Jessica Simpson Rumored To Replace Simon Cowell As 'American Idol' Judge

via MTV News

Today's "American Idol" rumor about the potential replacement for Simon Cowell has reality TV veteran and pop singer Jessica Simpson possibly stepping in to replace the cantankerous British judge who split after season nine.

According to Entertainment Weekly, an unnamed source close to the "Newlyweds" star said Simpson has had several meetings with "Idol" brass about possibly joining the show for the upcoming tenth season, which kicks off in January 2011. A representative for Simpson told MTV News she had no comment on the report.

"I'm not sure whether her people approached 'Idol,' or if it was the other way around," according to the source, who noted that the "Dukes of Hazzard" star is just one of "dozens" of candidates who have reportedly been considered for the gig. Simpson joins a list that does not, however, include Elton John or Justin Timberlake, who were rumored to be in contention for the slot before their reps denied that either would be considering the spot on America's #1 show. Meetings between "Idol" producers and John and Timberlake reportedly took place several months ago and were non-starters.

The spate of rumors comes on the heels of reports that former "Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe is expected to return to the show for the upcoming season and that the "So You Think You Can Dance" judge/producer might be considering major changes to the remaining judging panel to give the show a boost. An "Idol" spokesperson has offered no comments on the Lythgoe, Timberlake and John rumors and could not be reached for reaction to the Simpson news at press time. Fox had no comment on the Simpson rumors, either.

The show's producers have not announced when they would reveal the name of Cowell's replacement, but the unnamed source told EW that "Idol" network Fox's "dream scenario" would be to make a big announcement at its event at the 2010 Television Critics Association Press Tour on Monday (August 2). Among the other names reportedly in contention for the gig are singers Chris Isaak and Harry Connick Jr.

American Idol Stardom Keeps Idol's Lee DeWyze Single — For Now

via People

Is Ms. Right out there? If she’s the one for American Idol winner Lee DeWyze, she better be patient. The single singer can’t quite focus on mingling these days.

“I am single, yes. I think a relationship right now will be pretty hard,” DeWyze tells PEOPLE, saying his demanding American Idols Live! Tour schedule could keep him from starting a relationship.

“That kind of stuff takes a lot of time and patience, and I know right now I just don’t think it’d be fair to anybody,” he says. “When I meet the right girl I’ll definitely have no hesitations to a relationship.”

In the meantime, DeWyze is enjoying his stardom and reveling in the opportunity to meet fans face-to-face.

“The absolute best part of this whole process is to being able to see people who have supported me,” he says. “I’m excited to put out an album and go on tour and meet the fans and that’s why I did this.”

Trust us, they are excited too!

Carrie Underwood Marries Her Canadian Cowboy

via E! Online

No more cowboy casanovas for Carrie Underwood.

The Grammy-winning singer swapped vows Saturday evening with NHL player Michael Fisher in a lavish ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, in Greensboro, Ga., E! News has confirmed.

More than 250 guests were in attendance, including country supercouple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

"We could not feel more blessed to have found each other and to have shared this day with our friends and family that mean so much to us!" the newlyweds said in a statement to People.

During the ceremony, which reportedly featured the couple's favorite Bible verses and classical music, The 27-year-old blushing bride walked down the aisle in a Monique Lhuillier chantilly lace gown. Her bridesmaids donned dresses by the coveted designer as well.

Security was tight all over the property, which was closed off to anyone who wasn't either employed by the hotel or instrumental in making the Underwood-Fisher nuptials happen.

Even the road leading into the hotel was closed to traffic Saturday, making it necessary for eager-beaver shutterbugs to shoot the ceremony from boats on Lake Oconee, which borders the hotel.

Speaking of privacy, the newlyweds were scheduled to spend their first night together as husband and wife in the Ritz's 5,400-square-foot Presidential House.

Here's hoping Underwood never finds a reason to undo it.

Crystal Bowersox Sinks Her (Newly Fixed) Teeth Into Hollywood

via Reality Rocks

Well, apparently Crystal Bowersox really is through to Hollywood. The lovably scruffy hippie girl's post-"American Idol" makeover is already well underway, as she has signed to Jive Records (label home to Britney Spears, Chris Brown, Pink, and Usher); is reportedly working on songs for her upcoming album with Jordin Sparks/Natasha Bedingfield/Beyonce collaborator Wayne Wilkins; and now has finally fixed her oft-criticized teeth in order to obtain a camera-ready, A-list smile worthy of an Idol.


The "Idol" runner-up recently tweeted a photo of her cosmetically corrected, blindingly whitened grin, with the message, "What's NOT missing in this picture?????? Yeah. That's right" (referring to her former gummy gap). The smiley snapshot was a bit of a surprise, since although Crystal's imperfect chompers were often the target of nasty blogosphere criticism and debate during her "Idol" run, she always seemed impervious to such shallow slams, even ignoring one shamelessly opportunistic celebrity dentist's press release-dispensed offer to fix her teeth free of charge.


But considering how happy Crystal appears in her Twitpic above, it seems she's had a change of tune, or of tooth, so to speak.

So, does this dental makeover signify the introduction of a sparklier, more polished Crystal? Possibly. Looking at Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard, and Jennifer Hudson's post-"Idol" weight loss; Allison Iraheta's braces removal and hair extensions; Kellie Pickler's sexy style update and rumored surgical enhancements; and even Elliott Yamin's own dental improvements, Crystal would hardly be the first Idol to glam it up after leaving "AI." And Crystal's folksy sound may soon undergo a makeover too, not only because of her aforementioned new collaborator, but because she also recently mysteriously tweeted to fans, "Would you all hate it if I sang a pop song?"

However, considering that Crystal's trademark dreadlocks and chin piercing seem quite intact in her toothy Twitpic, let's just assume that the "Holy Toledo" singer won't forget where she came from now that she's gone Hollywood, and that fans of Crystal's granola-girl charm will still have lots to smile about when her album comes out this fall. And hey, if the whole music thing doesn't work out, with a mouthful of pearly whites like this, now Crystal could always get work as a spokesmodel for Rembrandt.

America is voting no on 'Idol' Live tour

via The Scoop on Today

This past season of “American Idol” is widely regarded as one of the show’s worst, and the corresponding Idol Live! tour might be the last nail in season nine’s coffin.

The tour, which features the final 10 contestants, has suffered poor ticket sales (example: at press time, Wednesday’s show at Jones Beach, right outside New York, featured front-row seats still available for just $13). Seven shows have been cancelled, and nine shows have been rescheduled.

Is there an explanation for the lack of interest, or worry on the part of the “Idol” brass? Reps for “Idol” won’t say, other than to comment, “At this time, other than confirming that some shows on the IDOL LIVE! 2010 tour itinerary have been moved and/or canceled, we are not issuing any comment or statement.”

A source close to the production had a little bit more to say about the sad state of the Idol Live tour.

“No one was very optimistic about the success of the Idols tour this summer,” said one well-placed “Idol” source. “They knew they didn’t have big stars on their hands, and really, ‘American Idol’s’ focus isn’t about creating a successful tour, it’s about creating a successful show, week to week. But unfortunately, the tour (not doing well) reflects badly on the show, especially since there’s the ‘who will replace Simon’ situation to contend with this year.”

A tepid tour won’t halt progress, though. “American Idol” begins auditioning for new hopefuls, as scheduled, July 17 in Nashville, Tenn.

Clay Aiken wants to replace departing judge Simon Cowell on 'American Idol'

via NY Daily News

He may not have a British accent, a limitless supply of tight T-shirts or a sharp-tongued talent for criticism, but "American Idol" alum Clay Aiken thinks he would make a great replacement for departing judge Simon Cowell.

"I've always thought it would be a great addition to the panel to have someone who's a former contestant and knows what it's like to be up on that stage and be critiqued," Aiken, 31, told Billboard.com.

He added, "I would not put myself out there to be as caustic as [Cowell] is, but if they want to call me, bring it on. We can talk."

Aiken's comments place him among a bevy of stars rumored to be in the running to fill Cowell's shoes. Among others, Perez Hilton, Howard Stern, Elton John, Harry Connick Jr., and Bret Michaels have all reportedly been in talks with the show.

Before the season two runnerup could join Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres at the judging table, though, Aiken's got a lot of work to do.

The singer released his fifth album, "Tried and True" on June 1, and is teaming up with season two winner Ruben Studdard for an upcoming tour.

"We've been talking for years about trying to do something together and had never really found the time to do it," Aiken said.

"It's kind of a musical revue of sorts — some of the biggest hits and greatest songs, from our point of view — and songs that have influenced us from over the past five decades," Aiken said about the tour. "We're really good friends and have a great time when we're together, so I think it's going to be a lot of fun to do a tour like this, for us and for the audiences, too."

Kellie Pickler Engaged to Kyle Jacobs

via People

For Kellie Pickler, June 15 has long been "sad and hard for me," as it is the birthday of her late grandmother, Faye Pickler.

But the traditional sadness of the day turned to happiness last week, when Pickler's boyfriend, songwriter Kyle Jacobs, proposed on a Florida beach at sunset."It turned out to be the most amazing day of my life," the fifth-season American Idol star, 23, tells PEOPLE. "My whole world changed. We both feel like we got my grandmother's blessing."

Pickler considers Jacobs's proposal a moment she hardly could have imagined. "I remember saying to Kyle, 'Baby it's like I'm dreaming – but if this isn't real, I'm going to be very upset!' "

Champagne and Tears
Jacobs meticulously planned the proposal, arranging a blanket, champagne and candles to be waiting as they strolled on the beach. "Afterward, we just held each other and had the most beautiful prayer," Jacobs says. "We had a little champagne and talked and laughed and cried."

The couple met through friends about 2½ years ago, and Pickler, who was raised by her grandmother after her mother left and her father went to jail, says she learned how to have a healthy relationship from her new fiancé.

"Kyle took away all my fear of marriage and has shown me the way love is supposed to be," she says.

Thanks to Jacobs – as well as a renewed relationship with her dad, Clyde Pickler, who's been sober for a year – "I'm in the happiest place I've ever been," she says, adding that she plans to have her father walk her down the aisle.

Pickler's engagement makes her the third recent country bride-to-be, joining pals Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.

"We're all just happy for each other," Pickler says. "I'm sure we'll be having some girl talk and we'll share ideas. We just keep joking about how there must be something in the water!"

'American Idol' Lowers Its Age Limit

via People

Has Bieber-fever invaded American Idol?

On the heels of Justin Bieber‘s massive success, the talent show announced it will lower its eligibility age to 15 for season 10, reports USA Today.

“A lot of young, talented people are now seeking careers and representation before they turn 16,” Idol executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz says. “Lowering the age limit allows us to tap into this talent pool.”

The show’s age limit was previously 16 to 28.

FOX also recently announced Idol will begin accepting online auditions via MySpace. Does that mean the show is looking for the next Greyson Chance, the 12-year-old whose video version of Lady Gaga‘s “Paparazzi” went viral?

Auditions for the next season of American Idol begin July 17 in Nashville.

"Beleeve Buttons & Bands" Contest

Our "Beleeve Buttons & Bands" contest on twitter yesterday was a huge success! Fans of Lee DeWyze had all day to retweet the following phrase: "I want to win a "Beleeve Buttons & Bands" package from @IdolShirts!" Some people tweeted hundreds of times and others tweeted a few times. We had a grand total of 1,328 retweets! UnbeLEEvable!

The winner was chosen randomly this morning. We set up all the tweets on our computer, scrolled the mouse with our eyes closed, and stopped on a tweet. The lucky winner was Gina Ricci, aka DeWyzeGirl08 on twitter. Gina will receive one "Beleeve Button" and one "Beleeve Band" to wear at the American Idols Live tour.

Congratulations, Gina! Thank you to everyone who entered!

Order your "Beleeve Buttons & Bands" package here.

'American Idol': 15 Ways to Fix It!

via Entertainment Weekly

Ratings and buzz undeniably slipped in season 9; we've got some sure-fire suggestions to help get 'em back


REBOOT THE JUDGES' PANEL, BUT (GULP!) KEEP KARA
After nine seasons, Randy still hasn't learned the fine art of giving succinct, honest, witty feedback to contestants. Ellen, meanwhile, seems to have lost interest in giving any feedback whatsoever (aside from calling everything ''great!''). Idol's producers should give 'em both the hook, and replace them with folks who'll inspire formerly annoying Kara to further raise her game, not drag her into a pit of mealy-mouthed ineloquence. As Project Runway has proven, a judges' table can sustain more than one tough, opinionated panelist.

GIVE US FULL SONGS
Speaking of the panel, if Idol would cut back to three judges — preferably three who weren't completely consumed by a passion for hearing their own voices — the show might have enough time for contestants to occasionally sing entire songs, not just 90-second snippets! I mean, imagine how much more awesome it would've been if season 9 champ Lee DeWyze had gotten to tell the full tale of ''The Boxer,'' rather than perform a radical lyric-ectomy and shrink it down to 90 seconds.

EXPAND THE WEEKLY LIST OF PRE-CLEARED SONGS
Idol's decision this season to release its weekly lists of pre-approved songs on iTunes exposed the brutally limited options foisted on the contestants. And that's why it was so galling during ''Songs from the Cinema'' Week, for example, to hear Simon blast the kids' choice of ditties when we knew their 50 cleared tunes included the nearly lyric-free ''Gonna Fly Now,'' the Hindi-language ''Jai Ho,'' rap track ''Lose Yourself,'' and camp classics like ''Ghostbusters'' and ''Eye of the Tiger.'' (Yes, yes, the contestants can ask for additional songs to get okayed, but given their packed schedules, it's no wonder most of them stick to the producers' roster.) With all the money Idol rakes in, it should have an entire song-clearance department that spends the entire year adding to massive lists of potential musical selections for contestants. With the sales bump most artists experience from having their compositions performed in front of an audience of 20 million, how many would say ''no'' in the first place?

ACKNOWLEDGE MUSIC WRITTEN AND RECORDED AFTER 1990
No disrespect to the Beatles, the Stones, Elvis, Sinatra, Stevie, and Dolly, but it's no wonder the show is seeing its 18-34 demo shrinking when the average age of the songs covered on the Idol stage would easily qualify for an AARP card. If nothing else, an occasional foray into modern songbooks — think Beyoncé or Green Day or even '90s-era boy bands — would help us determine which wannabes are likeliest to thrive on modern radio.

UPDATE THE OPENING CREDITS
After nine seasons, it's time to retire those creepy SIMS people clutching mics and strolling through futuristic stagescapes. Imagine if the show's producers instead cut together quick flashes of Idol's greatest moments over the last nine seasons — from the auditions to Hollywood Week all the way to the finals — and reminded us of the magic that keeps our dance cards filled every Tuesday and Wednesday from January to May. As a bonus, each episode's credits could end with a video clip for a hot new single from a former Idol contestant. See where we're going with this?

KILL THE SWAYBOTS! (AND GET THE BAND DOWN FROM THE RAFTERS!)
Nothing quite kills an authentic musical moment like the sight of sorority chicks waving their arms in the air for the sole purpose of trying to score some precious airtime. Send those Swaybots (TM) back from the pit whence they came, move the judges' table back up against the stage, and while we're at it, let's move the band down from the rafters and on to the same level as the singers. Our Idol wannabes would probably be a lot more relaxed if they had some musicians — and not all that empty space — surrounding 'em, no?

PUT THE KIBOSH ON TOP 24 SPOILERS
For the last several seasons, the list of Idol semifinalists has leaked to the Internet before Hollywood Week episodes have finished airing. The show's producers could easily solve the problem by turning the pre-taped Top 24 announcement episode into a live telecast. Indeed, why not put the final 50 hopefuls in a room with the judges and let them find out their fates at the same time as the rest of the Idoloonie nation? Bonus points for reviving the sadistic season 8 sing-offs in front of a live audience of millions!

LET THE CONTESTANTS WRITE ALREADY!
Idol isn't just about finding which paint salesman or subway busker can serve up the best Beatles cover. Indeed, the show's ultimate success hinges on its ability to find the next Kelly Clarkson or Chris Daughtry, viable artists whose own post-Idol output will allow them to compete against the John Mayers and Pinks and Katy Perrys of the world. Why not have a week (or two!) where contestants get paired with A-list songwriters to separate the ''Undo Its'' from the ''No Boundaries,'' so to speak?

CREATE A BANNED SONGS LIST
Step one: Ban any song performed live during the current or previous season of Idol. Step two: Ban any song that's been performed three or more times in Idol history. Step three: Toss in the ''20 Songs EW Would Ban from Idol Forever.'' Don't worry, Leonard Cohen can live without another round of ''Hallelujah'' residuals, especially since both Tim Urban and Lee DeWyze tackled his tune in 2010.

TAKE US BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Is there anything more painful than hearing Ryan Seacrest rehash the same tired questions for the contestants (and the judges) on Idol results night? Why not go behind the scenes and take a deep-dive look at how the singers grapple with song selection and arrangement, what other tracks they considered (and tossed) before coming up with their selections, and why they've staged their performances in a particular way? The end result can't be less interesting than forcing Casey James to answer another ''cougar bait'' question.

SUPPORT YOUR ALUMNI OVER FLAVORS-OF-THE-WEEK
In a situation that made less sense than a sleep-starved Paula Abdul, Idol gave season 9 results-night performance slots to Ke$ha, Demi Lovato, and Perez Hilton protégé Travis Garland, but not talented former contestants like Jason Castro, Blake Lewis, Carly Smithson (and her band We Are the Fallen), or Kimberly Caldwell (all of whom had recent albums or singles to promote). Here's hoping the show bats a thousand in booking Idol grads for every season 10 results show.

CAST A MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF SEMIFINALISTS
Considering the stunning success of season 4's Carrie Underwood, it's baffling that Idol has done a lackluster job of casting country-oriented females in five subsequent seasons (not counting season 8's tragically overlooked Mishavonna Henson, that is!). Likewise, the show hasn't cast a viable African-American diva since season 6. And its track record with country-leaning males and R&B dudes isn't exactly stellar, either. For season 10, we'd like to see the judges cast a wider net and bring us 24 super-talented hopefuls from a variety of musical genres.

CONDENSE GIMMICKY AUDITIONS
Nine seasons in, attention-seeking foolios like Bikini Boy and Fainting Girl are as stale a bowl of month-old potato chips. Meanwhile, during season 9, the producers axed promising vocalists like Jermaine Purifory and Angela Martin with barely any explanation whatsoever. Stunt auditions should be limited to 15 minutes or fewer per episode, while Hollywood Week should be expanded to provide viable reasons for how and why our early favorites got cut.

BAN LIP-SYNCHING
Bad enough that Ken Warwick & Co. continue to believe that audiences are entertained by the sight of the show's finalists performing woeful song-and-dance medleys. But it's absolutely reprehensible that the majority of these dated ditties feature an Auto-Tuned backing track and dead mics for the contestants. If we wanted to waste our time on ''singers'' with no natural ability, we'd skip the Idol experience and go download Heidi Montag's latest, thanks very much.

CUT ''GREATEST HITS'' ON FINALE NIGHT
No matter how talented the singer, there's no re-creating an ''Idol Moment.'' So why does the show insist that the final two contestants repeat a performance they did earlier in the season? As David Cook proved in season 7 by eschewing a ''greatest hit'' and instead brilliantly covering ''The World I Know,'' a brand-new creation will always trump a reheated leftover.

You've Got Mail

My mail is normally very boring--junk mail and bills. However, today was a different story. I received a large, brown evelope with a return address reading "Andrew Garcia." I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to see his name on that envelope! I opened the package and pulled out two autographed pictures of Andrew!

From the beginning of the competition, Andrew was one of my favorites. His story made me respect him and his rendition of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" completely won me over. He became even more special to me after his friend wore one of my t-shirt designs on American Idol. I wrote Andrew a letter and expected nothing in return, especially since it arrived at the studio after he was voted off the show.

Thank you, Andrew, for sending autographs and making my day! I'm looking forward to seeing you on tour. Hopefully, I'll be able to thank you in person.

'American Idol' Winner Lee DeWyze To Sing At NBA Finals On Sunday

via MTV News

Before the Lakers and Celtics face off in game two at the Staples Center, DeWyze will perform the national anthem.

This time 12 months ago, "American Idol" season-nine champ Lee DeWyze was probably kicking back with some pals at a Mt. Prospect, Illinois, bar while watching the NBA Finals. What a difference a year makes. DeWyze will have a front-row seat for Sunday (June 6) night's game two of the Los Angeles Lakers/ Boston Celtics series at L.A.'s Staples Center when he sings the national anthem before tip-off.

The gig will be DeWyze's first performance at a major event since he won "Idol" last Wednesday, and ABC will air it live beginning at 8 p.m. ET. DeWyze will join good company, as the NBA has featured nearly all the "AI" winners at its championship games since 2004, including Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook and Kris Allen.

The slot in front of 20,000 screaming NBA fans will be good practice for this summer's American Idols Live! tour, which will hit 49 markets beginning on July 1 with a show at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and keep the top 10 on the road through a September 16 date in Portland, Maine.

DeWyze also made his official debut on the Billboard Digital Songs chart this week. And while the numbers were tame, the former paint store clerk said he was not sweating it.

"You can't complain about that, regardless of what it is," DeWyze told MTV News. "But this is the first season that we did a cover song for the finale, and that's obviously different from past seasons, whatever part that has to do with it. ... There [were] things presented, and, you know, that was the right song for the moment, I felt. And I'm glad I did it."

DeWyze's coronation song, a cover of U2's "Beautiful Day," landed at #12, while four of his other remakes from the show, "Hallelujah," "The Boxer," "Everybody Hurts" and "Simple Man," also charted in the top 200, along with his duet with runner-up Crystal Bowersox of "Falling Slowly."