I’ve been resisting running too much about the endless “who will be the new judges on Idol” escapades but with two respectable news sources (Hollywood Reporter, using two sources, and E!, citing one) saying it’s a done deal, I am going to report: Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler has a seat at the judge’s panel.

Tyler is a total wild card. We haven’t really seen him do any judging before. He isn’t exactly pretty to look at and it’s hard to say if he’ll be truly honest. The guy wears colorful clothing and has a reputation for being outrageous. So I’m withholding judgment until we see him in January.

This still leaves the third seat open (presuming a fourth is not an option and Kara DioGuardi is gone, something “Idol” has yet to say.) These reports say Jennifer Lopez is not totally out, that Shania Twain is in the running. I’m still hoping for something out of the blue.

- And MJ posted this and for fans of Ace Young, it’s candy, pure and simple. He has a single out called “Body Work” and …

Continue reading Hollywood Reporter & E! both say Steven Tyler is signed to ‘Idol’ for sure »

Season two contestant Kimberley Locke participated in a makeover with her mom Christine on a new WE TV show debuting Thursday at 10 p.m.

I watched a screener. Her 54-year-old mom, who had breast cancer surgery a couple years ago, likes to wear baggy shirts and stretchable pants, nothing form fitting. Locke tends to wear shirts that are a bit too tight around the chest area. Each one is assigned to buy a dress for the other, with help from New York stylist Luciene Salomone.

Here’s the new David Archuleta album cover:

Continue reading Kimberley Locke on new show ‘You’re Wearing That?’ on WE; David Archuleta’s new album cover »

Radaronline sent me a release saying that Fantasia has reunited with Antwaun Cook, the married man whose wife accused him of adultery.

“Fantasia and Antwaun are back together again and they have even talked about marriage once his divorce is finalized with Paula,” a source told RadarOnline.com. “She knows that her family will only fully accept her relationship with him when he is no longer married.

She allegedly tried to commit suicide, landing her in the hospital last week after Paula Cook filed papers accusing her of being a home wrecker. All this brouhaha has come just in time for her new album coming out August 24 and her second season debut of VH1’s “Fantasia For Real” Sept. 19. And as noted yesterday, her single “Bittersweet” has suddenly revived itself on the airplay charts. She’ll be making a bunch of appearances on various talk shows, including “Good Morning America” (8/24) and “Live With Regis & Kelly” (9/9).

You can listen to some her “Back To Me” album on

Continue reading Reports say Fantasia back together with married man; new Kris Allen ‘The Truth’ video »

If you are a fan of Taylor Hicks, his harmonica-playing enthusiasm makes for a great promotional spot. If you’re not, well, this won’t change your mind:

Continue reading Taylor Hicks promotes the Gulf coast »

CKX management, which owns “Idol,” promises that the show will focus more on talent next year. How novel!

Let’s find some different, charismatic performers, people that will get viewers excited. They have to be out there somewhere, right?

Michael Ferrel, CEO of owner CKX Inc., told analysts this morning that the show’s 18-49 demos dropped sharply toward the end of this past season and that Nigel Lythgoe’s return will help the show. They say new judges won’t be named (ugh!) til next month.

- MJ also noted a few milestones on the charts. Daughtry’s “September” is now top 10 on the Hot AC chart, top 40 on the top 40 chart. (He is playing a concert at JetBlue terminal at New York’s JFK today. How bizarre is that?) Chris Sligh’s single “Only You Can Save” is in the top 30 on the Christian adult contemporary chart. And all this publicity appears to have helped Fantasia’s “Bittersweet,” which has regained airplay after peaking on the urban and urban AC charts a couple weeks ago. It’s …

Continue reading CKX management: ‘Idol’ will focus next year on… talent! »

I finally watched the “Tried and True” concert that aired on GPB August 1 and found out that Clay Aiken is coming to Atlanta on Feb. 16, 2011 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.  People who donate $225 to GPB gets two tickets to that show. I don’t see any tickets on sale yet. I’m not sure if this precludes the Ruben-Clay show from coming here before then. Probably.

And I saw an ad in Sunday Paper showing Melinda Doolittle is appearing at Ferst Performing Arts Centre at Georgia Tech March 12, 2011.  You can buy tix now for $28 to $38.

-I’m almost tempted to boycott all judge name rumors at this point simply because I’m tired of them. I think most of you are, too. As MJ noted, we are all ready to have the judges’ panel named so we can move on. You can read her site if you want to know more about the supposed backs and forth. Did J.Lo’s negotiations go bad due to her unreasonable demands? Is Shania Twain really in the running now? Is Kara DioGuardi upset that she hasn’t …

Continue reading Upcoming Clay Aiken, Melinda Doolittle concerts in Atlanta in 2011 »

The judges’ wheel keeps on spinnin’.

People.com had a source saying the Jennifer Lopez deal was dead yesterday. TMZ now says it’s still possible. But “Idol” is now leaning toward Shania Twain, who received good reviews as a guest judge last year.

I’m still leaning toward Mariah Carey if “Idol” could afford her and tolerate whatever “diva” demands she’d surely have.

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Come on producers: sign somebody! We’ve all reached “judge search” fatigue at this point.

And the count for Austin auditions? 7,500. Not bad, not great.

Continue reading TMZ: Jennifer Lopez deal not 100% dead, but Shania Twain is back up »

Sure, you might barely remember her from season seven but’”Idol” semi-finalist Asia’h Epperson has been arrested for fighting with another gal at a Hollywood nightclub.

TMZ has the photos.

Epperson looks oddly happy as she’s getting arrested. TMZ said she had been hanging with rapper Too Short.

I barely remember her. I think she just missed the top 12.

TMZ has a video of her explaining her situation after getting out of prison today. She said the altercation happened in the bathroom. And she showed off her prison cuff marks on her wrists.

Here she is singing a shaky version of “All By Myself” from 2008:

- Fantasia is out of the hospital after her medical overdose Monday, her manager Brian Dickens said. “She has been lifted up by the outpouring of love and support from her fans,” Dickens wrote in a new statement. “She is more committed than ever to her daughter and her work because they are her heart, her soul and …

Continue reading ‘Idol’ contestant busted in club fight »

Well, back to the drawing board.

Despite being close to a deal, Jennifer Lopez apparently was too demanding, according to People.

Lopez must have been making the “Idol” producers feel nostalgic for Paula Abdul!

Sigh… I’m sure they have back ups but who? Any ideas of good women they should choose? Nick Cannon is suggesting his squeeze Mariah Carey. She could be great but probably equally if not more demanding than J. Lo.

And proving how far afield “Idol” went seeking judges, today I was interviewing Curt Smith, lead singer of Tears For Fears today to promote the duo’s August 26 appearance at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. Even HE talked with “Idol” producers about becoming a judge. Though open to the idea, he doubts he’s among those seriously in the running.

Smith, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters, did attend the season eight finale when Adam Lambert reprised his song “Mad World,” which he enjoyed. “I loved how he made every song his own,” Smith said, …

Continue reading J. Lo is no go as ‘Idol’ judge; Curt Smith of Tears For Fears wooed as ‘Idol’ judge »

All this drama regarding a wife accusing her of busting up her marriage has clearly stressed out Fantasia.

Just a month from the debut of the second season of  her VH1 reality show “Fantasia For Real,” Fantasia is presenting us with real drama in the form of a hospital visit after a prescription drug overdose.

Her spokesman confirmed a TMZ report. He said it was a combo of aspirin and sleep aid.

Radaronline obtained the police report.

Earlier this week, Paula Cook filed a lawsuit accusing her husband Antwaun of cheating on her with Fantasia and even implied there were sex tapes in the mix. Fantasia’s lawyer then accused Cook of seeking publicity by throwing Fantasia under the bus although he said Fantasia was not the reason the Cooks were having problems.

The quote from TMZ, courtesy of Fantasia’s manager:

“Last night, Fantasia was hospitalized. She took an overdose of aspirin and a sleep aid. Her injuries are not life threatening. She was dehydrated and exhausted at the …

Continue reading Fantasia overdose lands her in hospital »