Word Up

9/3/10

According to TMZ Jennifer Lopez is in the final stages of negotiating her contract with FOX for America’s number one singing competition, American idol. Ever since Ellen Degeneres resigned from the judge’s panel there have been various rumors as who would be taking her place. The rumors varied from Aerosmith’s Steve Tyler, Harry Connick Jr, and P. Diddy, even Donald Trump has been tied to being a possibility in the open seat. American Idol executives along with the rest of the members of the panel feel J.Lo will be a great addition to panel as well as help revive the show. You go Jenny from the block!!

Article by: Luisiana Cruz

3/12/10

Rapper DMX’s drug addictions have made him the latest target for Celebrity Rehab. DMX’s attorney, Gary Jenkins, confirmed that reps for the VH-1 reality show contacted him after the rapper was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly violating his probation by using drugs. Currently, DMX is being held on no bond and is expected back in court March 16. Jenkins says the Rehab team is thinking of doing the same thing for DMX as they did for former American Idol contestant Jessica Sierra—speak with the judge at his next court hearing so that he can be placed in their care instead of going to jail. We think this would be a good decision for the rapper. He can finally get the help he needs, and stay in the spotlight for when he’s clean and ready for a career revival.

Article by: Ruschelle Charles and Michelle Loeb

2/19/10

The latest smile peering out from under a thick white milk mustache is none other than Jennifer Hudson. It’s definitely a nice sight to see J-Hud happy again. The Oscar winner and American Idol contestant had some personal tragedy in the past couple of years, especially with the 2008 murder of her mother and brother. But these days, Jennifer’s got a lot to smile about. Her son, David Daniel Otunga Jr., was born in August and she also got engaged to the baby’s daddy, who you probably remember as “Punk” from I Love New York 2. It’s actually being a new mom that inspired Jennifer to sport the silly ‘stache. “I’m very excited to be part of the milk moustache campaign. I think milk was a part of everybody’s tradition in their family,” the singer told E! News. “It keeps you healthy and strong so it was definitely part of my upbringing for sure. I definitely want it on my kitchen table.”

Article by: Ruschelle Charles and Michelle Loeb

2/5/10

Don’t mess with Kelly Clarkson! That’s the lesson Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta learned after he tried to defend Taylor Swift’s Grammy performance by taking a swipe at the talent contest that made Clarkson a star.  “[Taylor Swift] is the voice of this generation. She speaks directly to (her fans), and they speak directly back to her,” Borchetta told the Associated Press. “This is not American Idol. This is not a competition of getting up and seeing who can sing the highest note. This is about a true artist and writer and communicator. It’s not about that technically perfect performance.” While it’s true American Idol has unleashed the likes of William Hung and Sanjaya on the world, the hit TV show has also discovered its fair share of true artists. Names like Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry come to mind, not to mention Clarkson herself. Clarkson quickly took to her blog to speak her mind about Borchetta’s slight. “I understand defending your artist obviously because I have done the same in the past for artists I like, including Taylor, so you might see why it’s upsetting to read you attacking American Idol for producing simply vocalists that hit ‘the high notes,’” Clarkson wrote. “Thank you for that ‘Captain Obvious’ sense of humor because you know what, we not only hit the high notes, you forgot to mention we generally hit the ‘right’ notes as well.” Clarkson then signed her blog, “Sincerely, One of those contestants from American Idol who only made it because of her high notes.”

Article by: Michelle Loeb

1/18/10

Victoria Beckham is clearly the most sought-after woman in reality television. Simon Cowell is keen to make her a judge when The X Factor premieres in the fall, and the crew at American Idol is also asking the former Spice Girl to play a role on their show. What a decision! Well it looks like Beckham will decide to stick with American Idol. She already appeared in the season premiere, temporarily filling the role left vacant by Paula Abdul. But it’s not a judging role she’d be taking on. Beckham will be offering style advice to the contestants, for a reported 60,000 GBP per episode. Wow! “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Victoria’s spectacular eye for fashion,” a source told Britain’s Daily Mail. “She’s giving the offer serious thought.”

Article by: Michelle Loeb

1/15/10

This year’s American Idol is more about what’s changing and less about who’s winning. It premiered to big ratings as a revolving door of celebs took Paula Abdul’s seat at the judge’s table. Could one of them be judging full time after “Mr. Nasty” Simon Cowell jumps ship? Unless you were living under a rock, you know Cowell is leaving Idol next season to launch The X Factor in the States. So of course we, along with everyone else, are buzzing about who will replace Ellen DeGeneres as the new kid on the block next year. According to one report, it might be Ryan Seacrest. “Anything is possible. Stay tuned,” is all Fox would say on the matter, but we hope it’s not true. Ryan belongs on stage as Idol’s host. He gets to hone his act on his radio show and on New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, and plus he’s got those suspenseful eliminations down to a science, so why mess with what works? That’s our opinion, though we bet Brian Dunkleman would disagree.

Article by: Michelle Loeb