(AP) - Former 'American Idol' contestant Ayla Brown sings the national anthem before the Boston Celtics' basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Boston on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
With his latest single, “I’ll Walk,” leaping into the Top 10 on the Mediabase country chart this week, Bucky Covington becomes one of only three male country artists since 2005 – including Josh Gracin and Jason Aldean - to have three consecutive top 10 singles from his debut album. Covington’s previous singles, “A Different World” and “It’s Good To Be Us,” peaked at #5 and #9, respectively, on the Mediabase country chart.
At the same time, Bucky’s single “I’ll Walk” is tearing up the country radio charts, it’s also shaping up to be his most reactive single yet. Not only does it frequently receive a standing ovation in his live shows, but digital track sales for “I’ll Walk” are up 58% over the last ten weeks while album sales are up more than 50% over the same period. Bucky’s self-titled debut album has scanned more than 370k units to date and has remained on the Nielsen SoundScan Country Top 75 chart week for 79 weeks since its release in April 2007.
Bucky’s self-titled debut CD opened at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in April 2007 with the biggest first week sales for any debut country artist that year. He wrapped 2007 as Country Aircheck’s #1 New Artist based on the strength of his top 5 first single “A Different World” and his most recent hit, “It’s Good To Be Us".
Re-live the fun of watching Bucky perform in his season five Transformation Gallery!
(Reuters) - American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe (L) escorts actress Alana Stewart as they arrive at the Carousel of Hope Ball in Beverly Hills October 25, 2008. The ball benefits the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes. Picture taken October 25. REUTERS/Fred Prouser (UNITED STATES)
Kristy Lee Cook is in for a momentous occasion tomorrow, as she will experience one of the most exciting things to happen to a country artist--she's taking the Grand Ole Opry stage! Carrie Underwood was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry last May, and is the only American Idol alum to do so. Will Kristy Lee follow in Carrie's footsteps? Only time will tell.
As the USA Today points out, Kristy Lee is also set to sing the National Anthem at the Duke/Vanderbilt college football game in Nashville...not a bad weekend for someone who has only been an AI alum for about six months!
Amanda Overmyer will undoubtedly go down in AI history as one of the most memorable Idols to grace the stage. Dubbed the Rock N' Roll nurse by Randy Jackson, Amanda became known as the Harley-riding rocker that wasn't about to conform to anyone's standards--even the judge most live to impress, Simon Cowell. Her raspy voice and intense stage presence quickly earned her a lot of Janis Joplin comparisons.
Although Amanda was eliminated just shy of making it on the AI tour, she has been anything but idle since her time on the show. In fact, she has finished recording her first album, which was written and composed by Amanda, and produced by Rocco Guarino (Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver). In an article in the Pharos Tribune, Amanda said her album is "straight forward rock-and-roll," with ballads as well as "funky" rock songs. The record will be released under Amanda's own record label, Chile Records, in December. In the same article, she describes the meaning behind a few of the songs from the CD. “‘Iroquois Lane’ is a song about a bad area, one you’re mom always tells you not to hang out at. 'Love me like you want’ is a typical rock-and-roll song about meeting someone one night. ‘Fight like a son’ is a tribute to female soldiers in Iraq: A woman can do what a man can do.” Her first single, "Play On," is a dedication to her now-husband Casey Taylor.
Amanda headlined the Women of Rock show at the famous Hollywood club Whiskey-a-Go-Go in May, and drew some rave reviews. She also sang the National Anthem at the Indianapolis Colts opening game in August.
Amanda considers herself one of the lucky ones who was able to parlay her passion into a career. “Music is my job now,” she said in the Tribune article. “’Idol’ allowed me to make a living out of it.”
Happy Birthday, Amanda!
Poised to become this generation’s ambassador of R&B and soul, Melinda Doolittle will release her hotly-anticipated debut solo album, Coming Back to You, on Hi Fi Recordings in January 2009. Featuring production by Grammy-nominated producer Mike Mangini (Joss Stone, Run DMC, The Jonas Brothers), Melinda’s debut solo album is an R&B tour de force that combines the fiery electricity of Tina Turner’s early years with the slick production and lush instrumentation of today’s pop-soul renaissance.
Recorded with a team of live musicians in Nashville and New York City, Coming Back to You displays Melinda’s extraordinary talent and versatility as a vocalist and sees her seamlessly transcend genres as she combines R&B, soul, blues, jazz and funk to create a sound all her own. From the first note, Melinda reaches back into a rich pool of musical influences and carries the torch of the greats – Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle – into the musical landscape of today.
"I'm so excited to be using live instruments and to be singing music that really paints a picture,” said Melinda. “I knew my task was to just go in the studio and be me and the music would take care of the rest."
“Melinda is a hugely talented vocalist and performer, and we are honored to be the home of her debut album,” commented Hi Fi Recordings Chairman/CEO John Hecker. John Titta, President/COO of Hi Fi Recordings, also noted, “Melinda’s album is one of the most exciting that we’ve heard in years – a throwback to the classic soul albums of the 70’s with a modern twist that will undoubtedly capture the ear of today’s music fan. We can’t wait for everyone to hear what she can do.”
Melinda’s undeniable talent has resulted in a timeless collection of 13 songs that will take listeners on a journey from the blues clubs of Louisiana to the churches of Mississippi, to the piano bars of New York City and back. From the first horn blasts of “Declaration of Love,” listeners will feel a driving pulse and unstoppable energy that is reminiscent of Tina Turner’s iconic hits, while “Coming Back to You” and “Wonderful” feature Melinda’s silky voice wrapped around the smooth, sleek sounds of classic R&B. Melinda commands the emotional storytelling and funky delivery of the blues in “Dust My Broom” and “Walkin’ Blues”, and her impeccably artful and expressive voice has never been more on display than on the beautifully lush ballad “I’ll Never Stop Loving You” and the stripped down jazzy melody of “Wonder Why.”
A skilled and accomplished performer who perfected her craft as a backup singer for some of the biggest names in R&B, gospel and soul, including Michael McDonald, Aaron Neville, BeBe and CeCe Winans and Jonny Lang, Melinda became a household name as a finalist on the sixth - over –
season of American Idol. She was immediately recognized as one of the most talented performers in the show’s history and won over millions of fans and critics alike with her powerhouse vocal performances, engaging personality and now-classic renditions of songs like “My Funny Valentine,” “I’m a Woman” and “Nutbush City Limits". The New York Times called her a “phenomenally gifted, stylistically adroit…Gladys Knight-Tina Turner hybrid…[who] brings a compelling honesty to every phrase she sings.” Eventually finishing in third place, Melinda finally entered the studio in 2008 to record the debut album that the world was waiting for.
Melinda won over the AI judges from her very first audition--see how much her style transformed throughout the season in her Transformation Gallery!
Times Square got a double dose of Carrie Underwood today as the three-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist unveiled her wax figure at Madame Tussauds New York. Carrie was welcomed by a barrage of camera flashes as she posed side-by-side with her wax likeness, which she saw for the first time today.
The creation of Carrie’s figure began earlier this year when a team of Madame Tussauds studio artists flew out to meet Carrie on tour for her figure sitting. Underwood was an enthusiastic participant in the figure making process – not only did she spend more than an hour with the studio artists, but she also generously donated a replica of the dress that she wore to the 2006 CMA Awards, when she was first named Female Vocalist of The Year, to Madame Tussauds for her figure to don. The dress was designed by Trish Townsend and constructed by Dez Zamek.
“We are thrilled that Carrie was able to join us today to help unveil her figure. Not only is she a bona fide superstar with fans around the world, but she is also an incredibly kind and generous young woman – a true role model for young people today. We know that our guests will love her figure, and we can’t wait for them to see it,” said Janine DiGioacchino, General Manager of Madame Tussauds New York and Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.
Carrie's wax likeness is now part of the attraction's "VIP Room" and is posed in a standing position with hands on hips. Visitors will be able to take pictures with and even hug her figure.
“I am honored to have been asked to pose for a Madame Tussauds wax figure as this is truly a once in a lifetime experience. I am really excited to attend my unveiling today!" said Underwood.
Check out the REAL Carrie Underwood over the years in her Transformation Gallery!
Chikezie will return to his alma mater, El Camino College, to perform on Sunday, November 7, at 7 PM at the Marsee Auditorium. He will be surrounded by the talented ECC Chorale, who will be directed by Dr. Medawar Nachef. Chikezie proved that he can definitely get the crowd going on season seven of American Idol, so his college peers are surely in for a great performance.
For students interested, you can buy your tickets in advance at the ECC Student Development Office.
americanidol.com had the opportunity to chat with Constantine Maroulis regarding the Off-Broadway play Rock of Ages, and he was nothing if not enthusiastic about his role in the unique production. Constantine plays Drew, an ambitious young rocker who's chasing the dream of becoming a big rock star, a role he says he can relate to even more so than the perception that people seem to have of him. Constantine admits that he was a tad awkward growing up--not necessarily your stereotypical nerd, but he fell "somewhere right in the middle." But one thing he's always had is the drive to make it in the business. The best part about the play, according to Constantine, is that the stellar cast and crew get to perform songs from the '80s, as that is when the scene is set. Having grown up in that era, Constantine couldn’t be more thrilled to sing songs by the likes of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, and many more, calling the songs by these bands very "hooky!" He admits that he and his fellow actors pinch themselves daily, as they can't believe they get to perform such fun, amazing numbers.
While Constantine is definitely feeling fortunate to be a part of a production that he refers to as "quite a blast," he admits that life isn't exactly glamorous for the Off-Broadway actors. He joked with us that it can even be a bit humbling, as they all share a single dressing room! This is also the first time that Constantine has helped to create a role from the ground up as opposed to coming in as a replacement and, although it's extremely rewarding, the hours can be grueling. Toward the end of rehearsals, he was logging 14-hour days, as the play has close to 2,000 cues for the crew to learn! To boot, he is doing eight shows a week and, while it's not easy, he calls it "quite a ride!" He also says that his previous productions have prepared him well for the taxing schedule, and that he is "so blessed to have the most talented and coolest cast in New York" surrounding him.
Constantine says that the writer, producers, and crew alike have definitely "embraced the over-the-top nature of the '80s," and because that era is inherently kitschy, it's not surprising that the crowd has embraced it as well. Although Constantine says that the reaction to the play seems to differ from west coast to east coast, the common denominator is that people love to get involved. Although it wasn't a planned thing, audience members just started singing along with the production at some point, and now many of them even arm themselves with Rock of Ages lighters! When looking out at the audience, Constantine says "It's really quite moving!"
Although Constantine says he wants to put a heavy focus on his music career moving forward, he will never be one to stick to only one thing. He likes to have a hand in a lot of different arenas to keep things exciting. He learned a lot from releasing his first album under his own label, Sixth Place Records, and he says that he is glad that the music industry seems to favor the artist these days. However, he would love to take on more partners this time and receive help from "a lot of the young and aggressive people" in the industry. He also wants to focus on the songwriting aspects while coming up with big hooks to make it a commercial success.
Constantine would love to return to the Idol stage to perform at some point, and he admits that perhaps the biggest regret he has about his AI experience is that the judges didn't see him as a recording artist as much as they thought he was an entertainer. He also wishes he was perhaps a bit less timid in his song choices when on the show. When all is said and done, however, he said he's glad things went the way that they did that year, and he almost wishes he could go through it again because it was so much fun! When asked what season he thinks has yielded the most talent, he admits that it might sound biased, but he is most impressed with season four, as he calls it a "pioneering" year. He goes on to call it the "most significant" because it was the first year that they allowed older contestants, and it was also the beginning of the digital age. With the live band and the show getting a little bit more experimental while still maintaining its recipe for success, he thinks that season four opened up more opportunities for the following seasons.
We sat down with Constantine just before the release of his first album--watch the video now!
(AP) - In this undated file photo originally provided by Spamalot, singer and actor Clay Aiken appears on stage in his role as Sir Robin in Monty Python's 'Spamalot' at the Shubert Theatre in New York. The production pulls up the moat for good Jan. 18 after more than 1,500 performances. (AP Photo/Spamalot, Joan Marcus)