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The American Idol Boot Camp! Palm Beach Post,  United States - 50 minutes ago Our Idol Thought: Seacrest – Mean man, or a pawn of The Man? The Web crowd is buzzing over the cruel, knee-cappy way Ryan Seacrest announced Michael Johns' …

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The Trades

A Dose of Reality: American Idol 7: Top 7 Power Rankings The Trades, OR - 50 minutes ago Not since Bo Bice has a contestant drawn me so deeply into the fun of Idol and made me dial that phone number!" (Chrissie K. — and thanks, Chrissie, …

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Sioux City Journal

Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler Take Home CMT Awards Access Hollywood - 1 hour ago Paula Abdul, who introduced Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s performance of “I Need You,” remarked, “There are so many ‘American Idol’ alum here that I feel this … Flatts, Pickler pick up CMT awards United Press International CMT Music Awards – live Los Angeles Times First It's The CMT Awards, And Then More Performance Shows Hartford Courant The Associated Press - Just Jared all 222 news articles

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Seattle Post Intelligencer

Swift, Pickler, Rimes Among CMT Winners The Associated Press - 1 hour ago Paula Abdul, who introduced Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's performance of "I Need You," remarked, "There are so many 'American Idol' alum here that I feel this … Flatts, Pickler pick up CMT awards United Press International First It's The CMT Awards, And Then More Performance Shows Hartford Courant Rascal Flatts Wins Group Video During CMT Awards NewsChannel5.com WZTV - United Press International all 162 news articles

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National Ledger

No Sanjaya On American Idol This Year According To Michael Johns Reality TV Magazine, AZ - 1 hour ago During American Idol 6, Sanjaya mania swept across America. In a season that was underwhelming in talent, Sanjaya’s hairstyles and unique performances kept … Pot Photo Controversy: American Idol Hopeful Jason Castro Smoking … National Ledger American Idol Finalist Speaks Out On Shout To The Lord Reality TV Magazine Michael Johns Elimination From American Idol Proves Voting Must Change National Ledger all 4 news articles

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Ranking of the Top Seven of American Idol Season Seven Associated Content, CO - 32 minutes ago By Amy Cox, published Apr 14, 2008 With the exit of Michael Johns on American Idol last week, the competition took an unexpected turn. …

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American Idol and the Pot-Smoking Scandal VIP Breakdown, WA - 49 minutes ago Even the merest hint of scandal on American Idol is enough to whip the media into a frenzy. Such is the case with Jason Castro, dreadlocked crooner who has …

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Some Idols admit to having had a feeling they might be voted off that week, but Michael Johns says that he would be lying if he didn’t say that he was completely shocked. In a phone interview after his departure, Michael says that, because he had never been in the bottom three prior to this past week, he did not think it was his time. As we all know, however, highly unexpected things can happen on “Idol,” and Michael realizes that as well. His reaction to the news showed it all, along with the subsequent emotional final performance of “Dream On,” during which he said he wasn’t thinking but feeling. Michael does have a bit of a theory on his unexpected departure. As he explained, “This year more than any other year I really believe, especially with this top eight, that you can’t let the person that’s your favorite go, ‘He had a great week,’ or, ‘She had a great week,’ and I’m going to give him half of my votes and then I’m going to do the other one who didn’t do so well. Do you know what I mean? A split vote like that can happen and, unfortunately, the people that you thought were going to be safe go home.” Michael admits that he was definitely comforted by the shock his fans showed, and even the booing that came from the audience, which he said made him feel “special.” However, he doesn’t give much credence to the theory that people didn’t choose him because he is originally from Australia. In fact, he said, if there is any year that this couldn’t be true, it would be this year, as he refers to it as “the melting pot Idol.”

Michael also doesn’t have any regrets when it comes to singing the Aerosmith song for his final performance, despite the fact that many of his peers chose ballads. As he said, “I’ve never chosen a song based on what the competition is doing, do you know what I’m saying? I think I pick songs that mean something to me lyrically and emotionally. Singing ‘Dream On’ by Aerosmith with a 20-piece orchestra, I’ve said it on the show, that’s amazing.” His favorite performance was his Dolly Parton week song, as he was proud that he was able to take a country piece and give it his soul spin, which he does consider to be his niche. In fact, he was going to do something similar this week with the Mariah Carey song “Vision Of Love.” Michael didn’t allow outside factors to come into play when choosing his songs, as he wanted to sing what he would be pursuing upon leaving the show, which is a career as a rock/soul singer.

Michael was surprisingly candid about his thoughts on Simon’s feedback, and he did not think the critical judge was always right. He even called him “off the mark” at times, as he always wanted Michael to do the same type of singing week after week, when Michael wanted to incorporate some rock, as opposed to just the blues/soul sound that Simon liked. “You have to go out there and say this is the kind of record I am going to make and this is the sound I do. Some weeks they loved it, some weeks they didn’t.” Michael admits that Simon, and, actually, all three judges, do have quite an impact on the voting but, at the end of the day, he’s still happy that he followed his heart. Paula did make sure to tell Michael after his final performance that she’s sure she’ll be sitting at his concert one day and this, along with Simon’s comment about him being a nice guy, really made Michael feel wonderful. Even Dolly Parton reiterated her desire to work with Michael at some point. “That’s just so surreal, to hear Dolly Parton saying, ‘I can’t wait to sing a duet with you one day.’ That’s awesome.” When asked about the shocking way that Ryan Seacrest delivered the results and whether he had hard feelings, Michael said that, although he did get fooled into thinking maybe he would be staying, he understands the need for dramatic television, and he doesn’t hold it against Ryan.

Many have compared Michael Johns’ departure to the shocking Chris Daughtry departure from season five, and Michael Johns is flattered by the comparison. But Michael doesn’t see winning AI or not winning AI as what decides your success after the show. Instead, he says “It depends on what album you make afterwards. It depends whether or not on the show you were absolutely true to yourself and did not change. I think the people who have succeeded after Idol, from the Kimberley Locke’s to the Carrie Underwood’s, that’s the one common thing, that they’re themselves and they stayed true to their hearts.”

Michael is also thrilled to be a part of what some are touting as the best AI season yet, and is glad that this year is filled with great singers, and not any who are considered “laughing stocks.” Despite what people might think, Michael says that no one on the show ever really felt like they were competing against one another. Because they consider themselves to be “individual artists” who all have a lot of talent, they are able to really focus on the friendships. “You learn about people’s husbands, wives and boyfriends; all that kind of stuff. I’m going to be sad to see them all go. I think they’re really talented. There are a lot of people behind the scenes, too, that aren’t the contestants that are just there to help your career, guide you and give you advice. I’m going to miss those people, too.”

Michael says he can’t wait to “get out there and rock” on the AI tour this summer, so he doesn’t want his fans to forget about him, not that they would! As far as advice for future contestants, Michael says that anyone considering being on the show should just stay true to himself or herself, and anything could happen. He is taking a lot away from this experience. As Michael puts it, “I haven’t come in with an agenda, I didn’t change. That’s what I’m going to take away from this experience. Just because it’s an enormous machine doesn’t mean that you have to change with it, you know?”

Can’t get enough Michael? Watch his in-person exit interview now!

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After being a part of the highly successful Idol Gives Back show last week, international superstar Mariah Carey will be gracing the “Idol” stage once again this Wednesday (results night) to sing “Bye Bye,” the latest single from her new album, E=MC². Before that, however, it will surely be the thrill of a lifetime for the seven remaining Idols, as they will be mentored by Mariah for their performances on Tuesday.

The success of Mariah’s current album puts her in an unbelievable position to exceed one of music’s all-time greats on the music charts, and to possibly pass another in the very near future. With her current single, “Touch My Body,” already having reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (becoming her 18th career #1 hit), she has surpassed the most enduring chart record in Billboard Hot 100 history–Elvis Presley’s 17 #1’s! Mariah is now positioned as the only active recording artist in the 50 years of the Hot 100 with the potential to surpass The Beatles’ all-time high of 20 #1 hits!

Find out for yourself how great Mariah Carey’s new album, E=MC², is–it’s available in stores TOMORROW, April 15th!

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Fox 28

David Cook's cancer-stricken brother to attend 'American Idol' show Reality TV World, MA - 57 minutes ago By Christopher Rocchio, 04/14/2008 One of David Cook's biggest fans will have the opportunity to see the American Idol seventh-season finalist perform this … 'American Idol' Contender David Cook's Brother, Who Is Battling … MTV.com David Cook's brother making trip to American Idol Curlio.com Brother with cancer to see American Idol contestant perform WLFI.com Terre Haute Tribune Star - MSNBC all 44 news articles

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