Don’t forget about Taylor Hicks and the “Christmas In Rockefeller” special tonight on NBC! Check your local listings!
Part Three of Shirley Kennedy’s interview with Elliott Yamin is up. Elliott discusses his artistic integrity, paying his dues, and his new “day job”. Thanks, Shirley, for an excellent interview…I’m desperately jealous…but thanks anyway.Â
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.
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.”
Kelly Clarkson - ‘Favorite Pop/Rock Female’ and ‘Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist’
Carrie Underwood - ‘Favorite New Breakthrough Artist              Â
Presenters -Â Â 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:Â - 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?”
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Too many great things going on over at GrayCharles.com to list…check out song samples, interviews, a message from Taylor, etc.
“Daughtry”, Chris Daughtry’s debut album dropped yesterday. Here are just a few reviews - we will be updating as more reviews come in.
The News and Observer - nothing nice to say…at all: “Daughtry” (RCA Records) might be the most generic album yet to emerge from the show”;”ultra-lame lyrics”; “Vocally, Daughtry comes on like a faux-grunge Michael Bolton”
The Daily Brief - so-so review: ”good hooks”, “great freakin’ vocals”, “The songs are all solid works on their own, I just don’t see myself listening to the entire album very much. I’m not disappointed. I like the songs, just too much all at once? Does that make sense?”
Billboard.biz - ”This is music tailor-made for ill-conceived radio formatting, music for consumers whose taste has already been well-established if not preprogrammed. But Daughtry sure does sing his ass off.”
Musical Ramblings:Â The only one that counts!
I’m not terribly crazy about Taylor’s version, but then again, I am a National Anthem snob.
