Carly Smithson (née Hennessy) (born September 12, 1983) is a Meteor Award-winning Irish rock/soul singer-songwriter, who was born in Dublin. In 2001 Smithson released her first studio album for MCA Records called Ultimate High. The album had little success, only winning two awards for Smithson, and Smithson was dropped from her record label in 2002. Smithson was a sixth place finalist on the seventh season of the television series American Idol and she is currently performing in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008 from July 1, 2008 to September 13, 2008.
Carly Smithson auditioned for American Idol at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium on July 30 and July 31, 2007. She advanced with a unanimous vote after singing "I'm Every Woman." Simon Cowell noted that he remembered Smithson from her Season 5 audition. In Hollywood, she sang Heart's "Alone" for her audition and received unanimous praise from Randy, Paula and Simon. Smithson was one of the first foreign contestants to make the Top 12 (along with Michael Johns, an Australian). Smithson was eliminated the April 23rd, 2008. Her final performance on American Idol was considered one of her best by the judges.
Smithson successfully auditioned again for Season 7 of American Idol and made the top 24. Shortly thereafter, articles appeared in the mainstream press, criticizing her selection because of her previous record deal. Smithson acknowledged her previous record deal on the February 20, 2008 episode of American Idol, and stated that the record label 'imploded'.
Smithson was eliminated after performing Superstar from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar on April 23, 2008. The day before she was eliminated Simon Cowell stated, "I thought that was the best performance of the night so far." After Simon stated that comment, Smithson pulled out a t-shirt sent to her by her fans with a sign on it that says "Simon Loves Me (this week)."
After Ryan Seacrest announced the elimination Cowell said:
“ I apologize for giving you a compliment last night—kiss of death, but let me tell you, Carly, you can leave with your head held high. ”
On the final results show Smithson performed "She Works Hard for the Money" along with the other Top 6 female singers. She also sang a duet of Box Tops' "The Letter" with Michael Johns. Later in the show she performed a medley of "Faith", "Father Figure", and "Freedom! '90" by George Michael along with the other Top 12 finalists. She also participated in the group number that opened the show, "Get Ready," along with the other 11 finalists from American Idol (season 7).
Smithson's fanbase names while on the show were the "Fighting Irish", the "Smithsonians", and "Carly's Clovers".
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Justin Guarini
Justin Guarini (born Justin Eldrin Bell on October 28, 1978 in Columbus, Georgia) is an American singer/songwriter, actor who rose to fame in 2002 as the first runner-up on the debut season of the television show American Idol.
His father, Eldrin Bell, is a former Atlanta, Georgia Chief of Police, and current Chairperson of Clayton County Commission (Georgia). His mother, Kathy Pepino Guarini, was a journalist for WTVM TV in Columbus, and later for CNN. Guarini was raised by his mother and stepfather Jerry Guarini, a physicist, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
Acting/entertainment-related projects include Guarini's 2004 role in the pre-Broadway New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater workshop/presentation of the musical Good Vibrations at Vassar College. His performance (which included singing, dancing, acting, and playing guitar) landed Guarini an offer to continue the role in the original Broadway production of the musical Good Vibrations, which he eventually declined. He continues to act in independent film projects such as the drama/action film Fast Girl, The Unknown: Frankie The Squirrel, Mafioso II: The Son, and the short film Tilt-a-Whirl for the Dances With Films Film Festival.
Some of his television appearances include a musical spoof for AMC's FilmFakers (2004), guest role in Run of the House, guest host/co-host for shows including Regis and Kelly (2003), VH1's Top 20 Countdown (2004), ManiaTV!'s U Pick 'Em and Too Short for Hollywood (2006), and the TV Guide Network (2006) where, in 2007, he was signed as co-host for Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight. His role with the network soon expanded to include guest-hosting/appearances on other TV Guide Network shows, as well as hosting movie premiere specials, and music commentary for pre-Grammy coverage. He's also a recurring commentator for such shows/networks as the Today Show, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, Style Channel, and Comcast.
His father, Eldrin Bell, is a former Atlanta, Georgia Chief of Police, and current Chairperson of Clayton County Commission (Georgia). His mother, Kathy Pepino Guarini, was a journalist for WTVM TV in Columbus, and later for CNN. Guarini was raised by his mother and stepfather Jerry Guarini, a physicist, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
Acting/entertainment-related projects include Guarini's 2004 role in the pre-Broadway New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater workshop/presentation of the musical Good Vibrations at Vassar College. His performance (which included singing, dancing, acting, and playing guitar) landed Guarini an offer to continue the role in the original Broadway production of the musical Good Vibrations, which he eventually declined. He continues to act in independent film projects such as the drama/action film Fast Girl, The Unknown: Frankie The Squirrel, Mafioso II: The Son, and the short film Tilt-a-Whirl for the Dances With Films Film Festival.
Some of his television appearances include a musical spoof for AMC's FilmFakers (2004), guest role in Run of the House, guest host/co-host for shows including Regis and Kelly (2003), VH1's Top 20 Countdown (2004), ManiaTV!'s U Pick 'Em and Too Short for Hollywood (2006), and the TV Guide Network (2006) where, in 2007, he was signed as co-host for Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight. His role with the network soon expanded to include guest-hosting/appearances on other TV Guide Network shows, as well as hosting movie premiere specials, and music commentary for pre-Grammy coverage. He's also a recurring commentator for such shows/networks as the Today Show, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, Style Channel, and Comcast.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul born June 19, 1962) is a Grammy Award-winning American pop singer, dancer, Emmy Award-winning choreographer, and television personality. Married to Emilio Estevez between 1992-1994, she is the former daughter-in-law of actor Martin Sheen.
In the 1980s, Abdul rose from being a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball team to being a sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era, then to being a Pop-R&B singer with a string of hits in the late-1980s and early-1990s. According to Abdul, she has sold over 53 million records to date. After her initial period of success, she suffered a series of setbacks in her professional and personal life, until she found renewed fame and success in the 2000s as a judge on the television series, American Idol. Abdul was most recently featured in the seventh season of American Idol.
Abdul is working on a new album with her first single set to be released in mid-2008, and she hopes to have the album out by the end of 2008. Her voice range is mezzo-soprano.
In the 1980s, Abdul rose from being a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball team to being a sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era, then to being a Pop-R&B singer with a string of hits in the late-1980s and early-1990s. According to Abdul, she has sold over 53 million records to date. After her initial period of success, she suffered a series of setbacks in her professional and personal life, until she found renewed fame and success in the 2000s as a judge on the television series, American Idol. Abdul was most recently featured in the seventh season of American Idol.
Abdul is working on a new album with her first single set to be released in mid-2008, and she hopes to have the album out by the end of 2008. Her voice range is mezzo-soprano.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Randy Jackson
Randall Darius Jackson (born June 23, 1956 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is a Grammy Award-winning bassist; singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive and Emmy Award-nominated television and radio personality, now best known as a judge on American Idol. Jackson was most recently featured in the seventh season of American Idol.
Jackson is the manager of Papertongues, a Charlotte, NC based band.
Jackson also hosts a radio top 40 countdown known as "Randy Jackson's Hit List", which is syndicated by Westwood One. Every week Jackson counts down his top 30 Urban AC and Mainstream AC hits, and gives behind-the-scenes information on American Idol with American Idol Underground.
The qualification round for America's Best Dance Crew, a new dance contest produced by Jackson, was broadcast live on MTV on 26 January as a teaser to the elimination dance off battles which premiered on 7 February. On March 11, 2008, Jackson released an album produced entirely by himself, titled Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1. The album was preceded with the single "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow", performed by fellow American Idol judge Paula Abdul.
Jackson had performed with the Rock band Journey on their 1986 album Raised on Radio.
Jackson is the manager of Papertongues, a Charlotte, NC based band.
Jackson also hosts a radio top 40 countdown known as "Randy Jackson's Hit List", which is syndicated by Westwood One. Every week Jackson counts down his top 30 Urban AC and Mainstream AC hits, and gives behind-the-scenes information on American Idol with American Idol Underground.
The qualification round for America's Best Dance Crew, a new dance contest produced by Jackson, was broadcast live on MTV on 26 January as a teaser to the elimination dance off battles which premiered on 7 February. On March 11, 2008, Jackson released an album produced entirely by himself, titled Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1. The album was preceded with the single "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow", performed by fellow American Idol judge Paula Abdul.
Jackson had performed with the Rock band Journey on their 1986 album Raised on Radio.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell (born October 7, 1959) is an English artist-and-repertoire ("A&R") executive and television personality/producer, best known as a judge on such TV shows as Pop Idol, American Idol, The X Factor, and Britain's Got Talent. He is also the owner of the television production and music publishing house Syco.
Cowell is notorious as a judge for his unsparingly blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults and wisecracks about contestants and their singing abilities, or lack thereof. He is often parodied in pop culture. He is known for combining activities in the television and music industries, having promoted singles and records for various artists, including television personalities. Having most recently featured in the seventh season of American Idol and the second series of Britain's Got Talent, Cowell is now working on the fifth series of The X Factor.
In 2004, with Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, Cowell was a judge on the first series of the British talent show The X Factor, which he created using his production company, Syco. The X Factor was an instant success with the viewers and returned three more times to its fourth series in 2007. In 2006, he was voted the tenth most terrifying celebrity on television in a Radio Times poll consisting of 3,000 people.
The winner of The X Factor third series, Leona Lewis, is signed to Cowell's label Syco and has gone on to become an international star, with number one singles and album sales around the world.
Cowell returned for a fourth series on August 18, 2007, alongside Osbourne, Walsh and new judge, Dannii Minogue. Walsh had previously been sacked from the judging panel by Cowell for the fourth series, and was subsequently replaced by Brian Friedman who was a judge on Grease Is The Word. Walsh was later brought back a week into the auditions by Cowell when he and Sharon Osbourne realised they missed Walsh and that without him, there was no chemistry between the judges.
Cowell is notorious as a judge for his unsparingly blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults and wisecracks about contestants and their singing abilities, or lack thereof. He is often parodied in pop culture. He is known for combining activities in the television and music industries, having promoted singles and records for various artists, including television personalities. Having most recently featured in the seventh season of American Idol and the second series of Britain's Got Talent, Cowell is now working on the fifth series of The X Factor.
In 2004, with Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, Cowell was a judge on the first series of the British talent show The X Factor, which he created using his production company, Syco. The X Factor was an instant success with the viewers and returned three more times to its fourth series in 2007. In 2006, he was voted the tenth most terrifying celebrity on television in a Radio Times poll consisting of 3,000 people.
The winner of The X Factor third series, Leona Lewis, is signed to Cowell's label Syco and has gone on to become an international star, with number one singles and album sales around the world.
Cowell returned for a fourth series on August 18, 2007, alongside Osbourne, Walsh and new judge, Dannii Minogue. Walsh had previously been sacked from the judging panel by Cowell for the fourth series, and was subsequently replaced by Brian Friedman who was a judge on Grease Is The Word. Walsh was later brought back a week into the auditions by Cowell when he and Sharon Osbourne realised they missed Walsh and that without him, there was no chemistry between the judges.
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