Yeah, Bo Bice technically lost American Idol's title to country girl Carrie Underwood last week. Still, she isn't America's only Southern sweetheart; Bo has scores of boosters, too, including us! When TVGuide.com got the 29-year-old Alabaman on the phone for a post-Idol debriefing, the poor dear sounded as if he'd just awoken from a much-needed nap. Maybe his whirlwind week has caught up to Bo, but we couldn't let the runner-up rocker's exhaustion keep us from quizzing him.
TVGuide.com: When can your fans expect an album?Bo Bice: Not too long. Should be out soon, hopefully. I'm still in the dark about it... haven't found anything out about it. But as soon as I know, you guys will know.
TVG: Will we get to hear you play guitar? Bice: Oh, yeah. Without a doubt.
TVG: Was it hard to perform without an instrument on Idol, since you're so accustomed to pla
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Both boosters and detractors of American Idol's Anthony Fedorov have called him this season's answer to Clay Aiken. But don't expect the formerly bespectacled 20-year-old to record anything like "Invisible." Although born in Ukraine and raised in suburban Pennsylvania, Fedorov — dubbed a "miracle boy" for singing in spite of his childhood tracheotomy — prefers music with a Latin flair. Should he land a recording contract, look for his debut album to be less Aiken, more Marc Anthony.
"I want to put out a bunch of really nice, beautiful ballads," Fedorov tells TVGuide.com, "but I hope to incorporate some Latin aspect, because my whole influence comes from Latin music. I'm looking forward to maybe mixing [that] with a rockish thing — like Bryan Adams, Richard Marx and Michael Bolton — and see where that takes me."
Well, it certainly sounds dif
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When critiquing American Idol's weekly performances, one judge's "pitchy" is often another's "perfection." So TV Guide asked three singing experts for their opinions. Renee Grant-Williams has worked with Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Christina Aguilera. Roger Love's clients include Eminem, Mandy Moore and Matchbox Twenty. Brett Manning has tuned up Keith Urban, Take 6 and such Broadway hits as Aida and Les Misérables. Here, they tick off which finalists hit the right notes and which deserve the least votes.Carrie UnderwoodRoger Love: "Though not original, her lovely sound nicely fits the pop-country genre, and this sweet face could be the next Faith Hill. But I'd suggest dance classes. Her stance is awkward and her overall vibe unsexy."Brett Manning: "She may only be generically good by
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As the final nine get set to strut their stuff on tonight's American Idol (8 pm/ET on Fox), we can't help but smile with satisfaction at the recollection of Anthony Fedorov following our advice last week. TVGuide.com suggested Fedorov might be "betterov" (sorry!) by losing the spectacles and donning contact lenses. The kid's got a cute face, after all. Sure enough, he stormed onstage last week to do "Something About the Way You Look Tonight," looking good sans the glasses.
Girls do make passes at guys who wear glasses, of course. The Ukraine-born Fedorov does have a girlfriend named Irina back home in Pennsylvania. But since we're doling out advice, we suggest Miss Irina keep an eye on her BF. Many a teenage heart has been melted by the "Miracle Boy's" tale of singing like a champ despite his childhood tracheotom
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Friends, family and fans of Fox's American Idol contestants have been gathering across America to party, swap stories, cheer and cast votes for their hometown heroes. We dropped in on three of these supercharged events.
Vonzell Solomon's Party
Fort Myers, Fla.
Local postal workers in this Gulf Coast city have been trading in their government-issue duds for the "Vonzell Solomon" uniform, complete with a big, blue button emblazoned with a photo of their favorite AI contestant.
They're out to support Solomon, a 20-year-old mail carrier. What started as a small gathering of coworkers has grown into hundreds of fans turning out to celebrate this local girl at five different places. On a recent Tuesday night, more than 70 people showed up at Hurricane Harry's bar and restaurant for one of the biggest Vonzell gatherings. Amid the faux-tiki hut decorations, fans stomp, clap and jump around as Vonzell belts out "Respect."
"It's like one of my
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What were you doing last Wednesday night, American Idol aficionados?
Whilst most fans were at home reeling from the latest quadruple elimination, Party Boy was attending Idol's annual Top 12 bash in West Hollywood, Calif. That's where the dozen remaining finalists were trotted out to celebrate their survival by schmoozing the press. Sadly, the warblers who were freshly cut that night were not invited — this soirée is for current contestants only. How's that for a Debbie Downer moment?
Oddly enough, AI host Ryan Seacrest was there mugging for the red carpet stalkerazzi, but none of the judges showed up. FYI, that's highly unusual. What gives? "Simon and Paula were ill," a Fox rep told Party Boy. "Randy had to catch a flight."
Mr. Cowell and Ms. Abdul were both sick? Hmm... One ailing
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