American Idol kicked off its Hollywood auditions last night with a couple memorable performances and one painful cliffhanger.
But with these episodes already having been taped, the identities of the season’s top 24 have leaked online. Did your favorite make the cut? Read on to learn which 12 women and which 12 men advanced and remember: one of these will be the next American Idol…
American Idol contestants really put Steven Tyler through the emotional ringer last night.
First, Reis Kloeckener brought the Aerosmith frontman to tears due to his story of overcoming high school bullying.
Then, Ethan Jones moved the rocker by talking about his father, who used to lead the family band until he was overcome by drugs and alcohol and is currently in a rehab facility. That’s something to which Tyler can definitely relate.
But Jones has more than a gripping tale; he also has a strong voice. Watch him put it to use now during a rendition of Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be.”
Ethan is off to Hollywood, one of 255 total Golden Ticket recipients. He’ll compete with Lauren Gray, another strong St. Louis performer, when he arrived in California.
Britnee Kellogg auditioned for American Idol in Portland last night and the backstory she shared with us shed a great deal of light on Jennifer Lopez’s divorce from Marc Anthony.
Wait… what?!?
The 27-year old hopeful told the judges she was married for a long time to a basketball player, giving up her dreams so that he could follow his own… only for him to then cheat on her and tear their family apart. Cue to a close-up of J. Lo and a comment from her later on of “I am feeling you!”
Are you feeling Kellogg’s cover of “You’re Bo Good?” Does she deserve a spot in Hollywood? View now:
Baylie Brown enjoyed a triumphant return to American Idol last night.
Five years after her initial appearance on the show – during which she advanced to Hollywood, was paired with uncooperative teammates ere and then forgot the lyrics on stage – this 21-year old Texan showed off a new hair color and a great voice yesterday as one of the 54 Golden Ticket recipients (along with Kristine Osorio and Ramiro Garcia) to make it out of The Lone Star State.
Watch her first try out below, lament how much we miss Simon Cowell by watching him once again in action, and then compare it to her version of “Bed of Roses” from this week’s audition.
Guests at the ceremony, which took place Saturday in Santa Cruz, California, included other past Idol favorites Haley Reinhart, Stefano Langone and Casey Abrams.
“We are so in love and happy that we got to share our special day with our closest family and friends,” Lowe and Durbin toldPeople. “This wedding was the perfect way to kick off the New Year. We are looking forward to living happily ever after.”
Durbin and Lowe have a two-year old son named Hunter. He served as ring-bearer at the ceremony.
Jennifer Lopez made like Britney Spears at last night’s American Music Awards, donning a revealing, nude-colored outfit during a performance that combined hits “Until It Beats No More,” “Papi” and “On the Floor” into a single fun medley.
The look resembled Britney’s buzzed-about costume at the 2000 MTV VMAs, but the sound and the movements were 100% J. Lo.
Upon accepting the trophy for Favorite Latin Artist, Lopez told the crowd that “it’s been a really amazing year in so many ways. It’s been up and down and just exciting and overwhelming.”
Sounds a lot like her performance. Take it in now:
Dr. Keith Ablow recently suggested that watching Chaz Bono on Dancing With the Stars could “confuse” American youth and make them consider a sex change.
Not the case, a major industry group says.
The American Psychiatric Association says Ablow’s assertion that seeing Chaz on DWTS will cause a spike in Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is unfounded.
John M. Oldham acknowledges that GID is a psychiatric disorder but told TMZ that as far as watching Chaz do the samba is concerned, there’s no connection.
“There is no evidence that viewing a television game show with a transgender contestant would induce Gender Identity Disorder in young people,” he said.
It may, however, infect you with bad dance moves if you try to emulate Chaz, if recent reports are to believed. We’ll find out next Monday, September 19.
Simon Cowell is as honest as they come. Recent case in point: the producer is a huge fan of Pippa Middleton!
He’s also about to bring The X Factor from Great Britain to The United States. In the latest issue of GQ, Cowell talks about his excitement over this new show, and how it compares to his attitude over American Idol over the last few seasons.
“I was bored,” Cowell tells the magazine of his final years on Idol. “But at the same time I had a deal with Fox, and you’ve got to do what you’ve been paid to do.”
It wasn’t all torture, of course. Says the music mogul:
“The first two or three years on Idol, I had a blast. And then, as it got more and more successful, I didn’t want to do it anymore. I just felt I was there being paid to do a role, and after a while that’s not very satisfying. So it was hard work the last couple of years. I wanted to do [The X Factor].”
Of course, Simon has raked in millions from all of his endeavor. What does he plan to do with the money? Give it away.
“One of the good things about making money is that you can help other people,” he said, adding that when he dies he’ll “leave the whole lot to charity… You can enjoy it while you’ve got it, and then it’s gone to good causes afterwards.
Cowell didn’t say anything about a rumored engagement to Mezhgan Hussainy, but did tell GQ he does not want children.
Let’s leave Jennifer Lopez’s messy personal life aside for a moment and focus on her professional universe: Just how close is the singer to returning in 2012 as a judge on American Idol?
VERY, according to Cécile Frot-Coutaz, the CEO of FremantleMedia North America, which produces the Fox competition.
“We’re in good shape,” she toldThe Wall Street Journal. “No worries. No dark clouds on the horizon.”
An announcement may be made any day this week, which would seemingly be welcome by most Idol viewers.
Despite losing Simon Cowell and despite upheaval at the table due to the departures of Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres, season 10 of American Idol garnered huge ratings with J. Lo and Steven Tyler on board.
