David Cook: I'm Still a Goober From the Midwest

Well, that's what the most recent Idol winner told People magazine.

DAVID COOK says his life now isn't too different than it was before winning American Idol.

"I think in one sense everything's changed but in another sense nothing has," said Cook. "There's all these different things around me that I didn't have a year ago. I was able to furnish a home and get a nice car and be able to treat my family to some of the things that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to do."

But, said the singer, 25, "I'm still a goober from the Midwest. Now I've just got a few more resources. I don't feel like the show changed me at all."

Cook spoke with People after recording a performance video with his band for Walmart's Soundcheck, which can be viewed online and in Walmart stores when his eponymous CD releases on Nov. 18.

The singer describes his music as "eclectic rock" with some songs featuring lots of riffs and others that are "very piano driven and delicate."

"I got to show some different aspects of who I am as a person," he says about the upcoming album.

Watch Cook's video for "Light On," his disappointing first single from his first (and hopefully not last) post-Idol CD:


DIANA DEGARMO STALKER GOES TO TRIAL ... AGAIN

According to The International Business Times,
TANYA MAREE QUATTROCCHI, 22, was sent to trial on the charge of having sent emails to DIANA DEGARMO 's friends, family, contacts and work colleagues about the singer's sex life.

Police arrested Quattrocchi in April after they obtained her PC and cell phone.

Quattrocchi pleaded not guilty to four counts of persecuting DeGarmo between November 2007 and January 2008.

Quattrocchi is fanatical about the 20-year-old Tennessee singer, said The Melbourne Magistrates' Court today, while they listened to her speaking.

DeGarmo said Quattrocchi called her almost every night, sent messages on her MySpace account pretending to be her, including naughty emails.

"I have moved twice and she still finds me. I cannot have any private or professional life without her infiltrating it," said DeGarmo in a statement.

"No matter what I do I cannot get away from her. She is still to this day stealing my online identity and harassing my friends, family and myself," DeGarmo said.

Quattrocchi supposedly sent emails stating the singer wanted to have sex with her brother and was a lesbian.

In an email to a male work colleague of DeGarmo's, Quattrocchi allegedly wrote: "She said she would love to f--- you . . . hard. And a lot."

"Diana is a lesbian whore. I don't want her small hands touching me. I love guys and have sex with them," Quattrocchi wrote to the singer's sister-in-law.

According to a May 2007 article in Australia's Herald Sun the then 21-year-old Melbourne stalker was released on a community-based order to serve 150 hours of community service after she was convicted of stalking and blackmail of Degarmo in 2007. In that case,
Quattrocchi was accused of phoning DeGarmo 369 times and sending her 570 text messages between March and June of 2006.

One text message read: "I could kill you before you could even lay a finger on me.

"I know I'm out of line here, but I don't give a f---.

"How badly do you want to kill me right now? Bring it on bitch."

In that case, Judge Lisa Hannan said Quattrocchi had spiralled out of control and only stopped harassing DeGarmo when she was caught by police.

"It must have been quite terrifying for the victim," Judge Hannan said.

"Her life was invaded by you and her rightful sense of security stolen from her."

Prosecutor George Slim told the court Quattrocchi hacked into DeGarmo's MySpace page and pretended to be her in emails she sent to the singer's family and friends.

She also used DeGarmo's credit card to subscribe to pornographic Web sites.

Shortly before her arrest in June 2006, Quattrocchi demanded $15,000 from DeGarmo and threatened to release the singer's newly recorded songs if she didn't get the money.

Quattrocchi, who pleaded guilty to the charges, was remorseful for the anguish she had caused DeGarmo.

In sentencing Quattrocchi to 18 months community service in the 2007 case, Judge Hannan acknowledged her poor intellectual and social skills, and said she had good prospects for rehabilitation. [Yeah, right. LOLZ] Just six months later, she allegedly began harassing DeGarmo again. She was arrested in April 2008 when police seized her computer and mobile phones.

Yet after all that, Quattrocchi was recently released on bail under the condition she not use any computer or device that allows Internet or email access, and not communicate in any way with DeGarmo. [Uh-huh, we're sure that'll work, too]

She was ordered to appear in the County Court in January 2009.

e-mail Idol Addict
© 2008

Nigel Lythgoe Wants Jordin to Win

Yes, the executive producer wants Jordin Sparks to take it all. We can only imagine that he sees dollars signs looking at the future of the (yes) malleable 17-year-old, whose career hasn't even begun, as opposed to the somewhat older, wiser and more professionally hip Blake Lewis, who probably has somewhat stronger opinions of what he'd like to do musically.

In an interview Wednesday, prior to Melinda Doolittle's elimination, Nigel Lythgoe talked with TV Weekly:

"All in all, I think Blake was probably the best across the board for his level of talent. But, for me, Melinda and Jordin are both vocally more talented than Blake. However, I think that it's possible because there are two girls, it may split the female vote, and you're always going to have a vote for the male."

Asked if age makes a difference, Lythgoe said, "I don't know, you know at the end of the day, you say you are searching for an American Idol and then I think you've got to put your own point of view forward as to what an American Idol is, or could be."

Asked if there has ever been a 17-year-old on the show who is as talented as Jordin? "I look at Paris [Bennett] and Lisa Tucker [what about Season 3 second-place finished Diana DeGarmo, who was only 16; that same year, third-place finisher Jasmine Trias was also 17], and then I look at Jordin, and I say Jordin takes the biscuit for me. She's the one who's got everything. It's a sad thing that we keep talking about age in this. It's vocal ability and she's got everything, still young and learning. For me, Jordin is the ideal person to become the next American Idol, if I were voting." Nigel adds, "I was a little sad in the first round when Simon said 'You sang that brilliantly, I didn't like the arrangement, so it wasn't one of your best performances.' We shouldn't be judging her on the arrangement of the song, we should be judging on how she sings. So, he seemed to have a little downer on Jordin tonight. I don't know why, I thought she was great."

So, we know even before the finale begins that Lythgoe is pulling for Jordin. Ryan Seacrest in April, when there were 9 contestants left, told People magazine he was rooting for Jordin to win ("First of all, she's a girl. She represents fantastic qualities. She's a great singer and a pretty girl … She's non-threatening, cute and attractive. Plus, she has this sincere likeability that is rare and genuine." Does Blake even stand a chance?

Important note: Remember, this is not a game show, it's a reality show. That means the performers are considered paid actors and the producers can legally make the results anything they want them to be. Think back to last Wednesday night. Ryan never told Melinda she had the lowest vote total. He never said anything about how close the voting was. He only said there were nearly 60 million votes cast. Ryan's exact words to the contestants, and America, were:

"And now tonight's results. Let me start with Jordin. Would you step forward please? Jordin Sparks, ladies and gentlemen. Jordin, almost 60 million votes came in. Almost 60 million votes. And I think you'll be happy with those votes. You have made it through to the "American Idol" finale. Congratulations Jordin! Congratulation, you may have a seat.

"Now back at the center of the stage. Who joins Jordin? Will it be girl-girl? Guy-girl? Melinda, would you step forward? Almost 60 million votes. Again, an incredible number. Those votes came in. America has decided ... that this is the end of the road for you tonight ... on "American Idol." That means Blake makes it into the "Idol" finale. Congratulations Blake. Congrat, buddy, you can take a seat with Jordin. And here she is, one of our best singers ever, Melinda Doolittle. Take a look we have your journey on the show. Watch."

The producers use the ploy of carefully wording the eliminations now and then, so that they are not actually lying, but let the public assume that the eliminated persons received the lowest vote total. Many times, they'll say which contestant received the lowest vote total, but never indicate which contestant placed second or third lowest in the Bottom 3. Sometimes the way Ryan's words are written, you don't even know for sure whether the other two contestants actually received low vote totals. Listen carefully next year. Sometimes they spell it out. Many times they don't. Those are the times that conspiracy theorists believe the producers have made their own decisions on who should go and who should stay.

On the official "American Idol" site, under FAQs, it states:

"Production will have in place weekly monitoring procedures designed to prevent individuals from unfairly influencing the outcome of the voting by generating significant blocks of votes using technical enhancements. The producers reserve the right to remove any identified 'power dialing' votes."

This pretty much leaves it to the producers discretion if they want to not count certain votes, i.e., they totally control the outcome you see on the show, although earlier this year executive producer Ken Warwick claimed that the software they use had never detected an incident of block voting.

So, was Melinda actually eliminated according to the votes cast by the public this week? We'll never know. Will Blake get a fair shake on Wednesday night? We'll never know. Will Jordin become the next American Idol whether or not she gets more votes from the public? We'll never know.

Mean-
while, Blake fans are getting support from VotefortheWorst.com. We love their caricature of Lewis. Have a look.

HELP EW PICK THE NEXT IDOL ... COVER

Enter-
tainment Weekly is asking for readers help to select their
"American Idol" cover. They have two choices each for Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks. To cast your vote for the cover you think should grace the magazine's "American Idol" winner issue, click here.

IDOL STYLE

Did you like the clothes that Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle wore of this past Tuesday's performance show? TMZ.com reports that the V-neck short dress that Melinda wore over jeans for her second number was a $165 number by T-Bags.

For her second song, Jordin squeezed her curves into a sexy blue $168 Twister halter by LaROK that comes with double straps in the front.

Should you want to dress like an "Idol," starstyle.com sells the frocks, but, the Web site, adds, act fast! A few weeks ago, Jordin's Nicole Miller gown sold out prior to the West Coast airing and left thousands of prom-going teens in tears.

And if you still can't get enough of your "Idol" fashion fix, click this "A.I." widget link to see what each contestant wore throughout the season.

JORDIN, BLAKE & MELINDA ON LENO

If you missed Jordin, Blake and Melinda on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno this past Monday night, you can catch it right here:



HOWARD STERN CLAIMS IDOL RIGGED

You might not want to believe this, and we don't know if we do either, but the Howard Stern web site claims that Idol winner has been picked in advance by the producers every season except two, and that Jordin Sparks was selected in advance to be this season's winner. Here's what they say:

"Does Howard 100 News owe an apology . . . to American Idol contestant Melinda Doolittle? A source inside the show claims that American Idol was reportedly in a panic yesterday to put the brakes on a Howard 100 News investigation into voting on the FOX talent show. This source alleges the show decided to switch horses at the last minute, that contestant Blake Lewis was allegedly scheduled to be told to go home last night, until Idol producers changed their minds. Our source claiming Simon Cowell allegedly said quote “F--- Howard Stern,” and added that the Idol result last night would be the opposite of what Howard 100 News reported. All of which might explain the strange subdued mood on American Idol last night. So if the last minute switch is true, Howard 100 News must apologize to the talented Melinda Doolittle. But now, Howard 100 News reports that another source has revealed a bombshell claim about American Idol; that in 6 seasons only two American Idol’s have been picked by the viewing public, according to our source. The source claims that this season, producers of the show had allegedly decided to go straight, to let viewer votes decide the winner, but panicked when Howard Stern and VotefortheWorst.com backed Sanjaya. The show then reverted back to picking the winner, according to our source. The source claims Sanjaya was running away with the competition, until producers decided to take back control and throw him off the show in spite of Sanjaya’s alleged vote victories. Bottom line here; three sources telling Howard 100 News Jordin Sparks has long been scheduled to be the winner of American Idol. Now will the producers switch that? There’s one way to clear all this up… release the vote results and prove that American Idol is run according to how the viewers vote. By the way, FOX Television has still not called us back after running off the phone two days ago."

Now, you might read this and say, "bull," but it reminds us of last season's "RockStar SuperNova" competition. Four weeks before it ended, gossip columnist Janet Charlton claimed that Tommy Lee, the head of the SuperNova band had selected contestant Lukas Rossi to win. Although he was a popular contestant, there were others who were just as or more popular, including Dilana, Toby and Magni. Dave Navarro, the show's host and executive producer basically said, "Who's Janet Charlton?" as well as, "she doesn't have a clue as to what she is talking about. If she has an inside source... Name it! Come on! I dare you! Name it! If you don't know what I am talking about... She has claimed that she knows who the winner is. Trust me... Nobody knows until it's over." Uh, yeah, sure, thanks Dave. Well, surprise, surprise. Guess who won the competition four weeks later on Sept, 13? Afterwards, Tommy Lee said that he had wanted Lukas as the lead singer of SuperNova from the minute he met him. So why did they let public think that their vote mattered and that they were picking the winner, even though Tommy had final say (as the Idol producers do)? Why, so we'd sit and watch the series. And that, folks, is called how you pump up the ratings.

e-mail Idol Addict
© 2007

Classic Idol Video

It's time for another classic Idol video. All season Randy Jackson has been saying how amazing Jordin Sparks is for a 17-year-old. Let's not forget another youngster with a Big Voice: Season 3 runner-up Diana DeGarmo, who was 16 the year she appeared on "Idol." That voice has taken her all the way to Broadway. Here, she is singing "Don't Cry Out Loud." The way she holds that last note is amazing.



YOU'RE SO VAIN

andPOP says that British pop sensation Mika has fuelled speculation that his debut single "Grace Kelly" was written about music mogul Simon Cowell.

The 24-year-old, Lebanese-born Michael Holbrook Penniman (mother Lebanese, father American) is aLondon-based singer who has a contract with Casablanca Records and Universal Music. Mika struggled to get a record deal and was rejected until he was signed in a collaboration deal between Universal Motown and Island. His song "Grace Kelly" (hear it here) released by digital download on January 8 this year, reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart on Jan. 21.

Since the song topped the charts, it has been rumored that it is a veiled attack on Cowell, with the lyrics "Why don't you like me, why don't you like me without making me try?" A source for Universal Music said, "No one knows for sure who the track is about; however there has been a rumor for a while it is Simon Cowell."

But fametastic reports that in Attitude magazine Mika not only confirmed he was knocked back by Cowell, he also said he didn’t much want to work with the Idol judge, either. "I had a meeting with Simon a few years back. He said my songs weren't very good and I wasn't a songwriter. Then I spotted a gold disc for the Teletubbies single to the left of him and thought, 'This is possibly not the man for me'."

Cowell, on being questioned about the meeting with Mika, says, "Do you know what, I don't even remember meeting him."

PAULA FINALLY GET REAL

Paula Abdul's reality series, "Hey Paula!" has been put on Bravo's summer schedule. The show documents Paula's personal and professional life and will follow the Idol judge as she works on the Bratz movie, develops her own line of perfume and cosmetics, expands her jewelry line, markets her clothing line and makes personal appearances.

"It's a hectic time in my life right now with several projects in television, film and fashion," said the 44-year-old Idol judge/recording artist/choreographer/business woman/producer. "I'm excited to open the doors to Bravo and have all my fans see the other sides to me, beyond what they see on American Idol."

BRIAN DUNKLEMAN SITING

Every year at this time, as "Idol" blows away everything else in sight on TV, someone inevitably asks the question "Whatever happened to Brian Dunkleman," who resigned as co-host of America's No. 1 TV series after Idol's first season because he "wanted a bigger career." Yeah, well, that didn't quite happen for "The Dunk." The Ventura County Star reports that the 35-year-old, who now hosts "American Idol Rewind," remains philosophical about his appallingly bad decision.

"I have what a lot of people refer to as 'poor judgment,' " said Dunkleman, who lives in Los Angeles. "I thought it would run two seasons!"

Since Dunkleman's departure, the show has made megastars out of Ryan Seacrest (he now hosts radio's "American Top 40" and television's "E! News") and judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Not to mention contestants Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry.

Dunkleman decided to leave to pursue a comedic acting career. "I've been doing a lot of stand-up, going on tour every six weeks," he recently said on the phone as he drove to play a morning round of golf. "I've shot six pilots. You know, they say the seventh one's a charm."

Do they? "I don't know. I hope so. It wasn't the third."

Since his "Idol" departure in 2002, he has struggled to find small- and big-screen work in L.A. He recently filmed "Comedy Hell," an independent thriller he calls a "horr-omedy." His co-star in it is Hollywood veteran Eric Roberts, now most famous as Julia Roberts' brother. Then, last year, "Idol" producers called. They wanted Dunkleman to host "American Idol Rewind," a syndicated recap series that covers highlights of the show's first season. It was bittersweet, as Dunkleman no longer watches the show.

"It's like getting a divorce from someone and then hanging out with the person two or three times a week," he explained. But he took the gig and was grateful for the work.

"I'm opening up myself to the hosting world," admits Dunkleman, though he says his dream job would be film acting. "It's an amazing way to live, and I'd love to get another gig."

"The acting game has changed," he says, adding that the competition for roles has gotten out of control. "Holly Hunter is doing a TV show. You've got Oscar winners on TV!"

As for "Idol," even though that ship has sailed for him, Dunkleman predicts there'll be no clouds on the horizon for the show. "I thought it was kind of peaking last year, but it doesn't slow down at all," he said. "I think the only hope is nuclear annihilation."

e-mail Idol Addict
© 2007

Styling an Idol

American Idol stylist Miles Siggins shops with the contestants and gives them advice, but can't make any final clothing decisions or veto the contestants' choices, even if he thinks a ponytailed mohawk might ruin an otherwise stylish outfit. Siggins talked with EW.com about Idol fashion.

On Gina Glocksen's dresses: She wore a dress in one of the Hollywood weeks and she looked great. Then she wore a dress during the competition and Simon hated it and said she had to dress like a rocker. I'm sorry she got voted off. She was one of the few personalities on the show. It's a strange year. They're not fantastically charismatic.

On Melinda Doolittle: The thing with Melinda is she doesn't have much of a neck at all. And what neck she does have disappears when she puts heavy things on her shoulders. The reason to put her in dresses is to give her a bit more of a shape. I thought Tuesday's dress was great. The hairdresser was going to get a bit carried away with big hair but I said, "This has to be sleek hair to go with a modern dress."

On the dress Melinda wore during Tony Bennett Week: It was made for her by a designer named Dina Bar-El. She did a lot of Katharine McPhee's dresses last season. Dina made it in literally three days. Melinda was in the car on the way back holding the thing, going, ''Oh my gosh. This was made for me.'' She's a very genuine person. She has the tendency to be very, very shy and pull her shoulders up, though, which gives her less of a neck.

On whether Melinda's aware that she has no neck: Yes. And the whole shrinking-violet thing as well. She's really trying to get over it. She's phenomenal and she's getting there. And she's open to new ideas. Before Idol, she hadn't worn a dress in five years

On hats for the men: Sometimes they can carry it off. Sometimes not. I think Chris [Richardson] can carry it off. But Chris is in danger because it's easy for him to fall into that Justin Timberlake kind of vibe. Eventually it's going to come back and bite him in the ass because it will get less and less original. Blake has his own style that no one else really has. Maybe Common has something similar. It's a dandy skateboarder look that's going to be big in fashion.

On Blake Lewis: We shop really quickly together. It takes us half an hour. ... This week's outfit for Blake was from Paul Smith. Last year the contestants were willing to spend their money [to supplement Idol's weekly clothing budget]. This year very few want to spend their own money. Blake sees the bigger picture, that it's a whole investment in your future. For the others, thank God for places like H&M, because you can get decent-looking things. For girls it's always easier. There's a lot of disposable fashion for girls.

On Haley Scarnato wearing super-short skirts: We had to get her out of pageant outfits. She's one of the girls who gravitates toward sparkles. I had to pretty much say to her that you can go to a mall on a Saturday afternoon or a club on a weekend and see any girl in town wearing the same thing. Now, she's realizing she does look great. Simon's comment [that she has "great legs"] was a little bit inappropriate. The whole thing is, the better they look the better they feel and the better they do on stage.

About LaKisha Jones: LaKisha loves the gowns, and I think it's a throwback thing. That's her vibe — big soul diva with a big soul voice. She never really had an opportunity to wear dresses before this. But we need to change it up a little bit because the whole thing about a floor-length gown is that it ages her a lot.



On Jordin Spark's look: We're trying to keep her more age-appropriate too. She's very tall — 5'11'' — and she's big. She's on the large side of regular clothes, but not plus-size. It's a weird no man's land and it makes it tricky to find stuff for her. But her voice says everything.




On Sanjaya Malakar's clean-cut look for Tony Bennett week: He actually wanted a dark suit but I have to keep [his clothes] more age-appropriate — his fans are 8- to 13-year-old girls. It was hard this week because everyone wanted to pay respect to Tony Bennett with their clothing. We tried to edge it out with a white linen suit with a pair of sneakers. Dean, the hairdresser, cut his hair. It definitely looked better.

On whether Sanjaya is open to fashion advice: He has definite ideas. My thing is, we have to find out what his hairstyle is going to be and then we put an outfit together. I desperately tried to tell him not to do the ponytail mohawk thing. It made the whole look farcical.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES

American Idol Extra asked the eight finalists "What was the first CD you ever bought?"
Phil Stacey: New Kids on the Block
LaKisha Jones: Shun Pace-Rhodes, a gospel singer
Blake Lewis: Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
Melinda Doolittle: CeCe Winans
Sanjaya Malakar: Stevie Wonder
Chris Richardson: Boyz II Men
Jordin Sparks: The Spice Girls
Haley Scarnato: no answer, just laughed

UNDER(WOOD) COVER

Carrie Underwood appears on the cover of Cosmopolitan's May issue, which hits newsstands today. Carrie posed for the cover in nashville in January during a week that also included parties for her No. 1 singles "Don’t Forget to Remember Me" and "Before He Cheats," as well as the Nashville-based 2007 Grammy nominee party hosted by NARAS. She is the first America Idol winner to grace a Cosmo cover. In the accompanying story, Underwood reveals how she tries to remain grounded since her tremendous success over the past two years, and how she’d love to find someone special to spend time and share her life with.

CROCODILE TEARS?

We weren't surprised to read this story in The Knoxville Sentinel. The paper reports the Ashley Ferl, otherwise known as The Crying Girl, has cried her way into meeting Idol celebs before:

"This is not the first time Ashley has cried her way into an enviable situation. Last year she was at the dress rehearsal for the top 3 episode of "Idol," where she saw Mikalah Gordon, her favorite contestant from Season 4.

Ashley got so excited that she started to scream - and an usher agreed to take her over to meet Gordon.

As Ashley tells it, she was practically hyperventilating, and a concerned Gordon offered to take her backstage for a Sprite and some candy to calm her down.

"I didn't calm down," said Ashley. "I went back to my seat and watched the show, and then Taylor [Hicks] waved to me and I got all excited again."

Ashley and her family are hoping that Fox invites them back to sit in the "Idol" audience again."

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

People.com looks at where some former Idol finalists are now, including photos.

Diana DeGarmo (2nd place, Season 3): Has kept busy recording an album and starring in the Broadway musical "Hairspray." Her latest big accomplishment was dropping three dress sizes to a size 4! "The first time I put on size 26 waist jeans, I was jumping around the store," says DeGarmo, 19, who's lost the weight by changing her diet (staples include fish and brown rice) and working out four times a week.

Nikki McKibbin (3rd place, Season 1): McKibbin, 28 (pictured on the set of her 2006 video for the single "The Lie"), still makes music and spends her time giving voice lessons to kids. Plus, she's planning a July wedding to her childhood roller-skating coach Craig Sadler, 38. Meeting him again at a bar near her Fort Worth home last year, "I got butterflies," says McKibbin, whose son Tristen, from a former relationship, is now 9.

Jon Peter Lewis (8th place, Season 3): Released his debut album, "Stories from Hollywood," in 2006. Next up: a club tour. And so what if the venues aren't exactly stadiums? "It doesn't matter if I'm not huge," he says. "I can support myself and do what I love. That's the American dream, isn't it?"

Trenyce (5th place Season 2): Trenyce Cobbins will never forget those Idol jitters. "You know the music when the show comes on? To this day it makes my stomach fall," she says. Now a seasoned pro, the single Cobbins, 27, has been in six theater productions, including 2006's V: The Ultimate Variety Show, a Vegas-based multi-act revue (pictured center). Currently, the performer is touring in the musical Love in the Nick of Tyme with Morris Chestnut.

Jasmine Trias (3rd place, Season 3): "To this day I'm that girl from Hawaii with the flower in her hair," says Trias, 20. After going on tour in the Philippines, Trias cut a solo CD there. She also appeared in a Hawaiian music act in Vegas earlier this year (pictured). And though she plans to move to L.A. to get into acting, "I also want to open up a salon and a spa," says Trias. "That's always been my dream."

Scott Savol (5th place, Season 4): "I got married over the summer, so I'm enjoying married life," says Savol, 30, the father of Brandon, 5, from a previous relationship. Now settled in Nashville with wife Rochelle, a childhood friend, Savol spends his days concentrating on writing pop songs and recording an album. "American Idol has opened so many doors for me," he says.

Julia DeMato (10th place, Season 2): Being on Idol "has its good qualities and its bad," says DeMato, 28. The good? "I proved a lot to myself, because I'd never sung in front of anyone before." The bad? Seeing her name in the papers after she got arrested for DUI and drug possession in 2005. DeMato, who lives in Brookfield, Conn., now works as a hairstylist at her sister's salon, but the single mom gets in singing practice at home with son James, 1.

Carmen Rasmusen (6th place, Season 2): Just 17 on Idol, Rasmusen had to squeeze schoolwork into the show's hectic schedule. Now 22, Rasmusen is married to banker Brad Herbert, reports on Idol for MSNBC and has signed her first record deal, for a country CD. In her native Salt Lake City, she remains a local celebrity. "I (still) have people tell me, 'My mom voted for you 200 times,' " she says. Rasumsen has signed a record deal with Nashville's Lofton Creek Records. Her album is set to be released this summer. There are now at least seven Idol alumni affiliated with Nashville labels.

And for someone who never made it past the first audition, William Hung isn't doing too badly, either. Although he butchered Ricky Martin's "She Bangs," he has had a surprisingly lucrative "singing" career. His 2004 CD of covers, "Inspirations," hit the Billboard Top 40, and Hung, 24, says he's earned over $1 million since Idol. These days, he warbles for fans at mall appearances. "They ask for pictures and autographs," says Hung. "It happens a lot."

HEADIN' TO N'AWLINS

Fox News reports that this weekend Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and an "Idol" team will be filming in the Mississippi delta and working with Hurricane Katrina survivors for the "Idol Gives Back" pair of special shows that will air 10 days later.

Abdul also made an appearance at a Hillary Clinton fundraiser this past Saturday. She came as the guest of Suzan Hughes, the third wife of late Herbalife founder Mark Hughes. Abdul laughed when asked about this season's controversies. She said she thinks Sanjaya Malakar will go on a little longer before he’s excised from the competition.

TAYLOR TEES OFF

According to the Birmingham News, as a child, Taylor Hicks got kicked out of a hospitality tent at the Regions Charity Classic for not having proper credentials. On May 17th, the Season 5 "American Idol" winner headlines the tournament's Charter Telephone Pro-Am.

Gene Hallman, the tournament organizer for the Bruno Event Team, learned Hicks played golf after seeing a photo of the singer at the Bob Hope Classic in January. Hicks played there with a 17 handicap. [In fact, Hicks, who played golf in high school, has such a respectable game that he tied for 58th place, with a 16 handicap, on Golf Digest's 2006 list of the Top 100 Golfers in Music.]

"Taylor will attract a whole new segment of fans that maybe we've never had out to the golf tournament," Hallman said. "Him playing the week before the 'American Idol' final will add an extra dimension to his popularity."

Two children's charities - Kid One Transport and Studio By The Tracks - will receive $7,500 each in Hicks' name from tournament proceeds.

Hicks, a Hoover native, used to attend the event as a child. Hallman said Hicks told him one of his biggest thrills was getting Lee Trevino's autograph.

Tickets are $15, and children under 15 get in free. Discounted tickets are available at any Bruno's grocery store or Food World.

NEXT FOR CLARKSON

Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, says that Kelly Clarkson has decided to release "Never Again" (you can hear it here) as the first single from her third album, "My December," according to a post on her Web site. "I know y'all have been waiting but just imagine having the music for months and not being able to show anyone...it's torture!! I hope y'all like it! The album is very much a story of my life and as you know my life is usually very intense with lots of roller-coaster rides," Clarkson wrote. "This is my favorite album thus far! It's got some killer rock stuff, some fun soulful tracks, some beautiful and intimate slower songs, and it's all me." The album is due this summer with a tour to follow.

AND THE OTHER KELLIE

You can watch Kellie Pickler's "I Wonder" video here. She looks younger and better than during her recent "Idol" appearance, and, yes, that new cleavage is still in place and on display in the video, looking as artificial as ever.

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© 2007

Idol Style

The Detroit Free Press interviewed "American Idol" wardrobe stylist Miles Siggins about his unique perspective on this season's contestants. He's the man who helps the budding idols through the tricky process of selecting their outfits and polishing their personal style. Put another way, it's his job to make sure the kids won't be cut down by Simon Cowell for their clothing. "A lot of these contestants, they haven't had massive exposure to fashion," says Siggins, who's been with the show since the second season. In his opinion, the clothing ranks right up there in importance with the singing. "The first thing people see when (the finalists) step out onstage, they don't hear their voices, they see what they're wearing," he notes in his clipped British accent.

Sometimes, Siggins can't prevent a major fashion faux pas, like Season 3 runner-up Diana DeGarmo's tendency to favor the sparkly Miss America look. In most cases, Siggins is able to coax "Idol" hopefuls out of their comfort zones and into something with star quality, like the hot pants and halter top that gave Haley Scarnato a boost of sex appeal on the March 20 episode. "My push was to get her out of the kind of little pageantry tops she's been wearing," Siggins says. "That's what she's worn for years and years, but to me, you can see any girl in America wearing that on a Saturday night."

What about the other contestants? He's worked to get Melinda Doolittle away from suits and collars that emphasize her short neck and her tendency to shyly hunch her shoulders. "I've kind of deliberately gotten her into dresses and things with no collar, really," he says.

Beat-boxer Blake Lewis is one of the easier guys to shop with because he's confident about what he likes, according to Siggins. "It's weird. This year, the guys have been more picky than the girls, as far as clothes." The pickiest of them all is Chris Richardson. "He wants to see every single thing out there, and then he'll go back to the first thing he saw," says an amused Siggins.

Sanjaya Malakar, who's constantly picked on by critics, is having fun with his style choices. "We're trying to keep him a bit age-appropriate because he's a young guy," says Siggins. "So I don't think we're going to be seeing him in suits." And Phil Stacey, who's used to military uniforms, is slowly learning to care more about clothes. Where does Siggins stand on the hat-or-no-hat issue regarding the bald Stacey? "He's got no hair, so embrace it," he says. "I'm a big fan of embracing your traits. Enjoy what you are and enjoy the moment."

Siggins heaves a sigh when asked about Cowell's tendency to be a fashion critic. During British invasion week, Cowell even said LaKisha Jones' diamonds weren't real. They certainly were, Siggins assures. "To be honest, Simon just says things to rile people up, to try and get an argument," he explains. "He's like a spoiled little British schoolboy sometimes. "Being British, I know exactly what they're like."

FORMER IDOLS REPORT

... Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice sings the theme song to the new Will Ferrell movie "Blades of Glory." Producer Ben Stiller has been a fan of Bo’s since his Idol run and invited him to work on the song. You can listen to the tune at the official Blades of Glory Blades of Glory MySpace.com Site.

... Good news for Season 3 finalist George Huff. His single, “You Know Me,” has been nominated for a Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year. The awards will be presented on April 25, 2007 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, and will be hosted by Brian Littrell, Natalie Grant and Donnie McClurkin. The show will be broadcast in national syndication during May.

... TV Guide reports that Constantine Maroulis has been cast on the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful." Maroulis, who in the past year has been featured in the Broadway musical "The Wedding Singer" and the Off-Broadway revue "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well," will play a partly fictionalized version of himself on the show.

"We're going to blur reality à la 'Entourage' and have Constantine play a fictional version of himself," "B&B" Executive Producer Brad Bell told the magazine. Look for Maroulis to be involved in the Phoebe/Rick storyline -- he will initially join the soap as a possible music producer for Phoebe. He is shceduled to begin his appearances on the show this summer. Bell also teases that there may be other former Idols appearing on Bold and the Beautiful this summer.

... The Orlando Sentinel says that Jennifer Hudson might star in Aussie director Rowan Woods' film "Winged Creatures," playing the daughter of fellow-Oscar winner Forest Whitaker. The cast list is already star-packed, with Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley, Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Embeth Davidtz, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Josh Hutcherson. The story revolves around the witnesses to a murder-suicide in a fast-food restaurant as they cope with the aftermath of the incident and how they affect the people who help them along the way. Apparently, Hudson is busy recording her debut album (set for release on Arista in the fall) but still wants to join the cast.

SIMON TAKES SOME SHORT SHOTS

Simon Cowell is too short to flirt, or so says Britain's
"Got Talent" co-presenter Amanda Holden to the UK Web site What's on TV. Holden told the Sun that the 47-year-old falls a little short of her lofty standards. "I trust Simon's opinions but he wouldn't get anywhere flirting with me," the "Wild at Heart" star laughed. "He's only 4 feet! How can he flirt with me and be serious?"

The 35-year-old then stuck the boot in: "He wouldn't dream of being seriously flirty. Have you seen his built up shoes?" Holden, who is engaged to record executive Chris Hughes, also said she wouldn't take her daughter to work with her because of Simon's attitude to children. "I had a photo of her on my phone and Simon just said, 'You've got dogs too, haven't you? Have you got a picture of a dog?'," she revealed, adding that she had nicknamed him The Child Catcher after the villain in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Expect sparks to fly in the ITV1 show which kicks off in June.

HOLD THE CHEESE, SAYS STONE

According to Star Pulse, soul singer Joss Stone thinks "American Idol'" keeps getting more and more cheesy and is past its prime. The Brit, who was discovered on U.K. talent show "Star for a Night," admits she was a big fan of the first season of Idol, but the program no longer appeals to her.

"I think if you keep going with it, it's gonna get more and more cheesy... and that's a shame for the artists, because they just want any break." Stone also questions the credentials of the show's judges and believes they're too mean, "There's some great people there, like Randy [Jackson] ... He has every right to judge them. But the rest of them ... why are you judging these people?"

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© 2007