Kid Rock, the arbiter of all things cool, said Steven Tyler joining the “Idol” panel was “the stupidest thing he’s ever done in his life,” he told Entertainment Weekly.

“He’s a sacred American institution of rock ‘n’ roll, and he just threw it all out the window. Just stomped on it, and set it on fire..I think whoever’s advising him, we should bring back the guillotine, or whatever they call that thing. And if it was himself, he needs some serious counseling. I love him to death, but I gotta speak the truth.”

Tell us how you really feel, Kid Rock!

- Daily Carrie Underwood “Mama’s Song” update on Mediabase 24/7: It’s up to 5,072 spins from October 23-29, up 203 spins from Oct. 16-22. That keeps it at No. 14, 429 spins behind Jason Aldean’s “My Kinda Party.” Josh Turner’s “All Over Me” is falling quickly and may be moved to recurrent soon so she should be moving to No. 13 in a few days. There are 17 songs moving up the chart faster than Carrie’s song at the moment.

-Paula …

Continue reading Kid Rock calls judge gig ’stupidest thing’ Steven Tyler has ever done »

Season seven finalist Kristy Lee Cook has landed another record deal to extend her 15 minutes of fame. Broken Bow Records, which also has Jason Aldean and formerly Craig Morgan on its label, has picked her up.

She was most recently seen hosting a hunting show on Versus called “Goin’ Country.”

Her first post-”Idol” album, “Why Wait,” with 19 Recordings and Arista Nashville, was released in 2008 and produced one minor hit “30 Minutes of Shame” (which scraped the top 30) before disappearing. She lost her record deal soon after.

- Here is Kelly & Carrie Fan’s review from Wednesday night’s Carrie Underwood concert. She’s a lot more knowledgeable than I am!

This is clearly a fan review and I’m still on the post-concert “high.” But I will say that this was one of the most visually and vocally stunning shows I’ve ever been to. Last night Carrie impressed and won over everyone in that audience.

Mesmerizing. If I had to choose one word to describe Carrie’s performance, that would be …

Continue reading A fan’s Carrie Underwood review; Kristy Lee Cook signs new record deal »

Carrie Underwood sings "Take Me Home Country Roads" from the top of a pick-up truck elevated over the Gwinnett Arena crowd. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

The Carrie Underwood of 2004, the one that had never stepped on a plane, would marvel at the Carrie Underwood of 2010, married and headlining sold-out shows all over America.

She’s come a long way, baby, paraphrasing that old Virginia Slims slogan.

At a sold-out Gwinnett Arena, Carrie’s vocals were consistently spectacular, her outfits fun and her eight-piece band impeccable. The nearly two-hour, 21-song concert was a full meal with dessert and wine included. She has vastly improved even from her 2008 co-headlining tour with Keith Urban. She’s self assured but not cocky, moves around the stage with ease and didn’t let occasional high-tech wizardry take away from her fundamental girl-next-door essence.

With five years of concert experience, three full albums and 12 big country hits under her belt, Carrie was ready to do her …

Continue reading Carrie Underwood rises to the occasion at Gwinnett Arena »

MJ has been following Nigel Lythgoe’s tweets about the Nashville callbacks. He is apparently getting heat for touting a 15 year old who could win season 10.

He felt a need to defend himself, first with this:

Wow people talking about pimping and rigging because I liked a 15 year old. I didn’t mention male or female or name them. You’re really SICK

Then this:

There was an incredible 16 year old in Milwaukee too. Don’t knock the young guns ’till you’ve heard them. I bet you’ll be shocked.

To make up for it, he mentioned a 28 year old late yesterday.

A 28 year-old stole the honors in today’s auditions. Absolutely stunning with a real Aretha Franklin feel to her voice.

There are a lot of fans of this show (me included) who was not big on lowering the eligibility age. We’re worried we’ll be seeing too many singers who are not ready for prime time, who may have good voices but have no clue who they are yet because they’re, well, just 15. Even Justin Bieber spent years prepping …

Continue reading Nigel Lythgoe touts a 15 year old, gets flak »

EW has learned that Bravo has greenlit a singer-songwriter competition show starring Jewel and Kara DioGuardi.

Kara, who lost her “Idol” gig this year after two seasons, will be head judge. Jewel, who was a judge and host on “Nashville Star” and has guested on “Idol” as a judge, will host.

This show, originally dubbed “Hitmakers,” is now called “Going Platinum.”

I wrote about the casting for the show back in April.

There will be no public voting. This will be like ‘Project Runway” or “Top Chef.” The judges will decide. The winner gets $100,000 and will get a songwriting with Sony/BMI and record label deal with RCA/Jive.

Twelve musicians will be competing in songwriting challenges across a variety of genres and perform their own songs. I hope an Atlantan makes the cut.

At stake is a $100,000 cash prize; a publishing deal with Sony, BMI Songwriters The Writing Camp; and a recording deal with RCA/Jive.

This sounds like fun. The premiere date has not been set but it won’t debut …

Continue reading Kara DioGuardi gets her own show on Bravo »

If you want to live in Ryan Seacrest’s Hollywood Hills home, it’s for sale for a mere $14.95 million.

He purchased the home from Kevin Costner for $11.5 million in 2006. I have no idea what improvements he put into it, but the story says it has been remodeled under Seacrest’s watch. It’s a 10,000-square-feet Mediterranean-style home with six bedrooms and 6.5 baths plus a guest home. It sits on an acre and has a great view of the city. It has a tennis court, a pool and a wine cellar.

He hasn’t commented about the sale yet so we have no idea why he’s doing so. Given his financial situation, it’s certainly not because he has to.

Architecture Digest did a story about the home in 2008.

Continue reading Ryan Seacrest puts his house up for sale. He’s asking for $15 million! »

Simon Cowell told Extra that Justin Bieber wants to be a judge on “X Factor,” at least for a few episodes.

Thrilling! That show doesn’t start for another 11 months but we’re already talking about it. Simon knows how to keep the fires burning when it comes to publicity. Yet he has not responded to Nigel’s little dissing of him a week ago.

- Kellie Pickler met her hero Clint Eastwood on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” She’s adorable as she acts like a huge fan, screaming, hugging and kissing him. “Sit down!” she said. She then sits in his lap and takes off her engagement ring. “You can come to my office any time,” he said. She is so excited she said her heart is pounding and she has him “check it.” He obliges.

- In other former “Idol” judge “news,” Paula Abdul talks about her show “Live to Dance.” with EW. She doesn’t say much newsworthy but you can watch and judge for yourself.

-Daily Carrie Underwood “Mama’s Song” radio airplay update: For the week of Oct. 15-21, the song was …

Continue reading Justin Bieber wants to judge ‘X Factor’ »

We got a call from a publicist yesterday telling us Anoop Desai was in Atlanta for a BMI showcase concert tonight at a W Hotel. This isn’t a public concert but in effect an audition for label people.

I spoke with him just to catch up since he released his EP this past spring.

I asked if he considered this the biggest performance since he was on “Idol.” “I don’t know,” he said. “As far as a gig, maybe. I’m trying honestly not to think about it. Every time I do a gig, I try to make fans. This event is about fans but also about something else. There is an added aspect of it.”

He said he’s still learning to be a stage performer. He now has a seven-person band but will do an acoustic set tonight with two guitarists. He will also have to sit on a stool, he said, because he recently sprained his ankle from a basketball game. “It’s really annoying especially with a show on the horizon. I love to work out and everything.”

Anoop said he moved to Los Angeles last year in October. “I …

Continue reading Anoop Desai in Atlanta for BMI showcase concert »

On yesterday’s second “The Talk” on CBS featuring the likes of Julie Chen and Sharon Osbourne, Jennifer Lopez said she’s loving everybody and everything about being on “Idol.”

If she has any issues, the closest she came to a complaint was the standard difficulty of critiquing people who are neither great nor horrible. In other words, she said nothing remotely controversial or interesting. She is looking forward to doing a gig in which she gets to go home at night for five months (though she’s traveling now.)

“I love everybody,” she said. “It’s such a machine. It runs like clockwork. I love [executive producer] Nigel [Lythgoe]. I love Ryan [Seacrest]. I love Steven [Tyler]. I love Randy [Jackson]. Everything’s great!”

- On last night’s “Joy Behar Show,” Clay Aiken, now openly gay, talks about the anti-gay incident in Raleigh, where he lives. “This area is relatively progressive, relative to other places in the south,” he said. “It was a little bit surprising given the area …

Continue reading Jennifer Lopez is loving her gig on ‘Idol,’ she tells ‘The Talk’ »

Ryan Seacrest last year visiting one of the two Atlanta Ronald McDonald homes. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

Ryan Seacrest, for the second year in a row, is coming back to his hometown to host the second Hearts and Hands Gala to benefit Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities on November 6.

It’s a black-tie event to be held that evening at the Georgia Aquarium. Atlanta’s Coca-Cola is the presenting sponsor (and coincidentally or not, a major sponsor of “American Idol”). A few tickets still remain. Last year, it sold out.

The event is $250 a ticket so this is definitely for folks with a bit of cash in their bank accounts.

Proceeds from the Hearts and Hands Gala will support the operations of Atlanta’s two Ronald McDonald Houses.

Gavin DeGraw (”I Don’t Wanna Be”) is going to be the musical guest.

Last year, I got a few minutes with a relaxed Ryan during his visit to one of the Ronald McDonald houses. I’m not sure what his schedule is like this year, but I hope to get some more …

Continue reading Ryan Seacrest back to Atlanta for Ronald McDonald House Charities Nov. 6 »