Bring on Beatles Week!

For the first time, Idol has permission to use parts of the famed songbook of The Beatles, executive producer Ken Warwick says. “We’ve got the permission” from Sony, which owns the publishing rights, Warwick says. Certain songs are still off limits, but “they said, ‘Tell us what songs you want and we will do our best.’ “

No word about who the week’s mentor would be… there have been reports that Amercan Idol producers were trying to get Paul McCartney. Other possible mentor could be Beatles producer George Martin.

Who else thinks this season could be the best yet? Don’t forget that American Idol starts tonight!

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It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that you should bring your brand back to the most popular show on the air. So it’s no great surprise that Coca-Cola, Ford and Cingular will be back again as sponsors of American Idol. This year, however, will bring more interactivity between the sponsors and fans.

“Idol” fans will be offered the chance to submit their own designs for the judges’ Coca-Cola cups on AmericanIdol.com. Cingular will make video clips of “Idol” performances available to its customers shortly after the show. And Ford will cast viewers who win “Idol”-themed competitions in its music videos, which feature the 12 finalists.

Six new off-air partnerships have also been made to tie-in with other marketing efforts using the American Idol brand. While four of those are still under wraps, it has been announced that Nestle and Dreyer will be making product tie-ins.

Nestle will become the official candy of “American Idol” with more than 70 million candy bars featuring “Idol” branding and the chance to win a trip for two to Hollywood and tickets to both the 2007 “Idol” performance finale and results show.

Dreyer’s will become “Idol’s” official ice cream sponsor, with several new flavors created especially for the promotion, including Drumstick Diva, Rock ‘n’ Rolo and Hollywood Cheesecake.

American Idol returns January 16th on FOX. Can’t wait for those auditions!

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If you haven’t seen Nashville Star, think American Idol gone country. And it has been anounced that Jewel has scored a co-hosting gig on the reality series. It is hosted by Randy Owen (of the old group Alabama), Blake Shelton (country star), Anastasia Brown, an executive in the industry.

Jewel is an interesting choice for co-host, it isn’t like any of her songs have been huge country hits. However, she has penned many songs that have been recorded by country musicians.

“I grew up on country music,'’ she reflects. “I was raised on a ranch in Alaska, and my father is a cowboy. My favorite memories are of driving the cattle every spring and bringing them home in the fall. We’d camp out under the stars, and my dad would play me his songs. That really had a big influence on me as a kid.

“The music I continue to write is really a classic, old-school kind of country. I’ve had a million producers try to take that out so they could bring the music to pop radio, but I really view it as the last great American storytelling genre that’s healthy. And I look at my job as trying to tell a story.'’

Having a weekly commitment to “Nashville Star'’ is “actually an attraction for me,'’ maintains Jewel, who completed her latest concert tour last month. “I get to have a steady gig where I can be at home. I live in Texas, so I can fly in on Wednesday, fly out on Thursday night and be home for the rest of the week. For me, that’s pretty novel, so I’m excited about it. I’ve always tried to make it a priority not to work so much that I can’t enjoy what life I’m having.'’

And don’t forget, Jewel is one of the guest judges in this upcoming season of American Idol, which also starts airing its sixth season later this month. She is judging during the Minneapolis auditions of the popular competition.

Nashville Star airs Thursdays at 10pm on Lifetime.

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Kelly Clarkson recently appeared in a special tribute to Reba McEntire, not to mention the duet she performed with Reba while she was a contestant on the first season of the hit reality series American Idol. Now Kelly Clarkson has snagged a guest starring role on Reba McEntire’s series Reba, airing on the CW.

Kelly plays a very ditzy television station intern in the January 14th episode.

Barbra Jean worries that a recently hired woman (Kelly Clarkson) at the station is out to take her job as the weathercaster, so she asks Reba to spy on the newbie; Brock asks Cheyenne to name her baby after him, but Van doesn’t want to do it.

Reba occassionally does musical numbers on the show, so one has to wonder if one will be on this episode too. I would love to see them do another duet.

If you missed Clay Aiken on Days of our Lives, here is a video showing Clay behind the scenes and a couple scene clips including him singing the love song at Dune to Steve (Stephen Nichols) and Kayla (Mary Beth Evans).

I think Clay looks way better there than in other recent pics I have seen of him. I wonder if any other American Idol alums will be popping up other soaps now.

I guess it is called fixing what ain’t broke. American Idol producers have revealed they will have a mid-season surprise this season that will blow America away.

“American Idol” executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz promises a big event midway through the coming season of the red-hot talent show - but she won’t say what it is.
“If there’s one thing that makes ‘American Idol’ so big, it’s a huge event,” she told the Daily News.

“Something we’re working on is a big-event show, sometime in the middle of the season, something that will blow America away,” she added.

So what could it be? A show featuring the all of the previous Idol winners? Not sure that exactly qualifies as blowing American away. And with the show being live, details might not even leak out until days (or even only hours) beforehand. But I’ll do my best to bring you the Spoiler Buzz on it before then!

An amusing article courtesy of the New York Post reveals how much some of the American Idol celebs charge for private performances and parties. Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson command top dollar, while pseudo-stars like Kimberly Caldwell command far (far!) less.

For the right price, “American Idol” castoffs, finalists and even champs will pay a visit to your wedding, Sweet 16 or bar mitzvah.

“The average going rate for an ‘American Idol’ finalist can be as little as $15,000 or as much as $150,000,” says a source familiar with the business of brokering singers, bands and other talent for corporate functions and exclusive private parties.

“But it really depends on what you want them to do. Are they just going to show up at the party or are they going to sing? Do they have a song on the charts right now, or are they yesterday’s news?”

I admit, it would be tempting to have Carrie Underwood perform at a private party, simply to hear her sing When He Cheats. I couldn’t care less about Ruben or Kimberly though.

Read the full article for all the insider info on getting AI alums to perform at private events.

Only a couple of days are left to bid on the ultimate American Idol fan experience. Bidding in this charity auction is already up to $15,000 but it definitely includes some worthwhile goodies.

The experience begins when you and a friend board a plane, from anywhere in the world, and fly first class to Los Angeles, California. A limousine will be waiting to take you to Beverly Hills, where you will check in to your gorgeous California Suite at the luxurious 5 star Peninsula Hotel. Next, get ready to meet your celebrity stylist! She will give you and your friend $1000 American Express gift cards each. The limo will then take you to the emporium of style, Barney’s New York, where you will shop for the coolest outfits, receiving fashion advice from your celebrity stylist. Then, you’ll be returned to your hotel suite to relax and get pampered by your own personal hair and makeup artists, to complete the perfect look. The dream experience continues, as the limo takes you to a live taping of American Idol. You will have prime seats, and have a backstage meet-and-greet with Paula Abdul.

Auction ends December 12th and you can bid here.

Following the lead of 24, FOX is also giving American Idol the four-hour two-day season premiere extravaganza in January. The first date is January 16th.

We also learn a whopping 110 girls are making it to Hollywood Week, as well as the official celeb judges that hit the auditions.

Cowell, as well as Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest were joined by guest judges on the audition trail: Jewel in Minneapolis, Olivia Newton-John in Los Angeles and Carole Bayer Sager in New York.

Some 110 women and 60 men were selected to make it through to Hollywood, Lythgoe said.

“It’s going to be tough on the girls,” he said, because almost twice as many will be competing for the female spots in the final 24.

I can’t wait for American Idol to start, Wheee!

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American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken will show up in Salem on Days of Our Lives for a special holiday performance. He will be singing at Dune to Steve (Stephen Nichols) and Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) in an episode airing on December 22nd. He will perform “Everything I Have” on the hit NBC soap.

The episode will tape on November 14th for the December 22nd airdate.

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It is looking like Seattle will be famous for the most horrendous Idol singers than any of the best ones. When even Ms. Nice Paula Abdul complains about the lack of talent, you know it can’t be a good sign.

“I think it must be something in the rainwater,” offered Randy Jackson, during a break in auditions which continue today at a downtown hotel.

“They are astoundingly awful,” said Paula Abdul, proving her own Pollyanna stereotype is a bit overblown.

After two hours of auditions, the judges had let through three of the first 12 would-be stars. But it sounds like the terrible ones — “Idol’s” signature ploy is allowing the very worst to perform for the judges — will make great TV.

“Wild. Insane. Maybe depressed,” suggested Jackson, to explain the lack of talent seen so far.

Seattle Times has all the goodness, including how the bad singers want to deport Mr. Nasty himself, Simon Cowell.

Hot on the heels of Joe Barrino’s lawsuit comes news that her ghost writer of her best selling memoir Fantasia: Life Is Not a Fairytale, Kim Green, now wants recognition for the fact she was the one who wrote the book.  She talked exclusively with RadarOnline.

Barrino’s Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, published in October 2005, sold more than 48,000 copies and made the New York Times non-fiction best-seller list. But Green, who was paid only $45,000 for her efforts, has received no credit for it, nor for the Lifetime movie it inspired, which aired on the network last month. She even had to buy her own ticket to a concert Barrino gave in Atlanta recently. “I just think it’s a terrible statement about the entertainment business,” she adds.

Unfortunately for Green, most publishers won’t hire ghost writers who kiss and tell after they write a book, best selling or not.  Sounds more like sour grapes.

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Fantasia’s father, Joseph Barrino, has sued the American Idol winner for supposedly making up parts of her New York Times best selling 2005 memoir Fantasia: Life Is Not a Fairytale. 

The American Idol winner’s dad, Joseph Barrino, sued publisher Simon & Schuster for $10 million Tuesday, alleging that the 2005 memoir Fantasia: Life Is Not a Fairytale contains “false, exaggerated, sensational, intentional and malicious untruths.”

He also claims that  it was actually Fantasia’s grandmother, Addie Collins, who wrote the book, not Fantasia.

Joseph Barrino has sued publisher Simon and Schuster for $10 million dollars.

People are obsessed with whether Clay Aiken is or isn’t gay.  After all, his songs are clearly wooing the female population in his psuedo crooner style.  So when People asked him about the gay rumors, he answered without answering, in the most ambigious way possible.

On whether he’s gay: “What do you say (to that question)? … It’s like when I was 8. I remember something would get broken in the house, and Mom and Dad would call me in and say, ‘Did you do this?’ Well, it didn’t matter what I said. The only thing they would believe was yes. … People are going to believe what they want.”

Later in the interview he also comments on his desire to… adopt.  Okay, yes, Angelina Jolie adopted two of her brood, but when a man says it… well, let’s just say speculation runs rampant. 

Clay Aiken, follow in the footsteps of Lance Bass and just answer the question and then we will all leave you alone. 

American Idol is betting that the 20 million American Idol fans will be eager to watch the first season of the favorite American Idol… even though they already know the outcome.  American Idol features new footage of judge interaction, which will prompt judge fans to watch the early interaction between the judging trio, especially between Paul Abdul and Simon Cowell.  It was well known they didn’t have the love-hate relationship they do now, back then, it was all hate.

If American Idol Rewind Season One proves popular, it will also return next September with the second season, which was the showdown between Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.