol Headlines for 01/22/10
Simon Cowell signs stars for Haiti charity single
Rod Stewart, Leona Lewis, JLS and Michael Buble have all agreed to take part in the Haiti charity single, which has been organised by Simon Cowell.
The artists will record a cover of REM’s ballad Everybody Hurts.
The Sun newspaper, which has teamed up with Cowell, said Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Take That and Sir Paul McCartney have also been approached.
BBC
Anoop Desai: Rooting for John Park
Anoop Desai has found someone he can identify with in American Idol Season 9: John Park.
Both Anoop and John Park held the musical director’s position with their college a cappella groups — Anoop with the University of North Carolina’s Clef Hangers, John with Northwestern University’s Purple Haze.
“Coming from an a cappella background, I’m always happy to see people from that background break into, for lack of a better term, mainstream music,” says Anoop, who plans to release a single called My Name in March, with an EP or album following later in the spring. “If he makes it past Hollywood week, it’ll be a real treat for him, I imagine, to get to sing with Rickey Minor’s band.
USA Today
Hope for Haiti Now will begin accepting donations at 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT on Friday via the following methods:
Online:
www.hopeforhaitinow.orgPhone: 877-99-HAITI Text:
Text “GIVE” to 50555
Mail: Hope For Haiti Now Fund Entertainment Industry Foundation
1201 West 5th Street
Suite T-700
Los Angeles, CA 90017
The telethon airs on a number of networks — including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, COMEDY CENTRAL, Bravo and E! — and online and mobile platforms at 8 PM EST. Performances from the show will be available on iTunes, with proceeds going to charity.
US Magazine
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
‘Idolatry’: Together, with the help of Shania Twain, we can survive the ‘American Idol’ audition episodes!
After nine seasons of American Idol, it’s not always easy to sit through the boob-boxers and accordion players and Gimmicky Gerties of the world as we wait for the revelatory powers of a Frenchie Davis or a David Cook or a Melinda Doolittle. (Apologies to @mdoolittle for foolishly leaving her off my 15 Best Idol Auditions countdown…but I digress.) So consider this week’s Idolatry — with my world-class cohost Jessica Shaw — as a bridge that leads from Chicago/Orlando straight to the Top 12.
Entertainment Weekly
Idol contestant puts Starke, Florida on the map
Dad, who owns the trucking company in Starke that Matt manages, was watching proudly Wednesday night.
“Well I watched it several times because I’m watching it through watery eyes and a lump in my throat naturally because of what he said, and that he never had seen me cry before. That was a devastating time for us,” says Jim Lawrence.
A decade ago, began ten years of shame for the Lawrence family.
“Now everybody knows. So we don’t have to feel like we have a secret anymore,” says Matt’s mom, Debbie, who was especially happy with Ryan Seacrest’s subtle commentary on the crime.
MYFoxOrlando
EXCLUSIVE: Missing Mom Of ‘Idol’ Contestant May Have Vanished By Choice
Police in suburban Chicago, IL think that an American Idol contestant’s missing mother may be AWOL on her own accord, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned.
After Idol contestant Angela Martin’s mother, Viola Brown Martin, was reported missing on December 29, the family was frantic. Now, police are not so sure if Viola’s vanishing act wasn’t by choice.
“We are not 100 percent sure that she is not off on her own accord,” Glenwood Police Sgt. Derek Peddycord told RadarOnline.com. “There are some sensitive issues that I am not allowed to discuss. Out of respect for the family, they’ve asked me not to have too much contact with the media.”
Radar Online
Scott Brown’s ‘American Idol’ road to victory
As Scott Brown stormed to victory in the Massachusetts Senate race Tuesday night, I huddled with my daughters watching Fox. No, not the gloating election coverage on Fox News — I wouldn’t do that to impressionable young minds. We watched the flagship’s “American Idol” auditions.
This seemed fitting since, four years ago, Ayla Brown, the senator-elect’s daughter, captivated my kids during a short-lived “American Idol” run (my eldest daughter cried as hard as Ayla did when she got booted from the show). Ayla was an attractive though somewhat bland singer who belted out tunes by Celine Dion and Christina Aguilera. She had a chipper attitude and a limited vocal range. In short, good for TV.
Washington Post
First look: Kimberly Caldwell’s sexy new video
Eat your heart out, David Cook! Season 2’s Kimberly Caldwell invited Idol Tracker to stop by the set of her video for the song “Mess of You,” which was shot at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (her debut album, “Without Regret,” is scheduled for release on April 6). And though it was her first time emoting, lip-syncing and strutting her stuff for a music video, Caldwell, who dated Cook just after his Season 7 win, seemed totally at ease, not just with the hair, makeup, fabulous outfits and all the fussing, but also getting thisclose to model Daniel Durakovic, with whom she nuzzled frequently — in the clip. Feeling comfortable in 5 1/2-inch heels, however, was another matter.
Caldwell arrived at 7:30 a.m. and, hopped up on Red Bulls, was ready to go all day and night. But first, she took some time out from shooting for a quick Q&A.
LA Times
Jordin Sparks Designs Pennyroyal Silver Pendant to Benefit Haiti Relief
Los Angeles, CA, January 21, 2010 –(PR.com)– Singer and American Idol alum Jordin Sparks’ original sketch will be featured on a limited edition Pennyroyal Signature Collection pendant that will help fund mobile medical clinics in Haiti through Sparks Charities, an organization that aims to encourage young people to make a positive impact in their families, communities and world through volunteerism and service.
“I feel very lucky and humbled to be able to take something as simple as a sketch, a piece of silver and the power of music and make a positive impact on people’s lives,” Pennyroyal’s owner and designer, Tim Foster said. “It is a pleasure to work with an artist like Jordin who is so committed to making a difference.”
PR.com
Mercado embraces role in revival of ‘Dreamgirls’
Syesha Mercado can relate in a personal way to Deena Jones, the 1960s girl-group singer she plays in the national touring company of “Dreamgirls,” running through January at Chi-cago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre. Beautiful, hard-working and am-bitious, Mercado, who was the top female finisher in the seventh season of “American Idol,” has been working toward stardom since childhood.
“For me, Deena represents a lot of things,” Mercado said in a recent phone interview. “The messages of ‘Dreamgirls’ transcend their time. It’s not just a story of African-Americans trying to get their music out; it’s also about the relationships you have with your family, and the message that if you dream — and if you work at achieving that dream — it’s going to happen for you.”
Post-trib
Studdard helps girl’s wish come true for second time
Keeping Ruben Studdard as a surprise is a hard thing to do, but Montgomery residents and staff members of Magic Moments managed to do just that Thursday evening at 129 Coosa, a downtown venue.
The event, “Raise a Glass to Magic Moments,” helped welcome the Birmingham-based organization to Montgomery. The organization’s Montgomery Regional Board was only recently formed and includes local business owners, executives and doctors.
But the most important guest was the little girl sitting quietly with her family watching people pack into the dimly lit room.
Montgomery Advertiser
SHOW REVIEW: Society of Seven featuring Jasmine Trias
Michael Laygo, in a gleaming white blazer, sings “The Impossible Dream” and stretches “the un-r-e-a-c-h-able star” until the audience can hold its breath no more.
It’s a showstopper. But so is the next one: a little ditty from “Dreamgirls” called “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” the music stopping cold behind Jasmine Trias when she belts the grand finale.
And both these came only a few minutes after Laygo and Trias had teamed for “The Prayer,” the dramatic duet made ubiquitous by Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, The Scintas, etc.
Review Journal.com
CasiNotes: An ‘Idol’ semifinalist who’s taking singing seriously
ATLANTIC CITY has become a regular stop for “American Idol” insta-stars and their high-priced ticket fees. But through May, you can catch a former “A.I.” semifinalist for free at the Showboat.
Louis Gazzara appears as lead singer and emcee of “The Show,” the ‘Boat’s variety-show-cum-Mardi-Gras-parade that takes place three times every Saturday on the main concourse adjacent to the casino floor.
Longtime “Idol” fans will remember Gazzara as the 17-year-old belter on the show’s second (2003) season – the one that pitted eventual champ Ruben Studdard against Clay Aiken in the final round. Gazzara was one of the final 32 hopefuls that year, as was another current star, Josh Gracin.
Philly.com
Best and Worst American Idol Auditions
Heard of the “boob flex?” Neither did we, until we saw some of the very worst American Idol auditions. WATCH VIDEO of some the show’s trainwrecks–plus some of our favorite contenders.
The Daily Beast
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