Celebrity Gossip, News and Entertainment

On Monday Kellie Pickler, bubbly blonde “American Idol” finalist became the fourth season-five finalist to sign a recording contract, inking a deal with Sony BMG’s Nashville-based country label BNA Records and Idol producer Simon Fuller’s 19 Recordings Limited. 19 Recordings is also home to fellow Idols Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia and Ruben Studdard.
First up for the 20-year-old North Carolina native, whom “Idol” judge Simon Cowell once deemed a “naughty little minx,” will be a single scheduled for release in September. Her debut album will arrive Nov. 14. Pickler is recording the album with producer Blake Chancey in between dates on the current American Idols Live tour.

Kellie enthused, “I’ve always dreamed of getting a record deal so now my dream has come true! I’m really excited about making my first album and giving something back to the fans who supported me on American Idol.” Read more!

Brooks & Dunn added to their record stash of nearly two dozen trophies and continued as the most honored artists in the history of the Academy of Country Music’s awards show with a gospel-laced song they admitted was risky to record. Brooks & Dunn won their 20th and 21st awards for top vocal duo and song of the year, “Believe,” co-written by Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman. Kix Brooks said the duo knew the song was good but wasn’t sure it would be a hit.

Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards proved to be triumphant for Brad Paisley, who won three of the evening’s top awards. His “Time Well Wasted” (Arista Nashville) was named album of the year. Read more!

Kelly, 24, told Britain’s Now magazine: “I don’t like singing it all the time, I’m not going to lie, but there’s a more important cause to think about than my selfishness.”
Kelly Clarkson doesn’t like singing her hit Because Of You, because it is too personal.
The American Idol winner wrote the song about her family life, but finds it painful to have to sing it.

The AMERICAN IDOL star doesn’t reveal what inspired the song, but admits she only continues to perform the hit after meeting fans who had been touched by the its lyrics.
Clarkson admits, “There’s nothing more comforting than knowing somebody else is in your shoes and you see that they’ve got past it and it’s inspiring.” Read more!

Fans of ousted “American Idol” contestant Chris Daughtry and some U.S. radio stations are demanding Fox TV bring back the rocker for a new vote. The Web site, TheDaughtryGang.com, is circulating petitions that charge problems with the talent competition’s voting phone banks after Tuesday night’s show warrants a recount of the votes, The Los Angeles Times reported.

So far, more than 33,000 signatures have been gathered on a petition posted at ThePetitionSite.com, The Times said. Read more!

Former ‘American Idol’ contestant Kellie Pickler went back to Albemarle, N.C., on Saturday, cruising in the 1968 model of a Ford Mustang during a homecoming parade where she was welcomed back by thousands of fans, including her father who was recently released from jail, according to a published report.

Pickler’s dad, Clyde ‘Bo’ Pickler, was released after serving time in Florida State Prison for stabbing another trailer park occupant in 2003 and trying to tire officers who were chasing him. It’s been over three years since the country singer has seen him. He has minded his own through his daughter’s spotlight. Read more!

Chris Daughtry plans to parlay “American Idol’s” boot off the show into a launch pad for the music career he’s dreamed about his entire life. “There’s gonna be a flooding of opportunities, I can’t really talk about them,” the 26-year-old told reporters Thursday, one day after viewers shocked just about everyone and voted him off the TV talent show. “I’m going to use this to launch my career.”

Daughtry, who dreamed of becoming a rock star while working in the service department at a Greensboro car dealership, said he’s considering whether to pursue fronting an established rock band or launching a solo career.
“I’m a songwriter myself,” he said. “To be able to launch my own career would be a dream” come true. Read more!

Fans are down with Chris Daughtry these days after Kelly Clarkson, the most popular American Idol to date.
Announcing Monday that Clarkson has received “superstar status” as the all-time PC screen queen, reported that alt-rocker wannabe Daughtry is the hands-down favorite screensaver download of the current troop of pop-star hopefuls. And that, the site claims in a press release, gives the follicly challenged singer the edge.

Daughtry’s mug has been taking up space on fans’ desktops at twice the rate of his fellow season-five contestants. Read more!

Kathy Griffin has some career advice for Clay Aiken: leave the country. The “D-List” star was asked by the Indianapolis Star about what the “American Idol” star — whose career has been tarnished by allegations about his private life — should do to shine up his image. “First of all, major relocation,” Griffin replied. “He has to leave the country. He has to be like Josephine Baker or David Hasselhoff and find a fan base overseas. I think once you have had your picture in the Star tabloid with four Webcam pictures of you hooking up with a guy and you don’t have a shirt on, it’s time for a ‘vacation’.”

Griffin also said that Aiken should turn to Barry Manilow for advice. “He has to have a long sit-down with Manilow and get a game plan,” she said. Read more!

He sang “That’s All.” Very fitting. Ace Young became the latest “American Idol” casualty in Wednesday’s viewer voting after enduring weeks of speculation that he would soon get the boot. The 25-year-old Denver native’s exit narrowed the “Idol” wannabes to six. The winner will be named May 25.

Judge Simon Cowell said on Tuesday’s program that Young’s rendition of the retro standard was “charming” — though his voice was “a little nasally.”
Host Ryan Seacrest offered encouragement nonetheless. “You’ve got a bright future,” he told the crooner, known for his long locks, flashy smile and falsetto. Read more!

This is the top three prediction of “American Idol” from judge Simon Cowell: Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks and Kellie Pickler.

This prediction was made by Cowell for the Fox TV talent competition during a Thursday telephone conversation broadcast on Howard Stern’s Sirius satellite radio show, the New York Post reported Friday.

“Let me tell you who’s gonna be in the finals, The bald-headed kid (Daughtry) and the guy with gray hair (Hicks),” Cowell said. Read more!

American Idol judges, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, being after by Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLADD) for made what the gay rights group deemed questionable comments on last week’s premiere episode.
On that episode Simon Cowell told one male contestant to “wear a dress” and Jackson asked, “are you a girl?” seen seen by a Nielsen-chart topping 35.5 million viewers.

GLAAD spokesman, Damon Romine say, “GLAAD is reaching out to the show’s producers to discuss our concerns and the concerns of community members and allies who have contacted us about this matter.” Read more!