American Idol Tidbits – Taylor Hicks, Sanjaya Malakar, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Judge Kara DioGuardi

BREAKING NEWS:  AI People’s Choice Award winners:  Carrie Underwood, Favorite Female Singer and Favorite Country Song (“Last Name”); Jordin Sparks with Chis Brown, Favorite Combined Forces for “No Air”.

Taylor Hicks while doing his thing as Teen Angel in the touring company of Grease, is also finishing up his next album, The Distance, which is due to hit the stores March 10th.  The first single, “What’s Right is Right” will be availabe on the digital outlets January 20th and will show up on Adult Contemporary radio the same day.  A video shoot for the single (and I can’t remember him doing any video shoots for his first album) is scheduled to take place January 12th.   I also saw where they are working on an appearance on Idol.  You can listen to a snippet of the single “What’s Right is Right” at Amazon.  Taylor has scheduled appearances with  Ryan Seacrest at KISS, Jay Leno in mid-February, Regis and Kelly, Ellen DeGeneres, Craig Ferguson and Rachel Ray the week the album drops, plus visits to morning TV shows in every city the show Grease performs (It’s reported that Taylor will perform the new single at the end of every Grease show).

Season 6’s Sanjaya Malakar will  be releasing both a “memoir” and EP of new songs, both titled  Dancing to the Music in my Head. on January 20th.   An editorial about his book  states:   “In his candid new book, Sanjaya opens up about what it feels like to go from obscurity as a high school student near Seattle to worldwide fame as a top ten finalist on one of the most popular television shows in American history. For the first time, the “People’s Idol” talks about life before Randy, Simon, Paula and “Sanjayamania,” and offers his devoted “Fanjayas” an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the blockbuster show. From going to Hollywood with his beloved sister, Shyamali, to becoming the most highly anticipated performer of season six, to facing the unforgiving chopping block, Sanjaya tells his fans everything they want to know. Finally, he shares how his life has changed since he left Idol, and where his music — and unforgettable persona — will take him next.” (mjsbigblog)

 Looks like love is in the air (once again) for Carrie Underwood.  She’s been linked “romantically” to Canadian-born hockey player Mike Fisher, who’s 28 and a 6′1″ center the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.    It’s reported they met after Mike attended one of her concerts in March 2008, but didn’t get “heavy” until over the holidays.   Fans first caught a glimpse during a Jumbotron “hug cam” at the Air Canada Centre.   She was reportedly in a private VIP box, which also included the handsome hockey player’s parents and his brother, Bud.  It seems Carrie also spent NYE with Mike’s sister at a swanky salon.  Nothing says you’re an item like spending time with the guys family.  Hope this works out for her.

While it’s been reported that Jennifer Hudson would be singing the National Anthem at the Inauguration of Barack Obama,  Hudson’s rep told Access Hollywood that there is no truth to the rumor, and that the singer’s next show will be on February 6, at the MusiCares Person of the Year event in Los Angeles honouring Neil Diamond.

 New Judge Kara DioGuardi  has a whirlwind promotional schedule next week in New York that includes David Letterman’s show.  DioGuardi  has the touch to produce hits with such artists as  Gwen Stefani, Faith Hill, Marc Anthony recording her songs not to metion  past “Idol” winners.   DioGuardi is honored to part of  the No. 1 program last season, “American Idol”.  “I hope people find I bring something to the show that’s different, and I can help these contestants learn something, whether they win or not,” she said.  Addressing the would-be pop stars during auditions for the show, she says:  “A bunch of them would come on and really believe that they were great. That was one of the biggest shocks for me. I was thinking, `Wow, are you kidding? … I think this is going to be a hobby, and that’s a great hobby to have.’”  She said she did see some  uniquely talented performers during tryouts, especially among the men.   “They may have been great at the beginning but as the season goes on they have to keep upping it,” she said.   Addressing her and Paula sharing the “female judge spotlight” DioGuardi says:  “Paula and I co-wrote my first international hit (Kylie Minogue’s ‘Spinning Around’),” DioGuardi said. “I feel indebted to her for that, and I’ve never been of the thinking that women should drag each other down.”  She also addressed Simon Cowell’s comments that the the two “girls”  have ganged up on him when it comes to ratings contestants?   “There’s definitely times Paula and I voice our opinion and it’s of the same ilk. And if that’s not what Simon thinks, then there’s a little bit of tension there. But it’s all fun. Nobody’s going back to their room crying,” DioGuardi said.