While we can't confirm that the boobs actually are new -- Kellie Pickler coyly refuses to confirm or deny knowing that she'll lose the attention for them once the public knows for sure -- we can confirm that the new boy, er man, in her life is NHL Nashville Predators forward Jordin Tootoo.
Pickler confirmed the relationship with Tootoo, 24, in a recent interview US Weekly magazine. "We've been seeing each other since January, but we kept it under wraps," said Pickler, 20.
Tootoo, who is originally from Churchill, Manitoba in Canada and has an Inuit Eskimo lineage, reportedly invited the Albemarle, N.C.-native to one of his games and the romance began to blossom from there.
"I am this country bumpkin and he's an Eskimo," said Pickler, who plans to visit his central Canada hometown this summer. "I'm going to build an igloo!"
Unfortunately, Kellie has had issues besides love to deal with lately. Her father, Clyde Pickler, was arrested for the second time this year. The elder Pickler was arrested May 18 on a felony count of obtaining property under false pretense and three felony counts of larceny of a motor vehicle. Clyde "Bo" Pickler Jr., 42, is accused of stealing abandoned and disabled vehicles and illegally selling them to scrap yards. Bond was set at $26,000.
Pickler was released from jail in 2006 after a serving a three-year sentence for stabbing his neighbor. He was arrested on Feb. 7 this year in Albemarle, N.C., for allegedly assaulting his new wife with a steak knife. He was subsequently charged with misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon, misdemeanor assault on a female and a misdemeanor charge of communicating threats.
According to CMT.com, Pickler's father is scheduled to appear in court on July 9 in Albemarle, N.C. for the May 18th arrest. He was also scheduled to also appear in court two weeks ago (May 24) for a misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle without a license and again next week (June 12) for a separate misdemeanor larceny charge. Kellie Pickler’s dad also sold her out – literally. Last year, a source told Us Weekly that Clyde auctioned off some of his daughter's belongings on eBay while she was on the Idols tour during summer 2006. "It was personal effects that he had from her childhood, like shoes," said an Idol insider. "When Kellie found out, she was crushed. Everything was gone."
Kellie interviewed a couple of weeks ago by WCNC in Charlotte, N.C. Here are some excerpts:
"My life has definitely done a 180," Pickler said as she sat in her small bathroom talking about how her life has changed in the tour bus she is travelling with Brad Paisley. "It's not every day I get to sit on my toilet and have people watching me with cameras."
Pickler said it's hard leaving her hometown friends for the bright lights of Nashville, where she currently lives. But Pickler did want to talk, even about the plastic surgery rumors regarding her breasts.
"Oh my boobs?" Pickler said. "I don't care. You know what? The most important thing is you're happy with what you see when you look in the mirror. You just have to brush off the people that criticize you and put you down because it's not really about this [gestures to her chest], it's about what's in here [points to her heart].
"And your real friends are gonna to love you no matter what you look like whether you're a negative A cup or a triple D. They're gonna love you just because you're you," Pickler said.
In true Pickler fashion, she said what was on her mind, even when she talked about dating. "Some of the most attractive guys are ugly as soon as their mouths open," she said.
And she admitted to a flirtation with a Nashville hockey player. "Everyone always says we're the hockey-tonk hook-up in Nashville. It’s kind of cute."
The singer said it started with dinner and they’ve been hanging out ever since. "He has introduced me to so many different types of food," Pickler said. "I’ve been eating raw fish. It's kind of weird. I ate eel the other day."
But she's far from settling down. "If it's meant to be then it will happen," she said. "And if not then I'll just be an old hag with a bunch of cats."
Speaking about the mother who abandoned her when she was young, Pickler said she has no idea where her mother is now. "I don't have contact with her."
Does she want to know? "It's kind of like there's been a huge bridge that's been burned you know and sometimes it's kind of hard to repair so I don't know what I'd say. I don't know what I'd do. ... We all go through obstacles in life but at the end we make it," Pickler said.
Pickler, a beauty school drop out, also tried nursing. "I even tried paralegal for crying out loud. I thought well maybe I could help my dad out a little bit! I'm kidding dad."
Of her grandmother, who helped raise her and died before her 'American Idol' success, Pickler said, "I want her to be tangible. I want to hold her. I want her to hold me. It's hard."
Where she came from is so much a part of where she's going. "I just feel like finally my dreams are coming true."
This week, according to Netmusiccountdown.com Pickler earned the Look Of The Week in US Weekly's June 4 issue for the ACM Awards. Her gown was designed by Max Azria.
Kellie also had to say this in the May 28 issue of OK! magazine, according to Reality TV World:
On her breasts: "I'm a girl that likes to be the center of attention, and right now I am, so I feel like maybe I should let the mystery live on. If I say yes or no, nobody's going to care anymore. I'm going to keep playing this game with everybody."
Of Ryan Seacrest's attention to her chest when she performed on a Season 6 results show, Pickler said, "I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. It was no biggie, it's Ryan and he's going to do his job. I don't take anything personally. I thought he was implying have I bought a house, a car. He kept saying, 'What have you bought?' And I was like, 'shoes,' which wasn't a lie. I've stacked up some shoes! I thought he wanted me to keep listing things."
But the 20-year-old added that going under the knife for the sake of beauty isn't totally out of the question. "I'm all for it. When I'm older I'm getting everything sucked, tucked and cut off," Pickler jokingly told OK!
Speaking of her father, she said, "It was hard to pick up where we left off after the show because our lives had changed. When he was incarcerated, I was 16. It had been four years since I'd seen him. When he came home I was a grown woman. We're not close."
Pickler said that her fling with Nashville Predators forward Jordin Tootoo isn't that serious yet. "I'm not looking to settle down. I'm only 20," she said, adding she'd like the relationship to develop naturally. "The most important thing to me right now is enjoying my youthful years and continuing to sing country music and focus on my career."
"Now that I have the career that I want -- and a job I love -- it make life better. ... I feel blessed. I want to continue putting out great country music and living my dream."
VIDEOS OF SIMON COWELL, THIS IS YOUR LIFE
Although no complete video of the show exists that we could find for fans on this side of the pond, we were able to locate and compile a bunch of videos of guest appearances from the British version of "This Is Your Life" honoring Simon Cowell that was telecast in the UK over the weekend. For your viewing enjoyment ...
Il Divo and Leona Lewis sing "Somewhere" from "West Side Story" to Simon Cowell on "This Is Your Life":
"X Factor" winners Shane Ward and Leona Lewis pay tribute to Simon Cowell on "This Is Your Life":
Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest and Paula Abdul pay tribute to Simon Cowell on "This Is Your Life":
The members of the group Westlife pay tribute to Simon Cowell on "This Is Your Life":
Ricky Gervais pays a humorous tribute to Simon Cowell on "This Is Your Life":
Girlfriend and "Extra" correpondent Terri Seymour pays tribute to Simon Cowell on "This Is Your Life":
Simon Cowell, in the words of Metro.co.uk, was reportedly left gobsmacked when broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald entered the live finale of American Idol to announce: "Simon, This Is Your Life" and give him the famous red book. McDonad jetted all the way to Los Angeles to present Cowell with the book, which chronicles his whole life.
British viewers will be able to see the one-off episode of "This Is Your Life" on June 2, after it is recorded in London with the music mogul's friends and family in attendance.
Simon took it in good spirits and gave Sir Trevor a hug, while his fellow talent-show judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson looked on in amusement.
Celebs attending the recording include fellow "X Factor" judge Sharon Osbourne, Cowell's ex-girlfriend singer Sinitta and TV duo Ant and Dec. "X Factor" winner Leona Lewis and Simon's proteges Il Divo performed. Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Lopez were slated to record messages for the multi-millionaire.
Even pop manager Louis Walsh appeared to show there were no hard feelings after being axed from Cowell's UK talent show "The X Factor."
Before hugging Walsh, according to RTE Entertainment, Cowell said, "I humbly offer a grovelling apology Louis." Walsh then said, "Listen, honestly, he's the best. He's a really good guy and we've had amazing success with our artists [including Westlife and Shayne Ward] so far. And we're going to have a lot more with our records."
Walsh later said, "All is forgiven. Forgiven but not forgotten", but Cowell insisted, "Let's just say forgiven, alright?" Walsh replied, "Whatever."
Apparently Paula Abdul got the upper hand with Cowell for a change. The Post Chronicle reports that during the show's taping Cowell was left red-faced after his "sex secrets" were "exposed."
Abdul joked about the music mogul's performance in the bedroom while recording her contribution for the British show. Abdul, 44, quipped: "Simon is an egomaniac. He's the only man I know who screams his own name when having sex. And his idea of foreplay is staring at himself in the mirror." [Nothing she hasn't said in "American Idol" film parodies.]
The incident was made even more embarrassing for Cowell, 47, as Abdul made the comments in front of an audience including his 80-year-old mother, Julie Cowell.
Cowell's older brother Tony Cowell, 55, also let slip the music mogul would wear makeup to feign illness to get out of going to school. He said: "He used to wear pale makeup to look ill so he could get out of going to school."
After filming, Cowell's girlfriend, "Extra" correspondent Terri Seymour, threw a lavish bash for the star and all his friends and family.
JORDIN ON REGIS & KELLY
In case you missed the 17-year-old (yup, she is) on "Live With Regis and Kelly" yesterday, you can watch it right here! Regis Philbin says that Jordin was his pick. She, of course, sang "This Is My Now" before an audience that appeared to be largely soldiers and sailors. She also looked slimmer already and towered over both Regis and Kelly. Blake Lewis appears on the show today; Melinda Doolittle is on tomorrow and Fantasia on Friday.
Watch video of Jordin Sparks on "Live With Regis and Kelly":
WHY PAULA (AND SIMON) HAVE NO WRINKLES
FemaleFirst reports that in an interview with OK! magazine, Paula Abdul says she has to endure specialized massages and takes arthritis medication and painkillers to help control her Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD).
"I have four titanium plates in my neck," she says. "I've had 14 surgeries over the years. It can come and go at any time, but I no longer have the intense nerve pain that is associated with RSD, thank God." One of the operations was performed the same evening as the first season finale of "American Idol."
Abdul reveals she lives her life in pain following two near-death accidents in the past decade -- a car collision and a plane accident, telling the publication "I have a lot of sleepless nights because I am in so much pain."
ETOnline says that the 1993 plane crash almost ended her career. "The right wing caught fire, I broke through the seatbelt and hit my head," she says. "We came down in a cornfield in Iowa. I quit my career. For the next six years, I spent 75 percent of my time in the hospital."
Abdul says "Idol" is her third shot at superstardom, and her most profound. Being a judge on the show "overshadows being a Grammy Award winner and selling millions of records," she says. "I didn't figure out my purpose in life until 'American Idol.' I knew since I was a little girl that I had profound way of touching people. My purpose is bringing out everybody's best and being that cheerleader to other people's success."
As for her so-called goofy behavior on the show, she is adamant that reports about her being under the influence are false, adding that she has never been drunk. She says Simon Cowell made a "funny accusation that something was in my Coca-Cola cup" that started all the rumors flying.
Though she's a good sport about Simon's jokes, she says the innuendo in the press about her strange behavior has gotten out of hand. "I'm sick of it," she says. "It's defamation of character."
She also blasts plastic surgery rumors, saying, "Check behind my ears! I haven't had one ounce of work done, contrary to what every plastic surgeon may believe." However, Paula does admit to trying Botox, adding with a wink that "Simon doesn't have any wrinkles."
As for her well-publicized battle with anorexia, she's "in a really good place, having had many years in recovery. I refuse to entertain something that will lead to the anorexic behavior that I used to have."
Through it all, Paula has overcome many battles and learned to be happy with herself. "I'm proud of who I am," she says.
FANTASIA TO PERFORM ON TONY AWARDS
Theater- Mania reports that Fantasia Barrino, the former American Idol champion who has earned rave reviews for her portrayal of Celie in the Broadway musical "The Color Purple," will perform at the 61st annual Tony Awards ceremony, to be held at 8pm on Sunday, June 10 at Radio City Music Hall and broadcast live on CBS Television.
The show's producers have announced that the ceremony will feature musical numbers from the four nominees for Best Musical and the three currently running nominees for Best Revival of a Musical: "Curtains," "Grey Gardens," "Mary Poppins," "Spring Awakening," "A Chorus Line," "Company," and "110 in the Shade." The fourth Best Revival nominee, The Apple Tree, will not perform on the telecast, nor will the shows not nominated for Best Musical.
Presenters will include Harry Connick, Jr., Kevin Spacey, Usher, Vanessa Williams, Claire Danes, Jeff Daniels, Brian Dennehy, Carla Gugino, Neil Patrick Harris, Anne Heche, Marg Helgenberger, Judd Hirsch, Felicity Huffman, Melina Kanakaredes, Eddie Izzard, Jane Krakowski, Angela Lansbury, Robert Sean Leonard, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, Bernadette Peters, William Petersen, David Hyde Pierce, Liev Schreiber, John Turturro, Sam Waterston, Rainn Wilson, Patrick Wilson, and the leads of Jersey Boys: Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard, J. Robert Spencer, and John Lloyd Young. No host has been announced at this time.
Click here for tickets to the Tony Awards, a complete list of nominees, or other information.
And though her surprisingly exceptional performance as the faith-depraved lead character Celie isn't eligible for a coveted Tony Award, according to AOL'S BlackVoices blog, the High Point, N.C., native will be receiving another prestigious honor.
She's the recipient of a 2006-07 Theatre World Award, which honors performers making their first major New York stage appearance (Broadway or Off-Broadway debuts). Fantasia joins other theater world newcomers Bill Nighy ("The Vertical Hour"), Nilaja Sun ("No Child... ") and Lin-Manuel Miranda ("In the Heights") for their respective works.
The 63rd annual awards ceremony will be held at an invitation-only event at New World Stages in New York City on June 5.
Among Fantasia's rave reviews:
The New York Times' Charles Isherwood called Fantasia "so terrific that this earnest but mechanical musical is more effective and affecting than it was when it yawned open a year and a half ago at the Broadway Theater."
Associated Press drama critic Michael Kuchwara said her portrayal of Celie gives the production "new heart, soul and star power."
"And Fantasia knows how to let loose, particularly in her final number of affirmation, 'I'm Here.' It pretty much brings down the house, earning cheers and a few tears," he continued.
In his review for the New York Daily News, Joe Dziemianowicz, said "Fantasia gives such a powerful performance in her Broadway debut that it's almost, to borrow a lyric from the show, 'too beautiful for words.'"
There is a special offer to encourage interested theatergoers to experience Fantasia in the Oprah Winfrey-produced "The Color Purple." When you buy two tickets to see the performance now through June 30, you will receive a $50 gift certificate to some of Harlem's most popular restaurants including the black-owned Amy Ruth's, new hot-spot Melba's, and the legendary Sylvia's.
By mentioning special promotional codes CP8DINE (through Telecharge at 212-947-8844) or promotional code CP82DINE (through this Web site), customers can enjoy a great meal in the historical cultural mecca. Click here for more information.
JORDIN'S CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT
You've read snippets for days here and other places, but here is the complete transcript of QNAs between Jordin Sparks and the press during a conference call this past Friday. Tomorrow we'll post Blake Lewis' interview transcript. (Salutations and congratulations eliminated for the sake of brevity):
US Weekly online: Being the newest Idol, what's one thing that you've gleaned from the other Idols' careers that you'll use to your advantage in your own career? Perhaps maybe from the female Idols: Kelly, Fantasia, Carrie.
I'm not sure. I look up to them; I know I do, because I've been watching them for the past couple years in their career and have their records. But I would love to model my career after theirs, because they've been so successful, so I would love to have a career like theirs.
US Weekly online: I was recently speaking with the two guys who penned your "This Is Your Now" tune, and they were so excited to have you sing it. What does that song mean to you?
It's actually so perfect, because I remember sitting down when we got the song, and I was listening to it and I couldn't believe how perfect it was for just this whole process in general, because it totally relates to what I've been dreaming about and just everything about it. It was so perfect, and I love singing it because it spoke to me that way.
Wireless Flash News: You got quite the nice Mustang on the finale. So do you actually have your driver's license and are you a good driver?
Yes, I have my driver's license. I actually got it I think July of last year, so it was about before I went and auditioned. I think I'm okay; I haven't gotten any tickets or anything yet. So I think I'm all right.
Wireless Flash News: Can you disclose how many you actually got wrong on your driver's test? Or did you get anything wrong on your driver's test?
Well my driver's test I think I did pretty well. The permit test I kind of had a problem with, but then I went and studied and then I passed, so it was good.
Soap Opera Weekly: How did you emotionally handle the shows' various pressures throughout the season?
It's cool, because since I am a minor I have a guardian with me. And so I had my mom or my nana, because they would switch off, I would have them with me throughout the season. So it was cool to have them to lean on. … everything like that, so it was really cool to have everybody and …
[Moderator cuts in to tell Jordin they're having trouble with the phone lines and she's cutting in and out]
Soap Opera Weekly: And when during the season did you first feel that you could win?
I don't know, I guess when I made the top 12 I was like, "Wow, I have a one in 12 chance of actually winning this thing." Because it's better than one out of 15,000 at the Key Arena. So I don’t know, I guess …
[Moderator: We've lost you again. Okay. Now you’re back. Did you want to repeat your question? I don't think you got your answer, did you?]
Soap Opera Weekly: When during the season did you first feel you could win?
I felt like I could win, I guess, at top 12. Your chances improve as you keep going through the competition, and it's better than one out of 15,000 at the Key Arena, so when I got to the top 12 I was like, "Hey, I have a one in 12 chance of winning." It turned out pretty well.
Atlanta Journal Constitution: What would like to sing on the American Idol Tour? Do you have any thoughts on what you're going to sing?
I have no idea what I'm going to do on it. Everything is happening so fast that I haven't even had really a chance to think about it. But it's going to be cool, because it's going to be a different show and everybody is going to sing what is geared towards them and what suits their voice the best. So I have no idea; I haven't really thought about it yet. I'm sorry.
Atlanta Journal Constitution: Has Blake taught you any beat-boxing at all?
He's tried to teach me, but I'm really horrible at it. I try, and sometimes I entertain myself by trying to do it, but I can't do it.
Houston Chronicle: Throughout the course of, specifically I guess the top 12, different contestants go attention for so many different things, Melinda and LaKisha consistently for their terrific voices, Blake for his originality and then Sanjaya for just sort of being himself. Tell me what you think it was that eventually, finally put you over the top despite all the other attention everyone else was getting.
I don’t know; I guess it's just want America liked and they loved seeing it. It's cool to have different story lines, and that's what makes this show so great is because everybody is so different. I don't know, I tried to top myself every week and I guess I just stayed the same. I'm just a quirky 17-year old … I don't know, I guess people just started to see that.
Houston Chronicle: What did Blake say to you immediately after the win?
Well he just said, "Congratulations, honey." He's been so great; he's been one of my biggest supporters since the beginning, I guess, and I've been one of his. So it was really cool that I got to share the stage with him. I felt very honored.
US Weekly: You sound like you're losing your voice. Have you been constantly—?
I am a little bit. Just — I don't know.
US Weekly: So what has your schedule been like since you won?
It's been pretty crazy. The day before yesterday, the night of, I did a ton of press until about 11:45, and then didn't really get home or to bed until 1:30, and then I had to wake up at 4:00. So I was running on two hours of sleep yesterday.
It's been pretty crazy, but it was actually pretty easy yesterday. We did some affiliate stuff and we did Leno and Ellen, and it was really fun. I had a good time. And now I'm up talking to you guys.
US Weekly: And have you spoken to your best friend from school yet? The one we saw in your tape of going home?
Yes, yes, I have actually. 'Yes, I did, I talked to her. She was telling me how proud she was of me, and that she was sad because she probably won't see me as much anymore. I told her not to worry, because even though I am busy it will be okay and I still love her. We've been keeping in contact, and I've been talking to her all the time, so it's good.
People Magazine: You're going to be thrust even more into the spotlight as the winner. How have you prepared yourself for all of it?
I don't think you can prepare yourself for it. I'm kind of just taking it one step at a time and rolling with the punches and kind of just going with the flow.
People Magazine: Now that you are in the spotlight there are going to be a lot of pressures out there. How do you think you will keep yourself grounded? Like there are a lot of pressures to be super thin in Hollywood, there are a lot of pressures to do certain things, go out all the time; how will you keep yourself grounded from these types of—?
Oh, that super thin stuff, Hollywood needs to get over it. I don't know, I have a really good family around me and I love the people that I have around me. I'm pretty sure they'll keep me grounded; I know they will, because they are always like, "Don’t let it go to your head, Jordin." I'm like, "Okay." I know that my mom and my dad and my grandparents, I'll just keep them with me. As long as I have them with me I think I'll be okay.
Gannett News Service: They showed a red one [Mustang] and blue one. Which one did you pick? And then did you actually get out and get to drive it at all yesterday?
The night we got it I talked to Blake and I was like, "Blake, what color do you want?" because I wanted the red one and he was, "I want blue," And that's the first thing that came out of his mouth and I said, "Yes," because I got the red one. So he took the blue and I got the red, but I haven't seen it yet and I haven't been able to drive it yet. It's been kind of crazy.
Gannett News Service: Have you finished your schooling for your junior year? And for senior year, since you're going to be so busy, are you going to do something else like tutor or test out or something?
I actually had my last block of school yesterday, so now I'm on summer break so I'm really excited about that. But for my senior year I want to graduate, but I've been home schooling for about two years now, so I think I'm going to keep doing that. And they brought a tutor for me during the season, so it was really cool. But I would love to graduate. I don't know. I have to take each day by day, because I don't know because I've been so busy. I would love to finish though.
Life and Style: What female pop star would you most like to collaborate with?
Oh my goodness. Whoa, that's a good question. There are so many; I have such a broad taste that there are so many that I would love to work with. I love Christina Aguilera and I love Martina McBride. I don't know; there are so many. Those few I guess; I guess those were the first ones that popped into my head. I would love to work with them.
Life and Style: And have you ever thought about Broadway?
Yes, I have actually. When my dad was playing football, since we lived really close, we would go to Broadway plays a lot. We saw "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast" and "Smokey Joe's Café" -- one of may favorites. I don't know, I love musical theater and I love the performance aspect of it. Singing will always be my number one, but on the side or maybe some day I'll be able to do it. I don't know yet.
Life and Style: And what are you planning to do when you get home?
I think I want to sleep in my own bed and I want to play with my puppies and spend time with my best friends and read a book.
Bloomberg News: Could you explain to those of us who don't know how the mechanism of your record contract works? In other words, now that you're the winner how does the arrangement with the record company work, and if you could explain some of the logistics of that?
I don't think I really even know that much. I guess Blake and I got the same contract. I don't really know. We have the same contract and we get to put an album out and we get to tour; I don't really know much more than that.
Bloomberg News: Do you have representation and have you contemplated what your earning power may be?
Yes, I do. I don't know. I'm just looking forward to doing the best that I can do.
Bloomberg News: You do have representation?
Yes.
Bloomberg News: And can you say what agency you’re with?
[Moderator: She can’t answer that question at this point; can I follow-up with you with that information after the call? Reporter answers affirmatively]
Digital Spy: What sort of album would you like to make now?
I love all different types of genre of music, so I would love to infuse everything into one. I love country and I love pop, I love R&B and I love rock and roll, so I would love to do just a little bit of each, but still make it so that people can enjoy it. I hope they enjoy that with my little Jordin flair added to it.
Digital Spy: And are there any particular songwriters or producers you'd like to work with?
Wow. There are a lot. I can't think of any right now. I guess whoever is willing to work with me.
In Touch Weekly: How much has your life changed from before the show started to now?
It's changed so much. When I was in high school I don't know, I'd hang out with my friends and sometimes I had drama club. We had rehearsals because we did "A Christmas Carol" and "Footloose," so we would do that, and that was, I think, my freshman year. I was just a normal kid.
I was excited to get my driver's license, but I was way more excited to do "American Idol." I talked about it all the time; I am a die-hard fan of the show. I was just normal; I think I'm still pretty much that way. I'm still a die-hard fan and I still keep in touch with my friends and stuff.
In Touch Weekly: Would you say that you were popular in high school? Did you hang out mostly with the drama club people?
I was kind of a floater; I hung out with pretty much everybody, because I had so many different friends. It was really cool. I wasn't like in one sort of clique. The drama club was always fun; that was like the after school, extra curricular thing that I would do, and I made tons of great friends in there. Then I have my basketball friends. I liked everybody.
In Touch Weekly: Was there anyone, and you don't have to name names specifically, but now that you've made it you kind of are like, "Ha ha," like that kind of thing?
Not that I know of. I tried to make friends with everybody, and if there was I'm sorry that they felt that way. I don't know.
BBC News: You're the youngest ever person to win "American Idol," and you're being compared to Leona Lewis, who won the version in this country. Are you aware of Leona? Do you have plans to come over here?
I actually heard that the other day; I think my mom was telling me about her the other day. But I would love to come over there. It would be really cool.
BBC News: Who are your kind of inspirations? Who made you want to sing in the first place?
I guess I've always loved to sing, but I remember watching an award show, and I think it was Mariah Carey performing. I remember watching her and I was like, "Oh my gosh, she looks so beautiful and I want to do that, mom. I want to do that." I don't even remember the exact year, I just remember seeing her and wanting to perform.
Star Magazine: Would you have been more nervous if you had been competing against Melinda [Doolittle] in the final?
I don't know. Actually I thought it was going to be Blake and Melinda, so I was just like, "Whoa. Cool." Melinda is one of my best friends ever, and I love her to death. If I would have been up against her I would have been so happy if she won, because she is just so amazing and I just love her. I don't know if I would have been nervous.
Star Magazine: Would you still be confident that you could have won against her?
It would have been anybody's game I guess, because I guess we both kind of have the powerful voices. But I think we reach out to different people, so it could have been anybody's game.
Star Magazine: Who is your celebrity crush?
I'm going to have to say Brad Pitt.
Star Magazine: Why Brad? It's quite obvious, really, but—
I don't know, he's just really cute. I don't know him, so I don't know anything else except he's just really good looking.
Starry Constellation Magazine: When is your song, "This Is My Now," to be released? And what is it about the song that will resonate with the fans?
It's already out, actually, on iTunes and americanidol.com, so it's already out. Did you ask what my plans are?
Starry Constellation Magazine: What’s going to resonate with the fans? What about the song?
Oh, I'm so sorry; I couldn't understand. For me the song is just so perfect, speaking to everything that I've dreamed about. It so crazy just talking about there was a time when you didn’t feel like you could do it and now you can. It's so amazing and I love the song so much. And hopefully they like it.
Starry Constellation Magazine: How are you handling all this sudden fame and what are the good and the bad parts?
I don't think anything can really prepare you for it, so it's still kind of weird to me. It's crazy. I don't know, I'm just taking it step-by-step and being careful. I don't know about any good and bad parts yet, because I've only been doing this for one day, so I'm still getting used to it.
CanWest News Service: What is the greatest lesson you learned from the "American Idol" experience?
I don't know, this whole process has kind of made me a better person and everything. I've loved everything about it. It's taught me how to emote better and it's taught me to be a better performer and it's definitely taught me how crazy a week's schedule can be. It's made me a better person, and I wouldn't have traded it for anything.
CanWest News Service: Who has been the greatest influence in your life?
I guess that would definitely have to be my family. They all are just so amazing and they've been so encouraging, and have been supporting me since I told them that I wanted to sing. It was so awesome seeing them in the audience that night. They deserve all the credit, because they've been there pushing behind me 100%.
New York Daily News: What do you remember about your dad being a New York Giant and growing up and spending time in New Jersey and in the City of New York?
I remember it pretty well. I loved that he was playing football, because I love the sport myself. When he was playing it was really cool because we would go to the games and we would watch. It was just so amazing, because my dad, he's such a people person and he's so nice. Afterwards we'd have to walk around and he would sign autographs and stuff. He was just one of the nicest people you could ever meet, and so I really looked up to him for that.
He actually told me the other day how weird it was that he was watching me sign autographs, because I used to watch him do the same thing. So … kind of came full circle.
New York Daily News: How many times did you come into the city itself? Did you used to come and spend the weekends in the city? Were there favorite spots you had that you used to go hang out in?
We lived pretty close, like a 20-minute drive from Manhattan, so we were there quite a lot. We went to Broadway, obviously, and we love the All Star Café. That was an awesome place to eat; oh my gosh, I love that place. I think when I go out there hopefully I'll get to stop by; I would love to.
Sweet Sixteen: What were the pinnacles of your life before Idol? What were the greatest moments before this?
You're going to laugh at me, but getting my braces off. I'm just a quirky 17-year old girl, and getting my braces off was awesome. I did get my license, and that was cool eventually. And then just making it through the first round of the auditions, it amazed me because I didn't think I had a chance because so many people auditioned. But just the normal things -- braces and getting my license.
Sweet Sixteen: And other than the minute you were declared the winner, what was the most memorable American Idol moment for you?
Singing with Gladys Knight was just so amazing; I can't even put into words how amazing that was. I remember she walked out on the stage during rehearsal and I couldn't believe that I was going to be singing with her. When she came out that night me and Melinda just looked at each other like oh my goodness, I can't believe this is happening. It was so amazing.
Celebrities appealed, singers performed, heartrending film clips were shown and no one was eliminated. IdolGivesBackPalooza was filled with tears and compassion, giving and understanding.
Ryan Seacrest announced that the show received a record 70 million votes Tuesday night, so NewsCorp donated their maximum $5 million pledge.
Ellen DeGeneres co-hosted the show from the Walt Disney Concert Hall, where most the night's musical numbers occurred.
Earth Wind and Fire performed a medley of their hits (watch video).
There were celebrity appeals by the likes of Forest Whitaker, Dr. Phil McGraw, Hugh Laurie, Eric McCormack and Teri Hatcher.
A film clip of Randy Jackson's trip to his home state of Louisiana and his visit to a FEMA park still filled with the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The six finalists, all dressed in white outfits the entire evening, performed "Time to Care" (watch video)written by Quincy Jones, who appeared in a film clip with them.
A running joke satellite link up with Ben Stiller, who threatens to continuously sing "Reminiscing" by the Little River Band until $200 billion is raised. The joke dies as soon as he begins to sing and becomes less and less funny as it continues throughout the night.
A particularly touching clip of Ryan and Simon Cowell in Africa with Grauman, a 12-year-old orphan raising his sister alone without help. If your heart didn't break, you were made of stone.
Melinda Doolittle was the first of all six Idols to be pronounced safe. During the course of the night, we'll learn, in this order, that Blake Lewis, Phil Stacey, LaKisha Jones, Chris Richardson and Jordin Sparks (who is given about 15 seconds to think she's been eliminated) are safe as well.
A clip of PaulaAbdul visiting a Boys and Girls Club in Hollywood.
Jack Black does a skit as a random person chosen from the audience to come onstage. He demands to sing and be judged, breaking into Seal's "Kiss From a Rose," (watch video) while his partner, Kyle, cries holding a rose in the audience. It wasn't happening for Randy, who tells him maybe the stretchy pants would have helped. Paula says "The School of Rock called, they want their diploma back." And Simon calls him better than Sanjaya (who the camera pans to sitting in the audience and laughing beside his sister). Seal, sitting behind Randy, calls it the best rendition of "Kiss from a Rose" he's ever heard. Not hilarious, but cute.
A clip of Carrie Underwood in Africa singing "I'll Stand By You" (watch video) with a group of children.
Back at the Disney Concert Hall, Rascal Flatts performs "My Wish" (watch video).
A film clip of why education is important to the children of Appalachia.
Paula, wearing something from the Kellie Pickler Collection, joins Ryan on stage where he teases her about her height while the home audience stares at her cleavage.
The finalists do the Ford commercial to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (watch video) going to a drive-in in a Mustang convertible, where they watch a video of "Stayin' Alive" featuring Good Charlotte, Dr. Phil, Keira Knightley, Lebron James, Hugh Grant, Hugh Laurie, Helen Mirren, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Harvey Weinstein, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Blue Man Group, Miss Piggy, Marc Anthony, Shaquille ONeal, and Kevin Bacon, among others.
A clip of Ryan and Simon visiting AIDS patients and homes of AIDS orphans in Africa.
Back to the Disney Concert Hall, where Ellen DeGeneres donates $100,000 before introducing Josh Groban singing "You Raise Me Up," (watch video), backed by the African Children's Choir.
A clip of celebrities discussing how many funerals they've attended, followed by an African who has been to 280 funerals. There is a discussion about how malaria, a treatable disease, is deadly in Africa.
Again in the Disney Concert Hall, Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol, sings Patty Griffin's "Up to the Mountain" (watch video) accompanied by Jeff Beck.
A clip of "The Simpsons" has Simon, singing the Pussycat Dolls' "Don'tcha," auditioning for Lisa, Homer and Marge, who keeps saying "dawg." Lisa, as Paula, wants to know, "Where's the dog? I like dogs!" The best part? After Homer tells Simon he's going to Hollywood and drops him through a trap door, Bart says, "Lions haven't eaten this well since Dunkleman" (watch video).
Next, the long-awaited (dreaded) duo of Celine Dion performing "If I Can Dream" with a phantom technology-produced Elvis Presley ( watch video).
Madonna appears in a filmed message (watch video) from Malawai, where many people are HIV Positive. Honestly, she and Celine Dion look gaunter and deader than Presley.
Seacrest announces that they've received $30 million in corporate donations, followed by the "what color is the sky" Idol Trivia Challenge.
At the Disney Music Hall, DeGeneres introduces Annie Lennox singing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (watch video).
The Idols "discover" they're all safe. No one seems surprised, though minutes later Jordin's eyes are full of tears ... crocodile tears.
In a final brief clip, Bono mentors the finalists, telling them they can end brutal, stupid poverty, before they perform "American Prayer" (watch video).
No one can argue with raising money so that starving children are fed, educated and cared for. Not only in Africa (where the need is probably the greatest) and in the United States (where it hits home the most), but anywhere in the world. Does a country exist where some child does not go hungry or uneducated? And, certainly, most anyone comfortable enough to be watching "American Idol" can afford to give a dollar to the cause.
But on a very un-PC note, it must also be said that IdolGivesBackPalooza was contrived, manipulative and, unfortunately, boring for most of its 2 hours. Americans watch "Idol" for escapism and entertainment, and, for the most part, last night was neither.
It's wonderful that tens of millions of dollars were raised for the right reasons. But our cynical side knows that every dollar of the $5 million that NewsCorp donated was made back last night alone during the Idol's commercial breaks, that AT&T made a small fortune off Tuesday night's text-messaging votes, and that the high ratings won't hurt Fox Television either.
We also don't need to be told by the likes of Teri Hatcher and Madonna and a bunch of other celebrities what we should believe in and contribute to, no more than we'd vote for a candidate they're endorsing. Let's not forget, celebs are not the great thinkers of the world. Most should be visiting the Wizard and asking for a brain.
Finally, the true spirit of giving is selflessness, not self-promotion and endorsements for Ford, AT&T, Coca-Cola, ConAgra and every other Idol corporate sponsor. Give from your heart, not because you expect some form of payback. So forgive us if we seem a bit disillusioned by it all.
While we can't confirm that the boobs actually are new -- Kellie Pickler coyly refuses to confirm or deny knowing that she'll lose the attention for them once the public knows for sure -- we can confirm that the new boy, er man, in her life is NHL Nashville Predators forward Jordin Tootoo.
Pickler confirmed the relationship with Tootoo, 24, in a recent interview US Weekly magazine. "We've been seeing each other since January, but we kept it under wraps," said Pickler, 20.
Tootoo, who is originally from Churchill, Manitoba in Canada and has an Inuit Eskimo lineage, reportedly invited the Albemarle, N.C.-native to one of his games and the romance began to blossom from there.
Unfortunately, Kellie has had issues besides love to deal with lately. Her father, Clyde Pickler, was arrested for the second time this year. The elder Pickler was arrested May 18 on a felony count of obtaining property under false pretense and three felony counts of larceny of a motor vehicle. Clyde "Bo" Pickler Jr., 42, is accused of stealing abandoned and disabled vehicles and illegally selling them to scrap yards. Bond was set at $26,000.
According to CMT.com, Pickler's father is scheduled to appear in court on July 9 in Albemarle, N.C. for the May 18th arrest. He was also scheduled to also appear in court two weeks ago (May 24) for a misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle without a license and again next week (June 12) for a separate misdemeanor larceny charge. Kellie Pickler’s dad also sold her out – literally. Last year, a source told Us Weekly that Clyde auctioned off some of his daughter's belongings on eBay while she was on the Idols tour during summer 2006. "It was personal effects that he had from her childhood, like shoes," said an Idol insider. "When Kellie found out, she was crushed. Everything was gone."
Pickler said it's hard leaving her hometown friends for the bright lights of Nashville, where she currently lives. But Pickler did want to talk, even about the plastic surgery rumors regarding her breasts.
"Oh my boobs?" Pickler said. "I don't care. You know what? The most important thing is you're happy with what you see when you look in the mirror. You just have to brush off the people that criticize you and put you down because it's not really about this [gestures to her chest], it's about what's in here [points to her heart].
The singer said it started with dinner and they’ve been hanging out ever since. "He has introduced me to so many different types of food," Pickler said. "I’ve been eating raw fish. It's kind of weird. I ate eel the other day."
This week, according to Netmusiccountdown.com Pickler earned the Look Of The Week in US Weekly's June 4 issue for the ACM Awards. Her gown was designed by Max Azria.
Of Ryan Seacrest's attention to her chest when she performed on a Season 6 results show, Pickler said, "I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. It was no biggie, it's Ryan and he's going to do his job. I don't take anything personally. I thought he was implying have I bought a house, a car. He kept saying, 'What have you bought?' And I was like, 'shoes,' which wasn't a lie. I've stacked up some shoes! I thought he wanted me to keep listing things."
Speaking of her father, she said, "It was hard to pick up where we left off after the show because our lives had changed. When he was incarcerated, I was 16. It had been four years since I'd seen him. When he came home I was a grown woman. We're not close."
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