From Justin’s Blog:
“I’m proud to announce that I’ve been working on (and am about to start shooting a new film). I booked the role a few weeks ago, but didn’t want to say anything until it was solid. Well it’s solid. I play a race car driver, who is the love interest for the main character. I’m very happy about it and look forward to the next 3 weeks of shooting. It’s a film about a 20-something woman who wants nothing more than to be a race car driver…setting small town USA. A major race team comes to town, I’m one of the team drivers-successful, young, experienced-the rest is romance (not sappy…thank goodness, and her struggle to fulfill her dream by overcoming her greatest fear)
It’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to seeing the final product. It’s a feature-length film, and will be out next year (April is the release date, I think).”
I refuse to let any doubt, negativity, or J2K flashbacks enter my brain. I will instead begin a 24/7 prayer vigil to the Gods of Celebrity until April: “Please, oh please, oh please…let this be Justin’s ticket out of D-list land! He never deserved to be there in the first place - he is much too talented and way too nice of a guy to be a punchline. We truly apologize for whatever we did to deserve Paris Hilton’s CD, so please give Justin another chance. Amen.”
The candle on my Justin shrine is burning bright and I’ve got everything I own crossed for you, JMan…it’s painful, but worth it!
I believe Katharine’s album was first scheduled to be released on November 28th…then December 5th, then December 19th - I could be wrong, but it’s changed so many times I can’t keep track - and now is scheduled for January 30, 2007. The McPhans are no doubt disappointed, but better to wait and put out a great album instead of risking it with a rush job or getting lost in the Idol wave. Season Six will have already started by then and there are concerns this may hurt Kat’s sales. I don’t know…it may help. I’d rather hear Kat sing than listen to the auditions.
Kat talks about her new CD with Access Hollywood.
VH1 has a great interview with Fantasia about her upcoming album ‘Fantasia’. Aretha meets Tina Turner? That’s a mighty lofty goal, ’Tasia…
Then again, if anyone can do it, you can!
The judges really do have hearts!
Contestant Kaitlin Corbett Jones’ grandfather was seriously injured in a hostage situation in April (read his story here). After a long and painful recovery, her grandparents, Patrick and Jean Corbett, were on hand to watch their granddaughter sing her way into the top 100 finalists for the 2007 “American Idol” competition in California.
As American Idol judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Olivia Newton-John critiqued Kaitlin, they noticed she was holding something in her hand. It was her grandfather’s necklace with a medallion of St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. Corbett was wearing the necklace the night he was held hostage.
When the judges quizzed Kaitlin about the jewelry, she told them what happened to her grandfather. The judges invited Patrick Corbett onto the stage so his granddaughter could sing to him. “After everything he’s gone through, it’s a miracle,” Kaitlin said. “He’s endured a lot.”
Although Kaitlin didn’t make it to the Top 24, the segment was filmed and will probably be shown during the audition rounds. Finally, something heartwarming - not painful - to bring us to tears.
Just listened to a few tracks from Melinda Lira’s CD. Listen and buy here.
From author Angela Hunt’s blog:
“I haven’t said much about it, but my WIP this week and last was the nonfiction project I’m doing with Mandisa, the fabulous girl who was a finalist on last season’s “American Idol.” I met with Mandisa last week in Nashville and was very impressed by her sweet spirit, her talent, and her surrender to the Lord. We are going to be working on her book from now until the end of January, ping-ponging the manuscript back and forth until it’s everything it’s supposed to be.”
This is cool. In an interview with BlackNews.com about his new movie ‘Deja Vu’, Denzel Washington describes his latest deja vu:
DW: You know what? I had an odd one today. I’m going to get the mail out of the mailbox, and I’m standing out on the street by my front gate when I had a feeling somebody’s going to drive by. So I just stood out there. I just had a feeling somebody was coming, so I decided to stand there for a minute. And it wasn’t ten seconds before a white truck goes by. Then it stops, and backs up. And it’s Eddie Murphy, and he gave me the whole scoop on Dreamgirls.
KW: What’d he say about it?
DW: He said that Jennifer Hudson is stealing the movie. Have you seen it yet?
KW: Yep.
DW: Does she steal it?
KW: She sure does, even though he and Beyonce’ and Jamie Foxx certainly hold their own.
DW: He said she stops the movie. And they applaud. As was the case with Jennifer Holliday, like I saw on Broadway. That was an amazing moment in the theater.
KW: The same thing happened at my screening. A standing ovation during the movie. What was it like filming Déjà Vu in New Orleans?
Kelly Clarkson - ‘Favorite Pop/Rock Female’ and ‘Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist’
Carrie Underwood - ‘Favorite New Breakthrough Artist
Presenters - Taylor Hicks, Clay Aiken, Katharine McPhee
Performers - Carrie Underwood - She performed a medley of recent hits including “Jesus Take The Wheel,” “Don’t Forget To Remember Me,” and her current smash, “Before He Cheats,” from her debut album, ‘Some Hearts’.
Carrie on Faith and American Idol: - Underwood said that superstar Faith Hill was kidding when she screamed “What?” to the camera in what looked like anger when she lost the CMA female vocalist of the year award to Underwood.
“That night I actually spoke to her immediately after the awards show was over. She assured me she was just joking,” said Underwood.
“I owe everything that I do or will do to ‘American Idol,’” she said, noting that her win, plus former “Idol” Kelly Clarkson’s in two categories “does give the show more credibility.”
But what about Clarkson being a no-show to the ceremony, and her past remarks that were critical of “Idol”?
“I’ve never had to say anything negative about ‘American Idol’ because everyone has been so supportive of me,” Underwood said.
Taylor on Wierd Al - Yankovic did a parody of Hicks on the song “Do I Creep You Out?” but he said Hicks was a good sport.
Hicks, standing a few feet away, agreed.
“It’s cool,” said the tan and tall singer. “What’s there to be mad at?”
