Everybody knows that American Idol needs serious help, and a serious makeover if they want to continue existing as a successful reality show. So….
Let’s bring in the BIG GUNS!
Apparently, the new strategy by Fox and the show’s production companies is to try and get old contestants to be judges. Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson have reportedly been contacted, while Adam Lambert and Clay Aiken are their top pics.
(really? Clay Aiken? Meh.)
Contestant Angie Miller spoke out via Perez Hilton about this potential plan and said:
“I’d like to see a past American Idol contestant [be a judge]… They really understand what this process is really like and what you do during the week. [It should be] someone who gets it.”
Yeah, but “getting it” doesn’t mean they’d be a great judge! And people like Kelly and Jennifer have their own careers that they seem…kinda busy with.
One person who’s none-to-happy about Clive Davis‘ memoir is Kelly Clarkson, and she has a lot to say on the matter! The singer has come out accusing Clive of “spreading false information about me and my music” and bullying.
Clarkson is fuming about a passage in which Clive writes that she broke into “hysterical sobbing” when he demanded that smash hit “Since U Been Gone” would be included on Clarkson’s album.
Kelly was so upset, she released an open letter on her website. Here it is:
Hey y’all,
So I just heard Clive Davis is releasing a memoir and spreading false information about me and my music. I refuse to be bullied and I just have to clear up his memory lapses and misinformation for myself and for my fans. It feels like a violation. Growing up is awesome because you learn you don’t have to cower to anyone – even Clive Davis.
First, he says I burst into “hysterical sobbing” in his office when he demanded Since You Been Gone be on my album. Not true at all. His stories and songs are mixed up. I did want more guitars added to the original demo and Clive did not. Max, Luke and I still fought for the bigger sound and we prevailed and I couldn’t be more proud of the life of that song. I resent him dampening that song in any way.
But, yes, I did cry in his office once. I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called “Because Of You.” I cried because he hated it and told me verbatim that I was a “sh*tty writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me.” He continued on about how the song didn’t rhyme and how I should just shut up and sing. This was devastating coming from a man who I, as a young girl, considered a musical hero and was so honored to work with. But I continued to fight for the song and the label relented. And it became a worldwide hit. He didn’t include that in the book.
He also goes on to say My December wasn’t successful because I co-penned the album and it didn’t have “pop hits”. Well, first let me say, I’ve co-penned many of my “pop hits.” Secondly, My December went platinum (It sold 20,000 less than All I Ever Wanted which followed My December.) Hardly a huge failure. Never Again, the ONLY single they released in the US from that record was a Top 10 hit. I am very proud of that and I have my fans to thank. But, again, what’s most interesting about his story is what he leaves out: He doesn’t mention how he stood up in front of his company at a convention and belittled me and my music and completely sabotaged the entire project. It never had a chance to reach it’s full potential. My December was an album I needed to make for myself for many reasons and the fact that I was so completely disregarded and disrespected was so disheartening, there really aren’t words to explain….
Anyway, I love my job. I love my music. I love my fans. I love my label and all of my professional relationships… now. And I am grateful for Clive for teaching me to know the difference.
Cheers to another amazing year! And, as always, thanks for listening!
Beyonce sang ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at the Inauguration, and many people praised her flawless performance. There’s a reason why the performance was flawless, a rep for the U.S. Marine Corp Band told multiple media outlets that the 31-year-old singer chose to lip-synch to a pre-recorded track of the song. “All music is pre-recorded for the ceremony because there are so many eventualities and conditions that day. We performed, live, the band. But we received last-minute word that Beyonce was going to use the pre-recorded vocal track. Those were the instructions we were given. We don’t know what the reason why,” rep Kristen DuBois told the New York Post’s Page Six.
Kelly Clarkson, on the other hand, sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” LIVE in front of the capitol at the same event.
Indeed, band director Colonel Michael J. Colburn told Buzzfeed that Beyonce had little time to prep for the big moment. “We had Kelly [Clarkson] in over the weekend to rehearse and record. Beyonce, she’s getting ready for the Super Bowl, so we didn’t have a chance to do anything with her until last night,” Colburn said Monday.
“We all know Beyonce can sing,” DuBois told TMZ. “We don’t know why she chose to use the pre-recorded track.”
Watch their performances below. Who do you think had the better performance? The lip-synching Beyonce or the live Kelly Clarkson. Do we even care that Bey lip-synched? Who could blame her. An audience of 1 million is quite intimidating.
Does this mean she’ll do the same during the super bowl – when she performs?
Kelly Clarkson lost 18 pounds doing stuff that doesn’t seem SO crazy…sounds like she’s nipping those New Years Resolutions in the bud!
Says the singer:
“I lost 18 pounds. And I think that happens when you fall in love or date someone. If I’m going to be messing around, I gotta look good. There’s not a fad diet. I was working with a trainer, and she said, ‘You’d be amazed the amount of weight you can drop by halving your portions. I know it sounds crazy, but do it for two weeks and watch what happens.’ I just cut back my portions, I stopped eating late at night, and I work out a little more than I used to, and I literally dropped 18 pounds in a month. I think it happens when you get really busy. But when I’m on my off-time – girl, those 18 might come back.”
Sounds simple enough, and I definitely think keeping busy and a high activity level will drop those unwanted pounds (or at least help). And, Miss Clarkson has a very refreshing stance on fad dieting. She says:
“I’m not willing to do that. I’m willing to work a little bit because I want to be a healthy individual – which I always have been. I’ve put on weight, but that’s just what I’m happy with at that moment.”
I love this talented singer’s stance on her body image! Kelly’s got it all- a hot fiance, a booming career and a great outlook on life! LOVE IT!
Kelly Clarkson is engaged!! The singer is getting married to Reba McEntire’s stepson, Brandon Blackstock. The couple have been dating for around a year. He seems totally cute and nice. Kelly has been talking about how happy she is for over a year as well, even admitting she lost weight for her new boyfriend.
In late November, Kelly Clarkson told Ellen DeGeneres she planned to marry Brandon Blackstock, and now her dream is coming true!
Clarkson, 30, accepted Blackstock’s proposal Dec. 14. “I’m engaged!” she tweeted the following day. “I wanted y’all to know! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever.”
This will be the American Idol winner’s first trip down the aisle. Blackstock, who’s the son of Clarkson’s longtime manager Narvel Blackstock, and the stepson of Reba McEntire, has two children from a previous marriage. The two currently live together in Nashville.
While chatting with DeGeneres last month, the “Catch My Breath” singer joked that her beau would have to “put it a ring at some point.”
“Honestly, I’ve never been the girl to plan a wedding,” she added. “We will totally, probably elope.”
Us Weekly was first to break news of Clarkson’s romance with Blackstock earlier this year.
Congrats to the couple!! Here’s a look at her massive canary yellow engagement ring. She posted the picture on Who Say, and wrote “It’s a yellow canary diamond with diamonds around it. Brandon designed it with Johnathon Arndt! They did an amazing job! I can’t wait to make Brandon’s ring with Johnathon as well!”
Here’s Kelly Clarkson leaving ITV Studios in London, England today.
The fans are loving her (and her them!) as she stops to sign autographs and chat with fans. You can’t argue that Clarkson, the first American Idol winner, is uber-talented, but she’s gone through lots of transformations over the years. These days, she’s sporting a healthy weight with blonde locks and seems like she’s doing pretty well for herself!
How do you think Clarkson’s looking? And, are you excited to hear what she’s been working on in jolly old LONDONTOWN? I am!
Kelly Clarkson is about to release a Greatest Hits album next month!
In addition to her brand-new single, “Catch My Breath,” Spin.com reports the album will include her career-spanning songs like “Since U Been Gone,” “A Moment Like This” and “Miss Independent,” just to name a few. The album will also include her collaborations with Jason Aldean on “Don’t You Wanna Stay” and Vince Gill on “Don’t Rush.” Additionally, it will have another new track, dubbed “People Like Us.”
The greatest-hits release comes 10 years after Clarkson became the first-ever winner of “American Idol.” And, the singer recently chatted with old pal and “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest about the release, noting how shocked she was when her record label first suggested she put out a greatest hits album at such a young age. “I was like, ‘Really? I’m 30!’ ” she told Seacrest. “I feel like that’s something you do when … you don’t have anything else to put out. So, yeah, but I’m 30, so that’s weird.”
The album officially hits stores on 19. And in addition to releasing the track listing for the album, she’s also dropped a lyric video for “Catch My Breath.” In it, the lyrics appear on the screen in front of the single art (a photo of Clarkson), which zooms in and out of focus.
“It’s been a decade now since I won ‘American Idol.’ Sometimes it feels longer because, although it has been exciting, that was a lot of pressure to have as a 19-year-old girl. To own a company, lead an organization as a business woman, and be able to create music I’m proud of has been tough but inspiring for me,” she said in a statement about the album’s release. “Thank you everyone that has been a part of my career and life. Here’s to another decade of passion and fun!”
The full track list for Clarkson’s Greatest Hits: Chapter 1 is:
»”Since U Been Gone”
»”My Life Would Suck Without You”
»”Miss Independent”
»”Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) ”
»”Behind These Hazel Eyes”
»”Because Of You”
»”Never Again”
»”Already Gone”
»”Mr. Know It All”
»”Breakaway”
»”Don’t You Wanna Stay”
(with Jason Aldean) »”Walk Away”
»”Catch My Breath”
»”People Like Us”
»”Don’t Rush”
(featuring Vince Gill) »”A Moment Like This”
»”I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
