Posts for 'Updates' Category

Kara DioGuardi and American Idol officially parted ways Friday, sparking interest in what was behind the split. While both sides are staying mum on those circumstances, and DioGuardi claims it was "the best time to leave Idol," we can't help but wonder if the songwriter was actually ready to part ways with the show…or if she simply got the boot. What do you think?

Kara DioGuardi is following Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell out the door at "American Idol."Her departure leaves Randy Jackson, who's been with the singing contest from the start, the last judge standing, for now. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are the reported front-runners for the panel.

Entertainment mogul Simon Fuller, creator of the British show "Pop Idol" that was the template for the U.S. series he produces, called DioGuardi a standout songwriter whom he planned to work with in music "for many years to come."

DioGuardi, whose exit had been rumored, is a hit machine whose songs have been recorded by Gwen Stefani, Faith Hill, Marc Anthony and others, including past "Idol" winners.

"I felt like I won the lottery when I joined `American Idol' two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave `Idol,'" DioGuardi said in a statement Friday, calling her experience as a judge on the show "amazing.

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American Idol" is expanding the talent search for its next season with an audition in Los Angeles later this month. The hit Fox TV singing contest had announced tryouts in six cities, wrapping in San Francisco in August. An "American Idol" producer said Thursday the Los Angeles audition is a response to the impressive turnout at those tryouts.The Sept. 22 audition in Los Angeles also gives "American Idol" breathing room as it fills openings left by the departure of judges Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are the reported frontrunners. The show returns in January.

American Idol' Reject Sues For $100 Million: Ian Benardo, the ‘American Idol’ reject that stormed the stage during the shows finale in May, is suing the show for $100 million dollars. Benardo originally filed a $300 million dollar lawsuit, but that lawsuit has been withdrawn. The Sun reports that Benardo, who tried out for ‘American Idol’ in 2006, interrupted Dane Cook during last year’s finale, and started hurling insults at judge Simon Cowell.

Benardo filed his $300 million dollar lawsuit with the New York State Equal Employment Opportunity Commision, saying that ‘American Idol’ had asked him to come to the finale, and told him to be ‘outrageous’ and ‘gay.’According to MSNBC, that lawsuit has been dropped, but Benardo has filed another lawsuit against ‘American Idol,’ citing workplace discrimination and sexual harassment. Here’s a video of the incident. You have to sit through a few minutes of Dane Cook before Benardo takes the stage. It happens toward the end of the video.

American Idol Live Concert In Chicago: The United Center in Chicago played host to American Idol's top ten Saturday night, with a hometown boy at the helm.  Winner Lee DeWyze, who hails from suburban Mt.  Prospect, IL.  topped the list of Season 9 finalists who sang their way through a series of individual and group performances that had Idol fans chanting for their seasonal faves.

The show followed it's traditional countdown format beginning with contestant number ten and working its way up to the winner.  Opening the show was Didi Benami, whose second song, "Terrified" by Katharine McPhee out-did her first, Kyler England's "Lay it on Me."Andrew Garcia, a sentimental favorite during the show's run, received a warm reception from his camp as he stylistically toyed around with Paula Abdul's "Straight Up."  At number 8 was Katie Stevens who wowed the boy crowd with a black rubber-like mini-dress and stiletto black boots.  The raven-haired beauty belted out a gutsy version of "Fighter" by Christina Aguilera.  Teen dream Tim Urban delivered covers of "Better Days" by The Goo Goo Dolls and Cold Play's "Viva la Vida" as camera wielding boppers in the front row admired his, well..everything.In at six was resident wild-child Siobhan Magnus.  Tagged as the "Adam Lambert" of season 9, Siobhan delivered a show-stealing mini set which began with the song "Paint it Black" by The Rolling Stones.  As if plucked from the pages of a Gothic fairy tale, Siobhan worked out a mystical version of the Stones classic in a frou-frou tutu and black buckled boots with webbed tights.  Fancy footwear and bedazzling jewels aside, however, this girl's got chops.  Holding the audience captive with a string of never-ending notes and a theatrical delivery that is rarely seen these days, Siobhan owned the stage from The Word go.  Her versatility shined throughout  performances of  "Spiderwebs" by No Doubt and Muse's head-banger  "Stockholm Syndrome.

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Hot News: Fantasia Barrino pregnant!? There’s more drama surrounding former “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino’s personal life. Following recent news that Barrino, 26, attemped to commit suicide, a new report from the National Enquirer says she’s pregnant with her married boyfriend Antwaun Cook’s child.

“She’s about three months along, and it’s definitely Antwaun’s baby,” a source told the Enquirer. “Right now she can’t show how happy she is in public, but she’s absolutely thrilled. Fantasia got what she wanted. She feels Antwaun will have to marry her now.”

Mariah Carey In The Running To Be 'American Idol' Judge: "American Idol" reportedly passed on Jennifer Lopez as a potential judge for its upcoming tenth season due to her extreme diva-tude. So naturally, the show's next move would be to begin courting the only star on the planet who could definitely  out-diva J.Lo: Mariah Carey.

That's according to E! News, which cites a source close to the negotiations as saying that not only is "Idol" seriously considering bringing in Carey as a judge, but that Carey is definitely interested in the idea.

"[Mariah] wants it," the source said. "She's seen what 'America's Got Talent' has done for [husband Nick Cannon] and she thinks it will be a good career move.

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American Idol - Steven Tyler New Iodl Judge: Neither the show’s producers nor the singer commented on the deal yet, but according  to Tyler’s band mate, expect to see the 62-year-old rocker on the panel. Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton confirmed to the Star-Ledger of New Jersey that “The ink is dry on that. Steven is someone who absolutely lives to be in front of an audience, and the people closest to him know how witty and entertaining he can be."

The Aerosmith frontman will have the task to fill the void left by exiting judges Simon Cowell and Ellen Degeneres, who both announced their resignations from the musical competition series.
The aging rock star, who’s musical career is entering its fifth decade, and fellow Aerosmith members are still active and hitting stages and working on new material.

Whether Tyler will be up for the challenge is yet to be determined. One member of the classic rock band is showing his concern about it, it seems. “I hope it doesn’t hurt the new momentum we’ve built up on this tour, because that’s been so important for us as a band," Hamilton said.

Chat Live with The Top 5 American Idols Today:Have some fun Idol news for The American Idolz readers! As the presenting sponsor of the 2010 American Idol Concert Tour, AT&T is pleased to give Idol fans a chance to chat live with the top five American Idols from Season 9 - Lee DeWyze (winner), Crystal Bowersox, Casey James, Michael Lynche and Aaron Kelly.

Want to know how Casey keeps his locks so nice, or find out how much weight Big Mike can lift? Perhaps you want to know how things are going on the tour. Visit Facebook.com/ATTSHARE today (Tuesday, August 17) from 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. PST (5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. ET) for a chance to have your questions answered live!

Robert Sillerman, who stepped down as chief executive of CKX in May, is preparing an offer to take over the company at a price that values the entertainment rights business at as much as $535m. (£343m) Mr Sillerman, who already owns a 21pc stake in the business, stepped down in order to prepare a buy-out following an earlier ill-fated attempt in 2007 to take the company private.

At the time, he was working with Simon Fuller, the British music impresario who sold his 19 Entertainment – the original American Idol owner – to CKX in 2005 for $160m. The pair launched a $1.3bn bid for CKX in 2007 but the attempt failed. Mr Fuller has already made his own offer for CKX, offering $600m alongside Roger Jenkins, Barclays Capital's former dealmaker. The pair have also amassed up to $1bn in strategic funding for future acquisitions.

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