Most of you remember last week's Idol results show when Fantasia busted onto stage like a whirlwind, leaving the cameras no choice but to show Simon's jaw-dropping reaction. Yesterday, the Idol judge explained his shocked expression on Ellen. And in reference to whether or not he thinks Fantasia will ever speak to him again after the incident, his response was in true Simon fashion — jerky! — Gina DiNunno
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Taylor Hicks by Jim Spellman/ WireImage.com
Our favorite gray-haired, funky-dancing, soulful-singing American Idol winner Taylor Hicks will join the Broadway cast of Grease on June 6, reports the AP. You'd think the former Idol, who's been missing in action since losing his deal with J Records after selling a respectable 702K albums, would go after a part like sexy Danny Zuko or troublemaker Kenickie. But, no, this Idol winner wants to be your Teen Angel, and plans to add his trademark soulful sound to his version of "Beauty School Dropout."Hicks joins a growing list of former Idols who have joined Broadway shows, including Fantasia (The Color Purple), Clay Aiken (Spamalot), Tamyra Gray (Rent) and more. Hicks considers his debut "the opportunity of a lifetime," and a great way to season his skills as a performer. And coming up this summer, Hicks will be finishing up his second album where he "had creative freedom and the time to write some of the best music that I've ever writen." And even though he's sans record deal, he add...
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Hello everyone its me Erin Fox Thank you to so many bloggers who welcomed me back and enjoyed reading my post Thanks also to those of you wearing your cranky pants and calling me catty for wanting to draw whiskers on David Archuletas little baby face Heh catty about whiskers makes me laugh Just having a little fun guys try to relax PS Shizzle is supposed to sound ridiculousOn to the show Ryan does a nice job reminding the audience including many Idol cast-offs like Amanda Overmyer and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber that making it this far and not winning will be devastating Thanks for that Ry He also tells Cowell to button up his shirt because this is a TV-G rated show This is terribly ironic considering Paulas boobs are about to leap out of her dress and choreograph a number of their own Next were treated to a short and lame music video set to How Far Is Heaven featuring the reflection of David A in a large pool Thank goodness we wont have to see
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Hey guys Erin Fox here again First off I still have no news about Nina and her baby which means shes dealing with some seriously long labor I thought for sure shed have him last night but alas Baby Boy Hammerling-Smith is a stubborn little guy Send lots of positive thoughts her way Secondly I know all about Chikezie-gate 2008 I swear he was not left out intentionally it was just computer error as in my computer kept crashing and I had to keep re-entering my recap it was not a fun time at my house late last night Poor Chikezie was temporarily dissed but I made sure to add him back as soon as I couldNow I have to admit something I hate the elimination shows I never watch them I just cant stand the cheesy group numbers and bad product placement videos But lets hope they prove me wrong and Im thoroughly entertained We start with Ryan making a pretty huge announcement The four mentors this year include Dolly Parton Andrew Lloyd Webber Neil Diamo
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Katharine McPhee and Chris Daughtry courtesy Fox
I have never seen any show transcend the boundaries of age, race, religion, weight and politics as beautifully as American Idol has in the past six years. I can discuss it with my husband's 70-year-old uncle (who thinks Sanjaya should be shot), my cabdriver (who cries when he hears Kat McPhee), my gynecologist (who thinks Paula's hysterical... in a bad way), and my 6- and 4-year-old cousins, who think the sun rises and sets with Simon Cowell. That's right, you heard me, they like Simon (not to mention all the cute boys on the show). So I asked some of my peeps what they thought were some of the best moments from American Idol, and this is what we came up with. — Erin FoxKelly Clarkson, "Stuff Like That There" | Watch on YouTubeThis was not only the moment I knew Kelly would win the first Idol title, it was the moment I knew she could literally sing anything.Fantasia Barrino, "Summertime" | Watch on YouTube I don't think there was a dry eye in America after this stunning, gooseb...
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Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
With her star-making turn in Dreamgirls, American Idol also-ran Jennifer Hudson bests Fantasia, makes Simon eat crow and stirs up some Oscar buzz. Here, her Q&A with TV Guide.
TV Guide: You play Effie in Dreamgirls, based on the story of Florence Ballard, who was overshadowed by Diana Ross and pushed out of the Supremes. You were the first of American Idol 3's "Three Divas" to go. Do you see a parallel? Hudson: Between Fantasia Barrino, LaToya London and me, I was the biggest girl. The one who doesn't have the "image" alwa
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Mandisa, American Idol
Irony alert! Last Wednesday Nashville's own Mandisa Hundley was the casualty of country-music week on Fox's American Idol (Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9 pm/ET), as her rendition of Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine" failed to make the entire judging panel (or, apparently, the voting public) effuse.
Defending the song choice — and addressing Simon's reaction to it in particular — Mandisa says, "I know that he does not care for country or for that song too much, but I absolutely love it and don't have any regrets. I think it's a great song and I think that whoever wrote it is brilliant."
If only all the debates Mandisa had to contend with during her Idol engagement were so tidy. Having prefaced her previous week's
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Not all American Idol eliminees fade into obscurity. Of course, most of 'em go out promising to make an album — no matter what that nasty Simon says — and then end up like Justin Guarini instead. Tamyra Gray is the exception to the rule. Just look at all this 24-year-old junior diva has accomplished...
Formerly Miss Atlanta 1998, she made the final four in AI 2. Later, she scored TV guest-starring gigs, including Tru Calling, Half & Half and a memorable seven-episode stint on Boston Public. Her album The Dreamer recently debuted at No. 16 on Billboard's R&B/hip-hop chart. Plus, AI winner Fantasia Barrino can be heard singing "I Believe" — her victory song co-written by Gray — in constant radio rotation. Not bad, huh?
"I'm so proud of Fantasia," Gray says. "She's so great and did it so beautifully. I was rooting for both [her and Diana DeGarmo]
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So what if Clay Aiken's Measure of a Man outsold Ruben Studdard's Soulful album. (Billboard says Clay's peddled 2.5 million discs vs. Ruben's 1.7 million so far, if you really wanna know.) The larger-than-life winner of American Idol 2 isn't bitter and harbors no regrets over his runner-up's success. "None at all," he insists. "My album's doing great, and I don't live in a busted apartment anymore! Everything is wonderful. God is just really blessing me."
Studdard says his post-Idol career has been "everything I expected and more. I've always wanted to do what I'm doing right now. I've never had any aspirations for another career for myself. American Idol afforded me the opportunity to live out all of my dreams, and I'm pretty sure it's gonna be the same for Fantasia."
Speaking of Ms. Barrino, did he mind turning over the crown to the current AI winner? "I don't think that's the case," he
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OK, all you incurable American Idol addicts. In yesterday's Insider, you read Fantasia Barrino's reflections on the eve of her final showdown with Diana DeGarmo. Last night, Miss Fanny ended up victorious! Backstage at the Kodak Theater, TV Guide Online was there when girlfriend strolled into the press room — barefoot, natch — for her post-victory Q&A. As always, the 19-year-old single mom was a total trip-and-a-half.
Now that you're guaranteed a record contract and lotsa money, what will you do first?Fantasia Barrino: [Laughs] The only thing I want to do is go to an all-you-can-eat restaurant!
But seriously, folks...Fantasia: My grandmother has her own day care, where I used to help out. She wouldn't pay me, but she would bless me and say, "I know you need things for Zion, so here's change to go get it." I always had to borrow money from people to get w
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