Carly Smithson by Frank Micelotta/Fox, Kristy Lee Cook by Frank Micelotta/Fox
It's been barely over a week since the American Idol tour got underway, but life on the road is already presenting its shining moments and its tougher aspects for the top ten singers. Two of the Idols, Kristy Lee Cook and Carly Smithson, talked to TVGuide.com about the mixed bag of hitting the road all summer long.One of the main challenges so far, each confided, is staying connected to their main squeezes. Kristy Lee, who got engaged during Season 7, said she hasn't seen her man at all. "I get to see him on the 10th, but I don't know if he's going to any of the other shows," she lamented, adding, "It's tough. We've had a few 'moments,' because he doesn't understand what's going on, but he's starting to get the picture when I'm like, 'I can't handle this!' But he's getting the picture that he needs to be supportive. He's starting to come around."Carly also admitted that her grueling tour and rehearsal schedule has been hard for both her and her husband. "The whole [thing of] not bei...
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David Archuleta and David Cook by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com
The American Idol tour officially kicked off in Arizona July 1, starting a summer-long bus odyssey of the continental U.S. On day seven of the journey, though, David Cook and David Archuleta are already feeling the heat of mega fandom that they ignited during Season 7 — albeit in their own ways.For starters, their tour performances represent their respective hot and cool approaches. Cook claims the audience response so far to Archie is already a tough act to follow. He told TVGuide.com, "It's always fun to go stand in the back and listen to the audience when he first comes out. Crowds have been really noisy for Archie. It's been really intimidating!" Archie maintains, however, that his performance is "laid back" versus Cook's, which is "really exciting and full of energy." Despite Cook's supposed fear factor, the tour's already trumping the AI competition days. "There's more of an immediate gratification," he confided. "The show, you perform, and then you've got 24 hours before...
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David Archuleta by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
OK, girls, Seventeen magazine asked American Idol runner-up David Archuleta the eternal question: when was your first kiss? "I haven't had a first kiss," he replied. Archie, 17, has let it be known before he feels he's not old enough to understand all the feelings that go along with a relationship. Any girls' fashion trends that confuse him? "I don't get those really short skirts," he told Seventeen. He doesn't have a celebrity crush, either ("I’ve always been against that because it's like you don’t even know who they are"), but lists Sara Bareilles as a celebrity he looks up to. Her song "Many the Miles" is the last tune he listened to on his iPod.In between sessions working on his new album, he plops on the couch to catch a few TV guilty pleasures. "I like cartoons," he said. "I like Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends [and] The Fairly OddParents."Most ironic of all? David A., who was introduced on the Idol finale as "weighing around 100 pounds, soaking wet", told the m...
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Kristy Lee Cook by Michael Becker/Fox
Move over Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler, there's a new hot blonde American Idol castoff in town! That's right, Kristy Lee Cook has inked a record deal with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville to create a country album that will drop later this fall. Cook, who finished seventh (and was lucky she made it that far considering Simon's constant disses), says, "I've wanted this for so many years. To have the chance to be a country singer — to make the music I love," and promises she'll do her best "to make [fans] proud."The leggy beauty, who was smart as a Fox to play up her country-loving side to the Idol audience by singing, among other songs, "Proud to Be an American," will release her first single, "15 Minutes of Shame," on August 11.So, will you be anxiously awaiting Kristy Lee's first single? Do you think the country music scene will suit her talents? — Erin FoxRelated• What's Life Like After Idol?• Check out Behind the Scenes Footage of the Idol Tour
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David Cook by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com; Kimberly Caldwell by Michael Bezjian/WireImage.com
If you do the math on the American Idol Live! tour, it looks something like this: 53 performances in 49 cities over 72 days adds up to no love life. But as David Cook gets ready to board the bus, he's not worried about the damper it may put on his relationship with former American Idol contestant Kimberly Caldwell. "I get to do what I love and love what I do, so no, it doesn't put a damper on anything," he told TV Guide between rehearsals and wardrobe fittings. "Kim's great," Cook continued. "She's got a little bit of insight on it which definitely helps."The two met as Caldwell interviewed Cook on the TV Guide Network before his final performance on Idol, and if there's anyone familiar with the Fox series' freight train and understanding of its demands, it's the Season 2 songstress. "We seem to compliment each other really well," says Cook. "She's very supportive, and not only with me but with my entire family, which is huge. She's great." Looks like Idol plus Idol equals a perfect...
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Ruben Studdard by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Former American Idol champ Ruben Studdard on Saturday married his girlfriend of two years, Surata Zuri McCants, in Alabama. Reportedly, Studdard didn't sing at the event, but he was flanked by 20 groomsmen for the 30-minute ceremony that included an exchange of vows, prayers, and music from a string ensemble. The couple kept their wedding look classic, with a traditional tux for the groom and a white and ivory dress for the bride. Studdard is said to have met McCants at a 2006 CD-signing in a Wal-Mart. He found her in the toy aisle and got her digits. Big congrats to the Velvet Teddy Bear and his new wife. Risks sometimes do pay off. — Anna DimondRelated:• Ruben Studdard Gets Closer to Tying the Knot• Hot videos: Catch up with your Idol faves!
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Blake Lewis CD cover art courtesy Arista/J Records
We have a new record! After only seven months since his album hit stores, former Idol runner-up Blake Lewis has parted ways with his label, Arista Records, making it the shortest relationship and Idoler has ever had with any label. The Season 6 beatboxer did, however, make it clear to MTV News that he wasn't dropped. "My contract with Arista is up, and they didn't option me, so I'm with 19 Recordings and we're working on booking a tour," says Lewis. But don't think a little thing like parting ways with his label is going to keep this musician down. Lewis has already written four songs for his new sophomore LP that's in the works, and the artist says he may release the disc through his own label which he's working on launching. "I guess in the world of radio, selling 300,000 is not a success," explained Lewis. I beg to differ. I couldn't be happier, and my fans are amazing and super-supportive." — Gina DiNunnoRelated:• Idol's Season 8 Audition Sites Include Puerto Rico•...
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Auditions for the eighth season of American Idol kick off Thursday, July 17, in San Francisco, Calif., and will continue in seven other cities (as follows): Thursday, July 17San Francisco, Calif., at the Cow PalaceMonday, July 21Louisville, Ky., at Freedom Hall Friday, July 25 Phoenix, Ariz., at the Jobing.com ArenaTuesday, July 29 Salt Lake City, Utah, at the EnergySolutions ArenaSaturday, Aug. 2San Juan, Puerto Rico, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Friday, Aug. 8 Kansas City, Mo., at the Sprint CenterWednesday, Aug. 13Jacksonville, Fla., at the Veterans Memorial Arena Tuesday, Aug. 19East Rutherford, N.J., at the IZOD Center at the MeadowlandsMen and women age 16-28 (as of July 15, 2008) and who are eligible to work in the U.S. (and whose dads aren't too hands-on...) may throw their pipes into the ring. Visit AmericanIdol.com for specifics. — Matt MitovichRelated:• Hot Videos: Catch up with your Season 7 Idol faves
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Are you ready? I can't hear you.... I said, Are you ready?! Are you ready for your Season 7 American Idol favorites to rock a city near you? YoungHollywood.com visited with this year's finalists during their rehearsals for the tour. Find out if the boys or girls are messier, which cities they look forward to visiting, and more!I bet you want to know what life is like post-Idol, right? Lucky for you, we've got another YoungHollywood.com vid that addresses that topic right here! Awww... how much have you missed seeing these guys' faces every week?Are you going to catch the Idols on tour? — Erin FoxRelated• Use Our Online Video Guide to Watch More American Idol
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Surata Zuri McCants and Ruben Studdard by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
Crooner Ruben Studdard is getting closer to tying the knot with fiancée Surata Zuri McCants. The Season 2 Idol winner and McCants on Monday obtained a marriage license in Alabama. The pair was seen filling out the paperwork midday at the Shelby County Probate Office in Birmingham. Studdard has not publicly announced a wedding date, but the licenses are apparently valid in the state for 30 days (so the countdown is on!). Now we can only wonder if he'll be singing at his own wedding — maybe with a little help from his Idol friends? — Anna DimondUse our Online Video Guide to see some of Studdard's performances.
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