Former Vice-President and environmentalist Al Gore has announced his plans for a “Live Earth” concert to promote awareness of the imminent dangers of global warming. A top-notch lineup of artists, including American Idol season one winner Kelly Clarkson, will perform in concerts on 7/7/2007 across the world. The concerts will be aired on television, radio, and the Web with MSNBC reporting that the concerts will be streamed live on MSN.

In addition to Clarkson, other artists already slated to perform include the Food Fighters, Lenny Kraits, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Duran, Koran, Harrell, the Black Eyed Peas, Akin, Enrique Silesians, Fall out Boy, Corrine Bailey Rae, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw. The promoters plan to hold the concerts in Shanghai, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; Sydney, Australia; London, England; Kyoto, Japan; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and the United States. Gore also has plans to stage the first effort roc concert in Antarctica having a Live Earth performance there as well.

Entertainment Tonight’s Jann Carl sat down with Katharine McPhee to discuss her new album (released today!) as well as discuss the Idol controversy. Evidently McPhee has been living in a cave the past few weeks because she was unaware of the controvery surrounding Paula Abdul and her possibly spiked coca-cola. Check your local listings for when Entertainment Tonight will air in your area or view the interview online at ET Online.

Another past Idol contestant will also be interviewed today - Jennifer Hudson will be appearing on the Oprah show. Again, check your local listings for time and channel specifics.

Who can forget Jonathan Jayne and Kenneth Swale from Seattle? Simon Cowell said of Swale “Your dancing is terrible, the singing was horrendous, and you look like one of those creatures that live in the jungle with those massive eyes, what are they called? Bush baby,” and asked Jayne if he borrowed a pair of trousers from Randy Jackson. Since the show aired the Special Olympics have stepped up with a press release regarding the show as Jayne has been an active participant with the organization for years. “While polite isn’t a word one would normally associate with Cowell and company, a viewing of the episode in question shows that the judges were in fact gracious and very encouraging to Jayne during his rendition of ‘God Bless America’. At one point Abdul commented admiringly about Jayne’s spirit and advised him to ‘Always believe in yourself.’”

I think that the Special Olympics is being gracious with their response to the show. During Jayne’s performance the judges snickered and made faces, clearly not acting in a professional manner. Of course seasoned viewers of American Idol wouldn’t expect them to act professional and while they weren’t hard on Jayne they certainly weren’t gracious.

Both Swale and Jayne just wanted to make it to Hollywood. Guess what? They did! Both appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The appearance was highlighted by a picture of a ‘bush baby’ with Simon Cowell’s face glued to the picture. See the pair’s appearance on the show courtesy of You Tube.

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.

Don’t forget about Taylor Hicks and the “Christmas In Rockefeller” special tonight on NBC!  Check your local listings!

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?”

Wow, wow, and more wow! I am actually speechless…
Okay, not really. What an amazing show! CMT Giants:Reba premiered on Saturday, November 18th, but is being shown several more times this week. It is an absolute TIVO must! These two Kelly Clarkson performances were spectacular, but it was Reba herself who brought the house down with “Fancy” at the end of the night. Even if you think you don’t care for Kelly (what is wrong with you anyway?) you owe it to yourself to check these out.

I am just sick, sick, sick that I missed this show! How did I NOT know Jennifer Hudson was going to be on Oprah? How much do I love YouTube? Let me count the ways:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBmW4IQ4TiI Beyonce and Jamie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW-r6FcvPDI Beyonce and Jamie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0gVfe6OOxc Jennifer Hudson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIBpgy1nmrg Anika Noni Rose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OPt3bBYKJE Eddie Murphy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V-WXMfEQ4k The Cast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhL2×86geAU Beyonce Performance

This is the best!  A message from Simon: 

“We have our history together, don’t we, Jennifer?” Simon told Jennifer via Oprah. “Now I feel my criticism has probably had a significant part in your career, because the buzz on you is huge. I heard your [version] of ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ today, and I would like to be the first to eat a massive dose of humble pie. Because there are good performances and occasionally there are extraordinary performances. That was extraordinary, Jennifer, and I feel very proud for you. I feel we had a very small part in what’s happened in your life, and please thank me when you get your Oscar®.”

HA! HA! AND DOUBLE HA!

I’m not terribly crazy about Taylor’s version, but then again, I am a National Anthem snob.

Well, I wasn’t going to post about this because generally my rule is “If you don’t have something nice to say…”, but here goes:

I watched the first ten minutes of Clay’s co-hosting gig on “Live with Regis and Kelly” Friday morning.  I don’t watch the show, but Clay was on and his interviews are always entertaining, so I tuned in.  The first few minutes were fine - they did the Halloween thing, Clay reacted like anyone would who had been lampooned - no problem there.  But he wouldn’t let it go!  I couldn’t believe how rude Clay was to Kelly - honestly, I felt like the real Clay had been kidnapped and this was some snarky, immature, NOT funny impersonator.  Clay has quite a quick wit and comes up with some great zingers, but there’s a time, a place, and a LIMIT!  Sometimes, If you if you just keep the zingers coming for no reason, you move into “just plain rude” territory and in my opinion, Clay crossed the line.  I started to become very uncomfortable with the whole thing and embarrassed for Clay, so I just said “Enough!” and turned it off. 

Good thing I did as it appears the confrontation continued…all the way up to today’s show.  Why, oh why did Kelly have to bring it up? If she had a beef with Clay, she should have taken it up with him IN PRIVATE, not on national television when Clay wasn’t there to defend himself or apologize. I didn’t disagree with her - he was disrespectful and hostile (although not overly) - but talking about it this morning was also disrespectful and hostile (although not overly) and very unprofessional.

And what about the Claymates?  Clay made the reference (to Kelly) “They’re going to mob you” and Kelly said she’s been wearing a bulletproof vest since the Halloween parody.  As a Clay fan, I didn’t appreciate the comments from either of them.  I’ve been on the Clay boards today and the vast, vast majority of the fans on those boards are advocating NOT sending hate mail and NOT behaving like lunatics.  A few (a very few) even agreed that Clay putting his hand over Kelly’s mouth was not a good move.  Yes, Claymates are dedicated and yes, they see him through rose-colored glasses (as all fan bases view their celebrity) and yes, they are the most vocal and organized of the bunch, but to continue this image of “unstable housewives” isn’t fair and it can’t be helping Clay’s career.  Why didn’t Clay say, “Oh, come on?  A bullet proof vest?  My fans are devoted but they are the sweetest people ever - they would never hurt anyone.”  Why wouldn’t he defend his fans? What does he know that I don’t?  Am I giving the ‘Mates too much credit?  Do the “fringe loonies” really outnumber the casual to simply rabid fans?  If they do, that’s really too bad…

Not that I expect it to, but hopefully this will all blow over in the next few days.  Clay certainly doesn’t need more bad press and Kelly shouldn’t have to fear for her life because she overreacted.  I think maybe a fun and fabulous interview on Wednesday’s Tyra Banks Show is just what the doctor ordered…

Please feel free to agree or disagree, but please keep your comments civil and respectful or they will be deleted.  Thank you.