Simon Cowell on Seymour Split

SIMON COWELL, currently in London, gave Fox News an exclusive interview about his split from TERRI SEYMOUR:

"She wants a different path in life, and I totally respect her for it," Cowell explained. "We will be the best of mates, but I think in relationships, you have to be totally honest. I have always been and I know Terri knows that."

But honesty doesn't always equal understanding.

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"I find women confusing really," Cowell continued. "When you hook up and date, you're both honest about what you want. I have never ever said that I want children or marriage. I know some people find it hard to fathom, but it's me, it's who I am."

"Bottom line is I am married to my job. When people moan about being a celebrity, I think 'Oh please, sort yourself out –- it’s the greatest job in the world.' I wake up daily thanking my lucky stars, but to throw marriage into that mix is not right. I have seen too many celebrity marriages that on paper make a great mix, fall apart through ego and just plain celebrity madness."

Cowell also quashed any rumors that another woman is to blame.

"There is no one new in my life. I can honestly say some of my best friends are girls, but we're not dating, and that is that. Forget any lurid tabloid headlines. Myself and Terri will remain firm friends. We're grown-ups."

And the UK's Daily Mirror says that Cowell has defiantly declared he is giving up women [hmmm, bet this wasn't news to RYAN SEACREST] after splitting up from Seymour, "Don't worry about me -- I don't need a lonely hearts ad.

"I'm off women now. But everything's fine between me and Terri -- we're still friends. In fact that was her on the phone just now."

Sinitta Comforting Simon Cowell

This can bring no joy to SIMON COWELL's most recent ex, TERRI SEYMOUR, that he has fled to the arms of his former ex, SINITTA, for comfort and support, this according to UK's Mirror, the source of the original story of the split:

Simon Cowell has turned to his old flame Sinitta for support after splitting with girlfriend Terri Seymour.

The newly single X Factor boss, 49, spent the weekend pouring out his heart to the singer after the Mirror revealed on Saturday the six-year relationship was over.

Friends say Simon has grown closer to 40-year-old Sinitta – whom he first dated 18 years ago – since her marriage to financier Andy Wilner hit the rocks earlier this year.

On Saturday she accompanied Simon to the rehearsals and filming of X Factor – even slipping out of the studio at regular intervals with him during ad breaks.

Yesterday they were spotted chatting intimately for several hours over afternoon tea at the Georgian Restaurant in Harrods. Sinitta was with adopted children Magdalenea, three, and two-year-old Zac.

[Here's a video of Simon Cowell, singer Sinitta Renet Malone and BBC Radio host Dermot O'Leary leaving Mr. Chows in London on Oct. 30 after having dinner]:


A close friend of Simon said: "Sinitta and Simon have become much closer recently.

[And according to the UK's The Sun, Cowell helped get Sinitta an underwear modeling gig for her 42nd birthday this past October, after seeing her in a gold bikini on The X Factor.]

"They have have been offering each other much support over their troubled relationships. Sinitta has always helped put a smile back on Simon's face. She's become the closest person to him.

He added: "Simon insists they're just good friends. He prides himself on staying friends with exes." During his relationship with Terri, Sinitta was a regular presence – even joining them on holiday.

He took Sinitta with him to Barbados earlier this year as part of The X Factor judges' houses stage and also to St. Tropez for a posh party in August.

In September Sinitta spoke of her "unconditional love" for Cowell despite being married. She said they split because of his refusal to have kids.

Sinitta has admitted her relationship with her husband is also on the rocks.

He moved to Hong Kong in April, leaving her with their two adopted children.

She said yesterday: "My marriage is struggling. Being apart is a huge problem."

Simon split with Terri, 34, after he refused to commit to her and made it clear he did not share her dreams of starting a family.

The stunning TV presenter has told friends: "It was a mutual decision for us to split. But we still speak and are friends."

Last night Simon was unavailable for comment at his home in West London.
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Maybe Sinitta has figured out that the way to have kids with Simon is to have the kids with someone else, then get back with Simon.
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Meanwhile, the UK's Daily Mail is saying that Cowell's first reaction when hearing that Seymour had broken up with him, was "Thank God." How rude:

Simon Cowell was celebrating his new-found freedom as Hollywood's most eligible bachelor last night after splitting from his girlfriend of six years.

Sources close to the multi-millionaire X Factor judge said he was "hugely relieved" that the relationship with Terri Seymour was over.

They said his first words on hearing that she had confirmed the end of the relationship were: "Thank God."

The stunning 34-year-old TV presenter, who moved out of Cowell's £20million Beverly Hills home in the summer, is now believed to be dating 35-year-old Hollywood actor STEPHEN DORFF, 35 [an ex of Pamela Anderson's], whom she met in September.

Cowell, who is one of TV's highest-paid stars, has given her new love his blessing and has privately said he is delighted to be free of the relationship.

"Simon has basically been waiting for Terri to announce the relationship is over for months," a friend revealed.

"She has been a weight around his neck for a long time but the problem was that his mother absolutely adored Terri and thought the world of her, so Simon was in a bit of a rut.

"Now, Terri has moved on and found someone else and Simon is hugely relieved. He said, 'Thank God' when he heard Terri had gone public with the split and had met someone else.

"He's been waiting for this day for a long time. He just wants to move on with his life. He's so relieved, I can't tell you. Terri's finally found someone else which has enabled her to move on. In the end, she was clinging to Simon and something that didn't really exist between them any more.

"She told him in September that she had met someone, and Simon basically said, 'Go for it.' I still think there was a bit of Terri that was hoping Simon would say he wanted to marry her."

In reality, Cowell has made it very clear that he has already moved on - and today he announces that he has new professional goals, too.

In an exclusive interview in The Mail on Sunday's Live magazine, he reveals his ambitions to extend his domination into the world of politics.

"Politics is showbusiness these days," he said. "More and more so. I know I could engage that audience, get people involved. Make it interesting, for God's sake."

It seems the only ambition 48-year-old Cowell did not possess was to make Terri his first lady.

She was notably absent on Wednesday night when Cowell collected a lifetime achievement accolade at the National TV Awards. Instead, the X Factor mastermind spent his finest hour flanked by his co-star Cheryl Cole and his ex-girlfriend, the singer Sinitta.

"Anyone who knows Simon has known that his relationship with Terri was over months ago, but she's very fragile and he didn't want to hurt her," said a source close to Cowell.

"She wanted kids with Simon desperately, but he wasn't interested in starting a family or getting married.

"All Simon cares about is being the richest, most successful man on the planet. If he wants girls and companionship he can always get them, but it's really not that important to him. Celebrity and money are all that he cares about."

Terri will continue to live in the luxury Los Angeles apartment that Cowell, who is worth £130million, bought for her when she moved out of their shared home this summer.

"Things are very amicable between Terri and Simon. There are no hard feelings," said the source. "She has actually done very well out of Simon. He has bought her a house and wishes her every success and happiness. They'll stay close friends but he couldn't give her what she ultimately wanted, which was children.

"Her biological clock is ticking and all Terri really wants is to start a family."

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday as long ago as 2005, Terri revealed her fears that the relationship would run its course because of Simon's reluctance to settle down and his obsession with work.

She said: "I'm under no illusions where I rank in Simon's priorities. It's work, his mum, work, then me."

She told how she had persuaded Simon's mother Julie, 80, to help her to convince the TV presenter to have a family. "His mum's still trying to change his mind. She's working on my behalf and badgers him about it," she said at the time. And she added: "Simon's made it clear he doesn't want children but I've always been open about the fact that I do.

"His suggestion was that I should get a terrapin instead.

"He wouldn't even allow himself to have a dog, and he adores dogs, because he says it wouldn't be fair. He says, 'What's the point in having a baby if you have to give it to a nanny and never see it?' "

But, even then, Terri admitted that although she attempted to push her desire for children to one side for the sake of their relationship, the clock was always ticking and it became an increasing source of tension – as was Simon's continued closeness with Sinitta.

Although there has never been any suggestion that theirs is anything more than a close friendship, Cowell's failure to tell Terri of his decision to invite the singer and her family to holiday with him and friends in Barbados this Christmas placed a further strain on the relationship.

As the cracks began to show, so too, it seems, did Terri's apparent insecurity. She once admitted: "When I take his clothes to the dry cleaners, I empty out the pockets and find loads of phone numbers scrawled on pieces of paper – from men as well as women. But if I allowed my jealousy to vent at every single little thing, I'd go crazy."

But it cannot have helped that during their relationship Cowell was linked with party girl JASMINE LENNARD, who has a tattoo on her wrist bearing the initials SC.

And, three months ago, it was reported that Cowell had been on a number of dates with James Major's ex-wife, former model EMMA NOBLE, whose television career he was said to be helping relaunch.

A spokesman for Cowell last night confirmed he had split from Terri, and added: "They will stay friends. He thinks the world of her."

COWELL WOMANIZING WITH BRITNEY SPEARS

More Simon Cowell news from the UK's Daily Mail, which says that Cowell has announced that BRITNEY SPEARS will appear on "The X Factor" to sing "Womanizer," because he is a fan of hers:

The star will be singing her new record Womanizer on the show later this month, because Simon Cowell is a fan. He said: "I'm really excited about it, because she has got her act together and the new record is terrific.

"She has come back from a very dark place and is a terrific artist."

It has become a tradition on the X Factor for established artists to perform, and advise aspiring acts. Take That, Will Young, Kylie Minogue are among the stars who have already appeared.

Spears' scheduled appearance seals her return to form after her life spiraled out of control. In September the star made an acclaimed return at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and has her single Womanizer has been well received. But the past three years have been turbulent for the troubled star.

The 26-year-old has had two failed marriages and lost custody of her children, and battled drug addictions that led to her being taken in to psychiatric care.

After Spears and Kevin Federline's three-year marriage ended in a divorce, she went on to lose custody over sons Sean Preston, three, and two-year-old Jayden James.

Last year her mental health seemed to deteriorate - marked a period of strange behavior by Spears, during which she shaved her head and was continually in and out of rehab.

She attempted a comeback in 2007 performing at the MTV Video Music Awards, but was jeered and criticized for a shambolic performance. The star was out of shape and forgot the words to her track Gimme More.

Then in January this year, she was put under lockdown at a mental institution after she held her son hostage at her LA home.

She is planning a world tour next year and is releasing her album Circus in December. The star has also made a documentary about her breakdown. In the 90-minute special, "Britney: For the Record," she talks frankly about her problems.

She said: "I sit there and I look back and I'm like, 'I'm a smart person. What the hell was I thinking?'

"I've been through a lot in the past two or three years, and there's a lot that people don't know.

"Sometimes I think I get kind of lonely because you don't open the gate up that much, you know I mean? You're guarded. You have to be that way, so I'm kind of stuck in this place and it's like: How do you deal? And you just cope, and that's what I do. I just cope with it, every day."

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© 2008

Simon Cowell, Terri Seymour Split

SIMON COWELL and TERRI SEYMOUR have called it quits, but just who ended their 6-year relationship? According to People magazine, it was Seymour, but the story was originally broken by the UK's Mirror. In that story, friends seem to indicate that Cowell wanted to end the relationship but was worried it would make him look callous, so he refused to cave into Seymour's relationship demands until she finally dumped him. Seymour wanted children, Cowell didn't. Also, Seymour was upset by the constant rumors of Cowell's flings with other women. Here is the story from today's Mirror:

Simon Cowell was dumped by Terri Seymour after he refused to commit to her... and yesterday she told friends it was the hardest decision of her life.

Devastated Terri, 33, issued the X Factor judge with a "stay for ever or go" ultimatum after their six-year relationship turned into a series of rows.

She had become deeply insecure as Simon devoted more time to his career than nurturing their romance – and refused to tie the knot and have children.

And she was "torn apart" by stories of relationships with other beauties, including fellow judge Dannii Minogue.

Music mogul Simon, 48, spent much of this year at his London townhouse, while Terri stayed at the £2.5million Hollywood home, he bought her away from his £5million Beverly Hills house.

The duo, who remain friends, had planned to announce their split in a carefully orchestrated magazine interview with Terri next weekend.

Since her heart-wrenching decision to split in the summer, Terri told a friend: “We adore each other and it was one of the hardest decisions of my life.

"I always thought Simon was the one but I couldn't ignore the fact he wouldn't give me what I wanted.

"I don't want a life without children. Simon was sympathetic but he was never going to have a family of his own."

Cowell's mother Julie, 80, is devastated by the news and has told the Sunday Mirror she believes her son is to blame.

She is praying they get back together.

Julie said at her home in Ovingdean, Sussex: "Everyone in our family loves her. She's like part of the family and always will be. At the end of the day, Simon doesn't want a family and I think that's got a lot to do with it.

"She's a lovely girl. She would always remember birthday and Christmas cards. I'm hoping they'll get back together."

But Terri's decision is final.

As well as his lack of commitment, the former model was exhausted by constant rumours of Cowell's womanising.

Two years ago the talent show boss was caught red-handed when 24-year-old model Jasmine Lennard was seen leaving his £7million London home.

And last year he sparked rumours of a relationship with fellow judge Dannii, 36, after they were snapped appearing to hold hands in the back of his limo, but he always denied an affair.

Miserable Terri was also fed up with his same old crowd of adoring girlfriends including old pal and ex-model Jackie Sinclair and his ex-lover Sinitta.

A source close to Terri said: "Seeing different women hang off your boyfriend's arm when you're thousands of miles apart is so hard.

"She was driven insanely jealous by his fling with Jasmine and the rumours of his relationship with Dannii.

"It got to the point where we all begged Terri to stop reading the newspapers. It was tearing her apart.

"She was also fed up with him hanging out with the same old cronies in L.A. In London, Jackie was always around, particularly at the start of their relationship, as was Sinitta.

"Like any woman, she wanted to feel special."

Despite the fact it was Terri who dumped Simon, pals insist the mogul was the driving force behind their split.

The millionaire was concerned that if he called time on the relationship because Terri wanted children he would look callous. So he simply stubbornly refused to cave into her relationship demands until she finally dumped him.

The passion had also disappeared from their relationship and the couple started to see each other as "brother and sister."

A friend said: "Simon wanted Terri to come to her own conclusions about their relationship.

"He is incredibly fond of her but has always been honest about his desire never to have children.

"He is married to his career and has never had any paternal desires. Terri thought she could change his mind but her body clock has been ticking louder than ever in recent months and she demanded that he give her a baby.

"A lot of her friends have children now and they told her she will still be hanging around at 40 if she didn't take action.

"There was also no sexual spark there any more and once that's gone it's quite hard to rebuild a relationship."

Friends of the multi-millionaire say he is "very sad" about the split and has promised to look after Terri, now an actress.

Her Los Angeles home was a parting present and he is also paying for chauffeur-driven cars to ferry her around.

Cowell has also vowed to help develop her TV career and has put her in touch with agent-to-the-stars John Noel who took Davina McCall and Russell Brand to stardom, as well as Sir Paul McCartney’s publicist Alan Edwards of The Outside Organisation.

A friend said: "Simon still speaks to her on the phone at least three times a day, and has promised to always help her with her career wherever he can.

"Terri knows he will be as good as his word as he is close to many of his exes."

Terri, who was brought up in Hertfordshire, has been spotted at Hollywood nightspots in recent months.

Just weeks ago she was seen cosying up to actor Stephen Dorff in a secluded garden area at LA's trendy Bar Marmont.

Friends say she and Cowell seem happier since the split and Terri, in particular, appears to have a new lease of life.

One friend said: "It's been a long drawn-out process but thankfully Terri is back to her old self.

"It’s been such a sense of relief for her. She is doing very well and has a new resolution to look after herself and have a bit of fun."

The pals say Terri and Simon had a rocky time last Christmas while they were on holiday in Barbados – and by April pals say it was at breaking point.

They met when ex-model Terri was 18 but only started dating in 2002 after she interviewed him for a TV show.

Terri had previously said she would split from him if he didn't want a family, while Cowell – who has an estimated £130 million fortune – said in March: "I don't believe in marriage, certainly not in this business."

Terri – who was absent when Cowell picked up a TV award this week – told a friend: "It's sad but I had to do it. Now we can both move on."

Last night, Cowell's spokesman Max Clifford confirmed Terri had dumped Simon over her desire to have children.

He added: "Terri ended it in late summer. They are going to remain close friends. He understands her reason for ending it.

"Nobody else is involved, certainly not on Simon's side."

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© 2008

Wanna Audition for Idol? Read This First

Planning to audition for Season 7 of "American Idol"? You'll be signing away A LOT of rights, plus giving the show the right to ridicule and humiliate you (even embarrass you with fictional material) without any due recourse.

So to all of those who are always lambasting the show/judges for being mean, humiliating, cruel et al, no one can say the contestants haven't been forewarned. Anyone who tries out for the show must sign the its three-page release form, whether or not they bother to read it before applying their signature. The form (which is available online) states, among other things (underlining and bolding ours for emphasis purposes):

Producer shall also have the unrestricted right to edit the content and text of the Program in any manner or form.

In addition to the rights granted elsewhere in this Release, I understand and agree that if my appearance, name, likeness, voice, singing voice, conversation, sounds and/or biographical data is used in connection with the Program, I may be required, in consideration of Producer possibly including my appearance, name, likeness, voice, singing voice, conversation, sounds and/or biographical data in the Program, and at Producer’s election, to enter into the following agreements with Producer and/or Producer’s designee(s), the terms of which shall be subject to good faith negotiation: (a) an agreement for the management of my career in the entertainment industry (including, but not limited to, my acting, singing, songwriting, or other services); and (b) an agreement for the use of my name, voice, conversation, likeness and biography in connection with advertising, endorsements, merchandising, and/or sponsorships. I understand and agree that such agreements shall become fully effective only at the election of Producer and/or Producer’s designee(s), which election shall occur on or before that date which is three (3) months from the date of the initial broadcast of the final episode of the Program for this Season (the “Election Period”).

I understand that I may reveal, and other parties may reveal, information about me that is of a personal, private, embarrassing or unfavorable nature, which information may be factual and/or fictional.

I further understand that my appearance, depiction and/or portrayal in the Program may be disparaging, defamatory, embarrassing or of an otherwise unfavorable nature which may expose me to public ridicule, humiliation or condemnation. I acknowledge and agree that Producer shall have the right to (a) include any or all such information and appearances, depictions or portrayals in the Program as edited by Producer in its sole discretion, and (b) broadcast and otherwise exploit the Program containing any or all such information and appearances, depictions or portrayals in any manner whatsoever in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, or for any other purpose, throughout the universe in perpetuity.

I agree to follow all of Producer’s rules, directions and instructions in all matters relating to the Program,which rules are subject to change at Producer’s sole discretion.

I will accept any and all decisions of Producer on discretionary matters (including but not limited to the audition process and contestant selection) as final and acknowledge that the interests of the Program shall override those of any participant.

I agree that my selection to audition is within Producer’s sole discretion and that Producer is not obligated to grant me an audition, regardless of my place in the audition line.

I acknowledge that Producer reserves the right, exercisable at any time in its sole discretion, to disqualify me from the Program should I at any stage supply untruthful, inaccurate or misleading personal information, fail to abide by the rules or regulations of the Program, or for any other reason or for no reason at all. If I am selected, I agree that Producer is not obligated to have me appear on, or to broadcast my appearance on, the Program and may disqualify me at any time in its sole discretion.

I recognize that Producer is relying on my representations herein and that a breach by me here under would cause Producer irrevocable injury and damage that cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated by damages in an action at law; and, therefore, I hereby expressly agree that Producer shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent and/or cure any breach or threatened breach of this Release by me.

I hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless Producer, its assignees, licensees, agents, and affiliates ... from any and all liability or claims arising out of or in any way resulting from my participation in the Program and the use or reuse of my appearance, name, voice, singing voice, likeness and/or biographical information and I agree not to make any claim against Producer or the Released Parties as a result of my participation in the Program and in connection with any use or reuse of my appearance, name, voice, singing voice, conversation, likeness and/or biographical information (including, without limitation, any claim based upon defamation or invasion of privacy and/or publicity).

In addition, I agree to indemnify Producer and the other Released Parties and to hold each of them harmless from any and all liability, claim, action, damage, expense (including reasonable attorneys fees), and loss of any kind caused by or arising out of any statement, action or failure to act by me during or in connection with my participation in the Program.

In no event shall I have any right to injunctive or other equitable relief against any of the Released Parties in connection with the Program.

I acknowledge that there is a possibility that after my execution of this Release, I will discover facts or incur or suffer claims which were unknown or unsuspected at the time this Release was executed and which, if known by me at that time, may have materially affected my decision to execute this Release. I acknowledge and agree that by reason of this Release, I am assuming any risk of such unknown facts and such unknown and unsuspected claims.

In the event I am a member of AFTRA, SAG or any other performing arts guild, I understand and agree that my appearance on the Program, if any, shall not be deemed to be a performance under any collective bargaining agreement.

I agree not to disclose or discuss events related to the Program, or authorize any third party to do the same, without the prior written approval of Producer and Network. I shall not directly or indirectly issue or permit the issuance of any publicity whatsoever with respect to the Program or my appearance in connection therewith. I shall not use the name of the Program in any way at any time without Producer's prior written approval in each instance.

BTW, no one seeking election to a public office and looking for free publicity need apply either. One of the contract stipulations states: "I am not a candidate for public office."

For more information about auditioning this season, including rules, FAQs, registration and audition dates and cities, click here.

JOSH GRACIN BACK FROM IRAQ

Net Music Countdown reports that former Marine Josh Gracin has returned from his tour of the Persian Gulf where he played a series of concerts in support of U.S. troops overseas.

Gracin spent time with the troops in Kuwait and Iraq where he performed five shows, signed autographs, visited with soldiers in the hospital and even played basketball in 128 degree heat with fellow Marines.

"This was something I just had to do," said Gracin. "It was important for me to give back to our men and women in uniform and bring a little piece of home to our folks serving overseas. This is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life."

The overseas tour, sponsored by MWR and Stars For Stripes, took Gracin to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait and several locations in Iraq, including Kirkuk, Camp Speicher, Q West and Ballad Airbase. At the show at Camp Arifjan in Iraq, Gracin performed for more than 2,000 troops, setting the record for the second highest attendance at the base.

SIMON COWELL: TERRI SEYMOUR'S NAUGHTY LITTLE BOY

Terri Seymour, 33, who has been Simon Cowell's other half for almost 5 years, reveals some personal things about their relationship in an interview in the UK's Daily Mirror.

When asked how the couple will be celebrating their fifth anniversary in September, she laughs: "Anything mushy he can't deal with -- he couldn't bear to think we were celebrating something like that! But I'll make him take me out for dinner. I've got him trained," she says.

She also said that Cowell's favorite Sunday morning pastime is watching Loony Tunes in bed. "He loves cartoons, particularly The Jetsons and Sylvester the Cat. That's about as exciting as it gets!" She laughs. "He's a naughty little boy but I love him. We're polar opposites but somehow it works.

"I'm spontaneous while Simon likes his bath a certain temperature. I love my cuddles while Simon hates them. But he's getting better. We were at a Beyonce concert recently and I looked down and realised he was holding my hand. Simon's not very in touch with his emotions -- he finds it very hard."

And Seymour obviously gives Cowell as good as she gets. "He likes my fiestiness. So many people pander to him and I don't. If there's something he does that annoys me or I disagree with, I'll give him what for. And I'll tell him off if I feel he's gone too far with contestants on his shows. He does listen to me -- I've even got him to wear colours other than black."

Seymour has three TV shows in the US ("Extra" on NBC, and "Good Day LA" and the 10 p.m. news, both on Fox) and has been an entertainment reporter on ITV1's "This Morning." "I love working and having my own money," she says. "My friends think I'm mad when I could be shopping and going for lunch, but that would bore me rigid.

"I'm independent, which Simon likes, and I think I'm fun and easy-going. He couldn't cope with needy. And his mum Julie loves me!"

But Cowell has told her he never wants kids or marriage, and she accepts that.

"We'll never get married, but marriage to me isn't a big thing. My mum, Margaret, raised me as a single parent. I don't have the big wedding dream. He's fantastic with kids but he likes giving them back. It's the whole work thing -- he can't see it being compatible with a family. I'd like a child eventually and I've been asked if I'll have to choose between Simon and having kids, but it's not an issue right now. I'm not panicking."

But the baby question could rear its head further down the line. Would she ever go it alone? She pauses: "Yes, definitely. I think I could do it because my mum did it. The idea doesn't scare me."
Growing up without a dad around might explain why she's often dated men older than herself -- Simon is 14 years her senior -- and she nods: "I'm attracted to older guys.

"People always say that to me about wanting the father figure and I don't know whether it's true or not. But I've hardly ever been single.

"I had one relationship when I was 15 for five years and then two others both lasting four years before Simon.

"It's a grown-up relationship and we're a good team."

She'd known Simon since she was 18, but the friendship ignited again in 2002 when she interviewed him in London: "We had such a laugh and he said: 'If you are ever in LA I'll be there working on this "little" show.' It was American Idol.

"Then three months later I got a hair commercial there. We started hanging out and it just happened.

"I'd never fancied him before. He always says we kissed in a nightclub 15 years ago but I can't remember it, which he finds insulting!"

Once they became an item, she moved in. "We just fit and I can be myself with him," says Terri.

"We laugh a lot -- Simon's a funny guy and a nice man." But like any couple, they row.

"He hates arguing whereas I prefer to get it out and clear the air. I can't keep my mouth shut. I worry about him being such a workaholic.

"He takes on so much and I get concerned about him being over-stressed.

"Not only has he got the shows in the UK and the US, he's writing a drama and working on a film. Simon's very driven by money and he always wants to make the best shows."

These days the couple flit between their four-story west London mansion, their two Beverly Hills homes and a new Caribbean retreat.

Seymour says that she and Cowell had dinner with J.Lo and husband Marc Antony the previous week, but despite his multi-million pound fortune she says Simon remains down-to-earth.

"He's a very ordinary guy. We have holidays in amazing places but he loves his fish and chips and his shepherd's pie. But it's amusing how people change around him. And people who should know better are in awe! I think: It's Simon! Big deal."

And Seymour knows that with fame comes the inevitable attention from other women. But she's philosophical.

"I don't worry about him cheating," she says. "When I arrived in LA, 'American Idol' was huge and women were throwing themselves at him. I found it funny.

"Simon is the biggest flirt. He says I'm just as bad but I get him back," she laughs. "I get chatted up a fair bit by celebrities doing my job and he gets jealous. He won't show it at the time but it'll come out later."

She adds: "I trust him but I have to because we spend a lot of time away from each other. We always say: If either of us does something, that's the time to part -- because it must mean the spark has gone."

While he may not be about to pop to the question, Terri says Cowell does have the odd romantic moment. "He spoils me with gifts -- beautiful jewelery and he even got me the new SKR Jaguar -- but it was a silly thing that touched me. He went to the dentist and when he came back with a new toothbrush, he'd bought me one, too.

"I thought that was really sweet -- it meant he was thinking of me."

IDOL COULD MAKE EMMY HISTORY

The Washington Post reports that the nation's most popular TV show, Fox's "American Idol," could become the biggest Emmy loser ever when the Emmy trophies are handed out Sept. 16. The singing competition, which previously was nominated 22 times but never won, will have seven chances this year to break that streak.

If the reality series goes 0 for 7, however, it will dethrone the record-holding "Bob Newhart Show." That sitcom, in which Newhart played a Vermont innkeeper, never won despite 25 nominations.

PAULA ABDUL: BLAME DRINKING RUMORS ON SIMON

Paula Abdul once more CBS), in an appearance on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" Wednesday, once again blamed fellow "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell for inadvertedly starting rumors that she drinks by teasing her during an epsiode of the show.

"Usually I sit between the two guys and when it's time for Randy [Jackson] to start his critique, Simon is in my ear." Abdul explained.

Abdul said that she tries to block him out, even plugging her ear on the side where he sits.

One night he whispered, "Try to say something interesting, Paula like 'the moth that finds the melon ball inside of a won ton will win.' So I say it and Ryan [Seacrest] looked at me and said 'what was that?' and I said Simon said this."

Unfortunately for Abdul, Cowell made a face as if he never whispered in her ear.

"Then he said there was something other than Coca Cola in my cup," she said. Coca-Cola is one of the show's sponsors, and each of the three judges always has a cup bearing the company's logo in front of them during the show.

Watch video of Paula Abdul of Letterman:


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© 2007

Taylor Hicks on Track ... Literally

Nothing says summer like a truck race at the Speedway accompanied by some good old-fashioned American rock and soul. Former "American Idol" star Taylor Hicks brought his "Soul Patrol" to the track last night for a gig before the Built Ford Tough 225, says Cincinnati's The Enquirer.

Hicks, 29, who also sang the national anthem, told the paper in a pre-appearance interview that he had no worries about taming the boisterous Speedway crowd, having spent plenty of time at the track in his native Birmingham, Ala. The Speedway gig is his only scheduled appearance in the area. He called us from the road and shared some of his boundless enthusiasm for scoring the gig of a lifetime.

You probably didn't know this, but a local guy you may have heard of named Peter Frampton just played the Speedway a few weeks ago.
Well, that's a tough act to follow, especially when you're talking about Peter Frampton, but that's great. I'm excited about coming to the Speedway.

Are you a NASCAR follower?
I do follow NASCAR. I'm actually singing the national anthem at the Homestead race (in Florida), the last NASCAR race of this year. And I'm from Alabama, so there's the Talladega connection.

Have you ever played this area before?
I actually haven't. The "Idol" tour hit Louisville and I've come through there a couple of times and hit Louisville before "Idol." I'm looking forward to coming through there and setting up shop.

What would surprise people about your show?
I think it's very musical. I never got to play instruments on "Idol," and now I get to play guitar and harmonica. I do mostly originals off of my albums, "Under the Radar" and "In Your Time," and some covers. There's definitely a songwriting, soulful aspect to my music.

You're unusual for an "Idol" winner in that you do have such a musical background and so much touring experience. Has that helped you on the road?
It has. Experience playing in clubs for 10 years and trying to make it really teaches you about who you are as an artist and a person. So when you do catch an opportunity like this, it allows you to stay the same person and understand the business a lot better than someone who hasn't been in it. I think people walk away feeling that their votes did count and it was the right vote because it is such a musical show.

What's the first thing fans typically say when they meet you?
Soul Patrol!

Do you regret it a bit now that you put that out there?
Not at all. The more the merrier.

The Speedway crowd can be a bit rowdy. Are you prepared for that?
I played the infield at Talladega, so I'm very aware of the hoopla and I love it! I was born in a honky-tonk, so the more honky-tonk the better.

Where has your "Idol" success taken you that's been the biggest surprise, the place you never imagined you'd get?
The White House. That was amazing. I got to meet the president and give him a "Soul Patrol" T-shirt. I haven't seen him wear it yet.

And watch a video of Taylor Hicks singing the national anthem at the Kentucky Speedway:


IDOLS IN NASHVILLE

A short video with concert and interview clips from WKRN of the Idols recent visit to the Sommet Center. Phil Stacey and Chris Sligh discuss moving to Nashville, Sanjaya Malakar talks about his hair, and BFFs Melinda Doolittle and Jordin Sparks their bonding. The anchor also reports that Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler attended the concert and watched it from a suite.

KIMBERLEY LOCKE'S DUST-UP WITH DUSTIN DIAMOND

According to "Extra," former "American Idol" contestant Kimberly Locke is riding high.

Locke told Terri Seymour that she's got a new album, a new figure and a new outlook.

Locke became a Jenny Craig spokeswoman last year, determined to lose weight and get healthy. "My goal with Jenny Craig is 40 pounds, so I'm so close I can taste it," she revealed.
She said her new album, "Based on a True Story," comes straight from her painful breakup with her fiancé last year. "I got really nasty, and I don't ever want to go through that again," she admitted. "So I wrote about it."

Locke also changed things up to get in shape. She appeared on VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club" and says she's lost four to five dress sizes, but the is not shy about the tension on "Fit Club" between her and former "Saved by the Bell" geek Dustin Diamond.









Dustin poked fun of her not winning "American Idol," and his comments got under her skin. "Had he come up to me and said, 'Don't take it personally,' that's a different story," Locke said. "But don't make me the butt of your jokes."

But Kimberly not nursing a broken heart. When asked by Seymour if she's ready to start dating again, Locke responded, "I'm already dating honey. I didn’t stop!"

SABRINA SLOAN SPEAKS

BuddyTV has an exclusive interview with Season 6 semi-finalist Sabrina Sloan (but, seriously, was everyone really knocking down her door?):

First, can you tell us a little bit about what made you audition for American Idol last season?
Yeah, I've been a fan for the last five years watching the show from the first season, and my friends and family were always telling me, “You could be on the show, you can totally compete on that show. You should go audition.” And I was actually in New York, on Broadway, kind of doing my thing but I wanna go, you see every year people get kicked off that should stay, and it's kinda controversial who ends up winning. But I thought I absolutely have nothing to lose, I just really wanna try and get in the show and I decided this year I had to do it.

When you went into those auditions, did you think you had a pretty good chance to move on once you got there and saw the competition?
I did. It wasn't too overwhelming, actually. I flew to Minneapolis from here to audition. I live in LA, but when they were in Pasadena, I was throwing my best friend her bachelorette party in Las Vegas so I missed the LA audition and ended up going to Minneapolis. And it was still a huge, huge crowd but I actually got really lucky and got in kind of in the first couple of hours and like out by 8 am so it wasn't like the long, long day that I thought it would be and I...I felt like, yeah, I mean when I walked in, you don't know what people sound like necessarily but the characters around you so you kind of feel like, “Well, I've got just as good a shot as anybody else.”

One of the things I think viewers don't get to see enough of is the Hollywood week and kind of what happens there, you know. Can you explain to us a little bit about your experience in Hollywood week?
Hollywood week was crazy, cause I watched it on TV too so you just think it's so...you're up all night, it was crazy. And it's intense. It's a little like boot camp, it's a little like, you know, kind of a sorority rush cause you're on lock down in the hotel and you're around people you don't really know, you're rooming with somebody you didn't know before, maybe you just met and day in day out, going up and singing a song and getting cut and like hanging out for the day, like the girls day where they took us out at Long Beach and it was a good four days, five days and by the end of it, it gets really intense during that group daytime when you're working with three or four people trying to memorize lyrics or put together a song, a routine for the judges. It was a whole lot of pressure and not a lot of sleep and at that point everybody really wants it bad because everybody gets into Hollywood thinks they absolutely belong in the show so it gets really competitive at that point.

When you got the news in that big room that you made it to the top 24, what were your initial reactions, were you expecting that or did you think you had a chance to be sent home at that point?
The thing is with the show you never know and I've treated every step of the process as kinda like a callback. It was like, “Okay, I made it to the next step but I haven't gotten on the show yet,” and that was the big ultimate goal, so for me it was kind of that last step. Like, I've come so far. You know, I really, really asked the show, please tell me and they left me till the last three or four girls and so I was really sweating it out cause there weren't many spots left, and you never know. I mean, there are people that you thought would probably go home that went home but then there are people that shouldn't go home that went home so by time I got up there I was like fingers crossed and okay I'll see what happens.

Being in the top 24, being a semifinalist, what was the thing that took you most by surprise during that whole experience?
I think a lot of people that went home in Hollywood week. You may see some of it on the show, even stuff that was you know, edited out like there were some stellar people that you would go, “Oh, for sure, they're gonna be on the show. They're a contender to win the whole thing.” And then they wouldn't, they wouldn't go through, it was like one little lyric forgotten or you know, you'll never never know and it's hard to keep that mindset that once you go on the show you can go at anytime and it's not all about just talent. It's kind of the whole package, there's a lot involved, so you really just never know when it's gonna be your time.

This season had a fair amount of controversy. What's your take on both Antonella's thing and then Sanjaya making it as far as he did?
Right, right. I mean, it really comes down to it being not about the talent once you get on the show and when you leave it up to America to choose, and you have all the different variables and people voting because they don't like the show and you know, voting based on popularity, or whatever it is, I mean that's kind of the draw to the show. Who's gonna leave, even the upsets are what make the show popular. Because you can get mad and scream and go they don't deserve to go home and I can't believe it, but it's kind of the name of the game. So, we've got contestants that have to be prepared for it and I think this year definitely had some of those elements, but the point is that everybody who's on the show deserves to be there cause they have the votes, so whether it's because of their voice or not because of their voice, because of something else, if they have the number of votes, they're in. It's not like So You Think You Can Dance where the judges have some sort of say in who stays or some of the other shows. That's the thing about what makes American Idol, American Idol, that America is the deciding factor.

I think most would agree that you were one of the better pure singers on the show. Were you then pretty surprised to be eliminated when you were?
I was surprised then. I was. As much as I tried to say, “Okay, I could be going home,” I didn't want to and I really wanted to be in the finals and really didn't think it was my time, so it was hard. It was really hard to leave that night and I was a little bit taken back and you just got to look at it as a huge blessing and so many doors open because of it so I would do it again no matter what.

What have you taken away most from the whole Idol experience?
I would say just to stay true to myself, because I feel like I did that all on the show. I didn't pull any tricks or try to do anything other than do what I do and sing, all the interviews that I've done afterwards people kind of recognize my character, you know, they appreciate me staying true to who I was and that came across and I really had no regrets about any of the choices I made on the show. So, it's something you worry about going on to such a huge stage in front of 37 million people and putting yourself out there to be torn apart and be judged by everyone and no matter what people say, good or bad, about what I did or who I am or what I look like, you know, I just I feel confident that I got a good job and I deserve to be there.

Since being on Idol, how has your life changed and what have you got in store for the future?
Life changes because people definitely recognize you and even now that the show's over, the finale's over, you really start to realize once you're off the show what a huge, huge machine American Idol is and how many people really watch cause people still recognize you and I definitely can't go bummed out to the 711 anymore, cause undoubtedly somebody will say “Hey!” And the huge opportunities…I hope I can make a record pretty soon and working out a deal with a major record label, and just some kind of cosmetic promotion opportunities and I was an actress and singer before Idol so God created agents and they live here in LA. Hopefully some acting opportunities too, but lots and lots of doors open so it's been really, really great.

IS SIMON COWELL STEPPING OUT ON TERRI SEYMOUR?

Well, they really don't say, but today's Sunday Mirror is trying to titillate us with that possibility:

Jasmine Lennard has broken her silence on her relationship with Simon Cowell and admitted: "I adore him."

The 21-year-old model was rumoured to be having a secret fling with the 47-year-old "X Factor" judge last year when she was spotted leaving his £11 million home in West London. Cowell - who has a long-term girlfriend Terri Seymour - insisted they were merely "discussing projects".

Now Jasmine, who split with night club owner Mark Alexiou amid the revelations, has ignited the rumours again in a magazine interview in which she says: "Everything he says is golden, because he has so much experience. I have a lot of respect for Simon. I adore him." The "Make Me a Supermodel" star also revealed she is seeing someone "very precious" - but would not say who.

Asked to explain the initials SC tattooed on her wrist, she said: "It's someone who is important to me and I'm happy to have the tattoo there for the rest of my life.

"I'm seeing someone, but I can't talk about it because whoever I'm seeing is very precious to me in a way I cannot describe in words, and I'll do everything I can to protect that person."

... Researching Lennard, we found this story that ran last July in the same paper:

Simon Cowell has been allegedly cheating on girlfriend Terri Seymour for six months, it has emerged.

The "X Factor" judge, famed for his razor tongue, met society girl Jasmine Lennard, 21, in a posh restaurant in January and began seeing her after sending a flirty note.

News of his affair with Jasmine is bound to devastate model-turned-television presenter Terri, his most serious girlfriend.

Their relationship is reported to have been on the rocks recently.

Jasmine, who has overcome drug addiction and is thought to be bisexual, has since made several secret visits to his £7.5million home while Terri, 32, is away.

The pair have dined together in public and Jasmine has even visited the X Factor studios.

A source told The Sun: "They spend most of their time together in Simon's house when Terri is at their other home in Los Angeles.

"Sometimes they go out, but only with other friends so as not to arouse any suspicion."

The pop tycoon's affair was exposed just before midnight on Tuesday, when Jasmine was photographed leaving his house. It was the eve of her 21st birthday.

The young model, who has a boyfriend, emerged in a heavy fur coat, despite the stifling heat. But beneath, she wore racy black lingerie, the newspaper reports.

The model saw in her 21st birthday by spending an hour-and-a-half with him on a downstairs sofa.

They headed to his bedroom at 1.30am, where a lamp was turned on and they shared a steamy clinch by the window.

An hour later Jasmine emerged from the four-storey mansion in Holland Park.

Her friends believe she is in love with the multi-millionaire.

One revealed: "Jasmine is absolutely besotted with him and thinks he feels the same."

However, Simon's secret lover has had a troubled past and was once at celebrity rehab clinic The Priory alongside Kate Moss. At just 14 she was on the Pill and regularly smoked marijuana.

By 18, she was hooked on cocaine and ecstasy and went on to have sexual encounters with both men and women, according to The Sun.

She claims cleaning up her act by checking into The Priory got her out of "the gutter".

Simon, who has been dating Terri for four years, has previously admitted he has a roaming eye but insisted he was not a love-cheat.

Asked two years ago if he was faithful to her he replied: "Well, I am a bit of a flirt but I'm pretty good.

"My eyes do wander, and daily. It's what you do after those eyes that counts."

However, one of his former loves, pop singer Sinitta, claimed he was incapable of being faithful.

It is also sure to upset Jasmine's club owner boyfriend Mark Alexiou, who once dated Sophie Anderton.

But Simon's spokesman last night claimed his rendezvous with Jasmine at his home was innocent. He said: "Simon has known Jasmine for some time. They had a meeting to discuss TV projects."

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© 2007

Simon Cowell's Fitness Factor

The UK's Sun reports that superfit Simon Cowell does 300 press-ups a day — even when he's flying, according to his girlfriend Terri Seymour, who revealed that the 47-year-old is obsessed with exercising.

"Nothing will stop him doing his 300 press-ups. Even if he is flying he will do them on the plane. He just can’t not do them," Seymour said, adding "We're polar opposites — that's the secret of our happy relationship."

Cowell has previously admitted that he wants to age gracefully and would never go under the surgeon's knife -- saying that cosmetic surgery looks unattractive on men."I wouldn't have plastic surgery, it looks ridiculous on guys," he said. "I'd never dye my hair either. Everyone thinks I do, but I never have. "I do 100 press-ups before I get in the bath in the morning, then at work after a meeting, I'll shut the door and do more."

IDOLS NOMINATED FOR TEEN CHOICE AWARDS

Fox has announced the nominees for the 2007 Teen Choice Awards, to be broadcast on Aug. 26 at 8-10 p.m., and, not surprisingly, the list includes "American Idol" finalists (well, it is, after all, a Fox show).

Among the nominees are:

CHOICE TV: REALITY/VARIETY SHOW
American Idol
America's Next Top Model
Dancing with the Stars
The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll
The Hills

CHOICE TV: PERSONALITY
Nick Cannon - Wild N Out
Ryan Seacrest - American Idol, E!
Simon Cowell - American Idol
Tyra Banks - America's Next Top Model
Bruno Tonioli - Dancing with the Stars


CHOICE TV: MALE REALITY/VARIETY STAR
Apolo Anton Ohno - Dancing with the Stars
Flavor Flav- Flavor of Love
Jojo, Diggy, Russy (Run's sons) - Run's House
Sanjaya - American Idol
Three 6 Mafia - Adventures in Hollyhood

CHOICE TV: FEMALE REALITY/VARIETY STAR
Jaslene Gonzalez - America's Next Top Model
Jordin Sparks - American Idol
Lauren Conrad - The Hills
New York - I Love New York
Paris Hilton - The Simple Life

CHOICE MUSIC: FEMALE ARTIST
Gwen Stefani
Fergie
Carrie Underwood
Nelly Furtado
Rihanna



CHOICE MUSIC: BREAKOUT ARTIST - FEMALE
Amy Winehouse
Corinne Bailey Rae
Katharine McPhee
Lily Allen
Vanessa Hudgens

CHOICE MUSIC: BREAKOUT GROUP
Daughtry
Gym Class Heroes
Hinder
Shop Boyz
The Fray

CHOICE MUSIC: ROCK TRACK
Better Than Me - Hinder
It's Not Over - Daughtry
Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
Thanks for the Memories - Fall Out Boy
What I've Done - Linkin Park

CHOICE MUSIC: PAYBACK TRACK
What Goes Around - Justin Timberlake
Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
Never Again - Kelly Clarkson
Irreplaceable - Beyonce
U + Ur Hand - Pink

CHOICE OMG! MOMENT
Paris Hilton goes to jail, gets out of jail, then goes to jail again!
Britney Spears shaves her head!
Lindsay Lohan goes to rehab, gets out of rehab, goes to rehab again!
Larry Birkhead is Dannielynn's father!
Sanjaya Malakar sports a faux-hawk on American Idol!

For a full list of nominees, click here.

SANJAYA MALAKAR: TAKING HIS PILLOW ON TOUR

ETonline interviewed Sanjaya Malakar as he rehearsed for the Idols Live 2007 tour which kicks off today in Sunrise, Fla.:

How has your life changed since "Idol"?
It is completely different. People recognize me and say my name correctly without ever having met me! That is really weird. I am having a lot of fun with it. I am experiencing things I never would have been able to experience; I am learning things I never would have been able to learn. I am happy.

Has anybody talked to you about plans after the tour?
I am in limbo. We are still with "American Idol," so we are still focusing on that right now, but I think once the tour is over we will be able to focus on our individual careers.

What are you looking forward to the most on the tour?
I am looking forward to being with my nine new best friends. Honestly, this is the closest I have ever gotten to this many people in this short amount of time. It is going to be really cool to spend time with them.

Are you taking anything special with you?
I am taking my Tempur-Pedic Pillow. Also, I have a rock that says "breathe" on it. To me, my weakness is my breathing technique, and so I have a rock that says "breathe" to remind me to focus on that.

Are you going to do different hairdos for different cities?
I am not going to say because I want it to be a surprise.

PAULA ABDUL: I'M TREATED LIKE DOG S**T

That's what American Idol's diva judge, with tears in her eyes, tells her publicists as she pleads with them to help change her image on episode 3 of "Hey Paula." Honey, if it looks like it, smells like it, and your maids have to clean it -- and you -- up, well .... you know.

But life isn't as easy as you might think for Paula Abdul. She explains at the beginning of the following video that she has two "big events" she's attending that weekend, the first of which is to go to a "gifting suite" to pick out freebies, after which she has to fly to Las Vegas to be presented with a "Woman of the Year Award." Jeez all in the same weekend? Wow, her life really is rough. A little pity here please. Check it out:



JUSTIN GUARINI DOES CHARITY FOR CHILDREN

The Japan Times reports that taking place this weekend in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, International Heart Expo 2007 is a charity event that aims to take "direct action" to support children in developing countries. Volunteers from Japan and abroad will participate.

The expo will host a charity market and a fashion show featuring performances by singer Justin Guarini (runnerup on season one of "American Idol"), contemporary dancer Ayako Kurakake and many more.

Clothes made with silk from Cambodia and Ishikawa Prefecture's Komatsu City and designed by Japanese fashion designers will be on view. Children from Myanmar, Cambodia and Sri Lanka will model for the show.

"Direct action" is an approach advocated by Japanese Buddhist monk Gayuna Cealo, whose charity work includes the setting up of orphanages in countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia.

Cealo's charity work aims to directly affect the lives of people in need, giving them food, blankets, medical supplies, clothes and, most importantly, educates them on becoming self-reliant.

AMY ADAMS PERFORMS AT 'RED, WHITE AND BOOM'

WGET-TV reports that instead of holding their own celebrations, lots of folks decided to head out to northeast Bakersfield to enjoy the professional fireworks display at Bakersfield College.

The 53rd annual "Red, White and Boom" fireworks show started with a concert featuring Bakersfield-native and "American Idol" Season 3 finalist Amy Adams.

Watch video clip of Amy Adams performing at Red, White and Boom.

MORE STUFF ON KATHARINE McPHEE

Stuff magazine finally posted their interview with Katharine McPhee along with some pretty hot photos:

Katharine McPhee is tough to label. The American Idol finalist was squeaky–clean during her run on the show, singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and flashing her pearly whites. But on her self–titled hit debut, she shows her devilish side, trashing the guys she's "over" and wowing the world with a sexy album cover. So which is the real Kat? To find out, we chilled with her at a café in her hometown of Sherman Oaks, California. Katharine was all girl–next–doorish in her summer dress and no makeup—hell, she even introduced us to her mom. Then she sat down for an interview about her zany college days, Meat Loaf and pregnant nuns. Turns out the real Katharine is actually just really frickin' cool.

Are you more McNaughty or McNice?
There are different sides of me. On American Idol, people saw the side that is very professional and put together. But there's this other side of me that’s outgoing, energetic and wild—and did really stupid things in college.

Please discuss.
This one time we were walking down the street in Boston, and I was wearing this little skirt. There was this grate with air coming from underneath it. I remember standing above the grate with the air blowing up, and I was holding my skirt down. Another time, we went down to Coyote Ugly. We had so much fun dancing on the bar; the girls were taking their bras off. But I didn't do that.

Your album cover is pretty racy. Did you do it to shock people?
People made a big deal out of that. They said, "She's a slut, blah blah blah." But I'm really not showing that much skin. It's all suggested.

What was the worst thing about being on Idol?
Sometimes we couldn't go out after midnight, and for a 21–year–old, that's pretty crazy. And security went everywhere with me. For me, that was like, OK, this is weird. We're just kids on a reality show!

You had the rare honor of performing with Meat Loaf. What was that like?
I really liked the guy, but no one warned me that he was going to be so energetic. The first time we sang together, he told me, "Just so you know, I like to go full–out." I said OK, but he was, like, full–on performing it, and I was so caught off guard. All my fellow Idols were sitting in the audience laughing. I looked at him and just started laughing—no disrespect to him.

Have you always been popular with the fellas?
I was prematurely developed. As a freshman, I looked like a junior; I had boobs. Some of the older kids saw me in the yearbook and said I was cute.

So you probably didn't have a problem finding a guy.
I came from an all–girl school, so I was determined to get a boyfriend!

Your current boyfriend is almost 20 years your senior. Do you usually go for older dudes?
When I turned 21, I thought it was a good age to explore. You're no longer a teenager, so it's OK [to date older guys]. I gravitated toward them, and I love them. They're just wiser, and they're less about themselves and more about you.

What do younger men need to know about the opposite sex?
Women sometimes act out, and men get frustrated. They don't get that all we want is, for a few seconds, for you to be all about the girl—to snuggle her and give her kisses and tell her, "Your lips are so pretty today. I love your lips." For me, with men, I will fixate on something. I'll say, "I'm obsessed with your chin." I'll kiss his chin and munch on it, and I think that makes people feel good.

Do you see yourself settling down?
Oh, yeah. I want to have, like, 15 babies. I've always wanted to be pregnant. One year for Halloween, I decided to be pregnant, so I got this nun costume, and I put a big belly under it. I showed my parents and said I want to go to school as a pregnant nun. My dad sat me down and said, "Katharine, you can't!"

e-mail Idol Addict
© 2007

Kellie Pickler: New Boobs, New Boy

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":


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