American Idol Blog Video Fan Site

Feeling inspired by the astounding level of talented singers there are this year? It’s that time of year again–American Idol Songwriter has begun accepting applications! Enter for a chance to have YOUR song performed in front of millions and then released by the season seven winner. The American public will choose the winner, and we’ll let you know when the voting begins. But don’t wait–ENTER NOW!

Original Post By Google News Click Here For The Entire Article

ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Carrie Underwood was invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry during a sold out show. Carrie will be formally inducted into the Opry family on Saturday, May 10.

During Opry Live on GAC (Great American Country), Carrie sang “I Told You So,” a cut from her latest album, Carnival Ride, originally written and recorded by Opry member Randy Travis. As she accepted a standing ovation from the crowd, Travis, himself, surprised her on stage. Hugging a shocked and emotional Carrie, Travis said, “That’s a better performance than I will ever do of that song. Thank you. I’m honored.”

Travis went on to congratulate the artist who is on top of the charts this week with her single “All-American Girl” on having celebrated her 25th birthday earlier in the week. “To end your birthday week, I was asked by the management here at the Grand Ole Opry to come out here and ask you if you would like to be their next member,” he said.

“Let me think about it,” Carrie playfully smiled before immediately responding “yes!” wiping tears from her eyes. After regaining her composure, Carrie said to the crowd before launching into her song “Crazy Dreams,” “This is one of the best nights of my life, and it’s certainly something I’ll never forget. And I’m glad each and every one of you were here to share it with me. This has been absolutely amazing!”

Carrie made her Grand Ole Opry performance debut on June 10, 2005, just two weeks after winning American Idol. Her love for the Opry started as a child as she grew up watching and listening to the show, dreaming of one day performing there and even becoming a member herself.

“It is with great excitement that we invite Carrie to become the Opry’s newest member,” said Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and general manager. “Since her debut nearly three years ago, Carrie has not only created many memorable Opry moments with her numerous appearances and extraordinary talents, but she has also shown us that she shares a heartfelt connection and a commitment to country music and its rich legacy. We look forward to May 10 when she will be formally welcomed as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

Carrie’s debut CD, Some Hearts, released in 2005, is the best-selling solo female country debut album in RIAA history, with sales of seven million copies and five #1 singles, including “Jesus, Take The Wheel” and “Before He Cheats,” which won Grammys as Best Country Song in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Some Hearts also surpasses all other releases as the all-time U.S. top-selling album by any American Idol contestant. At the close of 2007, Billboard ranked Some Hearts as the Top Country Album for the second consecutive year, making Carrie the first female artist in Billboard history to earn back-to-back honors for Top Country Album. Her follow up CD, Carnival Ride, released in 2007, has currently sold over two million copies and contains #1 hits “So Small” and “All-American Girl,” which became her first co-written songs released as singles.

Carrie has garnered three Grammy Awards, eight Billboard Music Awards, five ACM’s, four CMA’s, four CMT Awards, four American Music Awards, and two People’s Choice Awards, among many others.

Congratulations, Carrie! Despite her many accolades, Carrie is still very much the same humble girl she was in her AI days. See for yourself in our latest Q & A session with her!

Original Post By Google News Click Here For The Entire Article

IDOL GIVES BACK, the historic Emmy Award-winning television event and music celebration airing Wednesday, April 9 (7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, will raise awareness and funds to benefit six charities including: the Children’s Defense Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save The Children and the Children’s Health Fund.

This year’s event, beginning at a special 7:30 PM start time, will be bigger and more ambitious than ever. The one-of-a-kind charity special will feature incredible international artists and sports figures including Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Mariah Carey, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, John Legend and Snoop Dogg. Additional artists scheduled to appear to be announced.

During the show, viewers will be able to make donations via toll-free lines and the Internet. The money raised by the charity special will be distributed by IDOL GIVES BACK to the following beneficiaries:

Children’s Defense Fund
For 35 years the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has worked relentlessly to ensure a level playing field for all children by lifting them out of poverty, protecting them from abuse and neglect, and ensuring access to health care, quality education, and a moral and spiritual foundation to help them succeed with the help of caring adults and communities. Begun in 1973, CDF is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations and does not take government funds.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Bono has campaigned in the United States and around the world on behalf of the Global Fund with his two organizations: ONE, which lobbies governments, and (RED), which targets the private sector for contributions. The Global Fund is the world’s leading funder of programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, which together kill over 6 million people per year. Created in 2002, the Global Fund has approved 450 grants to programs worth $7 billion in 136 countries. Of this, $2.3 billion has been committed to AIDS programs in Africa. As of December 2006, Global Fund-financed programs had put 770,000 people on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment; distributed 18 million insecticide-treated bed nets to combat malaria; and detected and treated more than 2 million TB cases, which are rising sharply due to co-infection with HIV. All Global Fund-financed programs support 2 million orphans around the world.

Make It Right
In December 2007, Brad Pitt launched a national fundraising campaign to help New Orleans recover from the lasting devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. MAKE IT RIGHT is committed to building 150 houses in the Lower Ninth Ward, and ensuring a green, affordable, sustainable and replicable community to serve as a model for further rebuilding throughout the city.

Malaria No More
Malaria No More’s mission is simple: to end deaths due to malaria. Although it is preventable and treatable, malaria continues to kill more children in Africa than any other disease, claiming more than 1 million lives a year. Malaria No More works to raise the profile of this crisis among the public, policymakers, and businesses, while engaging the private sector to provide life-saving mosquito nets and other critical interventions to families in Africa. Through the support of Idol Gives Back 2007, Malaria No More has protected more than a million mothers and children from malaria to date in Uganda, Zambia, Angola, Madagascar, and Mali.

Save the Children
Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating real and lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children’s U.S. Programs focus on underserved rural areas, where one in five children lives in poverty. Partnering with schools and community organizations, Save the Children provides high quality early childhood education services for children from birth to age five and literacy, physical activity and nutrition programs for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, benefiting over 35,000 children nationwide. Save the Children’s work in the United States also includes emergency preparedness, response and recovery. When a disaster strikes, Save the Children deploys trained teams to help displaced children and families and provide more secure environments. In addition, Save the Children works with local, state and national governments to ensure that the unique needs of children are integral in emergency response plans.

Children’s Health Fund
Founded in 1987 by singer/songwriter Paul Simon, and pediatrician/advocate Irwin Redlener, MD, the Children’s Health Fund (CHF) is committed to providing health care to the nation’s most medically under-served children and their families through the development and support of innovative medical programs, response to public health crises, and the promotion of guaranteed access to appropriate health care for all children. They partner with major academic medical centers to deliver health care to disadvantaged children and families in both rural and urban areas across the country.

The brainchild of Simon Fuller, IDOL GIVES BACK has been recognized as a life-changing program, earning praise from many of the world’s best known figures including President George W. Bush, HRH Prince Charles and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Last season, IDOL GIVES BACK garnered a prestigious Governor’s Award Emmy and raised more than $76 million for charity. The star-studded special featured performances from the AMERICAN IDOL stage, where Ryan Seacrest hosted alongside judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

Original Post By Google News Click Here For The Entire Article

David Hernandez admitted that he was “genuinely shocked” when they announced that he would be the first finalist going home, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to make the most of his time on the show. As he stated in our interview with him, “It’s been a roller coaster, but through all of the madness and chaos, I think that I have gained a deeper respect for myself, and an appreciation for the music business, and also, I have a newfound confidence in myself as a performer.” He went on to say that he learned to have a thick skin and how to take criticism, and that “all is fair in love, war, and entertainment.” He doesn’t plan on wasting these valuable lessons but, instead, hopes to use “Idol” as a springboard to land a record deal and possibly even end up on Broadway one day.

His more immediate future, however, involves a 48-hour date with his mom’s couch! He said he’d like to visit her and relax, and just get a break from the paparazzi for a while. He joked that he wants to hang with her many cats and watch “nonsense TV.” After this initial relaxation period, he’ll actually be going on a couple of daytime talk shows, and then will begin his intense pursuit of a record label. He’d also love to collaborate with people like Alicia Keys and David Foster. And of his first album, he said “It’s definitely going to be an eclectic kind of vibe. I would like to put a little bit of a rock R&B in there too, and that’s the image I’ve put out there. I’m more of an urban R&B grit and grime singer.”

As far as why he was the first finalist voted off, David, like many others, tends to think that it all boils down to song choice. As he said, with the competition as stiff as it is this year, you’re really only as good as you’re last performance. Unfortunately, he didn’t get his first song choice, and he chose “I Saw Her Standing There” because he wanted a more upbeat song. David pointed out how challenging it is to cover such a legendary band, but he did say that he is still proud of his performance, and he’s glad that he infused his R & B style.
As far as any advice to future hopefuls, David said “Never doubt yourself, always go with your instinct, and usually your first song selection is the right one.” If he was able to continue on the show, David said he would have liked to sing “Yesterday,” as well as “I Believe I Can Fly,” which he says is one his “go to” songs.

David also opened up about the “Idol” process and how much input the finalists get into the arrangement of their songs. He said that most would even be surprised at just how much control they have over the arrangement. He did say that there are many mentors and vocal coaches there to help them maintain the integrity of the song and stay true to the original artist, but they are encouraged to give it their own spin within reason.

David remained truly optimistic in his exit interview with americanidol.com. Watch it now!

Original Post By Google News Click Here For The Entire Article