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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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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Simon Cowell by Michael Becker/Fox
Meeting the press to promote the new season of NBC's America's Got Talent (premiering June 17 at 9 pm/ET), Simon Cowell inevitably was swarmed with Idol-related queries. Here is what the outspoken Brit had to say about:It All Coming Down to David vs. David"It's what I genuinely believe will happen. I think you're going to have a real scrap on the night. Without either of them being a red-hot favorite, [the winner] will be [determined by] what happens on the night, and that's what the show is all about."The Davids' Weaknesses"I don't think they've got too many. I think David Cook has got the best voice and David Archuleta's got the teen and the gran[dma] appeal. [They're] very equal."Jason's Surprising Longevity"He's got a great face. If he looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, he still wouldn't be there, would he? But that's the music business. He's had some very good weeks, to be fair. He just struggled with Andrew Lloyd Webber and, in particular, Neil Diamond. It almost felt a...
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American Idol by Michael Becker/Fox
You'd figure that the fierceness of the competition has been wearing down on these guys for quite some time now — but that doesn't stop the elite few Idols from showing their goofy side in a behind-the-scenes video. And the question posed to the Top 7 (this was filmed before Carly and Kristy Lee got the boot) — what superpower would you want to possess?Watch the video now!
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Despite really finding her niche the last several weeks, Kristy Lee Cook's American Idol journey came to an end last Wednesday. But the newly-engaged singer was all smiles when she stopped by our offices for a quick chat. In the video below, Kristy Lee sounds off on losing her horse, cage fighting and why she's putting her career before her marriage. — Adam Bryant
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During an interview yesterday morning on Regis and Kelly, the latest ousted-Idol, Kristy Lee Cook, revealed a sad bit of news to Reeg. After she sold her beloved horse, Montana, to pay for her trip to the Idol auditions, she figured she'd go back for the horse post-competition with no issue retrieving her buddy. But wouldn't you know it, Kristy Lee has tried and the guy won't sell. She should definitely cage-fight him for custody (you'll get the joke after you watch the video)!Your take: Do you think the buyer should in a sense 'have a heart' and sell Kristy her horse back since it's only been a short time? Or do you think the buyer's in the right?
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Kristy Lee Cook by Frank Micelotta/Fox
Despite having found her stride in recent weeks (not to mention getting a wedding proposal after her ousting), last night was Kristy Lee Cook's final one as an Idol contestant. Thursday, she found herself giving exit interviews, and reflected on the highs and lows of her Idol run, plus what she sees on the horizon. After multiple weeks in the bottom three, repeated verbal beat-downs from Simon and now being off the show, Cook says the experience made her a stronger person. "It's tough being in the bottom three," she conceded, but she grew a thicker skin. "I got a little tougher each time," she explained, "and finally, learned to control the emotions." Sometimes, though, Cook could not just keep quiet, like, for instance, when she called Simon a "butt." Cook explained, "He's got his own little remarks that are not very nice to people, and after a time, it kind of builds up. So I just was saying a nice word but telling him he's a little butt sometimes, he's a little brat. I was debat...
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Kristy Lee Cook courtesy Fox
Kristy Lee Cook may not be your American Idol, but she's one fella's bride-to-be. Cook's beau, Andrew Dobner, actually first (and I presume successfully) proposed marriage back on March 17, and then repeated the gesture on Wednesday night after his 24-year-old honey was sent packing. "He actually got down on his knee this time," Cook shared in a day-after-dismissal press conference call. "He owed it to me!"Maybe the dude was just feeling a bit insecure after KLC warbled her goodbye song to Simon? I saw sparks, baby! — MWM
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Ryan opens the show with a warning Knowing what happened to Michael Johns last week no one is safe anymore Thanks a--hole we remember that you tortured Michael by telling him no one was kicked off last year during Idol Gives Back and then you kicked him off OK I know it wasnt you Ryan but still did you have to do it in such a douche-y wayThe Idols sing Mariah Careys hit One Sweet Day starting off with Jason Castro He gets a nice solo but I feel like hes phoning it in Kristy Lee is totally singing through her nose but man is she workin her outfit She will totally pull a Pickler and take the country world by storm The rest of the Idols do a nice job but I kind of think picking a song about shining down on me from heaven must be so hard for David Cook to sing considering his brother is so sick But hes pro and sings with all his heart Side note Is Syeshas hair getting taller with every show Is David As getting spikierWere shown high
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Yeah yeah ye-ah dawgs Mariah Carey is in the house OK that was not my best Randy impersonation but its not really my fault that his Dawg Pound talk doesnt translate well to print Good evening its Erin Fox and Ill be blogging my little Idol heart out tonight It looks like the audience is pumped and ready to see Mariah in action mentoring our Top 7 The camera also pans to Minnie Driver a plug for The Riches no doubt and Teri Hatcher with her daughter Emerson Rose The Idols look super-fancy tonight Its about time they didnt look like they were getting clothes from the Forever 21 sale rack Ooh snapWere treated to a musical montage of Mariahs musical and career highlights I wonder how many times Randy will be referenced as her producer We get it Randy you work with cool people The awesome thing is Mariah is surprisingly sweet and down-to-earth Each of her meetings with the Idols seems genuinely helpful and real Im really impressed Bravo Mi
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