Season 6 runner-up Blake Lewis will release his debut album Audio Day Dream through 19 Recordings/Arista Records on November 27, 2007. The beat boxing American Idol alumnus from Bothell, Washington is currently in the studio working on A.D.D. In line with his unique performances from this past season, Blake will be working with a diversity of producers on the album, including Sam Hollander & Sluggo (Gym Class Heroes, Boys Against Girls), JR Rotem (50 Cent, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Sean Kingston), Ryan Tedder (V. CENTRAL TO THE PROJECT), David Hodges (Evanescence), BT, Sean Hurley (Robin Thicke), and Mike Elizondo (Maroon 5, Eminem). Before the release of Audio Day Dream, you can relive all the top moments from this year’s finale between Blake and Jordin in our photos section!

In international Idol news, American Idol’s first-ever winner Kelly Clarkson will be taking her talents across the globe to perform her hit single “Never Again” on Australian Idol’s results show next Monday night. Five years and three albums after being crowned Season 1’s winner, Kelly Clarkson has become a Grammy Award winning and chart-topping artist. Kelly’s upcoming performance and Australian tour not only has fans abuzz online, but across continents as well. As Kelly prepares for her international endeavors, take a trip back in time to American Idol’s very first season through our photo galleries!

Between the debates on last season, rumors about the upcoming season, “Idol” alumni news, and American Idol hypothetical situations, the MyIdol Message Boards are abuzz with excitement. If you haven’t been on them during the off-season, you’re missing out on the fun! Check out what’s being discussed on the Idol Grapevine below: I didn't watch the first two seasons of the show. I was one of the eye-rollers. But then I got a swing-shift job where my coworkers were addicted. I quickly became hooked, too. When I started watching, my husband rolled his eyes at me. Now he is the one who's got the TiVo already programmed! It's one of those things that you just have to try... kind of like french fries dunked in a Frosty. ~4besi To all those who supported this effort AI received a Governors Award at the Emmy's tonite. The power of TV used for good. ~stellarseeker New recordings by Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler and Sara Evans will be featured on Hear Something Country Christmas, a 14-track holiday CD set for release on Oct. 2. Among the six new recordings are Underwood's "Do You Hear What I Hear," Evans' "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and Pickler's remake of Eartha Kitt's classic from the '50s, "Santa Baby." ~CharlotteNCGuy One of my friends says her cousin heard something about Reba McEntire possibly being a singing coach or something like that, and something about Melissa Peterman being on American Idol. I didn't hear much about it--I just heard that. If you have any info or links, thanks!!! ~rebaluver NEW YORK, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Swarovski, the world leader in precision-cut crystal, has partnered with a group of creative celebrities to raise funds for SOS Children's Villages, the world's largest charity for orphaned and abandoned children. Celebrities including Jessica Alba, Laila Ali, Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, Angie Harmon, Finola Hughes, Stacy London, Reba McEntire, Katharine McPhee,Sara Ramirez, Jordin Sparks, Carrie Underwood and Vanessa Williams took part in this worthwhile endeavor. Submitted by luv4llnnt I'm sure they'll be leaning towards a male winner this year since the current stats are: Women - 4 / Men - 2. No offense to Ruben or Taylor, but a nice-looking male singer would be lovely. If, a good-looking male with a strong voice is a contestant, he'll be a shoe-in to win. ~Cobabycmw

Happy Birthday to season one's Nikki McKibbin! With her bright red hair, stand-out clothes, and her tendency to take the other contestants under her wing, Nikki made quite an impression on "Idol" fans. Nikki has kept herself quite busy since her time on the show. In 2005, she appeared on a number of reality shows. She even appeared in a television movie called "The Scorned," with a cast of numerous other reality television stars. Additionally, she appeared in the band Rivethead's music video "You're So Cold." Later that year, Nikki signed with the Australian indie label Astral Records, and began to work on a rock album with manager/producer Joe Canizarro. The long-awaited debut album, which was released on May 22 of this year, was aptly named Unleashed. According to a "Where Are They Now" piece done by PEOPLE Magazine in April of this year, Nikki also teaches voice lessons to children. She married her childhood roller-skating coach, Craig Sadler, in July. Check out this pic of Nikki hangin' out with the gang from season one! Take a look at her belting out a tune on Big Band Night! Happy Birthday Nikki!

Bucky Covington was able to combine his need for speed with his love of performing on the set of his music video for his latest single, “It’s Good To Be Us.” Shot at Ballance MotoX in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the fast paced video features tricks performed by freestyle motocross riders and a live musical performance on the track. “I’ve been on the road so much so this is a good excuse for me to get some riding in,” laughs Bucky. “Actually, it’s such a high-energy song and so I thought the speed of motocross and freestyle would be a great fit for the music video.” Freestyle Motocross champion Cowboy Kenny Bartram, who also starred in the CMT reality series “Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge,” made a cameo appearance in the music video. The camera captured Cowboy Kenny displaying some of his skills on the ramps that led him to become one of the top athletes in the sport. “I was excited to shoot the video and especially work with [director] Trey again,” said Bucky “but I’ve got to say that I was the most excited to finally get to see someone do some more of these stunts live more than anything else. Kenny was amazing – he did tail whips, superman and knock off jumps – I was totally blown away.” Bucky and director Trey Fanjoy first collaborated on the music video for his debut single “A Different World,” a fan favorite at both CMT and GAC. The video for “It’s Good To Be Us” is expected to release in the upcoming weeks. Check out our exclusive interview with Bucky now!

In addition to her three CMA nominations, Carrie Underwood will take the stage to perform at the 2007 CMA Awards. The Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee will play host to the star-studded country music award show on November 7. Carrie rounds out a list of some of country music’s biggest names who are scheduled to perform at the award show. With Carrie’s single “So Small” setting records and her newest album set for an October 23 release, the Season 4 winner will be amongst some of country music’s elite. As previously reported, Kelly Clarkson and Kellie Pickler add to the list of American Idol alumni nominated for 2007 CMA Awards. As our distinguished alumni await the awards show, check out our video section to get reacquainted with the Idols and see a clip from Carrie’s hit music video “Don’t Forget to Remember Me.”

The Associated Press via the website for THE COLOR PURPLE reports that the producers of the show are pleased to make a huge announcement about the cast. The legendary eight-time Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan, four-time Grammy Award winner and gospel singer BeBe Winans, and LaKisha Jones will make their Broadway debuts in the smash hit musical starting Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). Chaka Khan will play Sofia opposite BeBe Winans’ Harpo. Chaka’s highly anticipated new album, Funk This, was released yesterday, September 25, 2007, and BeBe’s new album, Cherch, will be released October 30, 2007. LaKisha Jones will play the Church Soloist, who opens the show with the rousing gospel number “Mysterious Ways” at all evening performances, and Sofia at all matinee performances. Please note: Ms. Jones’ first performance will be December 19, 2007, and will play the Church Soloist at all performances through January 6, 2008. THE COLOR PURPLE will begin its third year on Broadway November 1, 2007.

Elliott Yamin had two band members unable to perform with him at a local show in the Philippines the other day but, according to Inquirer Entertainment, it might have even served to enhance the musical experience. Apparently, Elliott only came to perform at Market! Market! at Fort Bonifacio with a keyboardist, a guitarist, and a percussionist, who ended up forgoing the drums for a shaker and a tambourine. As the paper notes, "The result, however brief the program, was an amazing acoustic performance of tracks from the artist’s self-titled album. Yamin’s band may have been incomplete, but every number was fueled with so much intensity that the audience clearly didn’t care." His vocals were reportedly spot-on for such favorites as "A Song For You," "I'm The Man," and "Wait For You." The only complaint from those watching the show was the desire to see Elliott on a bigger stage and in an actual concert venue. Then again, it also made for an amazingly intimate performance. As the Inquirer concludes, "Most people say acoustic shows are only for bars, cafés and small joints. Now we know for sure that it depends on who is performing. If it’s Elliot Yamin, we certainly disagree." Check out our interview with Elliott as he dishes on the experience of making his first album.

Americanidol.com is getting ready to interview Carrie down in Nashville as she gears up to release her much-anticipated second album.  With that in mind, we thought it would be fun to open up some questions to her fans.  So, if you've got some questions you'd love Carrie to answer, you gotta let us know. Post your questions here.

American Idol Season 4 finalist Anwar Robinson will be joining the touring production cast of RENT in a multi-city tour of the Broadway smash hit. In his stage debut, Anwar will be playing Tom Collins in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Better known to American Idol fans as the music teacher that Paula Abdul called “technically the best singer of the competition” during Season 4, the New Jersey native has worked and appeared with music icons like Clive Davis, Kelly Price, Byron Cage, and Patti Labelle. Since his top 10 finish on American Idol, Anwar went on to release a debut cover album entitled "The Truth About Love." Now in its 12th season, RENT, written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, opened at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1996, after a sold-out limited engagement at the off-Broadway New York Theatre Workshop. After making its Broadway debut, RENT went on to win every major best musical award, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama. RENT has become the seventh longest running show in Broadway history. Kicking off in York, Pennsylvania on October 15, Anwar and the cast of RENT will be touring St. Louis, Milwaukee, Providence, Miami, and New Haven, among other cities over the coming months. Get reacquainted with Anwar and all the other former Idols by checking out our exclusive interviews in our videos section!