Ryan Seacrest is a producer and on-air TV host. But his roots go back to radio, which he truly loves.

And he proved it by re-signing with Clear Channel Communications for $60 million over three years, according to the New York Times.

He not only hosts a morning show on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, hosts “American Top 40″ and does a syndicated afternoon show (which Star 94 recently axed), he plans to start a record label and live concert series, the story says.

The deal is far greater than the one he signed in 2008 for $35 million.

In other words, there are no signs Seacrest is looking to cut back his workload, girlfriend or not.

- And Kellie Pickler fans who missed the “CMA  Country Christmas” on ABC last night, can see her croon “Santa Baby” in a luscious red dress, courtesy of MJ:

Continue reading Ryan Seacrest signs three more years for $60 million to radio »

Jennifer Lopez inexplicably made the list of Barbara Walters’ “Most Fascinating People of 2010.” I never found even the most fascinating person of May, 2002. But alas, she is an “Idol” judge now and that’s a worthy topic of conversation.

She joins the likes of Justin Bieber (yes, the boy is with us always!), Betty White (alas, she is too with us always!), LeBron James, Sarah Palin and Sandra Bullock. Oh, and the cast members of “Jersey Shore.”

Otherwise, a very quiet day on “Idol” land.

Continue reading Jennifer Lopez among Barbara Walters’ ‘Most Fascinating People of 2010′ »

Lee DeWyze, if you recall, won “American Idol” a few months ago. Obviously, a lot of folks didn’t care because his album “Live it Up” sold a mere 39,000 copies its first week and debuted at No. 19. On the bright side, that’s just 1,007,000 fewer than Taylor Swift sold in her first week earlier this month.

He is by far the lowest-selling winner and doesn’t even match up with runners-up of years past. Of course, album sales are way down from what they were earlier in the decade so this is not necessarily a fair comparison. But here it is, courtesy of Billboard.com:

2009
No. 11, Kris Allen, “Kris Allen” (80,000)
No. 3, Adam Lambert, “For Your Entertainment” (198,000)

2008
No. 3, David Cook, “David Cook” (280,000)
No. 2, David Archuleta, “David Archuleta” (183,000)

2007
No. 10, Jordin Sparks, “Jordin Sparks” (119,000)
No. 10, Blake Lewis, “Audio Day Dream” (98,000)

2006
No. 2, Taylor Hicks, “Taylor Hicks” (298,000)
No. 2, Katharine McPhee, “Katharine McPhee” (116,000)

2005
No. 2, …

Continue reading Lee DeWyze has lowest opening sales of any ‘Idol’ winner or runner up to date »

Kat talks to Audrey Arrowood of Tyrone, who is lighting the tree tomorrow at Macy’s

I stopped by the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston for the second time this month. Earlier, I was there as Ryan Seacrest opened his new media studio for the kids.

I returned today to meet Katharine McPhee, who toured the AFLAC Cancer Center and met with patients. I brought McPhee into the studio after her visit and we talked for a few minutes about her Christmas music and the 3D Shark movie she just wrapped up in Shreveport, Louisiana. Oh, and her hair going back to brunette. She got the message loud and clear guys: we like her with brown hair!

She’s in town to headline tomorrow’s Great Tree Lighting at Macy’s at Lenox Square Mall from 7 to 8 p.m. She’ll be singing four songs, including an original.

Also heard she is going to be in an ABC Family film that shoots in Atlanta in the spring so she’ll be back! This is the first time I (finally) got to interview her and she was …

Continue reading Katharine McPhee at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston »

Simon Cowell poses with his award at the 38th International Emmy Awards in New York on Monday, Nov. 22. CREDIT: AP

Simon Cowell made a joke about Steven Tyler before the Founders Awards at the International Emmy Awards in New York on Monday night.

“I always said it had to be someone who wasn’t better looking than me and they achieved it.”

He also heard from Randy Jackson that Tyler is a nice guy. Otherwise, Cowell didn’t make any snide remarks about “Idol” from what I can tell.

- Radar Online, the somewhat reliable gossip site, said Fantasia testified during divorce proceedings for Antwaun Cook that she had an abortion around the time of her suicide attempt in August.

- Last night, I  forgot to tape the “E! True Hollywood Story” featuring Adam  Lambert. EW posted the top 10 moments. I definitely plan to see it later during a repeat.

7. Adam giving us too much information, but using humor to make it totally inoffensive: “I lost my virginity at 21, and it was to a man — not a …

Continue reading Simon Cowell teases his replacement Steven Tyler »

Sorry for the late posting here. Busy day. I even got to meet Ted Turner, who wanted to talk about the 20th anniversary of Captain Planet. He didn’t say anything outrageous and I didn’t ask him about “American Idol.”

Carrie at 2009's AMA

Anyway, Carrie Underwood was not at the American Music Awards last night but won favorite country female album with “Play On.” Her current single “Mama’s Song” slipped back from No. 10 on Friday to No. 11 on total airplay with 5,863 spins for Nov. 15-21, up 276 from a week earlier, Nov. 8-14. She holds at No. 10 for weighted airplay. Tim McGraw’s “Felt Good On  My Lips” jumped over her again into the 10 slot. Singles by Chris Young and Keith Urban are breathing down her neck and may surpass her.

Danny Gokey was on hand to play Ryan Seacrest and work the red carpet.

- Adam Lambert’s “E! True Hollywood Story” debuts tonight at 9 p.m. I’ll post something tomorrow.

- Kat McPhee is visiting the AFLAC Cancer Center here in Atlanta Wednesday before …

Continue reading Carrie Underwood wins favorite country female album on AMAs »

‘Idol’ is moving from its usual perch of Tuesdays and Wednesdays to the more competitive Wednesday/Thursday combo.

The launch date: January 19. (Fox must have told Nigel something different because he said to TV Guide it would start January 12.). That seems a little later than normal, which may mean “Idol” will cut a week out of its schedule. (Then again, I’d need to study the calendar to make sure that’s true.)

The “Idol” Wednesday show will air 8 to 10 p.m. The Thursday show will air 8 to 9 p.m. The strong performance of “Glee” this fall on Tuesdays may have also played into Fox’s thinking.

Preston Beckman, Fox VP for strategic planning, told the LA Times that CBS moving “Survivor” to Wednesdays opened up Thursdays for “Idol.”

“Here’s the opportunity we’ve been waiting for,” Beckman said. “Thursday just isn’t what it used to be … there are still some of the strongest shows on TV, but none of them are in growth mode.”

What do you think? For me, it doesn’t matter much at …

Continue reading ‘American Idol’ moving to Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting January 19-20, 2011 »

Season five contestant Katharine McPhee, who I don’t recall has performed publicly in Atlanta since the “Idols Live” tour in 2006, is headlining the tree lighting at the Macy’s at Lenox Square Mall. She’ll be singing Christmas favorites from 7 to 8 p.m. before the tree is officially lit for free in the parking lot Thanksgiving evening, November 25.

Other participants include country singer Chuck Wicks and R&B singer Bobby V.

I just heard about this from another AJC reporter Melissa Rugierri, who has already set up an interview with her later today. Rugierri said McPhee’s publicist just sent the AJC a note earlier this week, a bit last second in my estimation. I guess I’m not on the Macy’s press release list (or on McPhee’s publicist’s radar.)

She is one of the few contestants I have never interviewed that I’d love to talk to. I tried a year ago when her last album was released but we could never get an amenable time. I’ll certainly run here whatever Melissa gets out of her.

A …

Continue reading Katharine McPhee headlining Macy’s Great Tree lighting at Lenox Nov. 25 »

Nigel Lythgoe told TV Guide that “Idol” is getting rid of the semifinal rounds which usually get us from 24 to 12.

Hmm… what will they replace it with? Will the judges pick the 12 straight out? How will “Idol” fill those extra three weeks?

He also said contestants will have to make their own music videos and create an “award show” type performance. The lack of stagecraft this past year was appalling so it’s clear they are hoping to rectify that big time.

He repeats the focus on decade-style themes as opposed to genres.

And the launch date is January 12, 2011.

Now will somebody address the issue of unlimited text voting?

-Crystal Bowersox’s first single will be “Farmer’s Daughter,” AINow announced. The problem: Rodney Atkins has a single out now also called “Farmer’s Daughter,” which is in the top 5 on country radio. She may have to change the title.

- “Mama’s Song” makes a comeback. After a week-over-week slippage yesterday, the Carrie Underwood ballad makes a modest comeback …

Continue reading Nigel Lythgoe says no more top 24. But what replaces it? »

I almost felt bad yesterday that I didn’t bother to note that Lee DeWyze’s debut post-”Idol” album came out yesterday. (Remember him?)  So to make up for that, here’s the video for his song. It’s actually not a bad song.

- Jennifer Hudson portray’s Winnie Mandela in the upcoming biopic about her. Here’s a trailer:

- Carrie Underwood’s “Mama’s Song” daily update: For the first time since I started tracking this more than a month ago, Carrie’s song has lost airplay spins week over week. From Nov. 11-17, the song received 5,588 spins, down 33 spins from Nov. 4-10. It’s at No. 11 (though No. 10 adjusted for audience size). Does this mean the song is going to be the first Underwood single not to make the top 2 on the country chart? Probably. If I know for sure her song is not going to rise any further, I will post a separate blog entry noting that when I said it could be her first “radio failure,” I was only half …

Continue reading Lee DeWyze’s new video for ‘Sweet Serendipity,’ trailer for Jennifer Hudson’s ‘Winnie’ »