Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Paula Abdul's Sexy Thoughts

No, no, it not what you think. Sexy Thoughts is actually the name of Paula Abdul's new scent. Access Hollywood reports that Abdul can now can add one more item to her resume: professional fragrance creator.

"When I wear my fragrance, its the strangest thing. I look around for Ashton Kutcher," Paula told Access Hollywood. "I think I'm getting 'Punk'd' for real!"

The pop icon joins the ranks of other famous entertainers, like Britney and J.Lo; Partnering with perfume lab Fermenich to create her sweet scent, Sexy Thoughts.

"It's something that happens when people smell me," said Paula, referring to the fragrance's alluring name. "It provokes that! Its fun, its flirty, its chic. Its sexy."

But expect more than one Paula when you get your hands on her signature smell:

"There are times when I'm shy, there are times when I'm playful. There's times when I'm very powerful," Paula remarked. "It totally captures the spirit of who I am."

And Paula was definitely in "playful" mode when she said she took the time to create something special for her "American Idol" sparring partner, Simon Cowell.

"In the middle of coming up with my fragrance line, I asked the question, 'by any chance do you have anything that smells like cat pee, and cow poop and like farts?' And all three, as a matter of fact --'yes, yes, and yes,'" Paula joked. "And I want to put those elements -- the cat pee, the horse poop and fart -- in a bottle, and call it 'Ode to Simonella.'"

Paula told Access that she has specific plans for her Simon-inspired concoction.

"I'm going to put it together and I'm going to surprise him next season," she gleefully explained, "and douse it all over the chair!"

Well, alrighty then.

There's also a weird short video that accompanies the story in which Paula discusses the Simon's products, mantox and top shelf.

THE HARDEST WORKING PERSON IN SHOW BUSINESS

That's the title that Jordin Sparks can lay claim to according the Billboard. The publica-
tion says the Season 6 champ is in the midst of rehearsals for the American Idols Live! tour, which kicks off Friday in Sunrise, Fla. Sparks told Billboard.com that she's also started working on her album, which she hopes to release before Thanksgiving.

"It's going well," Sparks says of the album, "We've had some meetings, and the other night I recorded a song. I can't tell you details or anything like that, but I am very excited about it."

Actually, Sparks revealed that she worked with the production team Stargate on the track, but she'll be spending a lot more time on the album throughout the summer and into the early fall. "I'll be flying in and out as much as I can from the tour to get it done," she says. "And I'm assuming that after the tour's over I'll hit the studio pretty hard to finish it."

Sparks says she wants a "radio friendly" album that mixes the pop/rock sound of inaugural "Idol" Kelly Clarkson with the R&B edge of Beyonce. "It's hard to get at what my sound is," Sparks notes, "but I think that's what I'm trying to get."

Her own songwriting also isn't a priority for the album. "I write a lot of poems," she says, "and maybe I could get something on this first album, but I'm not sure. Eventually I'd love to be able to write and have a song on an album, but we'll see."

Count on Sparks to performer her current single, "This Is My Now," on the "American Idols Live" tour, but that's about all she'll acknowledge for the upcoming road show.

"The show is gonna be different than any other show they have put on," Sparks says. "There's a bunch of group songs and duets. The solos are really cool. I'm singing some songs I haven't sung before. We're really excited about it."

Sparks says rumors that Clarkson may drop in on the tour now that her own is canceled have reached rehearsals. And while nothing definitive has been announced, the current "Idol" has no objections to that. "I love her," Sparks says. "I'd be like, 'Hey, let's do something together!' That would be really cool for me."

Sure would Jordin, but don't count on it.

IDOLS ON THE CHARTS

Donna Reynolds' Idol Chartwatch reports that it was a rather slow week for Idols on the charts. Daughtry is the only Idol-related CD in the top 20 of the Billboard 200, coming in this week at #17. The album is #14 on the Internet Sales chart, #19 on the Digital Album Sales chart, and #6 on the Rock Albums chart. Daughtry's single "Home" remains #1 on the Adult Top 40 chart this week, and is #17 on the Hot 100, #7 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, #11 on the Pop 100, #7 on Pop 100 Airplay, #7 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #26 on the Hot Digital Tracks chart, and #32 on the Hot Digital Songs chart; Daughtry's "It's Not Over" is #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart (#24), #11 on the Adult Top 40, and #72 on Hot Digital Songs.

Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" moves up one spot to #21 on the Billboard 200 and is #5 on the Country chart. Her single "Before He Cheats" is #9 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #13 on the Hot 100, #10 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, #13 on the Pop 100, #11 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart, and #6 on the Adult Top 40. The song is #15 on Hot Digital Tracks and #21 on Hot Digital Songs; "I'll Stand by You" is #44 on the Country chart.

Elliott Yamin drops five spots to #75 on the Billboard 200 and goes from #38 to #39 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It’s #5 on the Independent Album sales.

Fantasia drops two spots to #118 on the Billboard 200 and remains #21 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Her single "When I See You" is #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart and #2 on the R&B Adult airplay list. It’s #52 on the Hot 100 and #13 on the Hot 100 Airplay listing.

Bucky Covington slips to #75 on the Billboard 200 and is #11 on the Country Albums list. Covington's single "A Different World" is #82 on the Hot 100, #69 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, and #15 on the Country.

Kellie Pickler's "Small Town Girl" slips to #138 on the Billboard 200, but was up three spots to #27 on the Country listing. Her single "I Wonder" is #95 on the Hot 100 at #100.

Mandisa's single, "Only the World" (click to listen) remains #1 on this week’s Single Sales chart and is also on the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary chart (#9).

Last week, Taylor Hicks's "Heaven Knows" showed up for the first time on the Adult Contemporary chart, and this week, it’s up three spots to #24.

Elliott Yamin's "Wait for You" is up three spots to #25 on the Hot 100, ten spots to #35 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, and two spots to #16 on the Pop 100. It's #12 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart, #39 on the Adult Top 40, #21 on Hot Digital Tracks, and #24 on Hot Digital Songs.

Kelly Clarkson's "Never Again" is #22 on the Hot 100, #19 on the Pop 100, #37 on Hot 100 Airplay, #17 on the Adult Top 40, #11 on Hot Digital Tracks, #12 on Hot Digital Songs, and #35 on the Hot Dance Club chart. Her duet of "Because of You" with Reba McIntire is #20 on the Bubbling Under (the Hot 100) and #17 on the Country chart.

Jordin Spark's “This Is My Now" drops off the charts while Blake Lewis' "You Give Love a Bad Name" is #88 on the Pop 100.

Kimberley Locke's single "Change" is up one spot to #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and is #36 on the Dance Club chart.

Katharine McPhee's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"/"My Destiny" is #36 on the Single Sales list.

Ruben Studdard's "Make Ya Feel Beautiful" is #36 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart and #7 on the R&B Adult airplay list.

Upcoming Idol Releases

Next up is Mandisa, whose "True Beauty" drops July 31.

Constantine Maroulis' self-titled album follows on August 7.

According to Bo Bice's official Web site, his second album will be released September 18. The working title is "American Blood." Still no word on what label will release the album, but it is looking likely that Bo is now working with StratArt, which looks to be a subsidiary of Bo’s management company, Strategic Artist Management.

McENTIRE'S HUSBAND TO MANAGE KELLY CLARKSON

Billboard reports Kelly Clarkson has signed with Nashville-based Starstruck Entertainment for management. Clarkson's career was previously handled by Jeff Kwatinetz at the Firm in Los Angeles.

Starstruck Entertainment is currently home to country artists Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton. Narvel Blackstock, CEO of Starstruck and McEntire's husband, will serve as Clarkson's personal manager. Trisha McClanahan, Starstruck VP of marketing, will assist with day-to-day operations.

Startstruck Entertainment was founded by Blackstock in 1988 as a full service entertainment conglomerate. McClanahan joined the company in 1990. Starstruck Management Group is the artist management arm of the corporation.

AMERICAN IDOL TIDBITS

J.D. reports in his Musical Ramblings blog these tidbits about "American Idol" that he learned when he attended the recent Reality TV Convention in Nashville, Tenn. Among those in attendance were former contestants Scott Savol, Will Makar, Lindsey Cardinale, Perla Meneses, Heather Cox and Jon Peter Lewis.

During Hollywood week of Season 6, American Idol camera crews routinely wake up contestants at odd hours of the night for impromptu interviews. This was done on purpose. Also, prior to going onstage, producers would tell select people "hey, don't forget your lyrics!" immediately before they started performing just to plant the idea of forgetting lyrics in their minds. It worked on more than a few people.

The rant that Derrell Brittenum (Season 5) went on in protest of his twin brother Terrell's elimination in Hollywood was fake. Derrell knew the entire time that his brother had made it through, but he also knew that doing that would ensure him maximum coverage and exposure. (Not that it mattered, since he and his brother both were in jail by the time Idol aired.) Said Derrell to Nigel, after leaving stage, "Sorry, but I had to do that to y'all."

Ace Young, Taylor Hicks, and Ryan Seacrest all had crushes on Heather Cox. Ryan asked her out. Ace was the only one she actively returned any sort of affection toward.

Kellie Pickler (Season 5) already knew what calamari was. She had ordered it in a restaurant in Hollywood prior to the Top 24 shows hitting the air.

Paula Abdul was often aloof to contestants during the Hollywood rounds, and more than once appeared tipsy. Conversely, Simon Cowell is described by almost all previous contestants as being a surprisingly nice guy.

Nobody liked Brenna Gethers (Season 5), not even Chris Daughtry. The producers tried to make it look like people didn't like Becky O'Donohue with some creative editing, however most people liked the O'Donohue twins.

Paris Bennett and Lisa Tucker (Season 5) disliked each other at first. Later they became best friends. On the other hand, Kellie Pickler and Heather Cox were great friends initially, but now are no longer speaking.

Nobody has anything bad to say about Melinda Doolittle.

Gedeon McKinney (Season 5) was at the Season 6 Memphis auditions, offering voice lessons for $75 to auditioners.

Stevie Scott and Heather Cox (Season 5) were both extremely sick during the early Top 24 rounds, and thus were eliminated. Neither got to sing the songs they wanted to sing.

David Radford (Season 5) is now in college studying music.

Season 3 Idols didn't really care for John Stevens. Jon Peter Lewis, on the hand, is one of the nicest guys in the world, and is considered to be the fun one of the group.

Heather Piccinini (Season 3) will tell you she's coming to a convention, confirm it for you on the phone the day before, allow you to book her into a concert event, and then not show up at all.

During this year's Superstar Idols tour in Texas, Ruben Studdard (Season 2) had no contact with any of the other former Idol contestants on the tour with him. He had to have a separate bus and prep area. Ruben was also frequently late to the stage, leaving Justin Guarini (Season 1) to carry the show. Justin did the job well, and often by the time Ruben got to the stage, the crowd would have followed Justin back to meet and greets and would pay Ruben very little attention.

Chris Richardson (Season 6) did a concert with Ace Young (Season 5) earlier this year, almost immediately after Idol was over. This is a direct violation of his contract with 19 Entertainment. Especially since the tour has not yet started. A couple of 19 executives actually attended the show, and nothing has been said to Chris about it since, so it appears, at least for now, that he's in the clear.

LOCKE TO LOSE WEIGHT FOR JENNY CRAIG

PR-inside reports that Kimber-
ley Locke
is set to become the new face of diet company Jenny Craig.

The "8th World Wonder" singer has already lost 30 pounds on the plan and hopes to lose another 10 before her stint as a celebrity spokeswoman begins.

It's not the first time Locke has gone public with her weight battle - she's a former contestant on reality TV show "Celebrity Fit Club."

JESSICA SIERRA PLEADS NOT GUILTY

With long blond-and-black locks hanging over the shoulders of her tight, peach-colored dress, Jessica Sierra walked into the Hillsborough County Courthouse Monday morning to answer charges that she struck a man on the head with a cocktail glass, according to the Tampa Tribune.

Sierra, a Tampa resident who was a top 10 contestant on "American Idol," has made several appearances at the courthouse - as a victim and as a defendant - since her 2005 stint on the talent-seeking TV show.

On Monday, the 21-year-old pleaded not guilty to a felony battery charge stemming from an April 29 arrest at Hyde Park Cafe. Bar patron Wisam Hadad said Sierra threw the glass at him. Tampa police reports stated he sustained a 3/4 -inch gash over his right eyebrow. Hadad told reporters he assumed Sierra thought he was someone else.

Sierra told police Hadad spat on her but later clarified that she could not be sure it was Hadad. A lawsuit filed against the nightclub and Sierra is pending.

When police booked Sierra into jail, her legal problems worsened. Police said she had 0.8 grams of cocaine in her purse and added charges of cocaine possession and introduction of contraband into a detention facility.

On Monday, Circuit Judge William Fuente set trial dates for October. Sierra's attorney, John Fitzgibbons, said he hoped the charges could be resolved amicably.

Asked for comment, Sierra smiled as she walked away.

"Just thanking all my fans for being here to support me," she said.

Joining Sierra at the courthouse were Fitzgibbons, her stepmother and several journalists.

Later, Fitzgibbons said Sierra has received many phone calls and letters of support. When she has been out in public, he said, fans have approached her to offer kind words about her legal woes.

Sierra's first trip to the courthouse since her celebrity came in January 2006. She testified against a California man who was charged with stalking after he had flown to Tampa in an attempt to meet her. The man had claimed to be a record producer and made hundreds of calls to Sierra's cell phone.

Last month, Sierra's name again appeared in legal papers. A rental car agency filed a report with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office saying Sierra owed money for a car she had not returned. Sheriff's reports say Sierra owed for two weeks, at about $500 per week. She returned the car after the report was filed.

Sierra's lawyer said the singer is hoping to have money together in the next week or two to pay the debt.

A FAN'S DREAM COMES TRUE

For anyone who has ever dreamed of getting onstage with their Idol, you must watch this video of Taylor Hicks allowing an audience member to sing backup for him:


And now, you must read her story about how she got onstage. As Taylor told her, "You never know what you'll get if you only ask."

But please! Tell us what Hicks whispered in your ear.

e-mail Idol Addict
© 2007

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