American Idol has found its new Paula: Ellen DeGeneres.
The Fox series has announced a deal that would make the talk show host/comic the new fourth judge on America's top-rated show. She would replace Paula Abdul, who quit "Idol" over the summer due to a salary scuffle.
"I'm thrilled to be the new judge on American Idol," said DeGeneres in Fox's news release. "I've watched since the beginning, and I've always been a huge fan. So getting this job is a dream come true, and think of all the money I'll save from not having to text in my vote."
"I could not be more excited to have Ellen join the American Idol family," said creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. "Ellen has been a fan of the show for many years, and her love of music and understanding of the American public will bring a unique human touch to our judging panel. I can't wait for this next season to begin."
"We're all delighted to have Ellen join our ninth season of American Idol," said executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz. "Beyond her incredible sense of humor and love of music, she brings with her an immense warmth and compassion that is almost palpable. She is one of America's foremost entertainers, and we cannot wait to have her join our team."
DeGeneres has been a major "Idol" fan, featuring contestants from the show on her daytime chatfest on a regular basis. She also came close to guest co-host the show's "Idol Gives Back" charity special last year, but dropped out due to a scheduling conflict.
More recently, however, DeGeneres served as a guest judge on "So You Think You Can Dance," the sister show to "Idol" that airs in the summer.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
SOOOOOOOOO Much Idol news!!!
There's quite a bit going in the world of our Miss American Idol favorites:
We already know that Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks and Paula Abdul will be performing at this year's VH1 DIVAS Concert, but there has been a new exciting addition. Turns out that Season Three finalist and Oscar winner, Jennifer Hudson will now be joining them. Looks like when VH1 can't get Legendary Divas like Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross or Mariah Carey for the concert the next best thing is our fantastic Miss American Idols. :)
The only addition left that would elevate the VH1 DIVAS Concert to an even higher stratosphere would the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season Four winner Carrie Underwood. Even if that doesn't happen, Carrie is keeping herself quite busy finishing up her tour and gearing up for the release of her third album, Play On, on November 3, 2009. The first single from the new album, Cowboy Casanova, was sent to radio this week and it is already blowing up big. She collects the highest debut by a female artist this year on Billboard Country Songs chart, as "Cowboy Casanova" ropes a debut at #26. It's a very fun up tempo toe tapper that is sure to keep her millions of fans happy.
The nominations for the CMA Awards were announced today and Carrie is once again in the running for the Female Vocalist of the Year honor. She has already received this award in 2006, 2007 and 2008 so this could become her fourth win in a row. Carrie is also nominated along with Randy Travis for the Vocal Event of the Year honor for their performance of I Told You So. The winners of the CMA's will be announced on November 11, 2009 with Brad Paisley will hosting the show along with Carrie Underwood.
The only unfortunate omission from the CMA nominations is that Season Five finalist Kellie Pickler was completely shut out even though her smash hit Best Days of Your Life is one of the best songs of the year.
We already know that Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks and Paula Abdul will be performing at this year's VH1 DIVAS Concert, but there has been a new exciting addition. Turns out that Season Three finalist and Oscar winner, Jennifer Hudson will now be joining them. Looks like when VH1 can't get Legendary Divas like Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross or Mariah Carey for the concert the next best thing is our fantastic Miss American Idols. :)
The only addition left that would elevate the VH1 DIVAS Concert to an even higher stratosphere would the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season Four winner Carrie Underwood. Even if that doesn't happen, Carrie is keeping herself quite busy finishing up her tour and gearing up for the release of her third album, Play On, on November 3, 2009. The first single from the new album, Cowboy Casanova, was sent to radio this week and it is already blowing up big. She collects the highest debut by a female artist this year on Billboard Country Songs chart, as "Cowboy Casanova" ropes a debut at #26. It's a very fun up tempo toe tapper that is sure to keep her millions of fans happy.
The nominations for the CMA Awards were announced today and Carrie is once again in the running for the Female Vocalist of the Year honor. She has already received this award in 2006, 2007 and 2008 so this could become her fourth win in a row. Carrie is also nominated along with Randy Travis for the Vocal Event of the Year honor for their performance of I Told You So. The winners of the CMA's will be announced on November 11, 2009 with Brad Paisley will hosting the show along with Carrie Underwood.
The only unfortunate omission from the CMA nominations is that Season Five finalist Kellie Pickler was completely shut out even though her smash hit Best Days of Your Life is one of the best songs of the year.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Carrie Underwood - LIVE In Concert!
While the Miss American Idol positions on the current Billboard charts are somewhat less than stellar, that is all soon to be changing as the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season Four winner Carrie Underwood is putting the finishing touches on her third album. It's going to hit stores on November 3rd and it will be called Play On. It is sure to continue the record breaking multi-platinum success of her previous releases, Some Hearts and Carnival Ride.
As the excitement builds toward this highly anticipated release, Carrie is finishing up her nationwide live concert tour. I am very happy to report that I was able to fully experience the entertainment talents of the Supreme Miss American Idol on Monday night August 31, 2009. She had two SOLD OUT performances at The Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL.
This was the culmination of months of anticipation after the tickets went on sale back in April. If you have never been to Ravinia, it is a spectacular outdoor venue where Carrie's amazing music could be enjoyed in the fresh air under the stars. The show started at 8:00 PM, but in order to stake a claim on prime picnic area it was best for us to arrive when the gates opened at 5:00 PM. The multitude of fans started lining up outside the park at 4:00 PM, while the elite fans who had purchased "priority" tickets were allowed in early. At 5:00 PM the friendly Ravinia staff started to take tickets and we spread out our blankets on some prime picnic real estate just behind the pavilion. By 5:15 almost every piece of lawn was covered with eager fans.
The next three hours until show time was pure enjoyment while friends relaxed with wine and food as the anticipation escalated toward Carrie's grand entrance to the stage. Discussion included guessing what song she would open with (I guessed All American Girl and I was wrong) and games of Carrie Underwood trivia (Answers: She was the winner of Season FOUR - American Idol, Inside Your Heaven was her #1 hit on the Billboard HOT 100 and So Small was the first single off of Carnival Ride).
Surely the Ravinia Festival has never been as filled to capacity as it was for these two nights. The lights flashed indicating that it would soon be show time and the families living in the neighboring homes had to hear the volume rise as the crowd cheered joyfully.
It was finally time for the lights to go down and the video screens to display a lovely desert sunrise with the beautiful Carrie Underwood dressed in a glittering black cat suit emerging through the dust and wind. The lights on stage flashed frantically as the real Carrie rose to the top platform and the band played track one from Carnival Ride, Flat On The Floor!!! (It was so easy, I can't believe I didn't guess that one) She looked stunning in her skinny fit jeans and easy breezy tan blouse.
She sounded pitch perfect as she sang all of the fan favorites including Jesus Take The Wheel, Some Hearts, Don't Forget To Remember Me, I Told You So, Just A Dream and Last Name. I was especially pleased to hear her belt out my favorite track from Carnival Ride, I Know You Won't. It's a lovely ballad that genuinely showcases her impressive vocal range.
She changed clothes a few times looking especially spectacular in a playful little yellow skirt with cowboy boots. In addition to performing all of your favorite hits from her albums, she threw in some fantastic covers of Guns and Roses and Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way.
The fans sang along, cheered, clapped and danced for her entire set. It culminated with her closing song, the huge multi-format smash, Before He Cheats. Carrie Underwood brought her unparalleled talents to her ever growing base of fans and provided what can only be described as the BEST NIGHT EVER!!!
It serves as an illustration of why she was named the 2009 ACM Entertainer of the Year. With her new album just around the corner the Supreme Miss American Idol is sure to have even more huge successes in front of her while her fans can enjoy it all with her.
As the excitement builds toward this highly anticipated release, Carrie is finishing up her nationwide live concert tour. I am very happy to report that I was able to fully experience the entertainment talents of the Supreme Miss American Idol on Monday night August 31, 2009. She had two SOLD OUT performances at The Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL.
This was the culmination of months of anticipation after the tickets went on sale back in April. If you have never been to Ravinia, it is a spectacular outdoor venue where Carrie's amazing music could be enjoyed in the fresh air under the stars. The show started at 8:00 PM, but in order to stake a claim on prime picnic area it was best for us to arrive when the gates opened at 5:00 PM. The multitude of fans started lining up outside the park at 4:00 PM, while the elite fans who had purchased "priority" tickets were allowed in early. At 5:00 PM the friendly Ravinia staff started to take tickets and we spread out our blankets on some prime picnic real estate just behind the pavilion. By 5:15 almost every piece of lawn was covered with eager fans.
The next three hours until show time was pure enjoyment while friends relaxed with wine and food as the anticipation escalated toward Carrie's grand entrance to the stage. Discussion included guessing what song she would open with (I guessed All American Girl and I was wrong) and games of Carrie Underwood trivia (Answers: She was the winner of Season FOUR - American Idol, Inside Your Heaven was her #1 hit on the Billboard HOT 100 and So Small was the first single off of Carnival Ride).
Surely the Ravinia Festival has never been as filled to capacity as it was for these two nights. The lights flashed indicating that it would soon be show time and the families living in the neighboring homes had to hear the volume rise as the crowd cheered joyfully.
It was finally time for the lights to go down and the video screens to display a lovely desert sunrise with the beautiful Carrie Underwood dressed in a glittering black cat suit emerging through the dust and wind. The lights on stage flashed frantically as the real Carrie rose to the top platform and the band played track one from Carnival Ride, Flat On The Floor!!! (It was so easy, I can't believe I didn't guess that one) She looked stunning in her skinny fit jeans and easy breezy tan blouse.
She sounded pitch perfect as she sang all of the fan favorites including Jesus Take The Wheel, Some Hearts, Don't Forget To Remember Me, I Told You So, Just A Dream and Last Name. I was especially pleased to hear her belt out my favorite track from Carnival Ride, I Know You Won't. It's a lovely ballad that genuinely showcases her impressive vocal range.
She changed clothes a few times looking especially spectacular in a playful little yellow skirt with cowboy boots. In addition to performing all of your favorite hits from her albums, she threw in some fantastic covers of Guns and Roses and Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way.
The fans sang along, cheered, clapped and danced for her entire set. It culminated with her closing song, the huge multi-format smash, Before He Cheats. Carrie Underwood brought her unparalleled talents to her ever growing base of fans and provided what can only be described as the BEST NIGHT EVER!!!
It serves as an illustration of why she was named the 2009 ACM Entertainer of the Year. With her new album just around the corner the Supreme Miss American Idol is sure to have even more huge successes in front of her while her fans can enjoy it all with her.
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