American Idol

Gay Adoption OK? Gov’t Refuses Elton John’s Adoption Request

Published September 14th, 2009 by Karen
Sir Elton John
Creative Commons License photo credit: OsvaldoROVE

As celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Madonna continue to add adopted children to their families rapidly, one celebrity is being forbidden to adopt a child in need–because he is gay.

AP reports that officials in Ukraine have denied British pop star Elton John’s request to adopt an HIV- positive child, in part because he is a homosexual. Ukrainian law does not recognize same-sex unions as legal marriages. John is therefore considered a single parent and thus ineligible to adopt a child.

Further complicating  matters, the age difference between a child and adoptive parent may not exceed 45 years. John, 62, is nearly 60 years older than the child in question.

It remains to be seen whether or not John and his partner will attempt to challenge the ruling in this case.

John and his partner, David Furnish, entered into a civil union in 2005. Although he has no biological children, John is the godfather of ten children, including Sean Lennon (son of the Beatles’ John Lennon), and Posh Spice’s sons Brooklyn and Romeo Beckham.

MORE Music News:
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MUSIC: New Alice in Chains CD, New Singer: Elton John?
FAMILY: Malawian Court to Hear Madonna Adoption Appeal
FAMILY: Punk Star’s New Baby=Another Weird Celebrity Baby Name

"wow what a free country .... screw warner bros."
  chris

Record Labels Sue Ellen DeGeneres Over Illegal Songs

Published September 11th, 2009 by Karen
Even technology needs it
Creative Commons License photo credit: Nomad Tales

Four of the world’s largest record labels are suing the producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show for using songs with out permission on the popular day time talk show, according to a Reuters report.

DeGeneres, who has just been named American Idol’s fourth judge, opens her shows singing and dancing to tunes selected by her on-stage DJ. The lawsuit, filed in Nashville, said The Ellen DeGeneres Show has used more than 1,000 songs without permission and seeks an unspecified amount of damages.

While DeGeneres herself is not named in the suit, her production company, A Very Good Production is. The labels said that when they asked why licenses were not obtained for use of the songs, representatives for the show said they “did not roll that way.”

“As sophisticated consumers of music, defendants knew fully well that, regardless of the way they rolled, under the Copyright Act … they needed a license to use the sound recordings lawfully,” the lawsuit stated.

The lawsuit was filed by Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and EMI Group.

MORE Music News:

POLL: Ellen DeGeneres Replaces Abdul on Idol: Good Idea?
COURT: Courtney Love to Sue Guitar Hero 5: “I Loathe it and Kurt Would, Too”
GAMES: Kurt Cobain Sings Bon Jovi? Courtney Love Sucks.
TRIVIA: Daily Music Quiz: Roger Daltry and Jack Kerouac’s Brother
TRIVIA: Daily Music Quiz: Band Breaks Up After Fan Attack

Ellen DeGeneres Replaces Abdul on Idol: Good Idea?

Published September 10th, 2009 by Karen
Ellen DeGeneres
Creative Commons License photo credit: ronpaulrevolt2008

In a bold move, music lover Ellen DeGeneres has been named the fourth judge on this season’s American Idol Fox talent show, according to an Associated Press report.

According to the AP, Fox announced yesterday that the talk show host and comedian, who admittedly has no formal music experience other than a passion for singing and dancing, would join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi for the ninth season starting in January.  DeGeneres will be replacing Paula Abdul who walked away from the show after a contract dispute this summer.

DeGeneres told her talk show audience in an episode scheduled to air today that she would not abandon her Emmy-winning coffee klatch, but would have “a day job and a night job.” She expressed optimism that her point of view as a music fan would add a new dimension to the Fox show.

Abdul had been replaced by a succession of guest judges as “American Idol” started next season’s auditions. Among them: Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, and Joe Jonas.

MORE Music News:
QUIZ: Daily Music Quiz: Band Breaks Up After Fan Attack
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WEIRD: Carrie Underwood “Cowboy Casanova” Written by Jay-Z, Eminem Crew.
AMERICAN IDOL: Queen Guitarist Brian May Praises Adam Lambert’s “2012″ Track

"@MusicVixen.. Mike Elizondo did not write songs for Eminem.. Jay-Z or Dre.. he is a music producer.. music producers make beats/music for any artist.. UGH..."
  ok..?

Carrie Underwood “Cowboy Casanova” Written by Jay-Z, Eminem Crew.

Published September 4th, 2009 by Karen
carrie underwood...little big town 261
Creative Commons License photo credit: cmgoonie9

Carrie Underwood has rushed the first single off her latest album to YouTube, a day after an unfinished version of the tune, “Cowboy Casanova” leaked online, according to a Reuters report.

The track comes from the country singer’s third album Play On, which will be released by Arista Nashville November 3, a week before the singer co-hosts the Country Music Association Awards with Brad Paisley.

Underwood co-wrote “Cowboy Casanova” with Brett James, who penned her 2006 hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” and Mike Elizondo, who is best known for his work with hip-hop artists Eminem, Jay-Z and Dr. Dre.  Underwood also worked with some other unexpected collaborators on the album, including R&B heavyweight Ne-Yo and pop hitmakers Max Martin and Kara DioGuardi.

Underwood’s 2007 album Carnival Ride sold nearly 3 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, while her 2005 debut album sold over twice that amount at almost 7 million copies.

MORE Music News:
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LEAK: LISTEN: Jay-Z The Blueprint 3, Official Leak. Worth the Hype?

BELOW: Carrie Underwood performs “Cowboy Casanova.
We think it sounds like a bad Heart song…what do you think? Continue reading »

"omg she wasnt replaced. if they felt kara was enough, then why the hell are they bringing in guest judges? they have No faith in randy-kara-simon. and..."
  amanda

Paula Abdul Confirms New Job: Professional Diva

Published August 26th, 2009 by Karen
Paula Abdul
Creative Commons License photo credit: Alan Light

Another day, another celebrity scoop dished on Twitter.

Having recently been axed from American Idol (replaced by the less strung-out but more boring Kara Dioguardi), Paula Abdul is already landing on her expensively-shoed feet.

The ex-Idol judge let her fingers do the talking Monday evening as she hit Twitter to update fans on her latest project: Professional Diva.

Wrote Abdul: “Hi guys! im really excited 2 announce ill b hosting this year’s ‘VH1 Divas’! The show will be live on Sept 17th @ 9 pm EST.” (Wonder how long it took Abdul to cram all that info into Twitter’s 120 character format?)

The most recent edition of the Divas concert series aired four years ago.

VH1 has recently been making gruesome headlines thanks to some of its other reality shows, Megan Wants a Millionaire and I Love Money 3, both of which featured contestant Ryan Jenkins–the man who apparently killed himself in a Canadian motel room earlier this week after police connected him to the brutal murder and posthumous mutilation of his ex-wife, model Jasmine Fiore.

Sure, Idol fans are probably happy to have Paula back on tv, but we wonder if any of them will boycott Idol this season because they miss her?

MORE Music and TV news:
AMERICAN IDOL: Queen Guitarist Brian May Praises Adam Lambert’s “2012″ Track
AMERICAN IDOL: Idol Star Gives Baby Surprising Name…
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ROCK OF LOVE: Rock of Love 3 Auditions, Poison mp3
BROADWAY: Bret Michaels Injured at Tony Awards (video)

"That's our Adam, great, great, great. Anyone with a half of an ear for music can hear that Adam Lambert has vocals that we have not heard for some time.We..."
  lee meeker

Brian May Praises Adam Lambert’s “2012″ Track

Published August 23rd, 2009 by Karen
Brian May
Creative Commons License photo credit: kentarotakizawa

Adam Lambert fans pay heed-one of the American Idol runner-up’s first post Idol endeavors will be a cut featured on the soundtrack to the apocalyptic movie “2012,” which hits theaters November 13, according to a report on RollingStone.com.

It was actually Queen guitarist Brian May who spilled the beans on Lambert in his blog. “I have to say I was completely blown away… it’s truly sensational,” May wrote after hearing the 2012 track. “In fact it’s so obviously a number one smash, any bookie would be mad to take bets on it.”

Lambert previously impressed May when the rocker performed with Queen during the Season Eight finale of American Idol. After the show, rumors began circulating that May would recruit Lambert to be Queen’s new vocalist after the exit of Paul Rodgers, but May put an end to the speculation, saying that choosing a new frontman would take time.

Lambert’s debut album is scheduled to come out in November as well.

"oh my god i cant believe he killed him... its all good cause i know its going to be a jury for this case. It want be secret for long. There manslaughter..."
  kamila

Jackson Autopsy Results Sealed Pending Manslaughter Investigation

Published August 12th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: Michael Jackson duets with Britney Spears.

The results of Michael Jackson’s autopsy are in, but officials won’t reveal the coroner’s findings while the investigation into the star’s death is still ongoing, according to a report on Rollingstone.com

According to the Web site, Jackson’s toxicology findings are also complete, but will also remained sealed, at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department. There is no word on whether the cause of Jackson’s death will ever be publicly announced.

Law enforcement officers working on Jackson’s death have focused their investigation on Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician who authorities believed gave the powerful sedative Propofol to the singer within 24 hours of his death on June 25th. An overdose of the sedative could cause a patient to stop breathing, which leads to a buildup of carbon dioxide in the body that could result in sudden cardiac arrest.

In the last few weeks, the police have raided Dr. Murray’s offices in Houston and Las Vegas, searching for evidence of manslaughter.

More Michael Jackson:
MUSIC: Top 10 Michael Jackson Hits, Songs and Videos
MEMORIAL: Michael Jackson Memorial/Funeral Concert: Performances by Stevie Wonder, Mariah and more
TRIBUTE: American Idol tribute to Michael Jackson

"yeah it is surprising."
  muslim baby names

American Idol Star Welcomes Baby. The Surprising Name?

Published August 11th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: Jennifer Hudson performs “Will You Be There” during the public memorial service and concert held for Michael Jackson in July.

Oscar-winning American Idol cast-off/Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson welcomed her first child Monday evening, according to post on her official website.

The happy news of the birth of 27-year-old Hudson’s healthy baby boy comes after a year filled with tragedy: Hudson’s mother, brother, and young nephew were murdered in October (a fact she’d probably rather not be reminded of every time someone mentions the birth of her new baby…).

Hudson, engaged to Harvard Law Grad/ex-I Love New York 2 contestant David Otunga chose to give her baby a surprising name: Continue reading »

Simon Cowell Returns to Idol: 3 Years, $45 million. Fair?

Published August 11th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: Does Simon Cowell deserve $15 million/year for this? Really!?

Simon Cowell has signed on to be an American Idol judge for at least the next three seasons, according to a Reuters report.

Heading into the final year of his current Idol contract, Cowell had hinted in the spring that he might not return to the show at the end of his deal. But early in the summer, he entered negotiations with Fox for a new contract.

Financial details of the pact were not disclosed, but according to the Reuters, the “uber-judge” reportedly is poised to earn $45 million under the new pact, up from $36 million a year under his current contract.

As previously reported, Kara DioGuardi will return as a judge, as will Randy Jackson, who is under contract through this coming season. Ryan Seacrest recently signed a three-year, $45 million deal with producers, which covers other services beyond Idol. The producers are reportedly seeking a fourth judge to replace the departing Paula Abdul.

MORE Idol News:
POLL: Will American Idol Fail without Paula Abdul? We’re not so sure…
PAULA: Paula Abdul is off Idol, but will anybody really miss her?
KARA: Idol Hires New Judge, Says Paula Isn’t Being Fired. Uh-huh.
MUSIC: New Kelly Clarkson Song Admittedly Ripped-Off from Beyonce Hit: Compare

Will American Idol Fail Without Paula Abdul?

Published August 6th, 2009 by Karen
Paula Abdul
Creative Commons License photo credit: Alan Light

Was Paula Abdul the glue holding American Idol together?

Following Abdul’s announcement via Twitter that she would not be returning for the Fox talent show’s 9th season, many in the industry are wondering just that.

Many agree that love or hate her, Abdul made for great television. Who could forget her loopy antics like telling teenage contestant David Archuleta she wanted to squeeze his head off and dangle him from Continue reading »