The film “explores the effect of the Fox network singing competition on Christian music.”  I think that is an interesting topic because I have thought about it myself over the years.  There are times, actually, when I’ve thought that Idol had a greater impact on Gospel and Country music than within the Pop genre.

Several familiar faces have participated in the film – Mandisa, Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey, Melinda Doolittle and Maria Santiago, the sister-in-law of this year’s finalist, Danny Gokey.

The documentary will air right before the telecast of the Gospel Music Association’s 40th annual Dove Awards.  

image © 2009 FOX BROADCASTING CR: FOX

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She has since lost 80lbs and is being open about the childhood sexual abuse that she suffered.  I find it to be a truly inspirational story and I’m so happy that she is doing so well.  Watch the segment:

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I will cover the event in three parts (motorcade, American Idol Experience show and the after-party) over the next three days.  Today, I’ll kick things off by telling you all about the American Idol motorcade. 

The blue carpet was rolled out for the stars and one by one.  Mickey Mouse got things started but was then followed by Justin Guarini (runner-up, season 1).  He looked great and was all smiles for the fans and the media.
Next was Chris Sligh (finalist, season 6).  He talked a little bit about how his song “Here Comes Goodbye” was picked up by Rascal Flatts and is actually the first single off of their new album.

It was a star-studded event.  Check out more pictures including Carrie Underwood, David Cook and David Archuleta after the jump!

Michael Johns (finalist, season 7) was right behind him and the one of the hostesses commented on how attractive he looked (the ladies in the crowd cheered in agreement). The reigning American Idol winner, David Cook, was next to drive up and he looked really great in his white jacket.  He was asked if he was sad to be losing his title in the next couple months and he said “no” because it’s great to have the Idol family expand.  Awwww!
Bucky Covington (finalist, season 5) was up next.  He got quite a bit of applause from the country music fans in the crowd.  The hostesses commented on his beautiful hair and asked him about his new album.  They asked when it was coming out (June-ish, 2009) and what it would be named (he had no idea). 
The adorable Ace Young (finalist, season 5) followed and I have to admit that his shorter hair is growing on me. The infamous Sanjaya Malakar (finalist, season 6) drove up and was actually filming the crowd.  One of the hostesses asked him what he was going to do with the footage.  He told her that he was going to put it up on his website (www.sanjayaworld.com).  They also asked about his new book Dancing to the Music in My Head (I talked to him about it at the party – come back on Monday for more!).  When probed for some juicy revelations from the book, Sanjaya declined to answer but he did tell them that there was a lot that he wanted people to know about the audition process.
The gorgeous Carrie Underwood (winner, season 4) was next to arrive and she really did look stunning.  The crowd erupted in applause for the tiny country music superstar.  She really is as sweet in real-life as she seems on television.
Jason Castro (finalist, season 7) drove up just as the hostesses were talking about his hair.  One asked what he held his dreads together with and the other one said “dirt.”  Wow.  Fortunately, the crowd was told that his hair actually smells nice so I’m sure they were joking about the dirt!  They asked about the fact that his brother was cut from the show (Jason actually made the slit-throat motion when they asked about Michael – ha ha!).  Jason said it was fine and was a learning experience.
Season 3 runner-up, Diana DeGarmo, looked great with dark hair and purple streaks!  They asked her about her role in Oz: The Musical, which is currently on tour.  She plays Dorothy and I’m sure she’s great.  Pick up tickets at Ticketmaster.com!
Joshua Gracin (finalist, season 2) looked really good (but different than I remember him – did he get his teeth done?).  Again, the country music fans showed their love for him.
Season 2 winner, Ruben Studdard, looked great in a tan suit.  He was asked about his stint in Ain’t Misbehavin’ but I couldn’t hear what he said about it.  The crowd was loud that day! Bo Bice (runner-up, season 4) was the next Idol star to drive up the blue carpet.  One of the hostesses joked that it wasn’t fair that he could grow his hair so long and not have any split ends.  I agree!

Season 6 finalist, Lakisha Jones, looked really nice in her black and white dress.  It suited her so well!  They briefly asked her about her new album and her role in Broadway production of The Color Purple.
Phil Stacey (finalist, season 6) was the only star that I saw standing in his vehicle as he made his way down the blue carpet.  Fortunately, they were only going about two miles an hour at that point so it was reasonably safe!
Brooke White (finalist, season 7) is soooo much tinier in person than I ever expected.  She’s adorable too!  Still, there’s something about her doing the devil horns that just doesn’t look quite right…
Taylor Hicks (winner, season 5) drove up and it was announced to the crowd that the singer is “very single.”  Wow!  Of course, one woman in the crowd offered to help him get over his loneliness! Mandisa (finalist, season 5) showed up looking absolutely incredible.  She revealed that she had lost 70 pounds through a lot of dieting and exercise and said that she’s have to avoid all the good food at the party later that night.  It’s entirely worth the sacrifice, Mandisa – you look great, girl!  They asked her if there was an Idol here that she hadn’t met before and she said that she was really excited to meet Fantasia!  Syesha Mercado (finalist, season 7) showed up wearing the kind of big earrings she is known to love (I was scared for her later when she got on a ride wearing them – more on that on Monday!).  She looked gorgeous!
American Idol season 3 winner, Fantasia Barrino, looked really polished in her black, white and red outfit and I really loved her hair. 

Carly Smithson (finalist, season 7) was asked about this season’s disqualified hopeful, Joanna Pacitti.  Some felt that Carly, like Joanna, had too much experience going into the contest but Carly maintained that their situations are different.  I didn’t quite understand her whole explanation but she mentioned that she had really wanted to make it in the business and felt that she deserved the chance. Melinda Doolittle (finalist, season 6) was asked about her album (I got to tell her how much I loved it – more on Monday!) titled Coming Back to You which was released earlier this month.  I love the album so you should consider picking up a copy! Season 7 runner-up, David Archuleta, was next to drive up and it was hard to get a good picture of him since the crowd was going crazy and he was turning in so many directions.  He was so cute!
The winner of the sixth season of American Idol, Jordin Sparks, looked really elegant in her cream-colored dress.  She also looked noticeably slimmer.  What do you think? 

American Idol host, Ryan Seacrest, was asked about the Joanna Pacitti disqualification but he said that he doesn’t know what happened and just knows that she left the show.  Good answer, Ryan!
American Idol judge, Paula Abdul, was asked about Joanna Pacitti but, again, declined to give a complete answer.  Paula said that Joanna was disqualified and that was about it.  She looked like she was having an absolute blast, though!  Kimberley Locke (finalist, season 2) was the final person in the motorcade and, unfortunately, things were changing around me so quickly by the time she drove up that I don’t really remember what she was talking about.  The motorcade had also sped up so the pictures we took weren’t great either.

It was announced that Kelly Clarkson’s vehicle wasn’t coming out and they speculated over the possibility that the first American Idol winner had come late and maybe missed the motorcade.  Hmmm…

images: Jyle Dupuis

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When Chris Daughtry was up against Katharine McPhee for elimination, I was sure it was Kat’s time to go.  Even she looked shocked and horrified.  Chris was a fan-favorite and has gone on to enjoy HUGE success as the frontman for Daughtry so I still just don’t understand how he got eliminated.

Taylor Hicks went on to win with Katharine McPhee as his runner-up.  I personally adored Elliott Yamin and was disappointed he didn’t win or come in second place.  I also have to admit that I really liked Kevin Covais, especially his performance of “Starry, Starry Night.”  Of course, this is also the season that brought you Kellie Pickler.

I could go on and on.  Here’s the Top 12 (elimination dates from 2006):

1. Taylor Hicks – Winner
2. Katharine McPhee – May 24
3. Elliott Yamin – May 17
4. Chris Daughtry – May 10
5. Paris Bennett – May 3
6. Kellie Pickler – April 26
7. Ace Young – April 19
8. Bucky Covington – April 12
9. Mandisa – April 5
10. Lisa Tucker – March 29
11. Kevin Covais – March 22
12. Melissa McGhee – March 15

Here’s a video of the winning moment (look for Carrie Underwood and Anthony Federov in the audience) and Taylor singing “Do I Make You Proud?”

image: Newscom

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Song Of The Year

• Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood
• Hey There Delilah – Plain White Ts
• Like A Star – Corinne Bailey Rae
• Rehab – Amy Winehouse
• Umbrella – Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

• (You Want To) Make A Memory – Bon Jovi
• Home – Daughtry
• Makes Me Wonder – Maroon 5
• Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s
• Window In The Skies – U2

More after the jump!

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

• It’s Not Over – Daughtry
• Working Class Hero – Green Day
• If Everyone Cared – Nickelback
• Instant Karma – U2
• Icky Thump – The White Stripes

Best Rock Song

• Come On – Lucinda Williams
• Icky Thump – The White Stripes
• It’s Not Over – Daughtry
• The Pretender – Foo Fighters
• Radio Nowhere – Bruce Springsteen

Best Rock Album

• Daughtry – Daughtry
• Revival – John Fogerty 
• Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace – Foo Fighters
• Magic – Bruce Springsteen
• Sky Blue Sky – Wilco

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

• Just Fine – Mary J. Blige
• When I See You – Fantasia
• No One – Alicia Keys
• If I Have My Way – Chrisette Michele
• Hate On Me – Jill Scott

Best R&B Song

• Beautiful Flower – India.Arie
• Hate That I Love You – Rihanna Featuring Ne-Yo
• No One – Alicia Keys
• Teachme – Musiq Soulchild
• When I See U – Fantasia

Best Contemporary R&B Album

• Konvicted – Akon
• Just Like You – Keyshia Cole
• Fantasia – Fantasia
• East Side Story – Emily King
• Because Of You – Ne-Yo

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

• Simple Love – Alison Krauss
• Famous In A Small Town – Miranda Lambert
• Nothin’ Better To Do – LeAnn Rimes
• Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood
• Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love – Trisha Yearwood

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

• Days Aren’t Long Enough – Steve Earle & Allison Moorer
• Because Of You – Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson
• I Need You – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
• Lost Highway – Willie Nelson & Ray Price
• Oh Love – Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood

Best Country Song

• Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood
• Give It Away – George Strait
• I Need You – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
• If You’re Reading This – Tim McGraw
• Long Trip Alone – Dierks Bentley

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album

• The Altar And The Door – Casting Crowns
• A Deeper Level – Israel And New Breed
• True Beauty – Mandisa
• Stand – Michael W. Smith
• Portable Sounds – TobyMac

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

• Across The Universe – Various Artists
• Dreamgirls – Various Artists 
• Hairspray – Various Artists
• Love – The Beatles
• Once – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

• Falling Slowly (From Once) – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
• Guaranteed (From Into The Wild) – Eddie Vedder
• Love You I Do (From Dreamgirls) – Jennifer Hudson
• The Song Of The Heart (From Happy Feet) – Prince
• You Know My Name (From Casino Royale) – Chris Cornell

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Jordin’s 119,000 first-week sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan, which landed her at No. 10 on the Billboard album chart, are not only the lowest for an Idol winner, but total less than half of the previous low. And, it came in a week when overall sales were up nearly 20%, a seasonal event that helped a number of other Idols increase their sales.

Jordin’s not even the top Idol on the chart. That honor belongs to Carrie, who rises from No. 9 to No. 7 thanks to a 25% increase in sales to 141,000. That brings her five-week total to 1.07 million.

Wow!  That just hurts.  Poor Jordin!  I really am shocked by her sales.  Okay, here’s the rest of it:

Daughtry nearly doubled sales to 43,000 for a total of 3.33 million.

Carrie’s Some Hearts is also up, 29% in fact, to 20,000, bringing its total to 6.05 million. It moves 72-68 on the chart.

Elliott’s Sounds of the Season album appears at No. 170 after selling a bit more than 7,000 copies. Its total is slightly more than 9,000.

The Idol first-week sales chart (winners’ first albums only):

417,000: Ruben (debut at No. 1)

315,000: Carrie (No. 2)

298,000: Taylor (No. 2)

297,000: Kelly (No. 1)

240,000: Fantasia (No. 8)

119,000: Jordin (No. 10)

Clay is the all-time first-week sales champ for an Idol debut album with 613,000 for Measure of a Man.

Off-chart Idol sales:

Kellie fell off the chart from No. 185 last week despite increasing her sales about 8% to 5,400. Her total is 659,000.

Elliott‘s self-titled album sold 5,000, up from 4,000, to bring its total to 446,000.

Kelly‘s My December sold 5,000, up from 3,700, to top the 700,000 mark (703,000). Kelly had a good week in general — Breakaway jumped from 3,700 to 10,000 to bring her total to 5.90 million, and Thankful was up from 700 to 1,000 and has totaled 2.7 million.

Clay‘s Merry Christmas With Love, which jumped from 3,000 to 5,000 this week and has sold 1.3 million. Otherwise, A Thousand Different Ways sold 300, up from 200, to total 520,000, and Measure of a Man sold 100 and is just a bit below 2.8 million total.

Bucky was up from 2,000 to 2,600 and is drawing close to 300,000 (298,000 now).

Bo sold 2,400, same as last week, to hit 23,000. (His first album is at 670,000 now.)

Fantasia was up a little, 1,500 from 1,400, with a total of 494,000.

Mandisa chalked up 1,000 this week, up from 900, to total 58,000. Her Christmas EP sold 400 in its second week to bring its total to 800 (although the total might be missing some Christian bookstore sales).

Katharine sold 500, up from 400, reaching 361,000 total.

Kimberley sold 400 of her Christmas album, up from 200, for a total of 700. Her Based on a True Story album is still selling 100, and totals 17,000.

Constantine is up to 300 from 200 and totals 22,000.

Taylor is steady at 200 and is at 697,000.

Ruben sold 100, same as last week, and totals 235,000.

Paris sold 100, same as last week, for a total of 20,000.

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If you loved Mandisa‘s debut album, you’ll probably love her holiday release! Her four-track holiday EP, “Christmas Joy” is set to be released on November 20th and will include “O Holy Night,” “Joy to the World,” and Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means to Me.”

She’ll also be doing an original duet with labelmate Matthew West called “Christmas Makes Me Cry.” This last one will be sent to radio as a holiday single. Not only is Mandisa releasing her own holiday album, but she is also partaking in the “WOW Gospel Christmas” CD.

As Mandisa explains to CMSpin.com, “It seems to me that even the hardest hearts soften during the Christmas season. There is a prevalent joy that draws people together and Christmas music is the soundtrack to that season.”

Mandisa will also be spreading the holiday cheer with some live performances, including an appearance at the second largest Christmas tree lighting in the country–the NYSE Christmas tree lighting. She will also perform live at the Crystal Cathedral on Christmas Eve, which will be televised worldwide. Mandisa fans can also catch her performing live with another popular AI alum, George Huff, for six dates while in California.

I am really happy for Mandisa and excited to hear what her take on these classic carols sounds like!

Tags: mandisa, holiday album, christmas carols, mandisa christmas

via americanidol.com

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I’ll probably not be around for the rest of the night since it’s Halloween and I’ve got three kids. We’re making a spider cake and watching scary movies.

In the meantime, here’s the info about the Idol sales:

As you know by now, Carrie sold 527,000 copies of her second album, Carnival Ride. Not only did it sell nearly five times as many copies as the No. 2 album (and nearly outsell the entire rest of the top 10), but it more than made up the difference between this week and last week’s total album sales. Last week the total was 7.9 million. This week’s: 8.3 million. Without Carrie, this week would have been 7.8 million.

The new album also provided a nice boost for the first album. Some Hearts jumped from No. 81 to No. 60, selling 13,000 copies, a 38% increase over last week. Her total is now a rounded 5.98 million, slightly more than 16,000 away from 6 million.

Meanwhile, Daughtry took a slight hit, dropping 34-39 and sliding 8% in sales to 19,000. His total is 3.23 million.

more after the jump!

Finally, Kelly Clarkson drops 157-194 for what may be her last week on the chart. Sales were off 14% to 4,000; her total is 687,000.

Eagle-eyed chart followers will have deduced that one Idol album fell off the chart this week. That revelation and more off-chart sales data follows.

He didn’t miss by much (the No. 200 album on the chart sold 3,800 copies), but Elliott’s 3,700 sales weren’t quite enough to keep him on the chart. He drops about 16% and falls all the way from No. 164. It’s not impossible that he could manage a return to the top 200, though, if conditions are favorable. His total is 430,000.

Kelly’s Breakaway sold 3,300, down from 3,400, for a total of 5.87 million (due to tick over to 5.88 million next week).

Bucky sold 2,000, down from 2,100, to reach 289,000 total.

Kellie drops to 1,900 from 2,200 for a total fo 641,000.

Fantasia is down to 1,700 from 2,100 for a 488,000 total.

Mandisa is consistent at 900 to bring her total to 54,000.

Katharine holds at 500 for a total of 359,000.

Clay stays at 200 for a 519,000 total.

Constantine stays at 200 for a total of 21,000.

Taylor stays at 200 and has moved up to 697,000 total.

Ruben drops to 100 from 200 for a 235,000 total.

Carmen stays at 100 and hits the 2,500 mark.

Kimberley stays at 100 and remains at 16,000 total.

Paris stays at 100 for a total of 20,000.

I was surprised some of these albums were still selling at all… By the way, did I miss something? Where’s Bo’s album?

Tags: idol, american, american idol, album sales, albums

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I read these stats and updates on the USA Today site:

Where does the time go? I’m due for another survey of Idol airplay around the radio formats. So let’s see what’s happening, according to the Nielsen BDS/Arbitron stats published in Radio & Records.

In mainstream top 40, Elliott’s Wait for You holds on at No. 7, though its airplay is declining pretty rapidly. Daughtry‘s Over You hits the top 10, moving from No. 11 to No. 10. That makes him, or the band that bears his name, actually, according to R&R, the first group since Maroon 5 to hit the top 40 format’s top 10 with its first three releases.

And Jordin makes the chart at No. 38 with Tattoo, giving this year’s crop of Idols its first radio success story. Tattoo is also the third-most-added record at the format.

Elliott’s Wait scores a lucky bounce on the rhythmic top 40 chart, climbing 33-30 despite a decline in airplay.

More after the jump!

Fantasia is still rolling on the urban adult contemporary chart, as When I See U drops 3-4 in its endless super-slow decline, while Only One U (which is actually her second “U” in a row) climbs 21-20. (No sign of it on the larger Urban chart, though.)

More formats explored in what follows, including a potential breakout move for Kellie in country and an Idol adult-contemporary takeover.

Christian AC, which moves almost as slowly as its secular counterpart, still shows Daughtry’s Home going 16-16 (no bullet) and Mandisa‘s Only the World dropping 17-19. Home is also still on the Christian top 40 chart, dropping 22-23.

Carrie‘s So Small is inching its way up in country, passing Garth Brooks this week to move 10-9. Bucky’s It’s Good to Be Us is slowly ascending the bottom reaches of the chart, moving 42-41 after four weeks. Kellie earns an explosive jump, 59-45, for her third single, Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind, which is also third-most-added. Good signs!

After eight weeks, Daughtry’s Home is finally dethroned in AC, falling 1-2. Quite an achievement. Carrie’s Before He Cheats hangs in 7-7, though declining in airplay, and Elliott’s Wait completes an Idol hat trick in the format by jumping 13-10 (he’s third-most-added and fourth in most-increased-plays, too). Kimberley makes it four Idols in the top 15 by jumping 17-15 with Band of Gold. Daughtry’s Over You shows up as the ninth-ranking New and Active record, beneath the official top 30.

In Hot AC, Over You jumps 10-7, thanks to 10th-most-added and fifth-most-increased-plays credentials, while Wait for You drops 14-16.

Daughtry’s Crashed, which debuted at No. 33 on the active rock chart last week, moves up to 32 this week. It debuts at 24 on the smaller rock chart, where What I Want drops 9-12.

And there you have it.

Tags: idols, carrie, underwood, daughtry, kellie, jordin, sparks, charts, singles, albums, american

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