Yes We Can!

CONSTANTINE MAROULIS IN 'ROCK OF AGES'NJ.com interviewed Season 4 Idol finalist CONSTANTINE MAROULIS, who is starring in "Rock of Ages" now on an open-ended run at the New World Stages in New York.

The '80s rock musical features many familiar songs -- including Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" -- all performed by a live rock band. It's a lively, funny, love story about a guy and a girl who have dreams of making it big in L.A.

What did you learn from being on "American Idol" that has helped you in theater?
It taught me how to work and manage an audience better. With 50 million plus a week you learn fast to stick with what is working just to get through it.

Which do you prefer and why: Band, solo or ensemble?
I love them all. Picking is difficult. I just enjoy the creative process -- the avenue is irrelevant.

How do you relate to your character in "Rock of Ages?"
In many ways I was a guy like him when I was in school. We all have dreams and aspirations so I tried to reach back to when I was younger to get that feeling again.

What's your favorite part of being in this rock musical?
I must say that it really is the cast and the friendships I have made here. I am blessed to work with all of them. It is that sense that we are all together and a part of something very special. The crew and band rule too!!

It's such a high energy show -- how are you able to keep the energy up for every performance?
I try to get my rest, do the basics and eat right. That aside I have found that breathing and lots of Xbox 360 really helps. Oh...and I'm sorta part alien.

Besides poking fun at LA, what do you think Jersey 80's music fans will enjoy about the show?
I lived in Jersey for a massive part of my life which is why I know they will love the show. Jersey is the most awesome state there is. We have everything. Simply put it is all the songs they love wrapped into a love story, how can ya beat that?

Are you a fan of 80s rock?
I worship it, nothing like a big, sugar covered, hook ridden chorus to "...really pumps my nads!" (to quote "The Breakfast Club")

Since you are a Jerseyan in an 80s musical, what's your favorite Bon Jovi song?
"Runaway"Their first hit. It was on their original demo for labels.

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© 2008

Constantine Maroulis, Master Multitasker

In their interview with Season 4 finalist Constantine Maroulis, EW called him a master multitasker and says he is determined to stick around for these reasons:

• Barely a week after being eliminated, it was announced he had a TV development deal with Kelsey Grammer.


• Then, he was hitting the stage in New York, joining the cast of Broadway's "The Wedding Singer"


• Next, he was in the Off Broadway production of "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris."


• Since then, Maroulis has toured the country playing solo gigs.


• Gone to work on his debut album, Constantine (out Aug. 7) .


• And found time to guest on the CBS soap "The Bold and the Beautiful."

And he's doing so on his own terms. After a major-label deal with Atlantic fell through, Constantine pressed on with his album, paying for the production himself and hiring all the players. Then he formed his own record company, aptly named Sixth Place Records, and, like Elliott Yamin, secured a distribution deal. Should he sell even half of the 150,000 copies being pressed next month, Constantine will likely enjoy a very nice payday. But it's not all about the money, says the Boston Conservatory of Music grad — his focus is on having a career. And whether you consider him a heartthrob or a cheeseball, Constantine doesn't care much either way, as long as you don't count him out.

What happened to the deal with ABC?
We had a show we were developing, but it didn't work out. When Kelsey Grammar calls you up, you put a year of your time into developing something because he's a legend. You have to pursue these opportunities, see what they are, and nurture them. You have to take time to see if there's something there.

Tell us about your character on "The Bold and the Beautiful."
I play Constantine Parros, an international rock star, which, of course, I'm not. He's a really cool, hard-working guy who's producing records and looking for artists. He becomes fascinated with Phoebe Forrester [played by MacKenzie Mauzy]. She's the heiress to Forrester fashion house, which is a big f---ing deal. The whole show is based around this family, and she's really beautiful and can sing incredibly well. I see this YouTube-equivalent [video] of her and I say, ''Look at all the buzz this girl's getting, look at all the views, she's got the paparazzi after her...'' She's a good girl, though. She's like Hilary Duff but with Paris Hilton exposure. So I see potential and I want to produce her record. And, of course, a romance ensues.

You perform your songs on the show as well; do you give her the staple Constantine stare?
Definitely. It might have been written into one of the stage directions. The script said, ''Constantine gives her 'the look.' '' I laughed out loud, of course. I take my work really seriously, but that's funny s--- when you see that written into the script.

Certainly it must be easier to gaze toward Phoebe than Simon Cowell.
Yeah, a little bit. Although he might have liked it. He did call me ''smoldering.''

You went from "Elimidate" to "American Idol" to "The Bold and the Beautiful" — some may say there's some cheese there.
I say it's cool to be cheesy. But also look at Boston Conservatory, [the] Rent [tour], record entrepreneur, classical actor. You can see all sides of it. As long as they're talking about me, that's all that matters.

Why did you choose to self-release your album?
It just ended up becoming the best situation for me. Anytime you can have control of an album's direction, that's a good thing. I own this record. I'm the label — I lay out all the money for the studio, the musicians, the producers, rights and clearances to songs ... There's a huge advantage and a much bigger profit margin for units sold if you can do it like this.

Care to predict how it will do?
If we can sell enough to continue making records and stay on the road long enough to get more people into the music ... that's the goal. Numbers are irrelevant now. It's about who your target audience is and trying to move them. I'm realistic. I know I'm not going to be like the major artists out there. I think that's so silly when artists talk about [how much they'll sell] ... I've taken the time to consciously build a career. I wanted to do Broadway, I wanted to do soap operas, I wanted to start my own label, I wanted to host and write. There were all these ''I wannas'' and I got to do them all.

Would you say you're proof that you don't have to win to have a successful career?
I'm just a hardworking kid from New York. I'm about perseverance. You pound away, you keep working and things will happen. If you're not fortunate enough to be Carrie Underwood, you have to f---ing bust your ass. That's it. I've stayed out there without being too much out there. I've quietly done good work. I plan on sticking around for a long time as a result of it. Then one day, I'll move to Greece and retire with my 10 children.

ELLIOTT YAMIN DEFIED THE ODDS

EW says that 14 months after his Season 5 on "American Idol" ended, Elliott Yamin's self-titled debut album, which was released in March, is quickly approaching gold status. It's about to overtake runner-up Katharine McPhee's total sales and is outpacing current numbers for winner Taylor Hicks.

How did Yamin defy the odds? Judge Randy Jackson has a theory: ''He's the same guy he was on the show,'' he tells EW. ''The pop, R&B thing worked for him and that's what he's doing now. People [respond] and go, 'Yeah! This is no different than the guy I voted for, it's right on the money.' ''

Yamin's other smart decision was how he went about releasing his album. Rather than pursuing the major label route, Elliott saw being passed over by SonyBMG (the music conglomerate that has first dibs on Idol contestants) as a blessing and opted to go indie. With a publishing deal in hand (from Sony/ATV, who signed him after hearing one song) and guidance from his manager, Jeff Rabhan (who previously worked with Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken), Elliott's team became a "virtual label," with many of the key elements (sales, promotion, press) outsourced to various experts of their field.

As luck — and hard work — would have it, Yamin's first single, "Wait for You," was an unexpected hit, and with a new shaggy 'do and (gifted) $50,000 veneers, he looks poised to be the next solo pop star to break out of the Idol mold. EW caught up with Yamin at a café near his home in Los Angeles to talk shop.

We'll have to start with the teeth, because they look great!
And now it feels great! [The process] was excruciating. I was wrecked from the neck up. It hurt to talk. I'd had a couple cavities filled and my wisdom teeth pulled, but that's it. I would never even go to cleanings. So that was tough. I didn't think the pain was ever going to go away.

Did that make you insecure?
Yeah, a little bit. I always had a complex about my smile. I would have to smile a certain way, knowing it looked better than the other way, when my teeth were exposed. I never thought I'd have the whole mouth done, but they offered to do it for free! That was definitely the Jew in me.
You're part Israeli, aren't you?
My dad's Israeli. He was born in Baghdad to Iraqi Jews. Then, at age 2, his parents wanted to move to their homeland and he grew up in Israel. I've been there twice, once as a baby and once when I was 15.

Did you have a Bar Mitzvah?
No, I didn't. I was a bad kid. I got kicked out of Hebrew school for making fun of [my teacher]. She was pretty strict with us and her husband was the rabbi. We used to clash.

And you dropped out of high school, too?
Yeah. I was never really good in the classroom setting. But I got my ''Good Enough Degree.'' [Chuckles]

Do you think being deaf in one ear had anything to do with it?
No. I hear okay. It's never been that big of an issue other than in crowds, or on headphones.

What about on the Idol stage when the judges are talking to you?
On the stage, you can't see, but the sound up there is good. They have tons of monitors that protrude through the floor. Sitting on the side of the stage, though, I could never hear a word Ryan [Seacrest] or any of the judges were saying.

You watched Idol before your audition, and now you've seen another round of contestants. Was your season the best?
I think it was the best so far, and I'm not being biased. That seems to be the general consensus from everybody; this year wasn't as good as last year. It's cool to be a part of that alumni.

Your single is a Top 40 hit. Do you think performing it on Idol gave it a big boost?
It was on the rise, but yeah, it wouldn't be where it is today if not for performing on that show. 100 percent. Thirty million people saw it! There was an 87 percent increase from one week to the next. I was really pumped.

Why didn't you sign with 19 for management?
I felt they weren't going to pick me up on the management side or the record company side, so I called Simon Fuller personally and I said, ''I appreciate everything you've done. I've gotten amazing opportunities.'' I thanked him and told him what a great time I had on the show, then I said, ''I'd like to cede the deal with 19 Entertainment.'' And he said, ''That's cool, just don't put out a record before Kat, Taylor, or Chris.'' I was, like, ''No problem, I'll take my time.'' That was that. I wasn't like, ''That's f----d up, why didn't they pick me?'' I was more relieved. They were trying to manage a lot of people at one time and they didn't indicate that in the future, away from Idol, they'd give me 100 percent of the attention that I need. It wasn't the right fit.

What were your expectations for the album?
I wasn't too sure. I had preconceived notions, probably like the public did. You know, what's he going to sound like? Are people going to buy it? Not literally, but like buy it. I wanted it to be good, quality music — a singer's record, because I'm a vocalist — and something I could be happy with and grow from. I think I did that.

And the album is an independent release, so you stand to make more of a profit ...
Yes. But there are so many ways to make money in this business: Touring, endorsement deals, I'm doing something with Oscar Mayer, I'm doing a Christmas album with Target ... There are all kinds of opportunities coming my way that have nothing to do with singing but are other sources of income.

Still, it must feel good to have an album that's selling so well.
It feels amazing. We worked tirelessly and it's really paying off. Pounding the radio, going to three or four stations a day, sometimes in two different states, for five weeks straight. We played every chance we got, it was almost like a country-music radio tour; meeting the fans and the listeners. But people really like the song, they like me, they like the record!

Have you come to terms with the fact that you'll likely be talking about American Idol for the rest of your life?
I've accepted it. I know I'll be forever synonymous with those two words. But so what? I knew what I was getting myself into. I didn't know the magnitude of how big it was, but I'll talk about it until I'm blue in the face. So many doors have opened because of it. Now, I get to do what I love every day.

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© 2007

Constantine: Soap Gig Awesome

In an interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel Constan-
tine Maroulis says his recurring role as music producer Constan-
tine Parros on "The Bold and the Beautiful" has "been awesome."

"It's a good gig, and they've bent over backward for me. They've featured my music on the show and written me into the main storyline."

Maroulis, 31, who will perform at StarJam 2007 on July 4 in Pigeon Forge, saw the soap stint as a good way to promote his upcoming album, "Constantine," which will be released Aug. 7. (The first single, "Everybody Loves," already is available on iTunes.)

"I think they wanted to gear the audience a little younger this summer and sort of shake things up a bit," says Maroulis, who was pleased to discover that "B&B" executive producer Brad Bell was a fan. "When he called, I'd been finishing up the album in New York, had done some Broadway this year and such, and it just was perfect timing."

While Maroulis gained the national spotlight as a singer on "Idol" in 2005, he was well-prepared to take on an acting challenge. Born in Brooklyn and reared in New Jersey, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater from the Boston Conservatory while concurrently minoring in voice at the Berklee College of Music.

Prior to "Idol," he spent two years portraying Roger Davis in a touring company of "Rent." He finished 2006 by co-starring in the Broadway musical "The Wedding Singer" and started 2007 by performing Off-Broadway in "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris" for six weeks.

A veteran of high-school garage bands, Maroulis was the lead singer for the rock band Pray for the Soul of Betty when he auditioned for "Idol" (he left the group in March 2006). He came to the talent competition with years of performing experience, unlike many contestants best known for singing in the shower, but he didn't find the dichotomy awkward.

"I think it certainly worked for me," he says by cell phone as he waits for his flight to board at Los Angeles International Airport. "I think the energy that I bring to the stage and the work I like to do is about connecting to the audience in a cerebral, heartfelt way, not just blowing them away with a voice or looks or anything like that.

"I'm experienced, and I've traveled the world, and I've seen a lot of things. With other people, they [pick] certain performers that are fresh off the boat, off the farm or plucked out of the mall or whatever. It's just a different path from some other people, that’s all."

After six weeks of impressing viewers as a finalist with such numbers as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "I Can't Make You Love Me" and "I Think I Love You,"” Maroulis was voted off "Idol" during a shocking results show following his performance the night before of Nickelback’s "How You Remind Me."

"The song was not right for me," says the singer, who was the season's sixth-place finisher. "But that was what was meant to be."

He views his "Idol" experience as positive.

"I went into it with an open mind and open heart, and I did my best," he says. "I've been very blessed since then. I can't complain. I've gotten to do everything I've wanted to do.

"Now I'm gearing up for this record — spent a lot of time on it, started my own label, handpicked musicians, the producers, the writers. Collaborated with some great people. There's a lot of blood, sweat and tears on this record.

"[I'm] not worried about winning contests and things. [I'm] just interested in doing good work and pushing forward."

Well good for him. But, honestly, after listening to "Everybody Loves," we have to say it was hardly worth a two-year wait. It's mediocre pop pap. Listen and judge for yourself.

DAUGHTRY GOES TRIPLE PLATINUM

According to IGN.com, Season 5 fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry's eponymous debut album has been certified triple platinum (selling in excess of 3 million copies) by the RIAA and as such has been deemed the biggest selling album of 2007 thus far. It is the first album to achieve triple platinum status in the past six months.

The album was propelled to triple platinum sales on the wings of Daughtry's hit singles "It's Not Over" and "Home."

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© 2007

'My December' First Listen

Roger Friedman of Fox News writes that more than a week before its scheduled release, Kelly Clarkson's controversial album, "My December" is available all over the Internet.

I downloaded it quickly last Friday and have been listening to it ever since — not necessarily because it's so good, but to evaluate its inherent oddness.

"My December," you see, as has been discussed now in this column and other places, is not what you'd expect from the winner of "American Idol."

That can be a good thing and a bad thing. We all applaud ambitious moves, and Clarkson certainly wants to spread her wings. Her famous quote now is that the songs are by her and about her. She says something to the effect of "pardon me if my life bores you."

Clarkson, however, is not a very experienced lyricist. So the pain she is trying to convey on "My December" is often not very effectively rendered. Unlike confessional songwriters like Carly Simon or even Alanis Morissette, Clarkson doesn't have a grasp of metaphor. She is more of an in-your-face songwriter. She also doesn't know when to stop beating a dead horse.

The result is a very mixed bag. The music on "My December" was supposedly written by members of her band. Some of it isn't bad. A couple of tracks, "Yeah" and "Don't Waste Your Time," stand out as memorable rockers with decent hooks. "Be Still" is an effective ballad. But the lyrics, especially on "Time," deteriorate pretty quickly into an accusatory tone that permeates the album.

It's not that I'm unsympathetic. Clarkson obviously was in a bad relationship with an abusive alcoholic. We get it; it's all over the album, from "Sober" to "Chivas." In "Yeah," which is saved by the band, she warbles: "I know where I've loved somebody more than what you'll give to me."

It's clear she's mad, bitter and resentful. But a lot of it seems like high school whining. Isn't art supposed to be about something more than this?

With "December" already downloading, Clarkson and her record label, RCA, have some obvious problems. But even worse for Clarkson is the news that her tour has been cancelled right on the heels of her firing manager Jeff Kwatinetz.

I still think that RCA will add a couple of tracks to "My December" in a second edition early in the fall. A real hit should emerge then, followed by a tour. But what a long way around to do something fairly simple.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAUL McCARTNEY

Paul McCartney is 65 today, and even though this is not "American Idol" news, we just had to mark the occasion. Everybody's gonna dance tonight!

A NIGHT IN ATHENS WITH CONSTANTINE MAROULIS

The Daily Tribune reports that Constantine Maroulis will take the stage twice during Opa Fest 2007, "A Night in Athens," on the grounds of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Troy, Mich.

The event runs Friday through Sunday, June 22-24. Maroulis will perform for free at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

This year, about 10,000 people in three days are expected to attend the festival at the church at 760 W. Wattles Road in Troy.

TAYLOR HICKS VIDEOS AT ELVIS FEST 2007

Watch video of Taylor Hicks singing "Soul Thing" at Elvis Fest 2007 in Tupelo, Miss.:


There are other videos (sorry, even worse quality), but Taylor freaks might want to take a peek here.

MOM SETS JORDIN SPARKS' BIRTH PLACE STRAIGHT

The Staten Island Advance says that despite hundreds of reports to the contrary,
"American Idol" Jordin Sparks wasn't born on Staten Island.

Seriously.

On Dec. 22, 1989, Jodi Wiedmann gave birth to a healthy baby girl -- 8 pounds, 8 ounces, if family memory serves. The obstetrician was Dr. Charles Clinch. The location was St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, and, cue the "Idol" theme music -- a star was born.

The 17-year-old Ms. Sparks earned support from Staten Island's "Idol" fans during her rise to the top of the Fox-TV series this season.

No doubt, Staten Island would be happy to claim her.
But Ms. Sparks' mother tells the Advance: "I can definitely confirm that Jordin and I were at St. Joe's in Phoenix on the morning of Dec. 22, 1989!"

When the New York Post reported in April that Ms. Sparks was an Island native, they had it wrong, as did subsequent reports in papers from Virginia to Singapore.

The young pop star, a resident of Glendale, Ariz., did reside in various parts of New York and New Jersey while growing up -- mainly in Ridgewood, N.J., while her father, Phillippi Sparks, played football with the New York Giants.

Today Google links fans to about 700 Web sites that report Ms. Sparks was born on the Island-- including such popular sites as Wikipedia, People and imdb.com.

But -- sad news for local devotees -- they all have it wrong, too.

The Sparks family says they were rebuffed by a Post editor when they called to request a correction.

And they have tried to edit Ms. Sparks' bio on Wikipedia, the Internet encyclopedia that allows anyone to contribute, but they said the Island connection keeps cropping back up.

It's a mistake -- we're taking mom's word for it.

SIMON COWELL'S FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH: TOMATO BATHS

In one of the funniest Simon Cowell stories we've read to date, Mike Walker in the National Enquirer claims that Simon Cowell bathes in cherry tomatoes and sparkling water to stay looking young.

Walker says that Cowell spends hours soaking naked in a fab concoction he calls "Tomate Cerise!" Simon orders Italian cherry tomatoes flown in from Europe, smashes them to pulp in a big bucket -– then pours the bright-red goop into a bathtub filled with Perrier water.

Walker claims that Simon says the tomato enzymes not only eradicate age spots and keep the skin looking young – they even jazz up the metabolism.

Walker adds that his spy says Cowell's housekeepers aren't happy about swabbing pureed goo out of the master tub, and keep muttering stuff like "damn tomato soup!"

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© 2007

Lewis, One of 2007's Hottest Bachelors

Well, he didn't make the cover like Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks did last year, but Blake Lewis needn't hide his sexy head in shame. People magazine has named Lewis one of 2007's Hottest Bachelors, in their issue of the same name that hits the stands tomorrow featuring Matthew McConaughey on the cover.

The magazine's Web site says that the "American Idol" runner-up admits that, deep down, he's the sensitive type: "I'm the dozen roses kind of guy. I've done some serenading. In an intimate setting singing to a girl is beautiful."

What does Lewis look for in a woman? Independence, spontaneity, a heart of soul; someone who can take care of herself and is not too needy, is attractive ("there's got to be some chemistry"), likes to have fun and "likes cheesy white guys, like myself."

The biggest turn off? Someone who whines and complains a lot, is negative, pessimistic ("I'm very optimistic, focused and driven").

You can watch a video of the People photo shoot of Blake Lewis here.

SINGING THE SAME TUNE

Included in a USA Today article titled "They sing to their dads' tunes" was Sesaon 6 semi-finalist Sundance Head and his day, singer Roy Head.

The offspring: A 2007 American Idol Top 24 finalist, Sundance, 28, impressed judges with a performance of Bobby Blue Bland's "Stormy Monday." A blues shouter by nature, he plans to record an album of R&B duets with fellow Idol contestant Sabrina Sloan.

The springboard: Roy, 66, had a No. 2 hit in 1965 with "Treat Her Right," a horn-drenched rave-up that practically defined the notion of blue-eyed soul. A dancer who could hang with the likes of James Brown and Jackie Wilson, the elder Head also had a string of minor country hits during the '70s and early '80s and still tears it up on the oldies circuit.

How dad was instrumental: "As soon as I realized I couldn't be the showman that he was, I decided to play guitar," Sundance says. "That way, I didn't have to move. I started out using the guitar as a shield, but I ended up being pretty good at it."

On Idol, "they were giving us a song a day to learn. I called Dad and said, 'I've gone over (this song) so many times that I don't even know what it is anymore.' He said, 'You're over-studying it. If you're on stage and you forget the lyric, just make up lyrics that sound like the ones you should be singing. If you act like nothing's wrong, nobody will even notice it.' That got me through the L.A. auditions."

AYLA BROWN MOVING 'FORWARD'

In a story about Season 5 semi-finalist Ayla Brown, Billboard.com says:

She may have missed making it into the top 12 on season four of "American Idol" by one spot, but former contestant Ayla Brown has still managed to stay in the public eye over the past year. Eighteen-year-old Brown has done a number of live performances in support of her debut album, "Forward," which was released last October via Double Deal Brand Records, and she is also a prominent member of Boston College's women's basketball team.

"It's really important to me to be able to sing as well as play basketball," says the Wrentham, Mass., native. She adds that although she wasn't one of the 12 finalists on "Idol," she's pleased with how everything turned out. "At first I was devastated because I didn't know where my life, musically, would lead me. I thought, 'I'm gonna go play basketball now; there's going to be no music in my life.' I really just thought that I wasn't ready for it. But after 'Idol,' I was offered [the chance] to make a CD, and I saw that as a door opening up. Thank goodness I took it, and now I'm able to do both."

"Forward" features songs penned by Diane Warren, Tommy Sims and David Eriksen, among others. Brown co-wrote two songs, "Thanks to You" and "Falling Into You." The album's initial singles, "Know You Better" and "I Quit," were released in September, and the current single, "Forward," is at mainstream AC radio now.

"I love this song," Brown says of the title track. "Mostly because of the bridge -- it comes in with this full chorus of people. It becomes almost this gospel sound." She adds that when performing for a middle school-aged crowd, she always includes the song "Love You Better" because "guys and girls love to get up and dance to that one."

Not only does she want to get tweens out on the dance floor, Brown hopes she serves as a role model to her audience as well. "A lot of younger artists are making bad decisions with their lifestyles," she says. "I really want to be one of those people who says, you can play sports, you can sing, you can be a good student, and no one is going to punish you for it."

This summer, Brown will make a number of public appearances, some of which will feature performances by fellow Massachusetts "Idol" contestant Nick Pedro. The two recently shared the stage at the Jimmy Fund's Scooper Bowl in Boston on June 6.

While there's no set timetable on a follow-up album, Brown says she wants to contribute more as a songwriter the next time around. "At first I didn't really know what the [songwriting] process was about," she admits. "I'd always been a basketball player growing up. But through the process, through 'American Idol,' I learned so much and what you can contribute."

And here are some excerpts from an interview with Brown done last month by The Sun Chronicle:

On who will have a more successful recording career, Blake Lewis or Jordin Sparks: Probably Blake, because he can do reggae and he can do the whole beat boxing thing. I could see him doing that whole contemporary vibe sort of thing and being extremely successful with it. [Jordin] would be successful too. However, we've seen singers like her in the past.

On which Season 6 contestants should have advanced further in the competition: I was disappointed that Stephanie Edwards didn't get put into the top 12, and Sabrina Sloan. I think those two were ones that America really got wrong in the earlier competitions, and I feel like if they had gotten in it would have been a different story.

On who will likely have the most successful career out of the Top 12: I think Chris Richardson will end up being pretty successful just because all the females seem to really, really like him. He's kind of like the next Justin Timberlake ... And I don't want to say Sanjaya [Malakar], but somehow I think Sanjaya's going to come out and be really successful. People can't get enough of him.

On how long the show can remain a ratings juggernaut: Everyone that I talk to, honestly, every single person watches it and none of them seem to be sick of it, and they've been watching it since season one. Based on trends that are happening with voting, people want different (types of contestants) in the competition and that's why they're voting for Sanjaya and Blake and Taylor Hicks. So I don't know if people are rebelling or just want someone obscure and unseen. But honestly I can't see "American Idol" fading out anytime soon.

On the likelihood of Season 6 contestants releasing albums: I'm curious to see how many release albums this year. It just seems as though season five had so many talented people that had the ability to release an album because they were just popular or talented enough. (Bucky Covington, Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry and Katharine McPhee have all released relatively high-profile albums since last season).

Her thoughts on her album, "Forward": I'm just so thankful to have the opportunity, and that someone saw the potential in me to make an album, because not all the people in the world get the ability to have that happen to them, so it's really a good feeling.

On what would happen if any of the "American Idol" judges changed: I think if there were judge changes, people wouldn't watch it. And because it's such a popular television show, I don't think "Idol" would take that chance.

SEASON 4 ROCKERS PLAN CD RELEASES

MTV interviewed "American Idol" vets Bo Bice and Constantine Maroulis on their CDs, due for release later this year.

So much for striking while the iron's hot. Instead of rushing out an album right after his ouster from the 2005 edition of "American Idol," Constantine Maroulis has spent the past two years indulging his love of musical theater, acting in a soap opera and putting together an empire under his snarkily named Sixth Place Productions banner.

"I'm an actor, I love to host and I'm a singer. I did Broadway, and I produced my own tours and started my own label," said Maroulis, who appeared on Broadway in "The Wedding Singer" musical and is currently playing a singer on the daytime drama "The Bold and the Beautiful." "Would I trade all that work for making one successful album right off the show? I don't have that answer. I think this record is better than the one I could have made right off the show. It's more grassroots — I picked the band, financed it and co-wrote a bunch of the songs."

The album, titled "Constantine," will drop August 7 on his label, with distribution from Sony/Red. Self-proclaimed "blue-collar guy" Maroulis is confident that his fans will find it and buy enough copies to keep him on the road. "I can sell a couple hundred thousand copies and do what I love to do: play clubs," he said. "I don't need to be a huge star."

Just in case, though, he did bring in some ringers, including Matchbox Twenty singer Rob Thomas, who co-wrote a song on the album, as well as Nashville songwriter Angie Aparo (Faith Hill's "Cry"). "It's got a distinctly rock sound, kind of an East Coast Bon Jovi/Rob Thomas vibe with great pop hooks," Maroulis said. The first single, "Everybody Loves," has been featured on "The Bold and the Beautiful" and is on iTunes now. The next single, "Girl Like You," will soon be tied to a story line on the show.

Season four's other rocker, No. 2 finisher Bo Bice, is also prepping an album for later this year: His yet-untitled sophomore release. His 2005 debut, "The Real Thing," featured assists from Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and former Evanescence member Ben Moody that were brokered by Bice's label. The longhaired Southern rocker says he called the shots this time around.

The album, which Bice is recording with noted country producer Frank Liddell (Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks), features the music hound's wish list of famed session masters. "I was throwing around ideas of the people I wanted to play on it," Bice said. "And I was like, 'Yeah, sure, these guys will play on my album. Right!' " But a few phone calls landed him Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell — who Bice met a decade ago when he delivered a package of Christmas CDs to Leavell's house — as well as Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman, legendary session guitarist Waddy Wachtel (Keith Richards, Tom Waits) and bluegrass icon David Grisman.

"It's a star-studded cast, and I'm the only one on there who's not famous," the ever-humble Bice joked. "I picked and co-wrote the songs that if I was a guy who would be spending my hard-earned money buying an album I would want to hear." That means original back-to-basics Southern rock and country-tinged singer/songwriter tunes co-written with A.J. Croce (son of 1970s singer Jim Croce) and Chris Tompkins (Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats").

Bice said he wrote 31 songs for the album and is narrowing down the list to 10-12 that will make the final cut, including four songs that are currently vying to be the first single.

"I didn't have a lot to do with the first record," said Bice, who took time off in late 2006 to have another surgery to finally correct a nagging intestinal blockage that hospitalized him 15 times last year. "It was very RCA and Clive [Davis]-driven. It was an excellent album, but it was a revolving door of one guy in this week, another guy the next. This time I was here for every aspect [of it], and I'm a lot more comfortable."

Bice and Maroulis were the trailblazers for rock singers on "Idol." They paved the way for the show's latest breakout star, last season's No. 4 finisher Chris Daughtry, a fact Bice takes pride in.

"It made me proud that Chris said I was part of what inspired him to audition," said Bice. "There was never a bone in my body that thought I was going to win or make it that far. To see people progress and see more rock people on there makes me proud."

SIGHTING

"American Idol" third-place finisher Melinda Doolittle, outfitted in jeans, T-shirt and Prada bag, trying on sneakers at Niketown on E. 57th Street in Manhattan with a male sidekick, says the New York Daily News.

SHERMAN PORE VIDEO

Watch video of Season 6 "contestant" Sherman Pore singing "Eternally"


e-mail Idol Addict
© 2007

Kelly Clarkson Elle Magazine Cover Story

Kelly Clarkson graces the cover of the current Elle magazine, which did an extensive and deeply revealing interview with her and and people who know her. They also took some smashing pictures of the singer. You can read it all here:

Kelly Clarkson has never been in love. She's not even sure she has been close. This will come as a shock to many people, particularly the millions of fans who have been belting the Grammy-winning megahit "Since U Been Gone" out of their car windows for the past three years.

"I know people probably think I've been heartbroken, because of the stuff I've sung and written," Clarkson acknowledges of her preferred milieu, the artful kiss-off song. It is an early spring afternoon in Los Angeles, and Clarkson is waiting in her dressing room at the 2007 American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Awards, where she is winning Song of the Year for "Because of You," a tune she penned when she was just 16.

"I love my friends and my family," she explains, taking a bite of a Triscuit, her lunch. "But I have never said the words 'I love you' to anyone in a romantic relationship. Ever."

For a self-professed goofy, down-home girl, Clarkson takes romance very seriously. "I am very old-school, conservative in my thinking when it comes to relationships," she says. "Love is something you work at. It doesn't come easily. There are going to be bad days. You are going to have to work at loving someone when they are being an idiot. People think they're just going to meet the perfect guy." She laughs. "Don't be ridiculous."

If there is one thing Kelly Clarkson, 25, is not, it's ridiculous. Nor is she foolish or thoughtless or rash. Clarkson, who first came to national attention in 2002 by winning the debut American Idol—a multimillion-person vote of confidence borne out when her second album went platinum six times—is something altogether different. Unlike Britney or any of those other girls going commando in limos between stints in rehab, she appears free of ego or crippling insecurity. She is a normal dress size. She smiles. She doesn't smoke, because it's "gross." She is "definitely not slutty." She drinks, "like, maybe twice a year." In sum, she seems less like an international superstar than like someone you'd trust to babysit your kid. She is, no caveats, a pop star you can feel good about liking.

American Idol judge Simon Cowell of Clarkson's big, earthy, heartrending voice. "As good as Whitney, as Mariah, as Christina. She isn't aware of how good she really is."

"I can't think of anyone who sings better than Kelly Clarkson," seconds Idol cocreator Simon Fuller. "She is the best young singer in the world right now," he continues, putting to bed any lingering rumors of their post-Idol falling out, a rift that both argue was manufactured by the press. "She is a global superstar. And fans really identify with her, because of her openness. You feel like she is a friend, that you know her. That sets her apart."

"She is the most popular pop vocalist in the country," echoes Clay Aiken, a friend and former touring partner. "And to be that girl and not mind being photographed with your hair messed up—that is something. Can you name any other singer who would dare do that? I mean, please."
"I'm fine with it," Clarkson says of the many unflattering paparazzi photos. "I just don't care. I don't wear makeup in public. I don't worry about what I'm wearing. Hell, I wore pajamas to high school."

"Vocally, I genuinely think she is up there with the top five in the world," says [missing type on Elle Web page]. In 2006, Clarkson was the most-played artist on American radio, her songs ranking in the top 40 for 111 weeks, a record. Her Grammy-winning Breakaway was the third- best-selling album in 2005, producing four No. 1 singles, most notably "Since U Been Gone," a song so infectious it counts both Dave Grohl and Reba McEntire as fans. The song won Clarkson a second Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. That year, she also took home two American Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, 11 Billboard Music Awards, and the People's Choice Award for Best Female Recording Artist, thus cementing her status as an artist with commercial and critical clout. This year she also won four ASCAPs for songwriting, putting her in the esteemed company of Melissa Etheridge and Mary J. Blige, an honor she "was shocked to receive."

Despite the accolades and the abrupt thrust into public life, Clarkson has remained sanguine, even ambivalent about her success. "It is weird when a 12-year-old tells me I am their favorite artist," she muses. "I'm always like, It's just because you're young and you haven't heard everybody yet. In time, I'll be weeded out. And that's cool. I know I'm a good singer, but I know who I am, too."

Which is Clarkson's way of saying she is no Patty Griffin or Emmylou Harris, or even Ryan Adams, artists she adores.

"It's pretty heavy, what happened to her," country great McEntire says of Clarkson's rapid ascent. "She was thrown into the ocean without a life preserver. And she handled it. I don't know that I could have."

Clarkson doesn't try to be a role model—"the idea makes me nervous," she says. But even when she attempts to point out her bad qualities, she comes off a bit Sandra Dee: "I tend to be early. I'm not patient. I have no tolerance for stupidity. I work too much."

Those are your fatal flaws?

"All my conversations revolve around my job. So I'm boring."

Her best friend and occasional makeup artist, Ashley, amends this contention, saying, "It's not her fault. Her career is all people ever want to hear about."

"Well, I used to be a better friend," Clarkson says. "How about that?"

What happened?

"I got famous is what happened."

In person, the Texas-born-and-reared Clarkson has a cartoonishly sexy body. She is short, 5'4", with a flat stomach and a tiny waist that flares into a high, bee-stung bottom.

"I have no boobs," she says, laughing. Nor does she want any. "I go in and out," she explains pointing to her middle, then her hips. "Greek," she shrugs. Her personal style is casual. "I never try on clothes. I am all about sneakers and T-shirts."

It is days before her twenty-fifth birthday, and Clarkson is talking about the party she hosted last week, "in honor of my birthday and the release of my single 'Never Again.' It was held up, for like, ever."

The party, which had a white-trash theme complete with rented taxidermy and Cheez Whiz appetizers (Clarkson wore a mullet and acid-wash jeans tucked into her sneakers), was a raging success, though somewhat tainted by record label drama. Her album "My December," the first one on which Clarkson wrote every song, is due out this summer, having been delayed because of arguments about content.

"The label didn't even acknowledge her ASCAP awards," says Jeff Kwatinetz, Clarkson's manager and CEO of the Firm. "It's upsetting. They don't want her to be a songwriter. They just want her to shut up and sing. They want her to stay their little American Idol."

"Back in the day, female artists were told to perform and then go sit in the corner," McEntire says. "Thank God for people like Dolly Parton who took charge. Kelly is the same way. She knows what she wants. She's had a rough go of it in the music business. People think she just won Idol and everything else was easy. Not so. She's had to fight."

The battles were primarily with industry executives over record tracks and release dates. Apparently it's hard out there for a pop star, even if you are Kelly Clarkson.

"Kelly can sing the phone book," Cowell says. "She doesn't have to be told what to do."

"I've sold more than 15 million records worldwide, and still nobody listens to what I have to say," Clarkson groans, incredulous. "Because I'm 25 and a woman."

On "My December," there are the requisite female outrage songs, none more so than "Never Again," her stunned, oh-no-you-didn't rant to an ex-boyfriend. But most of the tracks are less poppy, more sophisticated. Clarkson has a habit of choosing unusual collaborators; for "My December," she asked seminal punk-rock bassist Mike Watt to play on three songs. Her voice on "Be Still" hints at Carole King, while "Irvine" echoes Chan Marshall. The sound ranges from rock to emo to folk. The lyrics are layered and complicated. "I don't need to be fixed and I certainly don't need to be found," she writes on "Maybe." She isn't angry, just world-weary. Unlike many female songwriters her age, Clarkson rarely blames anybody else for her broken heart, or, for that matter, her failures. She is Alanis Morissette without the finger-pointing. Avril Lavigne with a brain.

"My December's" disparity of themes and lack of an obvious hit were not lost on producer Clive Davis, who is said to have offered Clarkson $10 million to ditch five of her songs for more radio-friendly picks of his choosing. Clarkson declined.

"I am a good singer, so I can't possibly be a good writer," she says, bristling at the implication. "Women can't possibly be good at two things. I haven't lost my temper about it. It only drives me more. If your thing is to bring me down, cool. I'll just work harder."

"Her new album is a real departure. It's a risk," Aiken says. "Kelly is one of those people who really knows who she is. For better or worse, she is her own woman."

A short list of things Clarkson doesn't want:
A clothing line.
A fragrance with her name on the bottle.
A television show.
A movie role.
A toy dog in a leather jacket.

"I could give a crap about being a star," Clarkson says. "I've always just wanted to sing and write."

It is a half hour before a round of entertainment television interviews, and Clarkson is again backstage at the Kodak Theatre, falling asleep in her makeup chair.

"My thing is hanging out," she says, tugging up her stretch slacks, simple black pants she confesses to wearing "every single day." Her hairstylist runs a mascara wand down her hair, coating stray blond strands. Clarkson removes her bra, junior-high style, and slides it out from her shirt, handing it to Ashley to stow in her handbag.

"My resistance upsets a lot of people, because we could make a lot of money," Clarkson says. "And I'm not hatin' on money. But you know in "Funny Girl," when they make Barbra Streisand sing the 'beautiful girl' song, and she is singing these lyrics, and she knows she's not that person?" Clarkson sighs. "I'm just not comfortable doing things that don't feel like me."

She then tells a story about Idol Gives Back, the special episodes of "American Idol" that aired in late April to raise money for Africa and charities at home. Her appearance marked her much anticipated return to the show that spawned her, singing with the likes of Annie Lennox and Celine Dion.

"My label wanted me to sing 'Never Again,'" she says. "And I was like, To promote yourself on a charity event is beyond crass. People are starving and dying and I'm up there singing some bitter pop song? And believe me, everyone wanted me to sing it. Because they are jaded and they have no soul. Imagine sitting in a room full of people totally against you. Can't they hear themselves speaking? Capitalize on AIDS? Are you kidding? Insulting an entire nation of people? I just refused."

Instead, she sang Griffin's "Up to the Mountain," a folkie spiritual that left many listeners in tears. Clarkson asked the British guitar legend Jeff Beck to accompany her, and she showed not only stylistic growth, but a fresh confidence.

"It was the depth of her voice that struck me," Beck says of her performance that night. "She's got this maturity, you know, this fully developed soul voice that I wasn't expecting. It just knocked me out. It was quite riveting to listen to. At one point, the audience started to stand up. They were so moved by her. She's got that quality that demands attention, which is rare."

"She was incredible. When you let her come back on the show it makes everybody else look like an amateur," says Cowell, who believes Clarkson is the best winner yet "without question."

If Clarkson is evolving as an artist, it is because she is trying to.

"Kelly wants to learn; she's soaking all this stuff up," says McEntire, who has become something of a mentor to Clarkson. "But she still knows what's not right."

"If I were to make Breakaway II, I would have failed myself," Clarkson says. "I don't mind sucking, as long as it is my decision. I have literally been told one of the reasons this record took so long to come together is because I am a girl. This is 2007! We aren't in the '50s anymore. Wake up and smell the Folgers."

Clarkson wasn't always a nouveau feminist spitfire. Her parents' divorce when she was 6 transplanted her from California to small-town Texas, leaving her father and her older siblings, Jason, then 15, and Alyssa, then 13, behind. The move left her family broke and Clarkson deeply lonely.

"My mom and I are like sisters. We kind of grew up together," Clarkson says. "She always treated me as an adult. I never had curfew. She's a workaholic, like I am. We're not super family-oriented people, you know?"

Clarkson was not raised hanging Christmas stockings and having sit-down casserole dinners. "My mom was Mrs. PTA and then she got divorced after 17 years. She had put her whole life into that. I think she felt, Enough already."

Clarkson grew up fast. She learned the value of hard work, self-reliance. "We were living from last paycheck to last paycheck," she says. Clarkson worked multiple jobs—at a movie theater concession stand, as a phone solicitor, and as a waitress. There was no time for idleness, no money for hobbies. Clarkson felt the strain. "I had a really big issue with self-consciousness when I was young. I was highly emotional. I worried so much. For most of my childhood I was walking on eggshells trying to make everybody happy." Then she turned 14. "And I was like, Okay, I'm done."

The people-pleaser was put to death, replaced by "Miss Independent." Clarkson joined student council, drama club, and, after some prodding, choir. "I was singing in the hallway in junior high and the new choir director heard me. She asked me to join and then people started telling me I was really good, and I kind of just went with it."

Soon enough, her voice started to bring her local renown.

"I sang 'Vision of Love' at this dessert theater. I remember being onstage and this old guy came up to me afterward. It was someone's grandpa. And he told me, 'You have a very touching voice. You are meant to be a singer.' And I was like, Cool, if I can move someone enough to have them come tell me that. Wow. So I went home and told my mom I wanted to be a singer. And being Realistic Rita, she was like, Honey, there's a lot of people who can sing that aren't making it; you should probably have a fallback. And I was like, No. That would mean I don't believe I'm going to make it."

The night of her ASCAP honors, Clarkson tries on three dresses, eventually choosing the first selection, a Monique Lhuillier green chiffon bubble halter, which she pairs with jeweled sandals. She puts on earrings and a bracelet, then pulls them off. She eyes her reflection for approximately three minutes, makes one turn to see the back, then walks away.

"Making this album was really hard," she says, removing the dress and settling into a chair in a white bathrobe. "I remember having this horrible day, and a friend sent me this link to a website with all my private information on it—my phone numbers, my addresses, my bank card numbers. I read it and I was in this tiny little bathroom in this rented house and I was sobbing. It felt like I had nothing for me. I bawled. I felt naked."

In her off time, Clarkson flees Los Angeles for Texas, where she owns a ranch. Once there, she doesn't talk to anyone. She shops for groceries. Sees the occasional movie.

"I am very open. I don't want to lie. But I want something for myself."

As such, she does not want children. Not now, anyway. "My point of view is that I shouldn't be a mother at all, because I'd be horrible. I'm not willing to be that selfless."

Nor does she want a man. "I'm not keen on marriage. I don't let many people in. Men come and go. Friends are what I care about." If she did want a guy, she'd pick a funny charmer. "I can't stand pretty boys. The guys I date are the just-rolled-out-of-bed, scruffy type. Baseball cap, flannel shirt. Like Luke on Gilmore Girls."

"Kelly is the type who will wait until the right guy, and when she finds him it will happen really fast," Ashley says. "I can see her getting married, even if she can't."

Clarkson has had only three boyfriends; none are famous, and two remain her close friends. The third is the inspiration for "Never Again," and Clarkson refuses to mention him by name. "When it comes to certain parts of my life, I won't allow myself to be vulnerable at all," she explains. "I have a lot of trust issues. Most people are like that, I think."

In a few minutes she will re-don the dress and discover that she left her brassiere on too long.

"Oh, crap. You can see the strap marks," she says, curling up her lip. "Sorry, y'all."

In the gown, strap marks and all, she looks older. Could be her hair, styled in a straight, shoulder-skimming bob. She looks, perhaps for the first time publicly, like a woman, not a girl.

Later, Clarkson will seduce the press with her unmitigated honesty. She will share self-deprecating stories, including one about her high school prom, where she confesses that due to an overpacked social and church schedule, she slept in her formal updo for several days, eventually being photographed for her senior class picture in "three-day-old prom hair." She will tell the truth reflexively, even imprudently.

"Everybody goes through crap, Terri," she says to Terri Seymour, a TV entertainment show correspondent and Cowell's girlfriend. "You can't just write a bunch of happy songs because somebody is telling you they'll sell."

When the press preamble is finished and she finally hits the red carpet to the accompaniment of a thousand blinking flashes, she will not just hear her name called, like every other celebrity. She will be cheered. Because loving Kelly Clarkson is easy. Even if she won't say it back.

LAKISHA JONES HONORED IN MICHIGAN

The Associated Press reports that Flint, Mich., native and "American Idol" performer LaKisha Jones was greeted by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and hundreds of other fans Monday at the state Capitol, where she continued a homecoming trip through Michigan before leaving to rehearse for an upcoming tour.

Jones wowed the crowed by singing "And I'm Telling You" from the film "Dreamgirls" and "God Bless the Child" — both songs she performed on the top-rated Fox TV show. Fans held signs, snapped photos and cheered her along.

Jones said "never in a million years" did she dream she would be on the Capitol steps with the governor.

"My life is at a complete 360," Jones, 27, told reporters. "I was struggling really bad last year, and I moved. ... God has really blessed me tremendously."

The single mother said she plans to live in Houston, where she lived more than six years before moving to Baltimore for a bank-teller job. She made the semifinals in February, got an on-camera kiss from sometimes-churlish judge Simon Cowell and remained in the running until May 9, when she was outpolled by Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis and eventual winner Jordin Sparks.

Jones will participate in the "American Idol" tour this summer. She leaves Tuesday for rehearsals in Los Angeles.

When asked about working at the bank, Jones said: "I'll just be going to make deposits and withdrawals."

Granholm, who said she voted for Jones on the show, told the crowd that the state is proud of Jones and she "gave our spirits a boost at a time we are very challenged."

Jones sang the national anthem Friday before the interleague game between the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets. She also was honored in Flint Saturday with "LaKisha Day."

The Lansing celebration featured a performance by the youth choir from Jones' Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

CONSTANTINE'S ALBUM DROPS AUG. 7

According to BroadwayWorld.com, Broadway and "American Idol" star Constantine Maroulis will release his debut solo album on August 7th. The album is on the Sixth Place Records / Sony RED label.

Maroulis debuted "Everybody Loves," the first song off the album, on "The Bold & The Beautiful" on Wednesday, May 15th 2007. "Everybody Loves" is currently available on iTunes.

Since his departure from "American Idol," Maroulis has starred on Broadway in "The Wedding Singer," as well as in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway revival of "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris." In between, he devoted time and effort into finding the right band, assembling a group of musicians that meshed into a cohesive and rockin' ensemble.

Maroulis co-wrote several songs on the record and songwriters who lent their skills to the release include seminal singer/songwriter Willie Nile; Angie Aparo (Faith Hill), Marcel (Rascal Flatts) and Grammy nominated Kevin Kadish (Jason Mraz). Maroulis recently became a featured star on "The Bold and The Beautiful," which throughout his thirteen-week stint, will incorporate his music.

"The album was cut live with my own band," Maroulis explains. "No programming, minimal overdubs. We've been playing these songs on the road and chose the tunes that got the best feedback from our audiences."

Visit Maroulis MySpace page for more on the singer.

CLAYMATES WAR OVER AIKEN'S ORIENTATION

The New York Post sez there's a civil war among the Claymates in Claynation. Clay Aiken's rabid fans -- who call themselves "Claymates" and say they live in "Claynation" -- are at odds with each other over their former Idol. An insider said, "The war is between the batty members that are still clinging to their heterosexual fantasies of him and others that don't harbor such illusions."

Aiken's sexuality has been a subject of speculation ever since several men came out publicly and said they'd met him in gay chat rooms and had relations with him. Aiken has always refused to discuss his inclinations.

The Claymates' clash got so bad that the Official Fan Club com-
pletely suspended its message board and noted, "Due to reports of extensive unrest and disrespect amongst members that has been carrying on for several weeks, the Official Fan Club Message Board will be shut down until further notice. Please note that should tensions continue on other areas of the fan club, severe consequences may occur."

FANTASIA SINGS PRAISES OF LITERACY AND EDUCATION

According to PRNews-
wire.com, Fantasia Barrino is teaming up with Suave beauty line and Dollar General stores to award scholarships to students who are dedicated to education, as well as to recognize their invaluable role models -- especially mom's who have encouraged others to pursue their dreams through education.

The "Suave Essay Contest" invites students to write about how someone has helped them improve their life through education for the chance to win a $10,000 scholarship and a trip to New York to meet Fantasia.

"I am thrilled to partner with Suave and Dollar General on a program that delivers such a vital message about literacy and education," said Fantasia. "Having struggled with literacy, I know the importance of reading skills and how important a good education is. I encourage all students to think about bettering their literacy skills to realize their dreams."

The "Suave Essay Contest" program asks people 5 years of age or older to submit an essay about how a role model (mother, parent, teacher, relative or friend) helped them improve their life through education. Beginning Monday, June 18, students can enter online here or here or by picking up an official entry form at any Dollar General store.

One grand-prize winner will receive a $10,000 grant toward a college savings plan and three first prize winners will receive a $5,000 grant. All four winners will travel to New York City with a guest to see Fantasia star in "The Color Purple" on Broadway and meet her after the show. In addition, 2,000 second-place entrants will win a $50 Visa Gift Card. Entries submitted by mail must be postmarked by Friday, July 20, 2007 and received by Friday, July 27, 2007. Online entries must be received by Friday, July 20, 2007.

WHAT TAYLOR LOOKS FOR IN A WOMAN

A short People magazine video in which Taylor Hicks discusses his perfect woman: Funny and looking like Bo Derek "after she did that swimsuit picture." Well, so far Hicks and Caroline Lyders got the beach part right. Watch video here.


KATHARINE McPHEE'S NEW SEX KITTEN IMAGE

Pantagragh.com interviewed Katharine McPhee recently about her new sound and sex-kitten image: Q. What can we expect from you?

What can we expect from you?

I'll be singing four to five songs. You'll get to know me a little bit more as a personality and as performer. Because on "Idol" you didn't get to see us perform; it was like one two-minute song and then you were finished. This gives you a chance to let the nerves subside.

We're not going to hear "Over the Rainbow," I take it.

No, you're not. I'm sorry.

When was the last time you performed that?

Gosh, I don't even remember. On the "Idol" tour, I sang it every night.

People look at your album cover and wonder if you're going to wear the over-the-knee boots and sweater for this performance.

No.

Is that an outfit you wear very often?

Oh, yeah. I wear it out all the time. Heh-heh-heh.

You had a glamorous image on "Idol." What kind of image are you looking for now?

It's more about what's in right now. I like little dresses. I still like the long dresses as well. It's summer so a little bit more cute, sexy. An album cover is really different from what you wear every day. At least this album cover.

Your album had a big first week of sales (116,000) and then has slowed down. How do you feel about the reaction to the album so far?

It's what I predicted it would be with the current single. I don't think it was one of those songs that was going to drive record sales up to crazy numbers. It's a good introduction to the new sound. It wasn't my favorite song off the new record; so I'll be candid about that. More important, I'm really excited about the next single, which is "Love Story."

There are a lot of different musical styles on the album. What were you trying to do?

My initial approach for the record was to have it in the vein of "Love Story," "Not Ur Girl," "We've Got Each Other." Then a few ballads made it on. There are a lot of politics that go on with the first record and a lot of things that you don't think you have control over and then later you realize 'oh, I had a little bit more control than I thought.' ... I think it'll be a little more my way on the second record.

Your album hasn't been a block-
buster and either has Taylor's. How do you feel about that?

I think the record industry is in a weird place right now. Considering that Taylor didn't have anything on the radio, he's done pretty well for himself.

I have to say I'm very satisfied where I am right now. Coming off a show where everything happens so fast and you rise to the top so quickly, [it's good] being able to kind of be on the other side now and see how other artists have to start out. I can certainly say now that I've had to do things to try to work my way to the top; it wasn't just all handed to me. I kind of appreciate this way my music is evolving. We have three more singles to go. As far as sales go, I don't pay attention to the weekly reports nor do I want to know about them.

You have said that "American Idol" saved your life. Could you explain what you mean by that?

I was able to be more focused on my career and the possibilities of what could happen as opposed to an eating disorder.

Was being runnerup a blessing or a curse?

Everything has been a blessing. Chris will tell you that being fourth is a blessing; he's doing great. We're all doing great in our own way. We're all hitting different markets. If I had won, I'd probably be in the same situation right now. That's fine with me.

When you appeared on Tyra Banks' show in February, people wonder about what you thought when she grabbed your breast to determine if it was real or enhanced?

Well, she asked me. It was just a fun, cute little show. I didn't realize that people would make such a big deal about it for weeks to come. That's how I'm with with my girlfriends — I'm really playful and fun. That's what it was like with Tyra. I was just having her help me clarify a rumor.

You appeared on the sitcom "Ugly Betty." What's your future with acting and dancing?

I'm taking ballet. Just kidding. I'm not like: "Oh, the door's open; I have to get into a movie." [But she did!] I'd rather take some time to find the perfect project than to just rush into something. [But she did!]

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The Magic of Elvis (and Celine Dion)

Still scratching your head over how those crafty "Idol" producers had Elvis Presley and Celine Dion singing onstage together? No, it wasn't a hologram. According to various sources, including The Los Angeles Times, Good Morning America and Wild Bluff Media, here's how it was done:

A Photoshop-like technology called Rotorscope was used to merge Presley's performance of W. Earl Brown's "If I Can Dream," which came from his 1968 TV comeback, with recently taped shots featuring 39-year-old Dion, so that it appeared as if it were taking place at the same time as the rest of Wednesday's show.

Dion spent hours onstage singing her part of the song several times without an audience or anyone next to her, looking to her side on cue. Then she did the routine again with a Presley body double who lip-synced Presley's song and matched his moves from his 1968 performance.

Finally, all three elements -- Dion by herself, Dion with the body double and the original Presley performance -- were combined through editing and rotoscoping, which traced Presley from the original footage by cutting him out.

The whole bit was assembled on videotape, so that no one in either audience saw Dion, much less had an Elvis sighting, at CBS-TV studios or at Walt Disney Concert Hall, where most of the evening's live music took place.

"Rotoscoping allows you to take one image from a pre-existing piece of video and puts him in a whole new environment -- completely new use of that same piece of video," Disney digital media designer Joe Husung said.

Elvis is no stranger to this method. He appeared in "Forrest Gump," back in 1994, using similar techniques as well as Pizza Hut commercials, where he hawked the company's newest creation via video editing. Similar technology brought Natalie Cole and her late father, Nat King Cole, together to perform "Unforgettable."

A new British show puts the technology to use every day in "Duet Impossible," in which stars perform with their late idols. If the concept crosses the pond, American audiences may soon see late legends like James Brown and Sinatra rocking the stage again.

An "Idol" spokesman said only that an Elvis impersonator was used "at one point."

Following are videos of both the original 1968 Elvis performance and the coombined Elvis/Celine Dion performance.

Elvis alone:


Celine Dion and Elvis:


HAVE A NICE DAY

"Extra" spoke to Jon Bon Jovi about his band’s appearance on "American Idol" this week and the rocker confessed, "I've never seen the show until Gwen Stefani performed on it … weeks ago."

About whether or not Bon Jovi would have made it to Hollywood if he had auditioned for AI, he admitted, "If I had gone through the process of American Idol at that age and that time in my life, I would never have gotten to Hollywood!"

Bon Jovi said that some of the songs on the new album, Lost Highway out this June, are about bandmate Richie Sambora's divorce from Heather Locklear. He added, "I felt every bit of it with the exception of being in their shoes."

In the Boston Herald, Bon Jovi said that longevity in the music industry requires embracing multimedia opportunities to connect with audiences, such as "American Idol," which he recently viewed for the first time.

"It's not that I didn't want to; I just didn't," he said. "I've had a lot of guys cover our songs on it, and then giving them songs subsequently for their records, but [had] never seen it. That's 30 million that watch TV, so these days being on 'American Idol' certainly isn't a bad thing. You got to get music out there however you can."

Bon Jovi described the themes of his band's new album, "Lost Highway" due out June 19, as "life and love and loss and freedom."

The band will perform a new single, "(You Want to) Make a Memory," on Wednesday's show.

BAD AND BEAUTIFUL IDOL

Constantine Maroulis will join the cast of CBS' "The Bold and the Beautiful" beginning May 15. Maroulis will play music producer Constantine Parros, who becomes embroiled in the career and life of heiress Phoebe Forrester (Mackenzie Mauzy). He will perform a number of songs from his upcoming solo debut album over the next several months on the show.

JORDIN'S CONSERVATIVE LEANINGS?

It may all be a ploy to hurt her standing in the competition by VoteForTheWorst.com (though we doubt it), but the site asks:

"Is Jordin Sparks an ultra conservative Christian? One would never guess this from her time on the show since she's all smiles, but it seems that the pimped one might be a little more political than anyone thinks. The picture on the left comes from Jordin's MySpace, [this cannot be verified because the Myspace and personal Web sites of all active contestants is taken down while they appear
on American Idol. We did find the photo on a Sparks fan site, though that means nothing] and she's been linked to many conservative organizations [cannot verify]. She has performed at a Right to Life concert (anti-abortion) [This is true. She is pictured singing and standing with her arm around Dr. Alveda King, the keynote speaker at an Arizona Right to Life's 2005 meeting] and other such events, and it's rumored that she liked Mandisa from last year because of her values (Mandisa was very religious and was quoted as saying she would be uncomfortable singing at a gay event). Jordin can have any opinion she'd like, and it doesn't take away from the fact that she's a good singer, but it seems like her "I love everyone" personality may turn evangelistic once Idol is over. I guess we'll find out once she's off the show."

It must be noted that even if Sparks is a conservative (or ultra-conservative) Christian, that this year's competition had others, including current contestant Phil Stacey (and here), as well as former contestant Chris Sligh.

SPEAKING OF CHRIS AND PHIL ...

In his blog, according to People magazine, Chris Sligh says that he wants to write songs for Phil Stacey. A recent posting said, "I hope to write songs for him and with him as he moves into what I think will be a very successful career – especially if makes a country record." Sligh who calls Stacey "my closest friend on the show," said that they bonded during their Memphis auditions. Writes Sligh: "Then I showed up in Hollywood and he was my roommate. Really weird, right?"

In the post, the Greenville, S.C., native also dishes on Idol pal Blake Lewis, whom he describes as "smooth." "The way you see him on TV is exactly how he is in real life," Sligh writes. Sligh also praises Chris Richardson: "There is not a pretentious bone in his body. ... There were a couple of times when we would have a bunch of people in our room and the songwriters would pass a guitar around and sing our songs," Sligh blogs. "Chris sang like 3 that will be HUGE hits when they come out."

McMAHON TO 'IDOL': DON'T BE CRUEL

Seems as everybody needs to jump aboard the Idol train, including former "Star Search" host Ed McMahon. That show helped propel such names as Christina Aguilera, Usher, Beyonce Knowles and Ray Romano to prominence, and McMahon told the Chicago Tribune that, "It's great to have some connection -- some responsibility -- to all those success stories."

And though McMahon said that he's a fan of "American Idol," he added that he's not a fan of the negative vein the show can take, particularly from the head judge. "I just hate the cruelty. ... Simon Cowell and how he tears people apart," McMahon said. "I don't approve of that. And if you put somebody on the show, they ought to be qualified to be on the show. It's supposed to be a celebration of good talent."

SANJAYA: I'M NOT GAY

Think what you want, but Sanjaya Malakar told People magazine People magazine
that not only in he not gay, but also that he's always been popular with women.

"I've always gotten along with girls better because I was raised by women," said Malakar, whose parents divorced when he was 3. He said his ease with women comes from being close to his mom and his sister, Shyamali, who were his biggest influence growing up in Seattle. But getting along with girls didn't always work to his benefit.

"I got teased in school because people figured I must be gay because I understand women. I think that's why guys didn't like me – because I got along with girls so well. When I went up to girls they would give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek like I was their gay friend. But I was the straight guy that understood them."

As for his dating past, Malakar, 17, said "I had a girlfriend but she became clingy, and I didn't want to get into a really serious relationship because I was 16. I just wanted to date and have fun."

Here's a clip of Sanjaya on Jimmy Kimmel, who once again does little more than fidget in his seat. He occasionally giggles, adds next to nothing to the conversation and looks more like an uncomfortable 7-year-old than a 17-year-old (kudos to Kimmel, who carries off what amounts to a 10-minute monologue with Malakar):



SIMON COWELL ON 'ELLEN'

In case you missed Simon Cowell on Ellen DeGeneres' show yesterday (as we did) here is the video:



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