Idol Chatter

Foreigner Is Not Foreign To Chris

2008-08-19T16:00:00Z

This sounds cool & cheesy at the same time....

Aug 18 2008 8:38 PM EDT

Chris Daughtry Covers Foreigner's 'Feels Like The First Time' For CNN Voter Initiative

'He's got the range and the power to really do it convincingly,' guitarist Mick Jones says of 'American Idol' alum.

By Chris Harris

Chris Daughtry, the Grammy-nominated artist who lost to Taylor Hicks (remember him?) on the fifth season of "American Idol," and CNN, the 'round-the-clock cable news channel that made Wolf Blitzer a household name: It's a strange pairing, but one that began six months ago, when Foreigner's Mick Jones was approached about a little song he once wrote.

"CNN contacted me about this whole thing they're doing for the election — trying to encourage people to vote — and they told us they were approaching Chris for the project," Jones told MTV News in an exclusive interview Monday (August 18), about Daughtry's cover of the 1977 hit "Feels Like the First Time." "I'm a big fan of his. He's got a great voice, and I thought it would be a really good idea. So I just gave my blessing to the project, and they took it from there."

Daughtry's take on "First Time," which was recorded in April with producer Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, All-American Rejects), will not only appear on Daughtry Deluxe, a re-release of his band's gazillion-selling 2006 debut, but it will also serve as the theme for the network's League of First Time Voters initiative, designed to get first-time voters excited about the upcoming election — one Jones realizes is important for America.

"It really is a huge crossroads for America," Jones said. "I think people have come to realize what a big mistake the last time they'd voted was — it might have been, anyway. There are two very viable candidates, as far as I'm concerned, and there is one who will be a revolutionary candidate in a way and change the direction of America, and I think the more people that get out there to vote, that's extremely important."

According to Jones, Daughtry was one of the only singers who could have re-created the song and done it justice.

"It's a song that requires a really strong voice to carry it off, and he's got the range and the power to really do it convincingly," Jones said. "I don't think there are that many singers around at the moment that could really nail it. ... Out of all the singers of that style, he's the strongest. He's just a great singer all around. It doesn't matter what style it is, he could pretty much sing anything."

Jones said he heard Daughtry's version just recently and was blown away by how well the finished product turned out. "I think it's not too far away from the original," he said. "They've modernized it a bit — brought it up to today's standards, with the sound and arrangement too. ... When I heard it, it made me think back to when we recorded the original. It was pretty exciting at the time, and I sort of got the same feeling when I heard Chris' version."

Foreigner, who will be on tour through mid-November in support of the recently released No End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner — a collection that features the band's first piece of new material in years — will be hitting the studio this fall to begin recording their first LP since 1994's Mr. Moonlight. Jones said that the yet-untitled effort will most likely land in stores sometime in late spring.

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APPEARANCES BY AI THIS WEEK:

Wednesday--------Jordin Sparks is on GOOD MORNING AMERICA

Little David is on REGIS(repeat)

Kyle Ensley(remember him??) is on ELLEN

Thursday-----------New Daddy Clay is on RACHAEL RAY (repeat)

Friday--------------Kimberley Locke is on ELLEN(Portia's Better Half)

American In Vitro

2008-08-11T16:26:00Z

Congrats to our friend Clay:

The Clay Baby Is Born

Fri., Aug. 8, 2008 11:02 AM PDT by Gina Serpe

Michael Tweed/ZUMA Press, WB

Good news, Claymates: The Claynation has welcomed its first heir.

Clay Aiken and platonic baby-making partner Jaymes Foster welcomed their first child together in North Carolina this morning.

"I'm sure you know...I hate putting the cast before the horse," AIken wrote on his site. "Not my way to tempt fate. But I wanted to stop by, if only for a second, so you could be the first folks I tell...HE'S HERE!

"My dear friend, Jaymes, and I are so excited to announce the birth of Parker Foster Aiken (No hyphens. One first name. One middle name. One last name)."

Aiken also confirmed what his mother, Faye Aiken, let slip earlier this morning.

"Parker was born at a hospital in North Carolina just this morning at 8:08 a.m. Wow...8:08...08/08/08," he wrote, adding that the tyke tipped the scales at 6 pounds, 2 ounces and measured in at 19 inches.

"The little man is healthy, happy, and as loud as his daddy. Mama Jaymes is doing quite well also. The Aiken family, the Foster family, and the Parker family are all thrilled."

Parker is the surname of Aiken's late stepfather, whom the singer has frequently credited with helping raise him.

The American Idol alum's mother turned proud grandma was the very first to announce the new arrival this morning, phoning in to Raleigh radio station WRAL.

The elder Aiken said the newborn did not inherit dad's fiery red mop, instead sporting dark hair. Upon seeing his progeny, the "Measure of a Man" singer was "smiling from ear to ear," she said.

Foster's pregnancy was confirmed in May by a rep for her brother, legendary music kingpin David Foster. He verified what everyone was thinking and announced that the "couple" had conceived the child through in vitro fertilization.

Aiken, 29, and Jaymes Foster, whose age has been pegged somewhere around the 50-year mark, have been friends for years. She worked on several Aiken albums, including A Thousand Different Ways and On My Way Here.

Although theirs is not a romantic relationship, the duo plan to raise the baby together.

(Originally published on Aug. 8, 2008, at 8:05 a.m. PT.)

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also, Kat McPhee will be on JIMMY KIMMEL this Tuesday(repeat) & REGIS this Friday(not a repeat)

Hooray For Our Davids!!

2008-08-06T14:39:00Z

Good news in AI Davidland:

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/08/david-archuleta.html

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/08/david-cook-rob.html

Making Other Plans for Nigel

2008-08-05T15:00:00Z

Could this be an omen or not????

'American Idol' producer leaves show

Story Highlights
Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe leaves "American Idol" to start enterprise
Lythgoe also produces and helps judge "So You Think You Can Dance?"
"American Idol" average viewers dropped slightly to 28.4 million last season
Fox says it is "disappointed" Lythgoe will not be continuing as producer

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A key "American Idol" producer who's guided the top-rated TV show since its debut is leaving the job as the Fox juggernaut faces the challenge of staying on top in its eighth season.

Nigel Lythgoe is negotiating a joint-venture deal with "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller and 19 Entertainment, the company announced Monday.

The smiling, blond-haired Englishman, who could often be spotted on-camera sitting behind the "American Idol" judges' row, is familiar to viewers on "So You Think You Can Dance?", which he produces and helps judge.

"I will step back from my day-to-day producing work on 'American Idol' and will be devoting my time" to the new enterprise, Lythgoe said in a statement.

The change comes as "American Idol" jockeys to keep its hold on the No. 1 ratings spot, a rare feat for an aging show, and after last season's small ratings downturn and an unsettling audience shift.

The series averaged 28.4 million weekly viewers last season compared to the 30.8 million who watched during its highest-rated year, 2005-06.

Viewership for the May finale with winner David Cook and runner-up David Archuleta was the second-highest for the show in five years, but dropped slightly from last year among 18-to-49-year-old viewers -- an indication that the "American Idol" audience is aging.

Fox congratulated Lythgoe on his new venture but acknowledged it was "disappointed" that he would not be continuing as executive producer.

"He is an extraordinarily talented producer whose creative contributions to the No. 1 show on television have been immeasurable," the network said in a statement.

It was unclear whether Lythgoe will continue to have a hand in "American Idol." His fellow executive producer, Ken Warwick, also has worked on the show from the beginning.

Asked what roles Lythgoe and Warwick might have with the show when it returns next January, 19 Entertainment spokesman Eric Green said the producers for next season have yet to be decided.

National auditions for the singing contest's new season are under way.

In a statement, Fuller called Lythgoe "the best producer I have ever worked with" and noted they have collaborated for more than 10 years. Fuller heads 19 Entertainment, which produces "American Idol" with FremantleMedia North America.

TV, film and stage projects all will be on the table for Fuller and Lythgoe's new enterprise, Green said.

The two created the "So You Think You Can Dance?" contest series, which airs on Fox.

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Did anyone watch the Teen Choice Awards? AI was apparently well represented on the show...

later.....pguy

Babs & AI????

2008-07-31T15:16:00Z

Now wouldn't this be special?!!

Streisand on ‘Idol’?

Tribune Media Services
Updated: 07/30/08 6:33 AM

Associated Press Who caresses a ballad more exquisitely than Barbra Streisand? Click to view a larger picture

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“T ^otell the truth, it hurt my pride/The groom was prettier than the bride/Oh, Sadie, Sadie — married lady that’s me.” Barbra Streisand in “Funny Girl,” tries to convince us that Fanny Brice is not attractive.

But of course, photographed by Howard Stradling and costumed by Irene Sharaff, Barbra looks ravishing — why wouldn’t Omar Sharif fall for her? And as we all know, he fell for her in real life, too. (But that’s nothing. In real life I once interviewed Mr. Sharif in Paris while he lay enticingly on a bed with his trousers unzipped. He was just a guy who was ever-ready.)

I have a little rumor about Barbra. Something exciting and amusing. I hear that Barbra has agreed to appear on “American Idol” next year! Like other big stars who have been special guests on “Idol,” Barbra would sing and perhaps give a bit of advice to the youngsters competing for the big prize.

I called Barbra’s admirable press rep, *** Guttman. He said, “I have never heard such a rumor, I don’t know anything about it.” So, that’s kind of a denial. (He has never heard it as a rumor because ... maybe it’s a fact?!) But I also realize that sometimes the press rep is the last to know. This can lead to hard feelings between the press and the star-protectors. “You lied!” we complain. “I didn’t!” the rep insists. “She/he does what he/she wants to do!” Mr. Guttman, who also handles Elizabeth Taylor, has always been a straight shooter.

Barbra changed management recently — though she retains Marty Erlichman, her main man behind the scenes for her entire career. An “American Idol” stint would give her oomph and exposure. Of course, her appearance might actually end “American Idol” on the spot. The interpreter par excellence of great American standards on the same stage with a lot of kids who, I am sorry to say, don’t know how to leave a song alone. (All that multi-octave showing off.) When Barbra hits one of those stratospheric notes, it has a musical point; she’s not just making a big noise to show she can. And who caresses a ballad more exquisitely than Streisand?

Anyway, it’s a rumor. We checked. We’ll see.

Bo Knows Mid-State

2008-07-28T16:22:00Z

"Come & see me at the Fair!"

Bo Bice

The California Mid-State Fair is pleased to announce that Bo Bice has been signed to perform at the 2008 Fair.

Bo Bice, best known for being “American Idol’s” Season 4 runner-up, will bring his SEE THE LIGHT tour to the Budweiser Fort Frontier Stage on Monday, July 28th at 6:30p and 8:30p. All shows on this stage are free with your paid admission to the CMSF.

The Bo Bice people saw on “American Idol” and heard on the subsequent gold-certified album THE REAL THING was just a taste of the broad and deep spectrum of music the Alabama-born singer has a passionate drive to write and sing. On SEE THE LIGHT, the first release on the Sugar Money/StratArt Records label, he promises we are getting to hear "the genuine Bo." Don’t miss an exciting night with the man you fell in love with on “American Idol!”

For more information please contact the Paso Robles Event Center Administration Office at (805) 239-0655. The 2008 California Mid-State Fair will run July 23 – August 3, with the theme “Country Days and Rockin’ Nights.”

'member...it's free!

Appearances By AI People This Week

Monday-------Carly on ELLEN(repeat alert)

Wednesday----Katharine McPhee on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE

Friday---------Elliot on RACHAEL RAY(repeat)

Phil & A.J. : Friends Forever

2008-07-21T19:12:00Z

"Hey, did you see me in Santa Maria yesterday, hanging out with my Santa Maria homeboy @ that auto place? And we did that cool duet together! Pretty hot stuff & it was for a good cause: autism research. Talk to you later, but check back here for a video from that performance."

Wow, how did Mr. Mount Baldy get on this here blog? Oh well, he is a cool guy, after all, once he found his niche(country music)....

Some more 'cool' stuff:

Americanidol.com caught up with Ace Young in New York City in a stretch limo as he set off for Connecticut to do the CD release party at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Ace’s self-titled debut album Ace Young which hit stores today has already received rave reviews from Billboard.com which praised its “sleekly funky soundscapes.”

Understandably, Ace was enthusiastic about the release of Ace Young. “It’s a dream come true to be able to say my album is in stores and available when I created it the way I wanted to and partnered with a guy as amazing as Desmond Child.” With a career spanning three decades and amazing diversity from KISS to Kelly Clarkson, Desmond Child is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. We asked Ace what it was like to work with such a legend. “In the beginning, it was like going to songwriting camp because he’s written for his whole life. As far as myself, I’ve been writing since I was nine years old but I haven’t written “Dude Looks Like A Lady” or “Living On A Prayer”, “Crazy,” for Aerosmith. So I was quiet in the beginning and just took it all in." But quickly Ace felt comfortable with the collaboration. "It was nice to know that I was a big part of it because Desmond couldn’t steer the song the right way without me, and at the same point, both of us coming together made it really what the album is, which is a cross between the rock and the indie influences which have created me musically.”

The debut album stands out partly for the number of original songs written specifically for it. We asked Ace about the collaborative process. “I wrote with Desmond Child, Andreas Carlson, Kellie Ingstrum and Diane Warren even wrote a ballad on the album called, “You Redeem Me.” She wrote it specifically for the album. She had it on hold on for Lenny Kravitz and when I heard it I said, “Can I cut it to see how it sounds?” She was totally open to the idea and once we recorded it, it brought the whole song to life.” Which of course means that should Lenny Kravitz now choose to perform the song, he will be doing an “Ace cover.”

Another fascinating element of the album is the amount of travel both here in the States and abroad in Sweden that went into its recording. As Ace explained, “I covered the whole country and it’s something you hear on the album. It goes through R&B, Indie and Rock. The only thing that keeps the album consistent is me.” Also interesting are the personal elements in the album. Ace explained that “Addicted” was written about his oldest brother’s drug addiction. “Every song has a deeper meaning.”

Ace also told us how his acting performance on the TV show “Bones” evolved from what was intended to be just a background figure in the crowd to being a full guest star. “I hung out with the producers and they asked if I could sing a song like this... and I said, 'sure.' And then they asked if I could say a certain line angry, and I said 'sure.' And then they said, ‘How’d you like to be a guest star on the show?’ And I said, “Well, it’s Bones, so long as you show me dead.” The producers clearly agreed because in the end, Ace was portrayed decapitated with one eye hanging out. “My nephews were so scared, they called me to see if I was okay.” In addition to his musical career, Ace plans to continue pursuing acting opportunities in the future.

Finally, recalling the roots of his fame, Ace offered advice to American Idol auditioners who begin this week in San Francisco, “Pick a song you’re very comfortable with, do your best, and be aware that your whole life can change within a year’s time.” Hopefully Ace’s success on Idol and now with his debut CD will inspire those who are setting out on their journeys.

Take a look at the amazing transformation Ace experienced back in Season 5!

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And believe it or not, Season 8 auditions have begun. Are any of you out there trying out? Good luck & please, please, please(with apologies to the late,great James Brown) share your experiences.

Here is the audition schedule:

Thursday, July 17

San Francisco, CA

The Cow Palace

Monday, July 21

Louisville, KY

Freedom Hall

Friday, July 25

Phoenix, AZ

Jobing.com Arena

Tuesday, July 29

Salt Lake City, UT

EnergySolutions Arena

Saturday, August 2

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Coliseo de Puerto Rico

Friday, August 8

Kansas City, MO

Kemper Arena

Wednesday, August 13

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena

Tuesday, August 19

East Rutherford, NJ

IZOD Center at the Meadowlands

and a ET report on the auditions:

http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/07/63490/index.html

AI People Appearances This Week

Monday--------JHud on GMA

Our favorite nanny on ELLEN(repeat alert)

Wednesday-----JHud(again) on REGIS

Thursday-------Our favorite Aussie & our favorite Gaelic gal on ELLEN(repeat alert..again)

That's all, folks!

Tour of Duty

2008-07-07T16:15:00Z

Oh how prompterguy wishes that he could cover the AI LIVE Tour & it's in LA tonight(Monday 7/7)!!! One of the producers @ KCOY, Sara Cole, is actually going to it & can we admit---make believe that this is the MOMENT OF TRUTH--- that we are a tiny bit jealous. Shocking revelation! Anyway, we hope that Ms. Cole has fun & thinks of the lowly ole prompterguy back @ the ranch....

BTW, the tour began last Tuesday(7/1) in Glendale, AZ(where Jordin is from) & here's a local review of that show:

'American Idol' tour hits the right notes in Glendale

by Randy Cordova - Jul. 2, 2008 10:31 AM
The Arizona Republic

Talk about fixing what was broken. In previous outings, the annual American Idol tour featured the season’s top 10 contestants performing a large amount of group numbers. Anyone who has ever watched the TV show can attest to a simple fact: The group numbers suck. Every year, there are a few contestants who display no noticeable dancing ability. Others can’t harmonize to save their lives. It doesn’t help that the group numbers feature the kind of imaginative choreography that you usually find on Brady Bunch reruns.

This year, the tour producers made the wise move of eliminating virtually all group numbers. There were only two spots featuring the ensemble during the tour’s opening night on Tuesday at Jobing.com Arena. Winner David Cook did a five-song set; runner-up David Archuleta got four tunes and the remaining cast members each got three. That meant the show moved along at a fairly lively pace and some performers got to display more personality than they showed on screen. The show ran nearly two-and-a-half hours (with an intermission), but felt shorter.

The concert worked like a countdown, with the No. 10 ranked finalist going first. Good thing it was one-named Chikezie, who worked the large stage like a pro. He benefited from the format, opening with a growling rendition of Donny Hathaway’s “I Believe to My Soul.” It was the perfect way to start the night, as he quickly sailed through Usher’s “Caught Up” and a terrific version of John Legend’s “So High” that showcased an awesome falsetto. OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1')

Unfortunately, the occasional weakness of the show’s structure was evident once finalist No. 9 entered. Ramiele Malubay was dressed like an exile from a Michael Jackson video, as she sported black patent leather boots, tight black pants and black wrist cuffs. It was oddly appropriate, because she sang the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” in bland karaoke fashion. She attempted some choreographed steps with two backing singers, but never appeared entirely comfortable. She also tended to move away from the mike while singing, which didn’t help her voice project through the crowded arena. If Chikezie was like a partygoer who leaves too soon; Ramiele was a dinner guest who won’t depart until two hours after dessert is served.

Fortunately, most of the Idols had more to offer. Aussie Michael Johns came off as capable but bland, with a fondness for arena–rock clichés – did he have to pump his fist in the air so much? Still, the audience loved him. Kristy Lee Cook, who didn’t make much of an impression on TV, thrived in concert, as she offered a sassy, hip-wriggling presentation that would go over big with a Nashville crowd. She repeated her Idol trademark of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” and dedicated it to any veterans in the house. Considering the huge number of adolescents in the arena, one guesses that veterans made up a very small part of the crowd.

Tattooed Carly Smithson opened with a loud and powerful take on Evanescence's “Bring Me to Life.” She is prettier than she appears on TV, and smaller, too. However, one imagines her lungs must take up a good portion of her body due to the sheer power she displayed. She closed with a killer version of the Cyndi Lauper favorite “I Drove All Night” that chugged along at a hypnotic pace.

The big news for the Valley was the return of Phoenix native Brooke White, who finished fifth on the show. The audience roared its approval and greeted her with a standing ovation. Sitting barefoot at the piano, she earned the honors with a soulful “Let It Be” that inspired goose bumps. White looked gorgeous and her personality was infectious: “It’s good to be home!” she enthused, and you could tell that she meant it. She picked up the guitar for Feist's whimsical "1, 2, 3, 4," then closed with a glowing (no pun intended) version of Coldplay’s “Yellow.” She may never become a huge star, but White’s joyful integrity and musical smarts should guarantee her a solid career in the Melissa Manchester/Carole King mode.

After an intermission, dreadlocked Jason Castro charmed his way through a ukulele-driven “Over the Rainbow,” an inspired interpretation of Gnarls Barkley's “Crazy” and the hazy mellowness of “Daydream.” He is so unslick and well-meaning, it is hard not to like him. On the other hand, every move Syesha Mercado made appeared to be choreographed down to her last hand gesture. That’s not a knock; the contrast between her Vegas-ready style and Castro’s coffeehouse charms simply jumped out due to being placed back-to-back in the show. She closed with Beyonce’s “Listen” and turned the tune into a personal mantra that successfully whipped the crowd up.

If she exited to cheers, things hit ear-piercing levels when David Archuleta hit the stage. I always rooted for the kid on the show; on stage, he’s equally impressive. He opened at the piano with Robbie Williams’ “Angels” and the purity and range of his voice was breathtaking. Then he took the dark angst of OneRepublic's “Apologize” to illustrate how versatile his voice is and how it can be placed in different settings. Strangely, the only weak spot was the closer: Josh Groban’s “When You Say You Love Me” is the kind of drippy song that he needs to stay away from, because he is capable of so much more. He also needs a new fashion coordinator: The shiny black slacks – were they leather? – and a jacket lined with glittery piping made him look ready for a gig on a cruise ship.

The screams were split pretty evenly between David A. and David C., who immediately followed. Cook can come off as cocky on stage; constantly exerting the crowd to get up by waving his arms seemed a bit bold for someone who couldn’t have filled a bar in Glendale last year, much less an arena. But then Cook discussed a sibling who is suffering from cancer: “My brother’s tumor has stopped growing!” he happily told the crowd, and it was hard not to be touched. His set was uneven, though his spooky Michael Jackson-by-way-of-Chris Cornell version of “Billie Jean” sure was hard to beat.

For the encore, all 10 vocalists were on stage, marching back and forth across the stage while singing Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music." Brooke and Jason both seemed a bit sheepish; David C. grinned happily and David A. looked up at him like a proud little brother. Hey, if you have to throw a group number in there for a closer, this wasn't a bad way to end a fun night.

Some Noteworthy Appearances by AI People This Week:

Monday----Ryan will be on ELLEN(repeat)

Diane Degarmo will be on MONTEL(repeat)

Wednesday-Simon will be on ELLEN (another repeat)

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You Should Idolize That Idol chatter Is Not Idle....

2008-07-02T16:18:00Z

Some fun Idol stuff:

Ex-'American Idol' Finalist Paris Bennett Pregnant

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

americanidol.com

Paris Bennett

Former "American Idol" finalist Paris Bennett is pregnant and expecting a baby girl in October.

The singer, 19, will be 20 when she becomes a mother, reports The Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Bennett's rep confirmed the pregnancy for People magazine; the news was first reported by MediaTakeOut.com.

Paris' mother, Jamecia Bennett, is thrilled about the news.

"I'm proud of how she did it. I was 16 when I got pregnant," Jamecia told the Star-Tribune.

So far, there is no word on the baby's father.

"He chooses not to be in the public eye," she told the paper. "I respect that."

Paris' mom is hopeful that she'll be planning a wedding.

"She has a ring," said Jamecia.

The 2006 "Idol" released her debut album, "Princess P," in 2007.

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and more....

'American Idol' Finalist Kristy Lee Cook Signs With Arista Nashville

Monday, June 30, 2008

americanidol.com

Kristy Lee Cook

"American Idol" finalist Kristy Lee Cook recently signed a record deal with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville.

This will be the second time Cook, 24, has signed with the label — as a teen she was signed but was dropped before she recorded anything.

Her album, which will arrive in the fall, is being produced by Brett James, who co-wrote Carrie Underwood's hit "Jesus Take the Wheel." The first single, called "15 Minutes of Shame," will be released August 11.

Cook will record the album this summer while touring with "American Idols Live." The tour kicks off Tuesday in Glendale, Ariz., and runs through September 13.

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speaking of the AI Live tour, which began July 1st:

SHOW TRACKER; For Idols now, it's all about the singing

Richard Rushfield. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Jul 1, 2008. pg. E.1

For months, as the entertainment world revolved around them, as desperate fans speed-dialed voting lines, as celebrity-driven tabloids and websites fought in mortal combat for every scrap of information about them, as television, music and Broadway rebuilt their firmaments in their wake, the contestants of "American Idol" toiled in the show's protective cocoon-like bubble. "We were in a white room for three months," said Irish songstress Carly Smithson.

But now, at last, their duties on the show over, America's Top 10 gladiators of competitive singing are leaving the bubble and taking their songs directly to the millions of "Idol" fans as they prepare for the 49-city "American Idols Live!" tour, which begins this evening in Glendale, Ariz.

"There'll be no one to say you sang horrible," said "Idol" finalist Ramiele Malubay, who, along with the other women of the Top 10 -- Smithson, Brooke White, Syesha Mercado and Kristy Lee Cook (present, but silent on vocal rest) -- took a break from tour rehearsals two weeks ago to sit down for a freewheeling conversation over dinner at West Hollywood's One Sunset restaurant.

As they looked ahead to the road trip, it was very clear that after months of absorbing Simon Cowell's acid lashings, the second-guessing of fans and ultimately each Wednesday night's verdict of the voters, the "Idol" ladies were agog with exhilaration at the prospect of finally singing for singing's sake. "It's not about what a judge is going to say. It's about the music and the fans connecting and having a great time," gushed singer-songwriter White.

"It's amazing. Nobody is going to judge us after we sing," crowed Smithson.

Time in the spotlight

As for what to expect on the tour, jazz singer and the season's third-place finisher Mercado describes the night as "a mini-concert for each person."

White elaborated: "We sing three songs each, David Cook five, [David] Archuleta will sing four. I think a lot of people had the impression it was going to be a bunch of group numbers, but it's not. We actually are going out as individual performers and doing our own set, our own music."

One thing that's clear to studious "Idol" watchers is that of all the milestones each season brings (Hollywood week, Top 24, Top 12 and the big stage), making it to the Top 10 and thus ensuring a spot on the tour is the most significant. Not only does the tour bring a major payday (rumored to be more than $100,000 per person), but once the contestants pass that hurdle, they have the assurance of knowing that, come what may each results night, their "Idol" journeys will continue through the summer.

"I remember hearing the news that I made Top 10," recalled White. "I was psyched; that's a huge milestone to get through."

As we broke bread, however, it became clear that a larger meaning of the tour for these young women was the fun of being together. For a competition show that in previous seasons has generated its share of behind-the-scenes drama between the contestants, to all appearances, the Season 7 group has retained a remarkable sense of camaraderie.

"We're like sisters!" proclaimed Malubay at one point, sharing her excitement about hitting the road with the group.

"Do you really feel like you're my sister?" Mercado asked.

"Oh, my God. I've lived with you since November!" Malubay responded. "You know what it is, our spats are like sibling rivalries. 'Gimme back my shirt' kinda stuff."

Looking back, the five remembered the trauma of their greatest challenge, Mariah Carey week, as what brought them together.

"That week was going to be the hardest week the girls were going to have," Smithson remembered. "Mariah Carey's voice is undeniably one of the greatest. How are we supposed to sing her songs and not be critiqued? That was why I picked something that wasn't well known, and I still got criticized.

"You have a boy coming to sing any of those songs, he's, in that moment, going to sound like he made it himself. If I slowed down on 'You'll Always Be My Baby,' it would sound exactly the same."

Finding support

Another element that brought them together was a tsunami of fan support for their male counterparts. Mercado describedthe vibe she often received from the room. "I tried to be as comfortable as possible with the audience because it's those people who I'm really performing for, and sometimes it was a little hard because those little girls would be staring at me like, 'Where's David Archuleta at!' "

Another tip-off: the letter gap. In the Internet age, the medium of crush letters may well have been surrendered entirely to teenage girls and their grandmothers, and that shift was felt hard by the women. "My fan mail was like three letters," remembered Malubay.

White: "The boys would get boxes, stacks."

"By the Top 3," said Mercado, "I said, 'Now people will like me more. I'll get more fans.' But no, at the most I got like six letters. That's at the most, six letters a week."

Sitting in the Idoldome week after week, looking just 40 feet away, I watched as these ladies went into battle, staking everything on 90 seconds of singing, arranging, costuming and foot shuffling. And then on the following night, they attempted to contain what seemed to me an impossible burden of anxiety, as the clock spun unstoppably toward the weekly verdict of doom for one contestant.

But I also saw them keeping up one another's spirits and, even on weeks of evident exhaustion and illness, looking like they were having the time of their lives during what is as high-stakes an ordeal as show business can offer.

Over dinner, at last I was able to ask them how much they felt that burden and how they managed to bear it, each of them, with such grace.

The five recounted how the pressure both sustained them and threatened to drag them under. In the two-hour conversation they told stories of the horrors of shotgun song choices (they were given 45 minutes to decide on their second Beatles song), judicial excoriation and struggling to find original arrangements, practice a song and record the studio version while not burning out your voice.

"We help each other out because you can't really do this yourself," White said. "A lot of laughing; you give a lot of hugs. And there was a lot of time when you felt you weren't getting through so well, so you went home and cried -- I didn't even wait until I got home. Monday and Tuesday [performance day] were more scary and Wednesday [results day] maybe you put it off in your mind. And then for that hour before results show it will finally sink in -- oh, my gosh."

"I have to admit," said Mercado, "I had my moments when I goofed off. But it was really hard for me to really enjoy the entire experience because I was so focused on getting that song just right and doing a good job. It was hard to let go and just enjoy it for what it was."

Nonetheless, Smithson recalled, now and then the tension had to break. She said, "We're making this sound like it was such a stressful experience, but in the middle of all this stress, you still had a great time. . . . We'd come home and say this is the hardest thing we've ever done, and Brooke would just start acting stupid and rolling around on the floor."

But on performance night, recalled the singer whom this column has called the greatest in "American Idol" history, "when the red light went on on that camera, I'd be like, 'Oh crap.' "

Stinging criticisms

Chief among the anxieties for the contestants were the criticisms, some gentle and well-meaning, others not at all so, from an Internet full of amateur critics competing to outdo Cowell in viciousness. While all the women said that they avoided reading blogs and reviews, the comments still wormed their way into the "Idol" bubble. For some, looking at their official pages on americanidol.com, where comment boards on each candidate are open to all, provided a harrowing glimpse at the venom. Malubay recalled friends calling to say, " 'I just defended you today. I just want you to know that.' Because they get all proud of themselves for backing you up. I'd say, 'Don't call me if you're going to say anything negative.' I don't want to know anything that's going on."

"I got mail," Smithson said, "that I should leave my husband, that he was holding my career back. You get 10 nice things said and you remember the one negative."

Unanimously, the ladies cited the experience's effect on their families as among the hardest aspects of life in the "Idol" circus. Booked solid by a relentless production and rehearsal schedule, living in dorms where even family members were not allowed to visit, many weeks the contestants had almost no opportunity to see the loved ones who had come to Los Angeles to support them. Often their only contact would come in a 15-minute post-show break, when the contestants would greet a small gathering of fans outside the studio.

"It was very hard to tell them no," Mercado said. "It was heartbreaking to tell them I can't go out to eat with you. I can't go shopping."

"And you have to protect your voice," added White.

Malubay: "And they think you're a diva, but you're tired."

Worse than the lack of contact, though, was the families' having to absorb every harsh word said about their loved one. Malubay said: "The thing that bothered me the most was my family. They've never really gotten feedback from other people that wasn't really positive about me. I mean, people that are negative don't really come to your family and be like, 'Oh your daughter!' on a normal basis. So when I would cry and the way I cried during the Top 12 elimination, I guess, my parents took it really hard. People would go up to my parents and say, 'Your daughter cries too much,' and my mother would say, 'Stop making faces, stop crying.' It just really bothered me."

But after not being sure if they were having an effect on viewers, finally seeing the support each had garnered was uplifting as well.

"It's amazing," Smithson said. "You don't even realize it until you get your MySpace [page] back. Our MySpaces were all taken away from us. People are so supportive of you."

"I would've felt so much better if I'd had my MySpace when I was on the show," Mercado said. "Except for one comment, every comment was encouraging and uplifting."

Last hurrah

Having traveled so far, they have one last lap to go under the "Idol" umbrella. Between now and September, the tour will take them across America -- they are at the Staples Center on Monday -- letting them finally perform directly for their fans. And then the real "American Idol" challenge begins: building a lasting career.

But for this group of women, the path will be made, if not easier, at least clearer, because each has formed memorable and hugely likable personas during this season. And that they have done so under the most trying of conditions calls to mind images of the founding cornerstones of civilization -- of Achilles and Priam in the heat of the Trojan War dining together in the former's tent. Seeing the women of the Top 10, each a true star, take such pleasure in one another's company and recalling their battle as a shared experience shows one how, by becoming part of something bigger, we enlarge ourselves.

richard.rushfield@latimes .com

Credit: Times Staff Writer

and that tour is as follows:

July 1	Glendale, AZ	jobing.com Arena
July 2	San Diego, CA	San Diego Sports Arena
July 3	Fresno, CA	SaveMart Center
July 5	Las Vegas, NV	Thomas & Mack Center
July 7	Los Angeles, CA	Staples Center
July 8	San Jose, CA	HP Pavilion at San Jose
July 9	Sacramento, CA	ARCO Arena
July 11	Portland, OR	Rose Garden
July 12	Tacoma, WA	Tacoma Dome
July 14	West Valley City, UT	The "E" Center
July 15	West Valley City, UT	The "E" Center
July 18	St. Louis, MO	Scottrade Center
July 19	Rosemont, IL	Allstate Arena
July 20	Columbus, OH	Schottenstein Center
July 22	Indianapolis, IN	Conseco Fieldhouse
July 23	Cincinnati, OH	US Bank Arena
July 24	Detroit, MI	Joe Louis Arena
July 26	Toronto, ON	Air Canada Centre
July 27	Rochester, NY	BlueCross Arena
July 29	Pittsburgh, PA	Mellon Arena
July 30	Newark, NJ	Prudential Center
July 31	Newark, NJ	Prudential Center
August 2	Atlantic City, NJ	Boardwalk Hall
August 4	Long Island, NY	Nassau Coliseum
August 5	Long Island, NY	Nassau Coliseum
August 6	Albany, NY	Times Union Center
August 8	Hartford, CT	XL Center
August 9	Worcester, MA	DCU Center
August 10	Manchester, NH	Verizon Wireless Center
August 12	Baltimore, MD	1st Mariner Arena
August 13	Philadelphia, PA	Wachovia Center
August 14	Washington DC	Verizon Center
August 16	Lexington, KY	Rupp Arena
August 17	Charlotte, NC	Time Warner Cable Arena
August 18	Duluth, GA	Arena at Gwinnett Center
August 20	Sunrise, FL	BankAtlantic Center
August 21	Tampa, FL	St Pete Times Forum
August 24	Houston, TX	Toyota Center
August 25	Dallas, TX	American Airlines Center
August 26	Bossier City, LA	CenturyTel Center
August 28	Oklahoma City, OK	Ford Center
August 29	Kansas City, MO	Sprint Center
August 30	Kansas City, MO	Sprint Center
August 31	Minneapolis, MN	Target Center
September 2	Green Bay, WI	Resch Center
September 3	Grand Rapids, MI	Van Andel Arena
September 4	Cleveland, OH	Wolstein Center
September 6	Bridgeport, CT	Arena at Harbor Yard
September 7	Providence, RI	Dunkin Donuts Center
September 8	Wilkes Barre, PA	Wachovia Arena
September 10	Ft. Wayne, IN	Allen County Memorial Coliseum
September 11	Evansville, IN	Roberts Stadium
September 13	Tulsa, OK	BOK Center

prompterguy would love to cover the Los Angeles & Sacramento(and even San Jose) shows e-mail Patti & Randall!!! David Cook is on JAY LENO Wed. July 3rd---it's a repeat

Here Comes the Velvet Teddy Bear, All Dressed Up In.....

2008-06-25T13:58:00Z

First Clay is a daddy (actually sperm donor) and now this from another Seaason Two notable:

Former 'American Idol' to marry

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (AP) -- He won the affection of millions of people on "American Idol," but this weekend, Ruben Studdard is giving his heart to one woman.

Former "American Idol" Ruben Studdard in New York on September 2006.

A representative for the former "Idol" confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that Studdard, 29, plans a Saturday wedding.

He and Surata Zuri McCants, 30, took out a marriage license on Monday, according to court records.

Studdard, nicknamed the "Velvet Teddy Bear" on "American Idol" for his big frame and sonorous voice, has released three albums since his 2003 win, including the platinum CD "Soulful." He is working on a new album.

___________________________________________________________________-

Makes sense that Clay sang "Solitaire" during Season Two instead of Ruben!

If you missed it last time--or if you just want to see him & his dreadlocks again, there is a repeat episode of ELLEN with Jason Castro this Wednesday(6/25)......

Cook is Cooking!!!

2008-06-23T17:17:00Z

Mario Lopez People's Hottest Bachelor; David Cook Also Makes the Cut

NEW YORK — He didn't come in first place this time, but "American Idol" winner David Cook is on People magazine's list of the hottest bachelors.

The rocker, 25, told People that he is not as confident off-stage as he is performing.

"Looking a pretty woman in the eye and convincing her I'm worth taking a chance on takes a specific brand of guts, and it's not the kind I have," he said.

______________________________________________________________________

& btw, Mr. Stud will be on THE VIEW Tuesday 6/24 along with Puppydog David....

Regis Gets Sparks

2008-06-16T15:12:00Z

Last season's IDOL, Jordin Sparks, will be on REGIS this Monday am ( June 16). Also, Daughtry will be on ELLEN this Thursday (June 19)...

BTW, pguy loves the Tonys & watched it last night. Loved the RENT segment & seeing Idina Menzel and the rest of the original cast. But he was disappointed by the GREASE performance---where was our Taylor Hicks???????

In The Heights & Passing Strange are must sees, along with all of the best play nominees!!!

later...............................................

Taylor Made for Regis

2008-06-13T12:53:00Z

One of our favoite IDOLS, Taylor Hicks, will be on REGIS this Friday doing a song from "Grease", which is now playing on Broadway. Soul Patrol, indeedy!!!!

Sports & AI!!!!

2008-06-10T19:44:00Z

Our new AMERICAN IDOL, David Cook, sings the National anthem at tonight's(Tuesday) Lakers-Celtics game. Hope that Mr. Cook is a LA fan....btw, he's also on JAY LENO this Thursday.

Aching to Be a Daddy

2008-05-30T15:04:00Z

Oh no, Clay is definitely not gay(not that there's anything wrong with that...)

Clay Aiken Impregnates Someone!

Posted May 29th 2008 4:00PM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has learned Clay Aiken is going to be a daddy. In case you didn't process that, Clay Aiken is going to be a daddy.

Here's what we know. Multiple sources tell us the mother is Jaymes Foster, a record producer and Clay's best friend. He lives at her home when he's in L.A.

We're told 50-year-old Foster, who produced several Aiken CDs, is due in August. She's the sister of record mogul David Foster. She divorced a few years back and has no kids. Aiken is 29.

We're told Foster was artificially inseminated. But Clay is a lot more than sperm -- we're told he will have an active role in raising the child.

No immediate word from Aiken's rep.

Idol Chatter

Foreigner Is Not Foreign To Chris

Chris Daughtry Covers Foreigner's 'Feels Like The First Time' For CNN Voter Initiative

'He's got the range and the power to really do it convincingly,' guitarist Mick Jones says of 'American Idol' alum.

American In Vitro

The Clay Baby Is Born

Hooray For Our Davids!!

Making Other Plans for Nigel

'American Idol' producer leaves show

Babs & AI????

Streisand on ‘Idol’?

Tribune Media ServicesUpdated: 07/30/08 6:33 AM

Bo Knows Mid-State

Bo Bice

Phil & A.J. : Friends Forever

Tour of Duty

You Should Idolize That Idol chatter Is Not Idle....

Ex-'American Idol' Finalist Paris Bennett Pregnant

'American Idol' Finalist Kristy Lee Cook Signs With Arista Nashville

Here Comes the Velvet Teddy Bear, All Dressed Up In.....

Former 'American Idol' to marry

Cook is Cooking!!!

Mario Lopez People's Hottest Bachelor; David Cook Also Makes the Cut

Regis Gets Sparks

Taylor Made for Regis

Sports & AI!!!!

Aching to Be a Daddy

Tribune Media Services
Updated: 07/30/08 6:33 AM