I am currently signed up for approximately 90 Google alerts - all American Idol related. When I signed on this morning, I had 205 emails - about 150 of those were trash - and most of the rest were for Jennifer Hudson. The amount of press she is receiving is astonishing - I can’t remember the last time someone received THIS MUCH BUZZ for a debut film role. As a matter of fact, I can’t think of the last time there’s been this much buzz about ANY film role. I’m sure someone will email me or comment and tell me who Oscar’s last paramour was, and I’m sure it will be someone totally obvious, and I’m also sure I’ll feel like a big idiot for not remembering. I’m kinda used to feeling like an idiot, so please help me out and let me know.

In this latest JHud interview from Newsday, author Gene Seymour paints a glowing picture of a confident, composed, and secure rising star. Jennifer is supposed to be in the limelight - right here and right now. You know how you feel when something is just right? You just feel it in your bones - there is no fear, no doubt, not even overwhelming excitement. It’s just a calm knowing - it’s the most wonderful experience! I love it when it happens to me and I am thrilled it is happening for Jennifer.

I take my Christmas music seriously. There are a lot of singers for a relatively few songs - for every great version, there are twenty more that really stink. No one thought it was funny when Rosanne Barr butchered the National Anthem - I get almost as irritated with The Chipmunks singing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” which is my absolute, bar-none favorite Christmas song of all time. If you’ve never seen Judy Garland sing it in “Meet Me In St. Louis” you really should. I’m not positive, but I think it was written for that movie - which, by the way, is way up there on “My Favorite Movie” list. I don’t give kudos for this song lightly, but I must say, I enjoyed Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood’s renditions immensely. How did we manage to survive without YouTube, anyway? I’m not going to bother trying to decide which one I like better - they’re different enough so that I can like them both without having to pick. And there you have it, folks - a sneak peek into the mind of a Libra…

Hmmm…sure are lots of injuries going on in Nashville these days. Sure are lots of Idols getting another shot at superstardom. Coninkeedink? Far be it from me to start a rumor…

After vocalist Buddy Jewell broke his wrist and had to drop out of the GAC Country Christmas Tour, Bucky Covington got a break of his own and was asked to be Jewell’s last-minute replacement. In an interview with The Canton Rep, Bucky talked about his early Christmas gift and new album:

This Christmas tour really dropped out of the sky for you, didn’t it?

It sure did. I was at home in Rockingham and my manager called and said, “Do you know any Christmas songs?” He said to learn two and get on the plane.

So you’ve been working on an album. Tell me about that.

It’s going to be a country record, definitely, anything from slow ballads to upbeat, humorous songs, and I’ve got some songs that are almost rock. By the end of the week, I’m hoping to be signed to a label. I’m very happy with the way things are going. I don’t want overnight success, I want longevity.

After “Idol,” you must get recognized everywhere you go.

A lot of times, yeah. The first day of the (Christmas) tour, we stopped at this Starbucks in Kansas in the middle of a snowstorm and this lady saw me and said, “Hey, Bucky!” It just blew her mind that I was standing there … It’s nice to not be forgotten, you know?

Oh, Bucky hasn’t been forgotten. Visit his brand new official website, BuckyCovingtonMusic.com to check out all the latest information.

Ever the Marine, Josh Gracin didn’t hesitate to answer the call of duty when his tourmates, the country group Lonestar, needed help. The lead singer, Richie McDonald was unable to perform due to injury and had to stay back in Nashville. Josh, who is currently opening for Lonestar, was more than happy to jump in and take over vocal duties.

At the STARS 2006 Rio Grande Valley Extravaganza – a benefit concert for South Texas students – Josh warmed up the crowd with songs like ‘Ain’t Going Down ‘Til The Sun Comes Up’ and ‘Got Nothin’ To Lose.’ He then hit the stage with Lonestar singing “My Front Porch Lookin’ In’, ‘Smile’, ‘Not A Day Goes By’, and the mega-hit, ‘Amazed’. Dean Sams from Lonestar explained McDonald’s absence and said, “We thought, ‘Well, we could cancel a few shows, or we could send a few kids in South Texas to school,’” he said, clapping Gracin on the back. “Luckily, Josh here knew all the songs.”

I sure hope this brings Josh some much-needed exposure. Yes, he’s got a nice little career going, but I think he could be much, much bigger. His single, “I Keep Coming Back”, had lukewarm success on the country charts and his next CD has been delayed. Check out Josh’s MySpace page to listen to his single and check out his American Idol version of ‘Amazed’ below.

I’ll tell ya, that ‘Runaround’ must have done something to my brain. Maybe it was all that dancing around that I haven’t done in years - the cat finally came out of hiding, by the way.  I swear I had posted the video, but apparently I didn’t.  The outrageously good ‘Tonight Show’ performance has disappeared from You Tube, but the GMA performance is below.

 
This is my favorite quote from a recent Birmingham News interview:

“I’ve been relying on instinct ever since I won on `Idol,’” Hicks says, “and I’ve been applying that same thought to all my business decisions. Can I feel it? Does it feel right? You can sugarcoat everything else around me, but you can’t sugarcoat the instinct.”

Although the CD may have been a bit too rushed for Taylor’s liking, I think he has put out a fabulous representation of himself and his music. I am grateful the powers that be from American Idol allowed Taylor to follow his instincts as much as they did. Wonderful things happen when you listen – really stop and listen – to what your gut is telling you. ‘Taylor Hicks’ is a wonderful, wonderful thing. I can’t wait for Tuesday!

Chris Daughtry is feeling the love for his fans – as well he should – his first CD sold over 300,000 copies in its first week. We know we rock – but still, it’s nice to hear it. Here is the most recent blog post from Daughtry’s MySpace page:

“Hey y’all. I know it’ been a long time since I’ve posted so I think it’s about time. Been very busy as you know. I’m in Charlotte, NC now gettin’ ready for the Southern Sports Awards…I had never heard of it either…til recently. It’s being filmed tonight and aired on a different date. Check the site www.southernsportsawards.com for local times and listings. I really just want to let you all know how soooooooo grateful I am for every single one of you that bought or are going to buy the album and continue to get the word out. It has obviously paid off. I had high hopes but never expected the first week to be soooo amazing. Not to mention being the first ever to come from american idol and be played on rock radio. That’s quite an honor for me. YOU made it happen. I wish I could hug all of you…or give you a high five…whatever you’re into. Basically I don’t feel that there’s any amount of words to express how much I truly appreciate each and every one of you. You’ve really put me on the map in the music world in a big way. I realize that it doesn’t matter how good you are, if the people don’t want to hear it, it means absolutely nothing. So as long as y’all want it, we’re gonna give all we have. We’re still getting all the details on when and where we’re touring. Nothing is set in stone yet, so I’ll keep ya posted on that. The video is still getting worked on to be just right. Thanks for being patient. Oh yeah, the idea of getting the albums over seas to the troops…brilliant. That means so much. That’s all I have for now. Love all of you. God bless-Chris”

Geez – I just realized I am going to have a big concert-going year in 2007! DAUGHTRY, Taylor Hicks, and Kelly Clarkson (oh please oh please). I guess I’ll be hitting the dollar store for Christmas gifts tomorrow.

It’s going to be a busy few months for Fantasia.  Her sophomore album drops on Tuesday, December 12th, and the promotion campaign has already started.  Fantasia performed ‘When I See U’ on the Today show recently.  Rumored to be her second single (the first single is ‘Hood Boy’) it’s definitely my favorite song from the CD and it was a great performance.  The entire CD is surprisingly good – I say surprisingly because for me, Fantasia tends to get a bit screechy.  I didn’t expect to like it – especially after I had listened to Taylor’s CD three times in a row – but I did.

I’m not the only one either.  In the December 14th issue, Rolling Stone magazine gives ‘Fantasia’ 3 ½ stars and reviewer Evan Serpick claims:  “Fantasia expands her range, adds some attitude and comes up with some genuine R&B gems.”  Among his favorites:  ‘Hood Boy’, ‘Not The Way That I Do’, and ‘Bore Me (Yawn)’  Serpick’s calls ‘Baby Makin’ Hips’ “ferocious” and claims it is “…Fantasia’s best song to date, a potential shout-along classic on par with Mary J.’s “No More Drama” and Kelis’ “Caught Out There.”  Can’t get much better than that!

Fantasia will also be opening for Jamie Foxx on several dates on his 12-date tour beginning the day after Dreamgirls hits theatres.  Foxx’s show will be a combination of songs and standup comedy.  For ticket/tour information, visit http://tour.jamiefoxx.com.

The world has gone completely insane. Before I started writing for Idolwire, when I would see stories like these, I would simply change the channel, close the page, etc. Unfortunately, I had to change my address from “Happy, Oblivion” to “What the Hell?, Real World” in order to report the news - and I use that term very, very, loosely.

I was wondering how long it would take and what lengths people would go to mutate the “feel-good story” of the year - Jennifer Hudson’s Cinderella story from booted Idol to Oscar-worthy star - into a national scandal. You can read the story here, here, and here. I’m too disgusted to summarize for you.

It’s almost like we can’t stand to have anyone too happy for too long. “Jennifer Hudson steals the movie! She’s on her way to superstardom! Her performance is like a religious experience! Let’s rip the bitch to shreds! C’mon! Who’s with me!” It’s crazy - how does making Jennifer Hudson look bad make anyone else look good? How does making Jennifer Hudson feel sad, depressed, and hurt make anyone else feel better? I don’t get it.

It’s not just Jennifer, either. In just the past few weeks we’ve had such made up, twisted, and exaggerated stories as Taylor Hicks is ungrateful to Idol, a rehashing of the Kelly Clarkson didn’t thank Idol at the Grammy’s, Fantasia calling JHud a heiffer, and the Beyonce feud. The most disgusting display of this sickening “reporting” was Clay Aiken’s sour note at a Christmas concert. It was everywhere for days. I don’t always agree with the Claymates’ tactics when it comes to supporting Clay, but they were dead-on justified in their campaign to have those videos removed. In my opinion, posting that video wasn’t “good-natured, all in fun ribbing” - it was just plain mean.  These celebrities are successful for a reason - they’ve earned it!  Go earn your own damn success and stop trying to destroy theirs.

It’s not easy being the kinder, gentler American Idol site. I’m trying - really I am - but, boy am I homesick for Oblivion.

Posted By:Elliott Yamin

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

This was definitely worth the wait! I had almost forgotten what Elliott’s voice sounds like (my memory isn’t what is used to be)! Perfect song for him and the ‘behind the scenes” video is a thoughtful gift for Elliot’s fans. So that’s where the magic happens! Why does it remind me of Wayne and Garth’s basement? Aw, who cares - Elliott sounds great and looks happy.

Elliott posted a blog today on his MySpace page. I just have to giggle because he sounds so excited, he’s like a little kid - it’s awesome! Everybody should feel this way everyday! I counted eleven exclamation points - hey, anytime you can use eleven exclamation points in one paragraph, you’re doing something right. Elliott mentions releasing music and recording an album, so although he’s only been signed to a publishing deal, he must know something we don’t (How rude!). Here is his blog post, but if you visit his MySpace page, you can listen to the mp3 of “This Christmas” as well.

“Hey everybody! I’m so glad ya’ll are feeling my version of “This Christmas”! As you know it is already streaming on AOL, and should be available for purchase on iTunes today! Just wanted to make sure my fans had a chance to vibe with it 1ST!…In case you haven’t noticed, there is also a short video of the making of “This Christmas” in the studio on my profile page..The concoction of talent used to build this song was incredible! DJ Lethal…my man Ollie layed down the bass….one of the sickeest pianists I’ve seen-Eli…live horns and guitar…and to top it all off, we were blessed w/the live drum track from an old school legend by the name of James Gatson…He was Bill Withers’ drummer back in the day!!(check out his live @carnigie hall album-just 1 of my personal favorites!)…I will also be featured in the latest issue of People Magazine, which I believe should be hitting the newstands today as well! I’m so grateful for your patience and support….and elated to finally be able to release some music to the masses! Trust me when I say that this is only the beginning of greater things yet to come! I’m just as hungry as you are, and that’s why I’ve been so busy writing w/some top notch katz for the album! There are tons of great things on the horizon for me right now and I truly can’t wait to share all the news w/ya’ll! I’m very blessed…..and so are you!…..Stay tuned for the scoop on where I’ll be on Christmas day!”

When I was nine years old, I had a gigantic crush on Donny Osmond. Everything I owned was purple, right down to the wall-to-wall carpeting in my bedroom (for which I am eternally grateful – it was awesome!). I had two Donny and Marie records that I played over and over and over again - I swear I still know all the words - causing my family to run for cover when it was my turn to use the stereo. The day my Tiger Beat arrived in the mail was the highlight of my week – I would spend hours poring over the pages, staring at the pictures, and carefully cutting out the posters and the iron-ons. At night, I’d lay awake in my ridiculously cool purple bedroom and dream up all kinds of crazy stories - “The Adventures of Donny Osmond”. Alas, the yearning for my Donny was mine alone to bear. My friends didn’t share my affections, so the only conversations I ever had about my dearest love was my big sister yelling, “Mom! Tell Laurie to stop talking about Donny Osmond!” – I hardly think that counts. One Friday night, my parents had to hire a babysitter because I refused to leave the house – “But, Daddy! I can’t go – the ‘Donny and Marie Show’ is on!” Clearly, my predisposition to fanaticism surfaced at an early age.

Fast forward 30 years (slow down over my 20’s – they were fun) and imagine my joyous discovery of the world of internet fandom. Uber-fans UNITE! Enclosed within the hallowed forum walls lies a fairytale world for the celeb-stricken: news, videos, audio, pictures – anything you can imagine is here! The message boards bring fans together in ways never before possible – think of it as a year-round, always accessible Trekkie Convention. The best part is admittance is guaranteed – uber-fans can be young or old, married or single, working or going to school, or be of any nationality, race, color or creed. As long as you feel the love, you’ll be welcome for life. Is there anything better than sharing the thrill of a new CD or bit of information with your like-minded buddies? Feeling a sudden surge of love for Elliott Yamin? Jump on the board at the E-Train and share your mushiness with the equally afflicted. Did you just run into Constantine Maroulis at the neighborhood deli in the Bronx? There are hundreds of people at Greek Speak who are dying to hear your story! “What was he wearing? Did he pout for you? You know, did he make ‘the face’?” Are you a Carrie Underwood fan who just happens to live in Siberia? No matter. Lose the parka, grab a bottle of vodka, and belly up to the forum at CarrieFans.com – the place where everybody knows your (screen)name and they’re always glad you came.

When I was a girl, no one wanted to hear the story of how my beloved Donny saves me from a burning building: “Cradling her in his strong arms, Donny bravely dodged the flames and fled the towering inferno. Choking on smoke and tears, he looked down at the light of his life fading away. ‘Don’t leave me! I love you!’” Yeah, well…not so sure anyone wants to hear it now either, but that’s not my point… Today, I could post my stories in the fanfic section of the board and get immediate feedback: “Awww…that’s so romantic!” or “Gosh, that’s a little creepy coming from a nine-year-old.” The artists among us upload their drawings, wallpapers, banners, and blends to share their creative vision. I have several pieces of Kelly Clarkson fan art hanging in my office – at my age posters are simply not acceptable, but a beautiful black and white sketch is perfect! (Jess (awesomeaussie) at the KC Express - you rock!) I am always amazed when I read through the creative threads on boards and see all the poetry, songs, artwork, and stories. Uber-fans don’t only invest their time and money, they invest their passion.

And passion, my fellow fans, is the key. It’s the force that creates a Claymate from a mere Clay Aiken fan. It’s the magic that transforms an occasional Taylor Hicks listener into a Soul Patroller. It’s the fire that forges a Louisiana wife and mother into a Hot Damn! 10,000+ poster on the Kelly Clarkson Express. It’s what keeps the career fires burning for Bo Bice until he can make a full recovery. It’s what drives Highrollers to raise over $30,000 in 30 days. At its best, passion is love in its purest form - at its worst, a dangerous obsession. This Christmas season, celebrate your passion in its purest form with your nearest and dearest. It is a remarkable gift to share, for a life without passion is simply a long, dark road.

Fourteen years passed before I finally saw Donny Osmond in person. He was performing the National Anthem before a BYU football game and I thought, “I have never been happier than I am right this very second.” And they called it puppy love…whatever.