Idol Chit-Chat
This is your place to discuss all things "American Idol." The performances, the judges, the past contestants — it’s all right here.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Idols Dominate the Billboard Charts

Billboard.com has an interesting article about all of the former Idols on the Billboard charts last week.

There were 15 Idols on the chart representing every season of the show except—not surprisingly—season nine. They were: Scotty McCreery (S10), Lauren Alaina (S10), Kelly Clarkson (S1), Ruben Studdard (S2), Fantasia (S3), Jennifer Hudson (S3), Carrie Underwood (S4), Constantine Maroulis (S4), Kellie Pickler (S5), Chris Daughtry (S5), Mandisa (S5), Chris Sligh (S6), David Cook(S7), Kris Allen (S8) and Adam Lambert (S8).

“American Idol” now has 301 #1s in the show’s history. Kelly has the most of them with 60. Carrie is close behind with 50. Chris Daughtry, with his band, Daughtry, has 38 and Ruben, somewhat surprisingly, has 16 of them. Mandisa has 11.

Of the 119 finalists from the show’s first 10 years, 54 of them have hit the charts.

You can read more of the numbers in the Billboard.com story here.

Kellie Pickler Is In No Hurry to Expand Her Family

“People” magazine had an article on its website today about Kellie Pickler not being in a hurry to have a baby…

“I don’t think people realize…the responsibility that comes along with it. It’s almost like a fad,” she said. The comments come from an interview with CMT Radio airing tonight.

Kellie and her husband, Kyle Jacobs, were married on New Year’s Day.

Photo Credit: BNA Nashville

Thursday, June 23, 2011

The 11th Season Officially Kicks Off Next Week!

FOX has announced the audition dates and sites for the 11th season of “American Idol.” It all starts next week…

Tuesday, June 28th: St. Louis

Saturday, July 2nd: Portland

Friday, July 8th: San Diego

Friday, July 15th: Pittsburgh

Friday, July 22nd: Charleston, SC

Friday, July 29th: Denver

Friday, August 26th: Houston

If anyone plans to go to any of these auditions, I would love to hear from you! All the information on times and venues is available at AmericanIdol.com

Randy Jackson, Talk Show Host?

Is Randy Jackson looking to become the king of talk?

“The Hollywood Reporter” is reporting that Randy has been pitching a talk show to potential buyers. The report quotes someone as saying that Randy is looking to talk about “things that will be hip next.”

Um, seriously? Yes, Randy did manage to put better sentences together this season on “Idol.” But a talk show?

What do you guys think? Would you watch?

Photo Credit: FOX

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Paul McDonald is "Pumped Up" About Marriage

Paul McDonald told “People” that wedding plans are under way and he is “pumped up” to marry Nikki Reed.

You can see the interview here.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Report: JLo is "On the Fence" About Returning

I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it, but I have a lot of other things happening, and it's going to come down to making a choice of really what I want to do for the next year. We're not really at the breaking point of ‘You have to make a decision right now!’ So I'm not. I'm really enjoying the time of just waiting — and seeing.”

Does that mean she’s looking for FOX to sweeten the pot?

JLo is currently working on “Q’Viva! The Chosen,” a Latin competition show, with her husband Marc Anthony.

I think JLo would be making a HUGE mistake if she decided not to come back to “Idol.” Those other things happening she talks about wouldn’t be possible without “Idol.” She may have helped to reinvigorate the show, but the show reinvigorated her career. She needs to acknowledge that and re-sign…

Photo Credit: FOX

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Kat Signs a New Deal

Here’s great news for Katharine McPhee fans…

Kat has signed a recording deal with Columbia Records. Columbia will also be the label home for the soundtrack of her new NBC series, “Smash,” which will debut in January.

Katharine’s last two albums—“Unbroken” and “Christmas Is a Time To Say I Love You” –were released on Verve Records…

Photo Credit: Will Hart/NBC

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Clay Aiken to Guest Star on "Diva"

Just heard from Lifetime that Clay Aiken will guest star on an upcoming episode of “Drop Dead Diva”…

If you’ve never seen it, the show is about a self-absorbed model who dies and is reborn in the body of a plus-sized lawyer.

Clay’s episode will air Sunday, July 24th at 9 p.m. on Lifetime…

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Has Lee DeWyze Burned His "Idol" Bridges?

Here’s a juicy story I missed during my post-finale break that I had to go back and talk about…

If you read my live blog during the finale, you noticed that I commented about why there was no presentation of the winner’s trophy. Well, apparently Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe was wondering that too.

After the finale, he tweeted, “I was so upset Lee DeWyze wouldn’t present the winners trophy to Scotty. Especially as he’s been on the show this season. I guess he’s shy.” DeWyze responded by tweeting, “Just for the record, I was not asked to be involved in the finale. It wasn’t until about 2 minutes before they announced that Nigel had approached me and asked if he could ‘borrow’ me for a second. I didn’t feel a last-second jump on stage was appropriate. It was Scotty’s moment. I appreciate ‘American Idol,’ and the opportunity it has given me. And the people who have made that show possible. I am not angry, or bitter etc. It was an amazing finale, and I would have loved to be a part of it. I just wasn’t asked.”

That elicited this response from Nigel: “True, he wasn’t asked to sing, but Lee knows he was asked to present the trophy a week before.” Lee responded, “I have no hard feelings towards Nigel, Idol, or anyone else. I love music, and that’s what I’m going to focus on. I support ‘American Idol’ and all it has done for me. I respect the decisions made for the Finale, and hope all’s well that ends well.”

So, who do you believe? The previous season’s winner has been involved in the finale every year, so it’s hard not to believe Nigel. But Lee has no reason to lie.

What we do know is that Lee DeWyze has probably made his last singing appearance on “Idol.” And whether he’s telling the truth or not, I totally disagree with Lee’s argument that it was inappropriate for him to make the presentation. As last year’s winner, I think it was totally appropriate…

Photo Credit: Michael Becker/FOX

Congrats to Paul McDonald!

Congratulations to Paul McDonald on his engagement to actress Nikki Reed (“Twilight: Breaking Dawn”).

The duo met in March on the red carpet of “Red Riding Hood.”

You can read more via People.com here.

Photo Credit: Michael Becker/FOX