Watching New Celebs

Ashley Tisdale, the 23 year old star from High School Musical, has released her single It’s Alright, It’s Ok’ and sends this message to her fans —

“Hey guys, this is Ashley Tisdale. I’m in the studio right now listening to the final mix of my single, ‘It’s Alright, It’s Ok,’ and I wanted to give you the tiniest sneak peek. I’m really excited for you to hear the rest of the song and see your reactions. So, keep checking in for more music updates. Bye!”

The young actress is currently working on a forthcoming album and describes this one as:

“It’s just a big anthem song, totally independent woman song. It’s a break-up one. I love break-up songs, which is really funny. It’s really woman driven and I’m excited for it to come out.”

Watch the video to It’s Alright, It’s Ok’ here:

I wasn’t able to catch last week’s results show which explains why I am posting this today. If you’re a fan of the talent contest, American Idol, then I’m sure you already know who got in from the second group.

Adam Lambert was a sure choice. He’s miles apart from all the other contestants in terms of stage presence, impact and performance. But frankly, I’m not a fan of his singing voice. Allison Iraheta, who did a cool rendition of an Idol favorite (Alone by Heart) also earned a spot. I’m not too happy about Kris Allen making it to this batch, only because I was rooting for someone else. But I guess he earned his place anyway.

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I remember very clearly watching JD Fortune on the talent show he was part of, which resulted in him winning the coveted prize — as lead singer for the band, INXS. This was about three years ago, right?

Early on, JD showed attitude that would have said he’s a hard person to work with. But as many brilliant artists are like that, he really was still the most likely person to fit with the band’s sound and voice.

For two years, JD toured with the Australian rock band which should signal that all has been well with them. But alas, it apparently isn’t. The band fired JD very recently and news has it he is broke and is once again living out of his car, just like when he did before joining the talent contest.

Appearing on Entertainment Tonight Canada, JD Fortune says that the band members gave him a handshake and fired him while at the Hong Kong airport. He has confessed he’s been into cocaine and drugs while touring with the band. But INXS denies the sacking happened. According to the band’s strategist, Chris Murphy:

“Not only are we shocked by the claims, even the place the supposed incident was to have taken place is a mystery to the band. What annoys me the most after viewing Fortune’s interview is the bloody slant he makes toward the founding band members. These guys are the nicest people on this planet; they are not the people he portrays.”

According to Murphy, they were even scheduled to go on recording for the next projects.

“The band has always stated to me that Fortune’s services could potentially be contracted again when INXS next tour. In fact he was next on my list to call regarding a very big recording project I am putting together for INXS at present. I guess I have no reason to call him now.”

Should one feel sorry for JD or should one feel he actually deserve it?

Source: WENN

Season eight of American Idol has just named its first three finalist early tonight. One of them is potentially going to be a big star, based on how much exposure he is getting already.

First to make it to Top 12 is Alexis Grace who wowed the judges with an Aretha Franklin song. Next up was Michael Sarver who wasn’t exactly the best last night, but seemed to be too likeable, Simon Cowell predicted the audience will vote for him for it. And the judge from Britain was right. Third up was Danny Gokey, whose climb to Top 12 comes as no surprise. He was heavily favored as early as his first audition and it helps he has a very familiar face (hello, Robert Downey, Jr!).

Are you happy with tonight’s results?

Teen sensation and American Idol runner-up will begin his first solo US tour this February in Virginia Beach. The performer, whose debut album have gone gold since its release in November, is going to be supported by Lesley Roy, an up and coming singer.

Here are the tour dates, for your info, courtesy of the David Archuleta Official Site:

• February 24 Sandler PAC Virginia Beach, VA
• February 25 The National Richmond, VA
• February 26 Starland Ballroom Sayerville, NJ
• February 28 The Chameleon Lancaster, PA
• March 1 Crocodile Rock Allentown, PA
• March 2 Pearl Street Northampton, MA
• March 3 Infinity Clarence, NY
• March 5 Newport Columbus, OH
• March 6 Barrymore Madison, WI
• March 7 DECC Duluth, MN
• March 8 House of Blues Chicago, IL
• March 10 Diamond Oklahoma City, OK
• March 11 Scout Bar Beaumont, TX
• March 12 Scout Bar San Antonio, TX
• March 14 Sunshine Theatre Albuquerque, NM
• March 16 The Marquee Phoenix, AZ
• March 17 Glasshouse Pomona, CA
• March 18 Grand Sierra Theatre Reno, NV
• March 20 Civic Auditorium Idaho Falls, ID
• March 21 Knitting Factory Boise, ID

David will also be guest starring in an episode of iCarly, a Nickelodeon show, this February 7th.

I’m not quite sure but I think this is Jennifer Hudson’s first public appearance since the death of her mother, brother and nephew last fall. The singer and Academy Award Winning actress is set to render the National Anthem at the Superbowl this February first.

She has gone through so much but she seems to be ready to face an audience and sing for them again.

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Young singer David Archuleta’s newest video for the song “A Little Too Not Over You” has just been released. You can watch the complete version on this link.

What a year it has been for singer Leona Lewis who got started with her career after winning The XFactor talent contest, the British equivalent of American Idol . According to iTunes, the sultry singer’s Bleeding Love is the top-selling single for 2008 with about 3.2 million digital copies sold.

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I’m not sure if you’ve seen this little girl perform before. She blew away most everyone in Britain, particularly those that saw her perform “Over the Rainbow” In Britain’s Got Talent. Connie was then about six years old when she become so beloved by the audience, they voted her the second place winner, next to Paul Potts the opera singer. She bested a dozen other contestants.

Watch her performance on that show, more than a year or so ago:

Now eight years old, Connie has signed on with the Rainbow Recording Company and has since released her single, the Bob Marley classic, “Three Little Birds”, now currently #1 in the Billboard Hot 100 single sales charts. The song is a cut from her very first album, which lands on the top 10 as well.

The younger singer also has a Christmas Album released just last week.

Connie appeared on both The Ellen DeGeneres show and The Oprah Winfrey show after her winning second place on Britain’s Got Talent.

Source: Digital Spy

Our young hot celebrities have been working very hard by performing on various Thanksgiving events today.

Demi Lovato sang the Star Spangled banner during the Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks NFL game, while the Jonas Brothers performed during half-time —

Miley Cyrus was at the Thanksgiving Day Parade by Macy’s. Also present was Charice, the rising star from the Philippines who Ellen De Generes, Oprah and Celine Dion and many others think is a music idol in the making —

David Archuleta was also on the same parade and he sang his hit song, “Crush” —

Spotted at the American Music Awards last night are these up and coming music legends —

Chris Brown and TPain	David Cook	Kanye West
Leona Lewis	Miley Cyrus	Rihanna
Taylor Swift	Jonas Brothers	Demi Lovato

The winners list, as voted via online polling by fans which ended last Novembers 7th, are the following:

This years AMA was held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles and is marking it’s 35th year since the very first trophy was awarded to Roberta Flack in 1973.

With the release of her second album this week, teenage singer and songwriter Taylor Swift has become a certified international music star. The album, Fearless, is currently topping the Billboard 200 charts and has to date sold at least 592,000 since its release Wednesday. With this she has become the biggest female artist to ever have such a big opening sale for 2008.

Because of this, her record label, Universal, intends to move promotions of her album internationally.

According to the EVP of Universal Music Group International, Max Hole —  “She is by some distance the biggest breakthrough for an American artist in America over the last year. I don’t really see her as a country artist. If you listen to the records and see her play live, she has much more in common with acts like Avril Lavigne and Miley Cyrus.”

The planned international album release will be a mix of her two albums. The industry calls it a hybrid and is set for release in Europe and Australia by spring. If it’s also a success, an international tour by next Fall is also being worked out.

Source: Reuters

From his November 14th appearance on the daytime talk, Ellen, here’s a David Archuleta video singing a cut from his new album:

The runner-up to the most recent American Idol talent contest is releasing his album next week. It comes a week before David Cook’s (American Idol winner) own album release. The two will definitely be competing with each other again at the music charts. But David Archuleta sees this differently.

Speaking before the press, the 17 year old says —-

“I know everyone wants us still to compare and compete, but we are so different. Cook is a rocker guy, a guitarist and an amazing musician, and I’m a pop kid. I am as excited for his album as I am for mine because we have gone together through this process of watching our dreams grow. This is what we’ve been looking forward to — living our dreams and starting our musical careers.”

David Archuleta’s self-titled debut album is a mixture of styles. He says to Reuters, “One song has a reggae-ish feel to it, there are slower ones and others with a different feel.” The singer is also a songwriter. He has worked on a total of five songs in this album.

With its release, he will be very busy performing at festivals and on television this holiday season.

Which David album will you be buying this November? And who do you think will do better?

Do you remember this guy? Josiah Leming? The British-sounding, car-living young dropout who auditioned on American Idol but was cut from being included in Top 24?

One year after being turned down from American Idol, he is poised to release his album with Warner Brothers records by January.

All grown up at 19 years old told LA Times the circumstances of his departure from Idol and what he has been doing since moving from Tennessee to Los Angeles and writing his songs.

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