Yes. This is a blog entry not related to Adam Lambert!

LAPD booking photo

Ryan Seacrest has been granted a restraining order against a man arrested Friday at E! Network studios for alleged stalking. (Yes. I’m in Los Angeles right now but it’s not me.)

Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr, 25, was arrested after he entered the E! building. Uzomah had asked for Seacrest and was armed with a knife.

Mr Uzomah is on probation for another recent incident involving Seacrest, in which he attacked the star’s guard.

That’s scary stuff. This guy sounded like he wanted to hurt Seacrest.

Continue reading Restraining order against Ryan Seacrest stalker »

I was flying to Los Angeles today to visit my sister (and my wife, at a conference). So I’m just going to do a quickie blog entry today. While I was somewhere over Arkansas, Adam Lambert’s dance song “For Your Entertainment” debuted on KISS-FM here in Los Angeles via Ryan Seacrest.

As MJ noted, it’s very highly processed vocally. He is definitely fishing in that Lady GaGa/Katy Perry arena. While he is fairly restrained for the first three minutes, he throws in a few of his distinctive vocal gymnastics at the end, and not in a bad way. Tell me what you think. (MJ has it here.)

While on the plane, I listened to Kelly Clarkson’s “All I Ever Wanted” on the Delta seatback entertainment system. Great CD. And while reading a cover story on EW about “Glee,” the creator Ryan Murphy said he’s thinking about asking Adam to make an appearance.

Continue reading Adam Lambert debuts ‘For Your Entertainment’ on Ryan Seacrest’s show »

The news out there seems to be Adam Lambert 24/7. I’ve never seen this level of obsession over the song list of an “Idol” alum’s upcoming album. Every leak seems to be treated like a stock tip for the next Apple Computer. Anyway, Adam himself tweeted that “For Your Entertainment” will be the single:

“Debut single is called “For Your Entertainment” get ready to shake yo asses to this song. It’ll make ya dance for sure. ”

He’s also taping “Oprah” today. His soundtrack song “Time For Miracles” sold 47,000 downloads last week.

I’m sure we’ll soon find out what he had for lunch, too.

-Former Atlantan (briefly, at least) Carly Smithson and her former Evanescence bandmates signed a deal with Universal Republic Records. The band is called We are the Fallen. From the press release, here’s Carly’s canned quote (how often do you think the person actually ever SAYS this in reality vs. having it written by the publicist?)

“The chemistry in this band has made for some …

Continue reading Adam Lambert’s new single is title track of ‘For Your Entertainment,’ Carly Smithson’s band signs deal »

Here’s the Adam Lambert cover, in all its 80s retro glam glory. If you love him, you’ll love it. If you don’t, well, avert your eyes.

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And yes, Kris Allen exists. He did a prank call earlier this week with a so-called vocal coach on Miami’s Y100. I wish Allen had been funnier though the coach had trouble differentiating Allen with Clay Aiken.

Continue reading Adam Lambert glam album cover revealed »

Besides Adam Lambert, the American Music Awards will feature Carrie Underwood, Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson as performers. The show airs on ABC November 22.

Lambert’s first single will be out by then. Speculation is it will be a song written by Pink and Max Martin. We’ll find out next week. Underwood will probably sing “Cowboy Casanova” while Daughtry may sing “No Surprise” or his new single “Life After You.” Certainly, Clarkson will sing “Already Gone,” which just hit the top 10 on the Mediabase top 40 charts.

“Cowboy Casanova” is up to No. 4 on the country chart, her. That’s her tenth consecutive top 5 hit. Crazy! (Georgia’s own Zac Brown Band is No. 1 with “Toes”).

-Here’s a story about the David Foster & Friends tour from New Jersey. He will be at the Fox Theatre tomorrow with Ruben Studdard and Michael Johns. As Foster told me, Johns sang “She’s a Beauty” by the Tubes and “St. Elmo’s Fire” by John Parr. And Ruben sang “Mornin’ ” by Al Jarreau and “I Swear” by …

Continue reading American Music Awards become ‘Idol’ alumfest »

Dunwoody High School grad Ryan Seacrest came back to his hometown Saturday to host the Hearts and Hands gala for Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities at the World of Coke. I caught up with him while he toured the year-old 50-room home near Emory University earlier in the day. (I attended a different charity event that night called Chopstix For Charity.)

Seacrest, looking relaxed and chipper in a Coca Cola T-shirt and jeans, spent more than hour meeting with families before CEO Linda Morris gave him a grand tour. She explained how families are able to use the home while their children are getting treatment at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta or other local children’s hospitals. The place, which resembles a snazzy hotel, even has separate laundry facilities.

Seacrest’s mom Connie, who still lives in the area, joined him for the tour and was bemused that he was in a room a washing machine. “I always told you that I wanted to be successful enough so I didn’t have to …

Continue reading Ryan Seacrest interview at Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta »

Photo credit: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

The laid-back, dreadlocked “American Idol” finalist Jason Castro performed a six-song set Friday night at Discover Mills Mall in Lawrenceville. He was in town to promote his upcoming album for Atlantic Records.

Castro strolled down the food court, guitar around his shoulders, three cops and two mall security guards in tow. The crowd of about 250 tittered, then cheered. (Not surprisingly, he drew a 95% female audience.) He was his typical “aw shucks” self, giving away an X Box via text message and announcing his release date of his album as January 2010 (though he almost said February, which worried some anxious fans.)

He sang two of his more memorable “Idol” songs “Hallelujah” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as well as four cuts from his new album, including “Let’s Just Fallin Love Again.” Afterwards, he signed T-shirts, guitar pics and posters for an hour.

Below, he performs his signature cover of “Hallelujah.”

Here he is doing his …

Continue reading Jason Castro performs at Discover Mills Mall in metro Atlanta October 23 »

Please start following me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ajcidol! I just created the account.

TV Guide Channel’s “American Idol Rewind” offered up a bunch of season five “Idols” for me to talk to. I already caught up with Paris Bennett and posted that interview earlier this month. I really wanted to gab with Katharine McPhee but her publicist never bothered to reach out to me. (If you happen to read this, Kat McPhee’s publicist, my email is rho@ajc.com!)

I only chose Lisa Tucker, who finished tenth, because she is working with Atlanta’s own Ne-Yo. Bottom line: she’s sweet and young and still trying to finish an album more than three years after her spotlight had dimmed. Unfortunately, Lisa’s the only person in the top 10 of her season to not release an album.

She has been traveling from her home base in Orange County to New York and Atlanta to work on said album. “Ne Yo’s been writing for the album. It’s been going great,” she said. “He’s amazing. It’s such an honor to be …

Continue reading Lisa Tucker interview for ‘American Idol Rewind,’ my new Twitter account »

Atlanta’s own Ryan Seacrest will be coming back to his hometown this Saturday night for a McDonald House Charities Hearts and Hands Gala Saturday October 24. Coca Cola, a major sponsor of “Idol,” is also the presenting sponsor of this black-tie affair, which will be held at the World of Coca Cola.

The event is sold out. Seacrest will come by and tour one of the homes near Emory Saturday morning. McDonald House spokeswoman Carrie Bowden said Coca Cola was able to line up Seacrest. I will try to stop by and grab Seacrest for a few minutes.

The Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities provides a home away from home for families of seriously ill and injured children who must travel to receive treatment at Atlanta area children’s hospitals. There are two homes in Atlanta.

-The Hollywood Reporter reports that Jennifer Hudson is up for a role as Winnie Mandela in an indie biopic. That’d be a great role for her.

-Jordin Sparks will be on Disney Channel’s “The Suite Life on Deck” …

Continue reading Ryan Seacrest hosting McDonald’s House charity gala October 24, Jordin Sparks on Disney »

The past three years, Star 94 has included an “Idol” contestant in its Jingle Jam lineup: Elliott Yamin in 2007, David Archuleta last year and this year Jordin Sparks. The concert will be at the Gwinnett Arena December 17 starting at 7 p.m.

Sparks, a Star 94 staple the past two years (”Battlefield,” “No Air,” “One Step at a Time,” “Battlefield”) will be joined by “X Factor” winner and crooner Leona Lewis (”Bleeding Love,” “Better in Time”), the earnest pop band the Fray (”How To Save a Life,” “Never Say Never,” “Over My Head,” “You Found Me”) and Cobra Starship (”Good Girls Gone Bad”).

Tix went on sale this past Saturday. (Sorry, I’m late on this one!). They are priced from $27 to $77. The $57 and $77 tickets are already gone. I anticipate this will sell out.

-David Cook is going to appear as a celebrity guest on an upcoming episode of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” starring former Grant Park man Ty Pennington. Date has not been set on the airing.

More details …

Continue reading Jordin Sparks joining Star 94’s Jingle Jam, David Cook on ‘Extreme Makeover,’ Adam Lambert’s ‘Time for Miracles’ »