If you’re a Fantasia fan, then get ready because she’s just released her new single. Kelly Clarkson is now engaged and she’s revealed what her ring looks like. And a new tell-all book about American Idol season 10 is coming out next month in the form of a fictional novel by — get this — an anonymous author. And read on to find out where to catch Phillip Phillips and Scotty McCreery on TV in the coming days.
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Listen to Fantasia’s New Single “Lose to Win”
It’s been two and a half years since season 3 winner Fantasia released an album. (Though she’s been in the news between then and now with her personal life out in the open — having an affair with a married man and giving birth to his baby.) But it looks like that’s about to change, with the release of her new single “Lose to Win.” You can listen to the upbeat R&B song below. At the 2012 Soul Train Awards last month, Fantasia mentioned that the new album will most likely be out around March of next year.
Kelly Clarkson Engaged to Reba’s Step-Son
Over the years, Kelly Clarkson has always been quiet about who she’s in a relationship with. But when she revealed that she was going out with Reba McEntire’s step-son, Brandon Blackstock, and continuously gushing over him, it became obvious that things were getting serious. She even said to Ellen DeGeneres that she would eventually get married to him. And that day will soon arrive because the season 1 winner is now engaged, and she shared the news on Twitter: “I’M ENGAGED!!!!! I wanted y’all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever.”
Whenever anyone gets engaged, of course everyone else wants to see the ring. So she followed suit with this message: “Everyone has been asking about my engagement ring, so here it is 🙂 It’s a yellow canary diamond with diamonds around it and Brandon designed it with Johnathon Arndt! They did an amazing job!” Did Brandon do well with his ring choice?
New Book Exposes Season 10 Secrets
Ever since the early days of American Idol, there have been viewers crying foul over producer manipulation. Now, a new fiction book by an anonymous author, assumed to be a disgruntled employee, will potentially expose inside secrets. According to the New York Post, Elimination Night, available January 8, is written by a “nameless author with ‘firsthand knowledge of the inner workings of a top TV talent'” and is a “thinly-veiled tell-all of the 10th season of the top-ranked talent show.”
The two new judges are singer Vasquez and rock star Lovecraft — obviously Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. The book recounts a feud between them. Even some of the contestants are based on the real life finalists: Jimmy Nugget is Scotty McCreery, and Karen Rodriguez and Pia Toscano are pulled together as Mia Pelosi. (How cheesy can these names be?)
Also previewed by the Post: “The bigger bombshell is the book’s depiction of producers using a secret rating system to vet contestants before they even make it to the judge’s table and then, as the season progresses, manipulating and even sabotaging the singers they want to see rise or fall.” And “Sob stories are almost always valued over talent.” None of this should really be a surprise to long-time viewers — we know sob stories are a big part of the show, and we know that the producers have their favorites and most likely do certain things to sway voters’ decisions.
But still, the fact that all this is being put out there in the open by an anonymous author is scandalous enough. Now, keep in mind that this is a fictional book, so not everything may have happened in real life and some aspects may be exaggerated for the sake of telling the story and making money. But with Elimination Night being released only eight days before season 12 premieres, could it negatively affect how people see the show now and will it hurt ratings? Or maybe it won’t get enough publicity to do much damage, if any.
Upcoming TV Appearances
Phillip Phillips
A Home for the Holidays with Rascal Flatts (Wednesday, 8pm, CBS)
Scotty McCreery
Christmas in Washington (Friday, 8pm, TNT)
Want to add American Idol to your very own watch-list?
(Image courtesy of WENN)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
Jeff Dodge, a graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena.
