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Tag: American Idol

  • Trent Harmon Wows Judges on “American Idol” With Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man”

    Trent Harmon Wows Judges on “American Idol” With Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man”

    Trent Harmon wowed American Idol judges on Thursday with his rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.” He even brought Jennifer Lopez to tears.

    “It’s moments like this [that remind me] why I love Idol and why I’m going to miss it so much,” she said, referencing the show’s current and final 15th season. “It’s been having this front seat to watching the perfect song and the perfect singer sing it at that time.”

    “That’s what happened there, and it made me feel like, ‘Damn, I’ve been so lucky the five years I got to be on the show and watch things like that,’” she added of Trent’s performance. “You sang that song so beautifully, and I felt every single word of it. Thank you for giving me one of those moments.”

    Harry Connick, Jr. was impressed with Trent Harmon, too.

    “You know what would be really fun? To hear a duet between Trent and Adam Lambert,” he said following Harmon’s performance. “There would be, like, glasses breaking everywhere. It would be crazy.”

    “It would be a dream come true,” Trent Harmon replied.

    Trent Harmon is one of the top five contestants remaining on American Idol.

    Do you think he has what it takes to make it to the top?

    Might Trent Harmon be the final American Idol?

  • Adam Lambert On “American Idol” And The Kesha Debacle

    Adam Lambert On “American Idol” And The Kesha Debacle

    Adam Lambert made yet another triumphant return on Thursday’s American Idol.

    During the show, Adam Lambert performed “Mad World”, which he also performed on his original appearance.

    Adam Lambert said of being back on American Idol, “It’s nostalgic. I’ve been back on the show every year since I’ve been off, and so each year it’s something different. It’s really nice to come back for the final year with a new single and to reprise ‘Mad World,’ which was really cool.”

    Adam Lambert also debuted a new song called “Welcome to My Life”, a duet with Swedish singer and frequent Lambert collaborator Lelah.

    Lovely @laleh #WelcomeToTheShow

    A photo posted by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Htu6Hu2HA

    According to Adam Lambert, performing the new song was a “rush”.

    After the show, Adam Lambert told host Ryan Seacrest,”That was the first time! Oh my god, I got such a rush from that!”

    Nashville #TheOriginalHighTour via @billboard photo- Rick Diamond

    A photo posted by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

    Adam Lambert also gushed to ET about Kelly Clarkson and her famously moving performance of “Piece by Piece” a few weeks ago on Idol.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kAWesgI5LY

    "WE'RE TOGETHER HERE TONIGHT"

    A photo posted by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FHYBQxURQo

    He said, “I was really touched by her performance. It was so honest, and I think that’s what hit everybody in the heart. She’s such a talented singer.”

    He added, “As a fan of the show, I watched it from the beginning, before auditioning. Kelly’s in all of our hearts. She’s an incredible artist.”

    Adam Lambert was also asked about a recent visit with his friend, Kesha, who just went through a dirty legal battle against Dr. Luke, a music producer with Sony who she accused of sexual assault.

    When asked how she was doing, Adam Lambert said, “From what I know, she’s doing really well. We go way back from when we first both got signed so it was really nice to see her.”

    What did you think of Adam Lambert’s performance of his new song?

  • Kelly Clarkson Opens Up About Absentee Father Who Inspired ‘Piece By Piece’

    Kelly Clarkson left everyone in tears after a moving rendition of her song Piece by Piece the final season premier of American Idol last week and the songstress opened up to Ryan Seacrest about her absentee father who inspired the son.

    In an interview with Seacrest on Monday, Clarkson told the radio and Idol host that she was inspired by her dad, but also by her loving husband, Brandon Blackstock, who is the father of their 20-month-old daughter, River Rose.

    “Watching my husband love on his daughter all the time, you know, go to her events and just be there and, like, be present is, like, hard to watch but beautiful to watch,” Clarkson told Seacrest. “I know that my kids are going to have that. Y’all are totally going to make me cry on this interview. I’m so glad you can’t see me.”

    The 33-year-old American Idol alum, who is expecting their second child, realized just how much her absentee father affected her when she became a mother herself.

    “I don’t even think I understood the gravity of [my relationship with my father] until I was pregnant with [River Rose],” she said. “I was like, ‘I cannot imagine not seeing this kid to his or her full potential and just seeing what she’s going to do, what she’s going to be like.’ … I don’t think I knew how much that affected me until writing [‘Piece By Piece’]. I definitely didn’t know how it would affect me like it does when I sing it live because that’s not fun. It’s awesome, but it’s kind of sad that so many relate to this song.”

    Clarkson told Seacrest that she has forgiven her father and is “not angry” with him.

    “I’m 33 years old, I’m a grown woman. But it’s more of that thing where you can try your hardest to salvage relationships — and I did — but at the end of the day, if you keep getting hurt by someone because they just don’t know how to properly love people, it’s just not worth it,” said Clarkson. “It’s not worth the strain in your heart and it starts to bleed into your other relationships and it becomes super dysfunctional.”

  • Kelly Clarkson: “American Idol” Performance Goes Viral

    Kelly Clarkson was the first person to win American Idol 14 years ago. On Thursday night, she performed at the American Idol finalists’ party at the London West Hollywood hotel. It seemed fitting for the first American Idol to perform for the last finalists’ party ever. This season marks the last for American Idol. Kelly Clarkson’s performance on Thursday night, in celebration of the end, went viral.

    Singing her hit song, “Piece by Piece,” Kelly Clarkson, who with husband Brandon Blackstock is expecting her second child, got choked up.

    Since winning American Idol, Kelly Clarkson has gone on to release seven studio albums. She has won 12 Grammy Awards.

    Keith Urban took to Twitter to express his thoughts following Kelly Clarkson’s performance.

    Even Ryan Seacrest chimed in.

    Can you believe it’s been 14 years since Kelly Clarkson won American Idol? Don’t you love that she returned to her roots to perform one last time?

  • Kelly Clarkson Moves Everyone to Tears With ‘Piece By Piece’ Performance on ‘Idol’

    Kelly Clarkson because very emotional during her performance of Piece by Piece on Thursday’s episode of American Idol and she wasn’t the only one to break down in tears over the performance.

    The former Idol winner, who is also pregnant, wiped away tears was became so choked up that she missed a few lyrics as she performed as guest judge on the first live show of the farewell season of American Idol.

    As reported by Us Weekly, Clarkson wasn’t the only Idol judge to lose it. Keith Urban and Jennifer Lopez also became emotional as they watched Kelly struggle through the song.

    It’s no wonder the singer became as emotional as she did considering she owes her career to the show. Clarkson was the first-ever contestant to be crowned an Idol winner 14 seasons ago.

    Clarkson, despite being only weeks away until she gives birth to her second child, was bound and determined to be a part of the series’ final season.

    Following her performance, Clarkson told Ryan Seacrest she was sorry for letting her emotions get the best of her.

    “I’m pregnant and I’m nostalgic and I can’t believe it’s the last season, and I’m really sorry but I just bawled,” she said, as the audience applauded her efforts.

    Clarkson hinted before the performance that she might have trouble getting through the song, which she said is about being abandoned by her father as a child.

    “I actually wrote it pregnant with my little girl and now I’m pregnant with my little boy,” she said. “So if I don’t make it through and I start crying, just laugh. It’ll make me feel better.”

  • Jordin Sparks On Returning As “American Idol” Mentor

    Jordin Sparks and several other American Idol alumni returned to the show this week to mentor and sing with the new contestants on the 15th and last season.

    Along with Jordin Sparks, Constantine Maroulis, Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler also joined in the fun as they got to know and mentor the newest contestants.

    Jordin Sparks worked with Manny Torres and Trent Harmon.

    Jordin Sparks said of her mentees, “They sing amazingly well. But we can tweak how they are conveying emotion or how long they hold a note or if they are holding back.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUJTmUmtn9E

    Jordin Sparks was excited that the two of them were going to be singing her hit single “No Air” and the Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody”, which Jordin herself performed in her Idol days.

    She said, “It’s crazy to be dissecting things that I did. Now I have to tell somebody else how I looked at it and ask them what it means to them.”

    She added, “That’s why music is so amazing, because the experience is so different. You’re listening to the same song but the person sitting next to you is having a completely different experience than you are.”

    Smiling is my favorite. Makeup/photography: @itstroyjensen Hair: @varolopezhair

    A photo posted by Jordin Sparks (@jordinsparks) on

    It looked like Jordin Sparks and the other mentors/former contestants had a blast getting to know the new contestants and reuniting with Idol staff.

    How do you think Jordin Sparks did as a mentor?

  • Kelly Pickler On Her Experience As An “American Idol” Mentor

    Kelly Pickler and several other contestants from American Idol‘s past came back on Thursday’s episode to mentor and sing with this year’s crop.

    As the last season of American Idol gets underway, the show is paying tribute to seasons past and tipping the hat to Kelly Pickler and other memorable faces like Constantine Maroulis, Jordin Sparks and Chris Daughtry.

    Kelly Pickler and the other former contestants clearly enjoyed their time back on the show and meeting what could be the future rising stars of the music industry.

    Kelly Pickler said of her time spent back on the show as a mentor, “It’s an honor to be back. I’ve been able to work with two brilliant girls, Amelia [Eisenhauer] and Tristan [McIntosh]. Amelia is 16 and Tristan is 15.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knjGSsvhI-s

    She added, “I could not imagine doing something like this at their ages. But they’re so wonderful, they’re pros and they’ve got this. They are a pleasure and a joy to work with.”

    Eisenhauer and McIntosh are minors, and as they were chaperoned by their mothers, Kelly Pickler also got an insight into their lives at home as well as their lives competing on American Idol.

    Kelly Pickler said, “One of the most incredible things I was able to witness while I was here working with Amelia and Tristan is the love they have in their families. To have that sanctuary, foundation and support is so beautiful. I know what it’s like to be up there on that stage. It’s scary! It’s hard. But they were born for this.”

    How do you think Kelly Pickler did as a mentor?

  • Katharine McPhee: “American Idol” Alum, “Scorpion” Star Pays Ex Big Bucks in Divorce Settlement

    Katharine McPhee of American Idol fame and the star of the hit CBS show Scorpion is paying big bucks for cheating on her then-hubby Nick Cokas. As a result of getting caught kissing her married Smash director Michael Morris, McPhee will pay Cokas approximately $400,000 per year.

    According to a report from E! News, that’s not all Cokas is getting. Katharine McPhee must pay Nick Cokas $102,616 in the next few days. They will split her earnings from Smash, as well as earnings from songs she wrote while they were legally married.

    It sounds like McPhee’s ex is making out very nicely in this divorce settlement. But wait–there’s more.

    Cokas is walking away from his marriage to Katharine McPhee with a 2013 Jeep Wrangler. She gets to keep her 2012 Mercedes-Benz M Class SUV.

    So did Katharine McPhee wind up with the Smash director she cheated on her husband with? No. These days she is dating one of her Scorpion co-stars, Elyes Gabel. It’s uncertain if the indiscretion cost Michael Morris his marriage or not.

    McPhee claims she was separated from Nick Cokas at the time of the cheating incident. She, in fact, filed for divorce from Cokas in May of 2014. She released the following statement at the time of the filing.

    “After six years of marriage, and having been separated for the past year, Katharine McPhee has filed for a dissolution of marriage from Nick Cokas. The two have an amicable relationship and will remain friends. They ask that people respect their privacy during this time.”

  • Tori Kelly Signs on to “The Voice” Season 10 as Adviser

    Tori Kelly is coming to The Voice. The 23-year-old singer, who is up for Best New Artist at next month’s Grammy Awards, will join Adam Levine’s team on the singing competition show.

    There’s a bit of irony in Tori Kelly working on The Voice. When she was just 16 years old, she auditioned for American Idol, but was eliminated quickly. Now American Idol is in its last season, and Tori Kelly is shining brighter than bright.

    Other advisers for season 10 of The Voice–that premieres on February 29–are Sean “Diddy” Combs, who will join Pharrell Williams’ team. Patti LaBelle will serve as adviser for Team Christina, as Christina Aguilera makes her return as coach this season.

    Christina’s return means there’s no chair for Gwen Stefani to turn, but rumor has it she is coming back as Blake Shelton’s adviser. Since the two started dating this fall, they’ve been spotted together frequently. Maybe Blake could just duct tape Gwen to his chair, so she could ride the turn with him each time he hits his button. Producers might frown upon that, however.

    Season nine of The Voice ended in December, with Jordan Smith blowing everyone away with his amazing vocals. With Tori Kelly advising Team Adam (Jordan Smith was on Adam Levine’s team), two of music’s best will guide his team.

    Could the presence of Tori Kelly give Adam Levine an edge in this season’s competition? Gwen serving as Blake’s adviser means the bromance/competition between the two men is on.

  • Brenda K. Starr: Singer-Songwriter’s Daughter Gianna Auditions for “American Idol”

    Brenda K. Starr, the singer and songwriter best known for her 1988 hit, “I Still Believe,” has a daughter hoping to follow in her footsteps. Her daughter, 15-year-old Gianna Isabella, auditioned for American Idol on Wednesday. Despite some technical difficulties, she wowed judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick, Jr.

    According to a report from Billboard magazine, anyone who tuned in to Wednesday night’s episode of American Idol was aware of the glitches. Just as Brenda K. Starr’s daughter was about to audition, the sound cut out.

    That meant viewers missed Gianna Isabella explaining to the judges exactly who her famous mom is, and how Brenda K. Starr used to rehearse at the same dance studio that trained Jennifer Lopez. The audience also missed a very sweet conversation between Gianna Isabella and Brenda K. Starr before she entered the audition room.

    Billboard shared a clip of everything viewers missed prior to Gianna Isabella’s audition, as well as her audition, and even Brenda K. Starr as she is brought into the audition room.

    Are you surprised to see Brenda K. Starr’s daughter get a three-way thumbs up from the American Idol judges–as well as a very special vote from her mom?

  • Carrie Underwood Is No Longer Top ‘American Idol’ Moneymaker

    For the past two years, Carrie Underwood has been the top attraction when it comes to American Idol alums, raking in the most cash of all the former contestants.

    But for 2015, that changed. There’s a new top dawg when it comes to American Idol alums.

    According to Forbes, season eight runner-up Adam Lambert is the highest-earning Idol star, raking in $10m over the course of the year.

    How did he do it? Mostly with touring, apparently. Lambert plays huge shows as the new frontman for Queen. The classic band and Lambert joined forces in 2011, and they set off touring the world in 2014.

    Don’t feel too bad for Carrie Underwood, however. She’s still number two with a cool $8m in 2015.

    Backstage @opry selfie! I love being at the Ryman! There's just something so special about this place…

    A photo posted by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on

    The rest of the top five American Idol alum earners are Daughtry (3), Phillip Phillips (4), Scotty McCreery (5), and Kelly Clarkson (5).

    #NYE #Singapore

    A photo posted by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

    American Idol host Ryan Seacrest recently said he thinks Carrie Underwood is the biggest star to ever come out of the show.

    “Kelly [Clarkson] too, but, you know, I was just on New Year’s with Carrie, and she’s just a superstar. She really is. So I take Carrie,” he said.

    There’s not much more time to make a new American Idol star. The show it currently airing its final season.

  • Kelly Clarkson Not As Big a Star As Carrie Underwood, Says Ryan Seacrest

    Kelly Clarkson is not as big a star as Carrie Underwood. At least, that is the opinion of American Idol host Ryan Seacrest.

    Both Clarkson and Underwood were discovered on the Idol, turning them into megastars.

    When asked Tuesday on the Today show who he thought the biggest star to ever come out of Idol was, Seacrest answered without hesitation, “Carrie Underwood.”

    When one of the Today show hosts mentioned Clarkson, Seacrest replied, “Kelly too, but, you know, I was just on New Year’s with Carrie, and she’s just a superstar. She really is. So I take Carrie.”

    Ryan Seacrest began hosting American Idol in 2002, This will be the final season of the singing competition, which begins on Jan. 7.

    Seacrest said life will not be the same when the final season is completed and noted that he will be “looking for something” to do once Idol wraps in May.

    “I can’t imagine life without going on the auditions every summer, and then doing the shows, you know, for months afterwards,” Seacrest said.

    Who do you think is the bigger star? Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson?

  • Lauren Silverman, Simon Cowell, and Son Asleep As Burglars Break Into London Home

    Lauren Silverman, Simon Cowell, and their baby boy, Eric, were all asleep in their London home during the wee hours of Friday morning when burglars broke in.

    The Guardian reports that Metropolitan police responded to a call for a burglary in progress. By the time they arrived at Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman’s home, the suspects were gone.

    Missing in the incident are cash belonging to both parties and jewelry belonging to Lauren Silverman.

    This isn’t the first time Simon Cowell has been the victim of a burglary either. Back in 2011, this same home was burglarized and a woman was found hiding inside a walk-in closet. She was armed with a brick when discovered.

    “She had smashed her way in through the window and it was unclear how long she had been there or what she was doing,” a rep for Simon Cowell said at the time.

    Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman will no doubt be traveling to L.A. with little Eric very soon. Ryan Seacrest said in a recent interview with E! News that all former American Idol judges will return for the final season of the show, set to air in January.

    “We will have the former judges back,” Seacrest said. “The plan is to have all of them back. They’ve all considered it and I think are enthusiastic about coming back and saluting the show.”

    Hopefully Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman hire some extra vigilant security people to guard their home while they’re in the U.S.

    Can you imagine how frightening it must have been for Lauren Silverman and Simon Cowell to learn someone was inside their home while they were sleeping? This scenario could have ended with far more than cash and jewelry lost.

  • Miranda Lambert “American Idol” Bound, Is This a Dig at “The Voice’s” Blake Shelton?

    Miranda Lambert is reportedly American Idol bound. Is this how Blake Shelton’s ex-wife is getting in her digs at Blake’s new romance?

    It wasn’t so long ago that Miranda Lambert served as a mentor on The Voice, where Blake Shelton and new girlfriend Gwen Stefani serve as coaches. Does this sound a bit deliberate on Miranda’s behalf?

    “Miranda is looking to do something with American Idol this season both by performing on the show and being a guest mentor during the inevitable Country Week. This would obviously be a dig at Blake and a big get for Idol,” a source tells HollywoodLife.com.

    The source also claims American Idol’s Keith Urban helped arrange to bing Miranda Lambert on board.

    Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert divorced over the summer. Blake has since started dating his fellow Voice coach, Gwen Stefani.

    Miranda has stayed strong in light of Blake and Gwen going public with their romance. She is working toward her upcoming tour.

    “She’s excited, she’s looking forward to it. She’s keeping her mind on that and not on what her ex-husband is doing, but it’s not an easy time. Blake was ten years of her life, it’s a big deal,” the source explains.

    Do you think Miranda Lambert’s crossover from The Voice to American Idol is aimed at dissing Blake Shelton? Or was it simply a more comfortable outlet in which to lend her talents to up and coming singers, in light of her divorce from Blake?

  • Kellie Pickler Lands ‘Drama-Free, Family Friendly’ Reality Show

    Kellie Pickler has landed her own reality show.

    The country singer is not new to reality television. She began her career on American Idol and soon found herself showing off her dancing skills in Dancing With the Stars. So, it’s not surprising that Pickler would agree to a new CMT reality show about her marriage to songwriter-producer Kyle Jacobs.

    What may be surprising is the show, I Love Kellie Pickler, is being touted as a drama-free, family friendly romp.

    “You definitely have to set boundaries from the start with anything you do,” Pickler said of her new show. ”And keep things sacred for you and your marriage.”

    Produced by Ryan Seacrest, the 13-episode series will premiere this Thursday at 10 p.m.

    Unlike many other reality shows — anything Kardashian comes to mind — the series will not feature a designer lifestyle, nor will it feature the raucous, drunken carousing of CMT’s signature reality show, Party Down South.

    Instead, Kellie Pickler and her husband, will offer fans a peek at their wholesome, family-oreinted lifestyle.

    “We want to keep it light and positive,” Pickler told The Associated Press. “There’s enough darkness out in the world. And there’s enough negativity on television.”

    “There’s no drama crazy,” Jacobs concurred, who has been married to Pickler for five years.

    “No,” Pickler said. “Definitely not. There are no cat fights. We don’t have cats. … He’s allergic.”

    The series follows the couple through a busy summer touring season, taking trips with friends and renewing their vows.

    “People know what we do in front of the curtain,” Kellie Pickler said. “They know what we do onstage or what he does in the studio. This is about who we are when we clock out.”

  • Hannah Blackwell and “American Idol” Winner Phillip Phillips Tie the Knot in Georgia

    Hannah Blackwell is now the wife of Season 11 American Idol winner Phillip Phillips. The couple tied the knot Saturday evening at the Resora Plantation in Albany, Georgia in front of 250 guests.

    A rep for Phillips shared the happy news with People magazine.

    Phillip Phillips met Hannah Blackwell 11 years ago at a charity event.

    “I’m so excited,” he says of new wife Hannah Blackwell. “What I love most about her is she’s my best friend and I can tell her anything. I just love her.”

    “I feel like when I met Phillip, he was the answer to so many questions that I had. He just makes everything make sense for me,” Blackwell says.

    It was only a few weeks ago that Hannah Blackwell thanked her best girlfriends who celebrated her last days as a single woman.

    “Forever. Love these girls who drove hours and hours to celebrate my upcoming nuptials,” she captioned the fun photo.

    A photo posted by Hannah Blackwell (@hgblackwell) on

    Hannah Blackwell wore a Hayley Paige wedding gown and Phillip Phillips chose a Billy Reid tuxedo. The dashing couple enjoyed a Southern-style wedding reception following their nuptials. They will embark on a honeymoon later this week.

    Phillip Phillips has seen his career explode since winning season 11 of American Idol.

    He must be thrilled that his days as a single man are “Gone, gone, gone.”

    Fans all over the world are no doubt sending their very best wishes to Phillip Phillips and Hannah Blackwell on becoming husband and wife.

  • Simon Cowell Dishes About Upcoming “America’s Got Talent” Gig, Son Eric Steals the Show

    Simon Cowell sat down for an interview with Extra’s Terri Seymour recently to dish on his upcoming gig on America’s Got Talent. The American Idol alum has announced he will replace Howard Stern as a judge on the next season of the show. Stern announced last season that it would be his last.

    20-month-old Eric Cowell was on hand for his daddy’s interview, and loved stealing the show. The little boy was teasing both Seymour and his father with a carrot Simon Cowell had given him as a snack.

    “That’s my boy!” Simon Cowell said to Seymour. “When he just wants something, he’s like me. He says it over and over again.”

    Something Simon Cowell had been wanting for a while was to serve as a judge on America’s Got Talent. Howard Stern’s exit was perfect timing.

    “We’ve been talking about it for a few years, funny enough, me and NBC,” he said. ‘This year…everything worked. So it was perfect.”

    Seymour questioned if perhaps fatherhood has made Simon Cowell a more understanding judge. Surely everyone remembers how harsh he was at times as an American Idol judge.

    “I’m not going to lie to people when I think they’re hopeless, I just couldn’t do that!” he said. “But no, of course I’m not going to be rude for the sake of being rude. That would be ridiculous. I’ll take it act by act.”

    It sounds like maybe fatherhood has softened the curmudgeonly British chap. Could you imagine Simon Cowell having had the patience to humor a child–back in his early American Idol days?

    That would have been a frightening situation–for all involved.

    Lauren Silverman is little Eric Cowell’s mom. She and Simon Cowell learned they were expecting while Silverman was still married to one of Simon Cowell’s best friends.

  • Simon Cowell: Mother Julie Cowell Dies at 89

    Simon Cowell is mourning the loss of his mother. Julie Cowell, who was 89, died on Sunday. The former ballet dancer and British socialite’s passing was confirmed by Simon’s brother Tony Cowell.

    Family members shared their heartache in a statement to People magazine.

    “Today our beloved mum Julie passed away,” they said. “Anyone who had met her would know what a truly special and kind lady she was. We are heartbroken and will miss her terribly, but she is now at peace.”

    Simon Cowell has yet to issue his own statement regarding his mother’s passing, however the family has asked for privacy.

    “We would like to thank the media for kindly respecting Julie’s privacy throughout and we politely request continued privacy for the entire family at this particularly difficult time.”

    In addition to Simon Cowell, Julie Cowell was the mother of three sons–Nicholas, Tony, and Michael. She was the step-mother of John and June Cowell.

    Simon Cowell was best known in the U.S. in his role as a judge on American Idol. He has since become known as one of the most famous music and television producers in the world. The first string of auditions for The X Factor has been postponed in light of Julie Cowell’s death.

    Condolences are no doubt going out to Simon Cowell and the rest of his family on the passing of his mother. May the family find some comfort in the gestures of love that are likely pouring in.

  • Hilary Cruz: Ryan Seacrest’s New Girlfriend Is a Former Miss Teen USA

    Ryan Seacrest has a new girl on his arm.

    People magazine has confirmed that the extraordinarily busy celebrity is managing to find some time to date former Miss Teen USA Hilary Cruz.

    According to the magazine, Seacrest, 40, has been out on the town with the 26-year-old former beauty queen Hilary Cruz, who now works for producer Ken Erlich.

    “It’s new,” a source close to Ryan Seacrest said. “They’re having fun.”

    The new couple are reportedly taking things slowly. Having met through mutual friends, Ryan Seacrest and his lady love have enjoyed each other’s company on a few dinner dates, and Cruz stopped by American Idol toward the end of last season.

    Feelin free @shanerusseckphotography

    A photo posted by Hilary Cruz (@hilarycarolcruz) on

    Crowned Miss Teen USA in 2007, Hilary Cruz is a budding actress who has appeared in stints on Hell’s Kitchen and Donald Trump’s Pageant Place, as well as a few roles in a couple of TV movies and music videos.

    Hilary Cruz is of Spanish, Mexican and German descent and according to Seattlepi.com, she has a teacup Pomeranian/chihuahua mix pooch to keep her company when Seacrest is busy doing what Seacrest does so well, which includes being producer of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

    Ryan Seacrest was most recently linked to model Renee Hall in March.

    “They had fun, it didn’t last long,” an insider told Us Magazine.

    He also dated model Shayna Taylor after his split from Julianne Hough in March 2013, whom he dated for two years.

  • Katharine McPhee is Back With a Summer Anthem [Video]

    Katharine McPhee is a bit of an anomaly. As an American Idol runner-up, she is in the minority due to having actually gone on to have a great career. Many Idol finalists are relegated to the dustbins of history.

    Katharine McPhee, however, starred in a Spielberg-produced musical drama series on television, has appeared in numerous films, and is about to drop her fourth album in July. That’s a big deal for a runner-up.

    The new album is called Hysteria, and Katharine McPhee says it’s going to be a lot different from what you’ve seen out of her before. She told Rolling Stone:

    “[With earlier albums] I found it difficult to find inspiration of things I wanted to sing about. I think I was also shy; I wasn’t sure of myself as a writer. I really didn’t feel like I had that much to say, had that much to write about. So I think the overall theme [of this record] is that, yes, there’s been searching, there’s been heartbreak, there’s been longing, I think finally, for the first time, I felt motivated to find stories within my own life to write about.”

    The first track off the album is called “Lick My Lips.” McPhee is already positioning the song as a summer hit.

    “It’s probably my most summer-y, carefree song that I have on the album,” McPhee said. “It’s a fun thing for me to come out with because it’s really a representation of me.”

    McPhee’s following on Twitter was all, well, a-twitter with news of the new release. They’ve taken to their feeds with the hashtag #LickMyLips.

    Including Katharine’s mom:

    The new music brings to an end a five-year hiatus from music for the star. Her previous album, Unbroken, featured the hit single “Had It All.” She has spent most of her time on the screen in the years since her last album. Her latest is the hit CBS series Scorpion.

    Here is McPhee’s latest hit. It must be summer.

  • Casper Smart, Jennifer Lopez: Are They Back Together?

    Casper Smart and Jennifer Lopez are rumored to be back together again, although neither has officially confirmed their relationship status. During a chat with Ellen DeGeneres on her show on Friday, J-Lo came as close as anyone has thus far to defining their relationship.

    “Have you ever been at a point in your life where you don’t know? Like, you’re not sure about things?” Lopez asked Ellen. “I am not sure about anything.”

    Jennifer Lopez was first linked to Casper Smart–one of her back-up dancers–back in 2011, not long after her split from husband Marc Anthony.

    Of their relationship now–she does admit they’re ‘seeing’ each other–she says the two are ‘having fun’ spending time together.

    “I’m a grown woman,” she told Ellen DeGeneres. “[I’m] doing … whatever I feel like doing!”

    So what if she becomes pregnant while ‘having fun’ with Casper Smart?

    Jennifer Lopez claims he’s ‘on board.’

    She has two children with Marc Anthony and says she’d love to have more.

    “I wish I could have four or five more,” she gushed. “I love kids, and I love the whole experience.”

    While none of this answers questions about the prospective longevity of J-Lo’s relationship with Casper Smart, she must feel something concrete exists between them if becoming pregnant wouldn’t be detrimental.

    Casper Smart is 28 years old. Jennifer Lopez is 45. How might parenting be for a couple with this kind of May-December romance?

    Surely time will tell whether things work out for Casper Smart and Jennifer Lopez. She is sure to have way more time on her hands in a few months, as American Idol–on which she serves as a judge–has been cancelled following its January run.

    Of course J-Lo has signed on for a Las Vegas residency, and rumor has it, Casper Smart might be her choreographer.

    Maybe she and Casper Smart will settle down and make babies in 2016?