There are a couple of interesting tidbits in the news right now and I thought I’d share.

Jennifer Hudson, the most successful former American Idol contestant in my opinion, has turned down a $3 million movie role. Yes, that’s right, $3 million. Warner Bros offered her $3 million for a role in an upcoming movie but it would involve Hudson’s character being involved in a nude scene. Hudson turned it down because she considers herself a role model for aspiring young black women. You go girl!

Nigel Lythgoe sounds off on the Rosie O’Donnell claim that American Idol is a racist show calling her “utterly crazy.” O’Donnell made this claim after Antonella Barba was treated differently than Frenchie Davis for similar indiscretions. O’Donnell felt that the show was racist and also discriminated against Davis because of her weight. In a call to Ryan Seacrest’s radio show earlier today Lythgoe said “Without wishing to add to the obvious self-promotion of Ms O’Donnell, I feel as though I must refute her absurd and ridiculous claims that American Idol is racist and/or weightist.” Lythgoe then went on to say “Look at our past contestants, Ruben (Studdard) for instance, Randy Jackson himself… these are not small people!” Thanks for pointing out the obvious Nigel.

I don’t often go to concerts – I’m only 5’2” and I don’t really like crowds (everybody is always breathing on me) – but not much was going to keep me away from the Idols Live! tour after Season Four. Aside from the terrific group of performers and performances, it was an awesome opportunity for people watching. The girl sitting in front of me was about fourteen and quite obviously an Anthony Federov fan. No one around us was standing up throughout Anthony’s turn on the stage except for her. She was waving shyly and I think she had a sign, unfortunately, he didn’t notice her or wave back. This poor, heartbroken child spent the rest of the night pouting, much to her parents’ and little brother’s amusement.

Why the story? Well, I hope that girl gets to read this interview. We have many, many wonderful contributors to the Idol blogosphere, but JD Matthews is one of my heroes. Not only does he survive living in Memphis (I’m a six-year veteran) but he does great things for the marketing-challenged Idols. His interview with Anthony - with help from the AFed community - is a knock-out. If you haven’t heard Anthony’s ‘Culpa Me’ it is also a knock-out – be sure to visit IdolWaves.com to hear it. Oh, and thanks for the AFed fansite info – sounds like some good lurking!

Have I mentioned recently that I adore Entertainment Weekly? For all of you holiday procrastinators, it makes an absolutely fabulous gift – I think I’ve given an EW gift subscription to someone for the past five years. They never fail to have the best interviews – and I’ve read a zillion of them from Fantasia over the past few weeks – and not surprisingly, this is my favorite. I tried to pick out some of the best excerpts to print here, but I ended up with the entire article, so here is the EW link. Better still, why don’t you pick up the issue and take care of some Christmas shopping while you’re at it? I promise, you won’t be sorry…

The interview takes place in Fantasia’s hotel suite in New York city and the conversation runs the gamut: Her new boyfriend, her father’s lawsuit, her new album, her upcoming tour, losing “Dreamgirls”, her struggles with anxiety and fame, and her new puppy, King. It’s mind-boggling when you realize she is only 22-years-old – I can’t wait to see how her career plays out. She’s got miles and miles to go, and if her newest CD is any indication, I’d say we can look for “Life Really Is A Fairy Tale” on store shelves very soon.

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’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!

Gotta love Shirley Kennedy. She has been one of Elliott Yamin’s most outspoken supporters, so when she starts having doubts and concerns, you’d better listen. I’m trying not to push the panic button, but Shirley has, as usual, done her research and has come up with a lot of support for her theory that “Elliott’s fans should be disappointed in this news, not overjoyed.”

The news she is referring to is the recently announced publishing deal with Sony/ATV publishing. In great detail, Ms. Kennedy takes a look at publishing deals, how they differ and can affect recording deals, and how much money can be made from them. Elliott is a rookie writer - unless Elliott has some heretofore unseen God-given talent for songwriting, the question remains for many: “Why not a recording contract?”

“A friend of mine, who works with Atlantic Records, believes a publishing deal to be a precursor to a label deal. On the other hand, when I posed that question to Rob Hassett, his response was: “My experience is that when a record company signs a recording artist who writes their own songs, the publishing affiliate will want to sign the artist to a publishing contract because they know that some of the songs are going to be recorded and released and will typically take less than the 50%.” In other words, the label deal typically comes first.”

Shirley’s article makes a certain amount of sense, but I have no doubt whatsoever that Elliott will make his living in the music industry - he is too talented not to. The question becomes will he have a Justin Guarini career - small, but successful and joyous; a Constantine career - big fish, small pond; or Carrie Underwood’s huge success in a specialized market?

In a People magazine interview, Beyonce finally addresses the Jennifer Hudson feud rumors. It’s about time - it’s too bad she didn’t put an end to them immediately. Beyonce’s response seems genuine to me - I was having a hard time believing she could begrudge JHud her moment in the sun, but what the hell do I know? As with anything Hollywood, rumors and rebuttals alike should be taken with a grain of salt. She never does address the accusations regarding her father’s behavior, however it’s not exactly her place to defend or apologize for a grown man. I feel more comfortable giving Beyonce the benefit of the doubt, but unfortunately, the rumors about her father’s poor attitude and treatment of Jennifer Hudson are far easier to believe.

“I knew that the character that I played wasn’t the star. She wasn’t the underdog. She didn’t have the struggle and the pain and the dramatic scenes that Effie had, and I was fine with that.”

Daddy Knowles must not have gotten the memo about his little girl’s role. It’s been reported that he demanded the film be reedited to give Beyonce more screen time and he’s been downright hostile to Jennifer.

“It’s really unfortunate that everyone is saying I’m jealous of Jennifer. It hurts my heart because it’s so clichéd. … They’re saying that I’m mad when I knew going into this that I was playing Deena,” said Knowles. “Because I’m a star they just automatically assume that I’m not humble enough to sit down and take a back seat, which I am.”

Not that Beyonce wouldn’t have loved the opportunity to play Effie - who the heck wouldn’t? - but by all accounts, Jennifer Hudson was born to be Effie.

“Jennifer Hudson had such a pressure, first of all, never being in a film and never have done an album and still having to live up to those expectations,” said Knowles. “She did incredible.”

You know those silly countdown shows that seem to be everywhere these days? It seems Jennifer Hudson missed the number one spot on “Top 100 Dumb Career Moves” by a hair. In a Newsweek interview, Jennifer admits to almost refusing a phone call from Oprah:

“Tell her I’m not talking,” Hudson told her makeup artist, who had answered the phone. “I was resting my voice, and I thought it was my manager playing around! It took about 30 seconds before I realized, ‘Oh, my God, this is Oprah for real!’ ”

After seeing Hudson’s stellar breakout performance in ‘Dreamgirls’, Winfrey was calling to gush. “She said my performance was like a religious experience,” Hudson says, and looks down at her lap. “She said words were not enough to define it. She said, ‘I’m so proud of you’.”

Jennifer portrays Effie White - the “big-boned”, big-voiced lead of the Dreamettes who gets forced to the background because of her image. In a life-imitates-art way, Jennifer has experienced this herself. She was booted off “American Idol,” prompting criticism from fans, including Elton John, that “Idol” voters were racist. Hudson has a more realistic explanation: “It just meant that wasn’t the place for me,” she says. “I figured if they couldn’t accept me for the talent that I am, then I didn’t need to be there. The ‘Idol’ judges told me, ‘Everything about you is too much’,” she says. ” ‘Your voice is too much. Your look is too much. Your hair is too much.’ I didn’t understand. Isn’t that what a star is: bigger than average?”

By Christmas Day, we’ll have our answer. “Dreamgirls” opens amid almost universal afteement that Jennifer Hudson is about to explode. She has already landed a recording contract - the fact that she didn’t have one prior to the movie still has people boggled - and most likely an Oscar win in 2007. Despite all the hype around her, and the lessons to be learned from Effie, she’ll still be dealing with image issues in the real world.

“Why should I feel like the minority when the majority of America is a size 12?” she says. “Plus, a lot of singers don’t sound the same when they lose weight.” She grabs a handful of flesh below her belly. “I have a little singer’s pouch, and that’s where the voice comes from, so you’re all just going to have to get used to my jelly.” She laughs. “Hey, somebody has to represent the big girls. Why not me?”

Damn straight…why not you?

There she is! I’ve been wondering when we’d be hearing from Paris Bennett again. She was so young on ‘American Idol’ but she sure seems to have grown up over the past year. TeenMusic.com caught up with Paris while she was in town for the Billboard awards.

Paris has some big plans coming up for 2007. Paris’ debut album, “Princess P”, will be out early next year and her first single, “Dreamin’” will be out in the next few weeks. In addition to an upcoming promotional tour, Paris is getting ready to shoot the video as well.

“We haven’t done a video yet but we’re getting ready. Basically, it’s about my “American Idol” experience, my life before and life after. I’m co-writing it. This being my first album, I’m co-writing with Ray Issac, a new guy. I have a producer doing writing with me.”

Paris always seemed a bit out of place on ‘American Idol’ to me. It’s not every day you hear a 17-year old, itty bitty thing belting out “deep, deep jazz.” Her answer to who she was listening to as a teen explains a lot:

“Gladys Knight, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Holiday, Etta James. I’m a little person with an old soul so I go way back, Aretha Franklin.”

She would also love to do a duet with Al Jarreau - as she did on the AI finale - and have the duet “We’re In This Love Together” on her album. I second that - their duet was the best of the night.

So what is Santa bringing Princess P this year?

“For Christmas, I’ll be on the Disney cruise. Me and Bianca Ryan are performing on the cruise and my family is going to come and join me on the cruise. Disney has their own island. We’re going to go to St. Lucia and it is fabulous. I only have to sing one day on the cruise so I’m going to get some rest and chill out.”

Poor little Diana!  Diana was on ‘The O’Reilly Factor’ Tuesday night to discuss her harrowing experience with I.D. theft, stalking, and blackmail which started through her MySpace page.  Fortunately, the story has a happy ending - a woman has been arrested in Australia.  Go here to watch the video of the interview and here to read the story about the arrest.  And below, relive the good ol’ days and watch Diana hold a 17-second note!