In an interview airing on CBS “Sunday Morning,” former “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul tells Julie Chen that she is smarter than people think.
“I am intelligent,” Abdul, 48, says with a smile. “Having a brain, that’s a concept, yes, with Paula Abdul. I have a brain.”
And regarding rumors that she’s a drunk and is often not coherent? “I’ve never had a drinking problem. Even though I’ve been in this business for quite some time, I’ve never physically been drunk in my life. I’ve never been drunk in my life. I don’t use recreational drugs. But I am goofy.”
“American Idol” is having a live unveiling for the show’s newest judges. At 10pm PT, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson will step on stage at the Forum in Los Angeles. Check out TMZ for a live stream.
Kara DioGuardi has issued a statement saying she has officially left “American Idol.”
“I felt like I won the lottery when I joined ‘American Idol’ two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave ‘Idol.’”
She continues by saying “I am very proud to have been associated with ‘American Idol’ - it has truly been an amazing experience. I am grateful to FOX, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, as well as the cast, crew and contestants, for all they have given to me. I look forward to my next challenge, and want to thank everyone who has supported me. All the best to everyone on Season 10!”
No official word who the new roster of judges will include, but rumor has it Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are the frontrunners.
First of all, the producers of American Idol should implement a system for their judges, just like the way they choose contestants. It seems like every week there’s a new name out there for who will be a part of the panel for the upcoming season.
New information, as TMZ reports, suggests that Jennifer Lopez is finally very close to closing a deal and it’s basically just all about signing the paperwork now.
TMZ cites that sources close to American Idol believe Lopez will be what the show needs to remain as successful as it has been in the past.
Just when it looks like “American Idol” reject Ian Benardo finally has come to his senses, he screws it all up. The “singer” initially filed a lawsuit against the show for $300 Million, but now was withdrawn the lawsuit and filed another one for $100 Million.
TMZ reports Benardo refiled the lawsuit for workplace discrimination and sexual harassment. Originally he filed the suit with the NY State Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but was later told the lawsuit didn’t qualify.
So what’s the reason for the lawsuit? Benardo claims “Idol” producers exploited his sexual orientation and told him to “gay it up.”
Maybe that’s the reason, or perhaps its just sour grapes? Or maybe he is just trying to hold on to his fifteen minutes of fame? Either way, watch the video below of his audition. What do you think?
Two weeks after being hospitalized for overdosing on aspirin and a sleep aid, the “American Idol” winner is speaking out, saying she wanted to die.
“I didn’t have any fight in me. I didn’t care about anything. I just wanted out,” the American Idolwinner, 26, tells VH1 in a newBehind the Music interview, airing 9 p.m. ET/PT Tuesday, the same day her new album, Back to Me, is released. “At that moment, I wanted out. I wanted it to be over with – all of it, all of that [expletive].”
She continues: “I just sat in the closet and looked at the mirror and took all the pills in the bottle. I wanted to go to sleep and just be at peace. I knew exactly what I was doing. You can’t accidentally take a whole bottle of pills.”
What made the successful singer, who’s preparing to release her third album, want to end her life? “I was tired of people doing me wrong, constantly, over and over again, dealing with my family – my father, dealing with men and their [expletive] – I was tired,” she says. “My head was hurting me. I was over it.”
Perez Hilton is reporting that Mariah Carey is in negotiations to become a judge for the upcoming season of American Idol.
The ratings-owning singing competition is restructuring its judging table this year, after Kara DioGuardi was let go and Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres stepped down.
There’s only one spot left to fill as Randy Jackson and (likely) Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler already have places at the table. Although it was reported that Jennifer Lopez was very close to getting the spot as the third judge, Mariah Carey might be a better option for the show.
Although nothing is official, sources tell Perez Hilton that Mariah “wants it” and that “she’s seen what America’s Got Talent has done for [Nick Cannon] and thinks it will be a good career move.”
Sources tell TMZ that the deal for Jennifer Lopez to be an “American Idol” judge isn’t officially dead, but they do have a backup plan. What do you think about Shania Twain as a judge?
Yes that’s right, if indeed a deal with Jennifer Lopez can’t be reached, producers plan to approach Shania Twain to fill the judging spot. Shania performed very well last season as a guest judge and mentor.
So what do we think? Lopez or Twain? We are going with Twain. She fun, she’s smart and she’s sexy. That’s a winning formula. And she’s not a huge bitch Like JLO.
Well that was a quick stint. Sources say that Jennifer Lopez will not be an “American Idol” judge for the upcoming season.
People reports that Jennifer’s demands became out of hand, and they decided to pass on the singer.
“Her demands got out of hand,” says the source. “Fox had just had enough.”
Fox has yet to comment on this recent development.
Yes, more news about American Idol! Amidst swirling rumours of who will be on the judging panel for the next season of the show, Paula Abdul’s name has come up. Unfortunately for her she can’t be a judge, reports E! Online.
A source said that Abdul is locked into the upcoming American version of the U.K’s Got to Dance and is contractually prohibited from appearing on any other competition show for quite some time. I guess that’s what you get for signing a seven-figure contract with a huge network (not that she should be complaining).
“If Paula did Idol she would get sued big-time by Viacom,” the source says, continuing that Abdul’s contract with the CBS-produced Got to Dance is for “about five years.”
Producer Nigel Lythgoe is returning to Idol and despite him possibly wanting to bring back an original judge he says, “I love Paula,” but continues, “Paula is under contract to another company so she is unavailable.”
Bad news for anyone hoping to see the crazy outspoken Paula Abdul back on the show!
How could you ever consider firing Randy Jackson from “American Idol?” The guy is just so lovable and cool!
However, TMZ reports that was almost the case for Mr. Jackson. Sources tell the website that “American Idol” producers were considering a clean sweep of the judging panel, now that all the original judges are gone with the exception of Jackson.
After some intense discussions, it was decided to keep Jackson in order to keep some connection to the original show.
Excellent decision because in our opinion Jackson was the most logical, charming and down to earth judge the show has ever had. It would be crazy to fire the dawg!
TMZ reports that sources tell them Kara DioGuardi has been fired from Fox’s “Amercian Idol.”
The show will return to a three judge format, which should include Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.
The only way Kara will be able to return is if the negotiations with Lopez fail. However sources say the deal is pretty much done.
As we reported earlier, Ellen DeGeneres announced Thursday she would not be returning to “American Idol.”
After sitting in the one of the judge’s chairs for the ninth season of American Idol, Ellen DeGeneres is calling it quits. The talk show host will no longer be a judge on the FOX hit show, reports People.com.
“A couple months ago, I let FOX and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” Ellen said in a statement. “I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for.”
Ellen cited that it was sometimes tough to tell the truth to young singers. “I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings,” she said in the statement.
There don’t seem to be any hard feelings though, as Ellen had nothing but good things to say about her time with the show. “I loved the experience working on Idol and I am very grateful for the year I had, I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”
With Simon Cowell also leaving, there are now two seats to fill for the tenth season of the show, and some names have already been floating around. Word is Jennifer Lopez may be getting a spot! Who would you choose as the perfect panel?
Reports are surfacing that Jessica Simpson has been having meetings with the top brass at Fox about becoming a judge on “American Idol.”
TMZ reports that producers are desperate to find a replacement for Simon Cowell, and Jessica could be an ideal fit. In theory, she does make sense as a replacement. She has experience in reality TV and of course is a music business veteran. The question remaining is if she has the star power to turn around “American Idol’s” dismal ratings.
However the show needs a hard ass now that Cowell is leaving. Jessica is a nice and sensitive girl. She isn’t going to tell anybody that they suck!
An official announcement will be made in September.
Extra TV is reporting that Simon Cowell has released some big news! According to Cowell, Piers Morgan from “America’s Got Talent” could be Larry King’s replacement on CNN.
“[Morgan] was under contract to us on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ so he called me and we helped sort of broker the deal,” Cowell said. “I knew about this weeks ago.”
Although there has been nothing officially announced about King’s replacement, Cowell is very confident in Morgan’s ability as an interviewer.
“Piers is without question the best interviewer I’ve ever been interviewed by… apart from you, Terri.” (He of course is referring to Terri Seymour who was interviewing him at the time).
However there is another candidate for Larry’s replacement who has a connection to Simon Cowell. That is of course Ryan Seacrest, who has stood in for Larry King a few times.
We feel that Seacrest would be a better fit. What do you think?
Bret Michael’s recently spoke with PopEater where he makes it very clear he wants to be part of “American Idol.”
As Simon Cowell is moving on from “Idol,” Michaels believes he would make an excellent replacement. Below is an excerpt from that interview regarding his maybe “Idol” participation.
There’s lots of buzz saying you may replace Simon Cowell on ‘Idol,’ and our readers overwhelmingly voted for you to be the next judge. Is that a responsibility you’d want?
This is a good question, and here’s why — I’d be honored to do it. I feel there’s one area I shine in, it’s giving musicians unbelievable advice. When you talk about being a judge, Simon did an amazing job. He cut to the chase with his brutal honesty. Mine would be less brutal and with more advice along with the judging. I’ll say that wasn’t the right song, do you have what it takes? My life is all-encompassing … it’s being a performer, as well as a singer-songwriter and a producer. I can cover every aspect of the business for them. I’d be honored to do it and fans would be blown away by the advice. Everyone thinks when you get a record deal, you’ve made it. I say the exact opposite. You have a foot in the door, now how do you last 20 years. What’s going to make fans watch ‘Idol’ and see a kid write a great song, and 20 years from now they still want to see you playing music. I would love to do it and I could give killer advice.
Yes there are some obvious similarities between We Are The Fallen and Evanescence. They have many of the same band members, they have a similar sound, but there are differences. One notable difference being Amy Lee lead Evanescence but We Are The Fallen is headed by American Idol contestant Carly Smithson. And there are more – but we will let them tell you.
After appearing on the season finale of American Idol, sources tell TMZ that Janet Jackson has made a concert tour a definite possibility for the future.
The source says that Jackson was “blown away” by the audience’s reaction to her three performances on the show. She sang “Again,” “Nothing,” and “Nasty” to an ecstatic crowd on Wednesday’s season 9 finale of Idol.
Jackson hasn’t been on tour since 2002—and she cancelled a large amount of those dates.
With this newly found positivity re-entering her career, the Jackson has agreed to make an appearance in New Orleans at the Essence Music Festival on July 2.
If a tour happens, will you go see Janet Jackson live in concert?
Former “American Idol” band leader Rickey Minor was upset he was basically “snubbed” on the season finale of the Fox show.
Minor has been the band leader for the past 6 years and is leaving “American Idol” to lead Jay Leno’s band on “The Tonight Show.”
Minor was upset after nobody recognized or acknowledged him during last night’s episode, reports TMZ. After taping, Rickey apparently started yelling at producers, explaining how insulted he was.
Initially he refused to attend the after party, however Randy Jackson was able to convince him to come. However there was obvious tension in the air.
So you maybe wondering – where was David Cook last night on the season finale/goodbye to Simon Cowell on “American Idol.” Everyone else was in attendance for this special episode, so why not David Cook?
Well the story really isn’t that controversial or gossipy, just a pure scheduling conflict. PopEater reports David had a charity event scheduled in Kansas City, preventing him from attending. We figure that’s a legitimate and reasonable excuse, although not very controversial.
However luckily all the “American Idol” veterans were in attendance like Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, and many more! It was a nice and respectful way to say goodbye to the season and Simon Cowell.
