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The ever so modest Phillip Phillips won "American Idol" Wednesday night, and while some say it was well deserved others have insisted that the show is "rigged." After the Georgia hometown boy won "American Idol" Wednesday night, many came forward and insisted that that enough was enough on the singing show, which according to some is clearly "racist." "[In the] last 3 in finals, one was black, who was the best singer, one was brown who was also great singer, one was white who was a karaoke singer; guess who won, the white one of course, when will America stop...

This year’s “American Idol” is Phillip Phillips, the 20-year old from Leesburg, Georgia, who seemed to have had a lock on the title at, well, hello. He’s been compared to Dave Matthews and some critics have said he had the advantage of a female-voting-base, but his performance of “We’ve Got Tonight” last week, and “Home” last night proved his voice and talent as an artist might have a little something to do with it as well. It was a star-studded and sequin-heavy finale at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles with performances by Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, John Fogerty, Chaka Khan...

You wouldn’t know it from the role he plays as kindly “mentor” to the promising young musical talent vying to be the next “American Idol,” but Jimmy Iovine has done as much to coarsen our popular culture as anyone on the planet. His biography boasts that the 59-year-old music producer has worked with such acclaimed acts as John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and U2. What it doesn’t say is that Iovine almost singlehandedly brought so-called “gangsta rap” from the outer fringes of the music industry – where it belonged – to right smack dab...

What do Scott McCreery, Kriss Allen, Jordin Sparks and Ruben Studdard have in common? All are past or present Christian musical artists. And all are past winners of “American Idol.” That’s why is doesn’t make sense that the producers of the popular FOX television show, now in its 12 season, have warned Colton Dixon, one of this year’s “Idol” finalists, that he needs to keep his devout Christian faith on the down low. “When we first started the Twitter and Facebook stuff,”Colton told Today.com, “they said beware of political or religious tweets. Just because it can turn off voters or...

“American Idol” producers have apparently warned Colton Dixon if he doesn’t tone down his overtly Christian act, he won’t have a prayer of winning the reality competition. The 20-year-old devout Christian, though, told Today.com that he answers to a higher authority than voting viewers. “When we first started the Twitter and Facebook stuff, they said beware of political and religious tweets,” Dixon told the site. “Just because it can turn off voters or whatever. But, you know, being a Christian is who I am. It is a part of me musically. It is what I want to do after the...

This week, "American Idol" kicked off its 11th season, and it appears even President Obama is getting into the spirit. On Thursday night at a fundraiser at the Apollo Theater, the commander in chief surprised a star-studded Harlem, New York, crowd by busting out a few measures of "AI" staple Al Green's "Let's Stay Together."

She used to hide her Caribbean accent - Viewers were shocked on the top nine show when this soft-spoken singer out of nowhere morphed into a totally different person.... She was denied an "X Factor" fast-pass - Not only did Melanie almost get sent home before the live shows, she almost didn't make it to her audition at all. "I wanted to get a Fast Pass at the local Fox news in Florida, and they told me, 'No, we didn't enjoy you very much,'" she says, incredibly. "So I waited in line with all the thousands of people." Guess it...

Scotty McCreery has been very vocal about his Christian faith since the beginning of “American Idol,” so why not manifest it in his upcoming debut album? The young country artist revealed in an interview this week that he hopes to follow in Josh Turner’s footsteps and include at least one Christian song in his upcoming album. “One thing I love about Josh Turner is his faith, that’s why I looked up to him so much,” he told The Boot. The 17-year-old North Carolina native continued, "All the albums he's had have had at least one Christian song, like 'The Answer'...

Country won. Honesty won. Decency won. And good ol' American values won. They beat hypocrisy and hyperbole, snark and snicker, and the jaw-dropping arrogance of the experts and elites. No, I'm not talking about the Republican sweep of the House last year. Rather, I'm talking about last week's American Idol, where viewers disregarded the exhortations of entertainment and media elites and chose instead down-home over Hollywood, and country over anything and everything our cultural elites pushed at them. It became clear as the confetti rained down on this year's American Idol -- a teenager with white picket fence sensibilities and...

It's probably going to take more than a sore throat to stop Lauren Alaina. A report that the 16-year-old may not be able to sing in the American Idol finals tonight, thereby paving the way for Haley Reinhart's return, is "highly exaggerated," a show source assures E! News. But, alas, they're not out of the woods yet. Haley is standing by, just in case Lauren can't go on, an insider tells us. The finalists are supposed to sing three songs tonight, but she struggled through her second number during rehearsal and was unable to practice her third. The source says...

Remember how Steven Tyler has been saying that Aerosmith would perform with James Durbin at the Idol finale? Well it looks like he's the only band member who wants to do that. The Boston Herald reports that the other members of Aerosmith don't want to do it because they'd rather wait to promote something for their band. Besides, the last time we saw Joe Perry was when he played with Sanjaya at the season 6 finale. How could you possibly top that? (Answer: You can't)

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, N.Y. (PIX11)— Administrators at Brooklyn Academy High School in Bedford-Stuyvesant canceled Friday's talent show in the wake of a all-girl gang assault on one of the student contestants, PIX 11 has learned. According to authorities, 17-year-old Shacara McLaurin was brutally attacked by at least five other students on April 1st, one of them hitting her in the face with a padlock wrapped in a sock. "Yo, b--ch, I got a lock," one of the teen suspects allegedly shouted, as she pummeled McLaurin with the weapon. "I wasn't able to open my jaw. I wasn't able to talk. I...

Real estate mogul Donald Trump is tied for first in the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, according to a new poll of Republicans. Nineteen percent of Republicans named Trump, who is flirting with a run for the party's presidential nomination, as their top choice for the nomination, according to a CNN/Opinion Research poll released Tuesday. Another 13 percent said Trump was their second choice in a nominee. SNIP Trump scored 10 percent in last month's CNN poll, meaning he effectively doubled his support over the course of a month.

Well, if you’re reading about “American Idol” tonight the comments on Twitter, Facebook and just about anywhere you look aren’t pretty. Some fans are vowing to never watch again and the curse words are flying. That’s because we might have witnessed one of the biggest upsets in the show’s history. Idol darling Pia Toscano was sent home tonight. The judges looked furious and the sobs were pouring out for this New York contestant. Even the guys on stage looked like they were teary-eyed and everyone look shocked. Maybe the judges were part of the problem. They have been sugar-coating all...

In Memory of Bahbah and Carolinamom

Police: Man Held 2 At Knifepoint Over 'American Idol' Hotel Guest Wanted Co-Workers To Change Channel POSTED: Thursday, March 10, 2011 UPDATED: 1:17 pm EST March 10, 2011 Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of Barran Prakash JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A hotel guest held two co-workers who he was staying with at knifepoint when they refused to change the TV channel to "American Idol," Neptune Beach police said. Barran Prakash, 47, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was talking to his wife on the phone while he was preparing a meal when his wife told him the show was on TV, according to police....

For those of you who watched IDOL this evening,were you shocked on who the final ten were?,and then even more shocked on who were picked for the three wild card spots? It was bad enough that two of the best female singers didn't make the top then,and then to add insult to injury,Randy,Jenifer&Steve chose the two black female singers of whom were the least impressive of the six wild card contestants. It was so obvious that the judges were more concerned that they would of been declared racists if they didn't have at least one black female singer amongst the...

A young, single New Orleans mom Paris Tassin wows the judges with her singing. She wows me with her story of a daughter she was urged not to have. Video at link

I’ve not followed the life and times of Fantasia Barrino, American Idol’s 2004 Season 3 winner. But when I read the tragic revelation last week that Fantasia attempted to kill herself in August following an abortion, I brought myself up to speed. Little did LifeNews.com know the backstory when originally reporting Fantasia’s suicide attempt, particularly when writing she “once chose life – when faced with an unexpected pregnancy.” That was in 2001, when Fantasia, a 17-yr-old unmarried high school drop out, gave birth to daughter Zion (pictured, left, with Fantasia last week). Nine years later, at the height of fame...

Governor Palin’s book America by Heart is set to be released this coming Tuesday. As with every book, advanced copies are released to the press for reviewing purposes only. Those advanced copies usually come with conditions attached which include not disclosing any part of the book until a certain agreed date. It appears that some in the media have lost all of their integrity and no longer have any respect for the law and have decided to release parts of the book to no others than to sites trashing Governor Palin. So out of a 304 page book, those Palin...

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's last-minute efforts to get Democratic voters to the polls include an interview with Ryan Seacrest. Yes, that Ryan Seacrest, host of "American Idol." The interview will air Tuesday on Seacrest's nationally syndicated radio show. Obama is also taping interviews Monday with local radio hosts in Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Honolulu and Miami. Those interviews will air on Election Day. Though Obama has no public campaign schedule between ahead of Tuesday's elections, White House officials believe he can reach his party's base from the White House. Obama is also holding conference calls Monday night with campaign volunteers...

Over the past few years, I have often complained about a hidebound culture that prevents many newspapers from responding to the challenges of new technology. There is, however, another hidebound American institution that is also finding it difficult to respond to new challenges: our big-city schools. Today, for example, the United States is home to more than 2,000 dysfunctional high schools. They represent less than 15% of American high schools yet account for about half of our dropouts. When you break this down, you find that these institutions produce 81% of all Native American dropouts, 73% of all African-American dropouts,...

Unless we measure success by how children perform, we'll have higher standards for pop stars than public schools. Over the past few years, I have often complained about a hidebound culture that prevents many newspapers from responding to the challenges of new technology. There is, however, another hidebound American institution that is also finding it difficult to respond to new challenges: our big-city schools. Today, for example, the United States is home to more than 2,000 dysfunctional high schools. They represent less than 15% of American high schools yet account for about half of our dropouts. When you break this...

I had to consider this for a moment and come to the conclusion for myself that it was not a joke. While the video itself is indeed “terrorizing”, that’s not the end to this man’s apparent terrorism career. Khuram Sher, seen below in the clip auditioning for Canadian Idol and singing “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne, was arrested for being apart of a homegrown terrorism plot in Canada. Susan Boyle he is not…. I guess that’s the end to his budding music career. VIDEO

It's been a rough week for Fantasia Barrino. The American Idol season 3 champ was hospitalized Monday in Charlotte, N.C., after overdosing on aspirin and a sleep aid, her manager Brian Dickens confirmed Tuesday. "Her injuries are not life threatening. She was dehydrated and exhausted at the time," Dickens said. "Fantasia is stable now. She will be released from the hospital soon." According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the incident was classified as a suicide attempt. The police report lists Dickens as the reporting person and says Barrino was found with "possible internal injuries."

PETA's taking aim at 'American Idol' contestant Kristy Lee Cook’s new hunting reality show, but Cook's not afraid to fire back. “Goin Country,” which began its eight episode run this weekend, follows the singer trying to land a record deal as she participates in hunts across the country. A spokesperson for the animal rights organization released the following statement to FOX411.com. “Instead of angering thousands of would-be fans by killing helpless animals on camera in attempt to get her '15 Minutes of Shame,' Kristy Lee Cook's fame crusade would be better served by following in the footsteps of fellow Idol...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) today made the following statement regarding the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the United States Supreme Court. Senator Gregg stated, “The Senate’s duty to provide advice and consent on Presidential nominations to the Supreme Court is one of its most significant constitutional responsibilities. Separate and distinct from its legislative function, the confirmation process requires the Senate to put aside politics and conduct a frank and evenhanded review of the nominee’s record, qualifications and demonstrated ability to apply the law in a fair and impartial manner. “I have met personally with Solicitor...

Ellen DeGeneres is officially out of “American Idol,” because she “hated being critical,” says a source familiar with negotiations. In fact, Gossip Cop hears she asked to be released from her contract the day last season ended, but was told there was no chance unless they found another panel. Which brings us to today’s HUGE news. Gossip Cop hears from a reliable source that offers have been made to Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

Sources connected with the "American Idol" negotiations tell TMZ Kara DioGuardi has judged her last contestant on "American Idol" -- because she's been fired. We're told the show will be going back to a three-judge format and assuming all deals are finalized, the judge's panel will consist of Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. We're told the only way Kara could get a reprieve is if the J-Lo deal falls apart -- but we're told that deal is done. Ellen DeGeneres announced earlier Thursday that she was leaving the show after just one season.

Filling Simon Cowell‘s seat on American Idol was already a tough task –- now another chair is there for the taking. Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who became a full-time judge on the show during its ninth season, is bowing out of the series, PEOPLE has learned. “A couple months ago, I let FOX and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” she says in a statement. “I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure...

LOS ANGELES, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A San Diego semi-finalist on " American Idol 8" and winner of other beauty pageants was crowned the title of Miss California 2010 overnight, well on the way in search of the tantalizing title of Miss America in six months time. Ariana Afsar, currently a freshman at University of California, Los Angeles, succeeded Kristy Cavinder, Miss California 2009 at a pageant held in Fresno, California on Saturday night. She has won various awards including a 25,000-U.S.-dollar cash prize in the junior teen Miss America competition and won the "Del Mar TV Idol" contest held...

The concert business is supposed to be the music industry's one sure thing. But not this summer. The Eagles, Rihanna and Maxwell have canceled tour dates. A wobbling "American Idol" tour has flooded the market with discounted tickets, and the resurrected Lilith Fair tour has called off concerts from Dallas to Salt Lake City. Even teen idols the Jonas Brothers announced this week that they're scrapping some shows. * * * With the continued evaporation of recorded music sales, acts at all levels of the talent pool must lean heavily on their live-performance earnings. That's forcing artists to tour more,...

Simon Cowell fulfilled five-year-old Bethany Fenton's final wish before she lost her battle with a brain tumor. She achieved her dream of singing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' for Cowell when she visited the 'Britain's Got Talent' studios in North London ahead of Saturday's finale on June 5 and even met some of the finalists in the competition. Following her exciting day, the young girl told UK's Daily Mail, "I loved them all, especially Kieran, who asked for my wristband to give us both luck ... Simon let me sing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' to him. He's so nice and I...

Bret Michaels returned to the stage last night in Biloxi, MS where Bret dropped a huge piece of info on the crowd -- he might be taking Simon Cowell's seat on "American Idol." Right before Bret played the classic "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," he told the crowd, "I can't say this is true yet, cause I don't know. Next year they asked me to possibly be the judge on 'American Idol.'" Very vague, but still ... As for the rest of the show, one audience member told us, "I figured he'd be wobbly and sitting on a stool. But...

American Idol announced the winner for 2010 this evening. The fan favorite, Lee DeWyze took home the win. Lee DeWyze has had his ups and downs this season, but sometimes that is a good thing. Everyone loves an underdog and Lee DeWyze was the underdog for American Idol...at least he was after Tim Urban was voted off. Lee suffered from a lack of confidence, which we all can relate to, most have been in that situation at some point in their life. Lee did not have a lack talent, Lee has a wonderful voice, he just came across as being...

Tonight's the night that American Idol's 9th season comes to a close - the finale - the crowning of the winner, either Lee Dewyze or Crystal Bowersox, and according to a very vivid dream I had last night, who won the crown? Crystal Bowersox. I usually don't remember my dreams, and if I do, I don't typically remember them very well. But this dream was different. Like many dreams it didn't make a lot of sense. Bizzare components mixed with elements from real life. I dreamed that I was the one who had the votes, individual votes, that I laid...

She isn't employed by the show and viewers never see her sparring with Simon Cowell. But Leesa Bellesi exerts her own kind of pull on "American Idol," Fox's top-rated singing contest that has a unique if often-unstated link to Christian churches. Bellesi, who runs a Christian nonprofit in Lake Forest with her ex-pastor husband, visits tapings frequently, has befriended numerous finalists and helps wrangle funds and scout temporary housing for families who trek cross-country to see relatives perform on "Idol." Bellesi said that churches form a base for the young singers as they try to win votes and establish fan...

While millions of fans focus on Crystal Bowersox’s high notes, Lee DeWyze’s guitar playing, and Simon Cowell’s last gasps of snark, MoneyWatch is, well, watching the money. By that measure, it hardly matters who wins next Wednesday — if they manage life after Idol correctly, the two finalists stand to earn millions of dollars each. Previous Idol winners such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have gone on to become mega-selling, globe-touring, award-winning stars, while even contestants that haven’t won, such as Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson, have gone on to become top-earning performers. “You can rest on having been...

PAULA Abdul is one demanding diva! The former American Idol judge reportedly told Simon Cowell she’ll join his new The X Factor show – if the millionaire music mogul pays her $3 million in advance. “Paula really wants to reunite with Simon on his new show next year,” a source told American tabloid the National Enquirer. “But she thinks he needs to either put up – or shut up!” The source adds that Abdul and Cowell — who used to come to blows as judges on Idol – “have discussed reteaming, but Paula feels Simon needs to commit financially.”

I thought, "We should do a program" like this! The "we" I thought of is us Christians. Americans are the most generous people in the world and American Christians are the most generous of all. I wonder how much we could raise for good causes? Of course, I know of a ministry that is already in many of the same places that these other organizations are in- Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and twenty more! That's the ministry of He Intends Victory (HIV). I started HIV in 1990 from 2 guys in the church I was pastor at who both shared with...

Based on Simon Cowell's snarky, acerbic wit, it's hard to imagine the "American Idol" judge being enamored of anyone, let alone a pitchy American amateur like Barack Obama. So it was a surprise to find out that the two men are equally enthralled with each other. It appears that Simon tried to get Obama to do a show, and Obama requested a dinner date with the cheeky Cowell. Two superstars supping and sharing -- one a judge, the other an American deity who Simon Cowell apparently believes is "a really cool guy." What in the world would these two diametrically...

Link: http://www.examiner.com/x-2359-Evangelical-Examiner~y2010m4d21-American-Idol-Gives-Back--To-groups-that-support-abortion?cid=email-this-article Life Decisions International has taken the lead in making everyone aware that the TV Program called "American Idol" is (and apparently has in the past) aligning itself with pro-abortion groups. They have reported a little know fact that among the groups benefiting this year's "Idol Gives Back" fund-raising campaign are Save the Children and the United Nations Foundation. "Idol Gives Back," which airs tonight, will feature several celebrities who will urge Americans to make a donation. Save the Children has a working relationship with what it calls "prominent international organizations." Several of these groups are actively pro-abortion, including...

In watching American Idol this evening, something struck me that I wondered if others noticed. Tonight was charity night known as American Idol Gives Back! Obviously, the goal is to give back and help others in need. The show started off with a message from the Obama's. One of the featured people in need was a single mother and children, one of whom was burned by a neighborhood kid. While they were showing pictures of this family in need of financial assistance, I could not help but notice a CELL PHONE in the child's lap and a CELL PHONE EARPIECE...

American Idol Gives Back to Pro-Abortion Groups Again in Charity Program Hollywood, CA -- The popular talent television show American Idol has again decided to align itself with pro-abortion groups for its annual "Idol Gives Back" fund- raising campaign. The program, which airs tonight, will send donations from viewers to Save the Children and the United Nations Foundation, both of which back abortion. http://LifeNews.com/nat6269.html

Crystal Bowersox could easily be voted 'Most Likely to Win" this year's season of American Idol. Ryan Seacrest who hosts the show, mentioned that not long ago Crystal was thinking of leaving the show because 'what's the point?' Exactly. In the overall scheme of things, what is the point? It seems Miss Bowersox has dug deep and come up with the answer. If it's possible, make a difference. Make a real difference. Don't just sing another song. Don't just impress the judges, or win the crowd. When given a platform, and a golden opportunity, make the most of it. Last...

President Obama recognizes the power of pop culture. That's why he won't get out of our faces. Today, the media reported that President Obama and his allegedly lovely wife Michelle will be appearing on "American Idol" to stump for charity. This marks the 1,987th pop culture show Obama has appeared on. He invaded the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, where cameras conveniently omitted the fact that he throws like a girl. He stopped by the Super Bowl to irritate the bejesus out of everyone with a ten, count-em' ten, minute interview. He stopped by the NCAA Final Four weekend coverage...

Texas, the Lone Star state, is no stranger to American Idol, and this year Texans have a 1 in 4 chance of winning American Idol now that Christopher Golightly has been eliminated from competition and replaced with Tim Urban from Duncanville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, TX. (click here for the story) No other state has as many contestants as Texas: 6 of the top 24, which is the equivalent of 25%. California and Illinois each have 3; Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Florida each have 2; New York, Connecticut, Ohio, and Iowa each have 1. Out of those six from...