Why should Ruben lose weight? or Randy? A person of size can be healthy. I think the media puts waaaay too much emphasis on how "skinny" you should be. That's why have young girls barfing over toilets now. Society does not acknowledge men/women of size as beautiful/attractive. I think it time to put an end to the madness and focus on a person's talent not just the way they look.

Sidebar: Clay can sing his azz off and he's thin as hell but he still looks like Howdy-Doody....


[IMG]www.howdydoodytime.com[/IMG]

I have no problems with Ruben or Randy's size, but for health reasons, they should drop a few pounds. Look what happened to Luther, look what happened to Barry (may he rest in peace). If anything, it should be a wake-up call.

Clay's Album to Go Public Before Ruben's
4 minutes ago Add Entertainment - AP to My Yahoo!


By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer

NEW YORK - "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken's album will arrive in record stores about a month before that of winner Ruben Studdard's "Soulful."



Aiken's album, not yet titled, will hit stores on Oct. 14. Studdard's album will arrive on Nov. 11.


Studdard told The Associated Press on Thursday that Aiken's disc is already finished, while he's still working on his.


"He got his album done fairly quickly; with me, I had my own press junket, so studio time was very limited," said Studdard, who is on the "American Idol" national tour along with Aiken and other stars of the Fox television talent show.


"It just don't make no sense for Clay to have his album chillin' when he could just do his thing," he said.


Studdard said it's been difficult juggling the schedules of his producers with his own. But he said he wasn't worried about the delay.


"I just want to be able to do the best possible project I possibly can. I don't want to just come out with an `American Idol' souvenir album, you know what I'm saying?"


Studdard narrowly beat out Aiken in May to win the "American Idol" contest. Since then, the 24-year-old Aiken has gotten plenty of attention. He got a Rolling Stone cover before Studdard, and his first single, "This Is the Night," sold more copies than Studdard's "Flying Without Wings." Both songs were released in June.


And ABC television announced Wednesday that Aiken will sing his signature song at the "Miss America (news - web sites)" pageant in Atlantic City, N.J., on Sept. 20.


Studdard downplayed the competition with Aiken, whom he called his friend.


"When you think about it, both of us have sold upward of 900,000 (copies of) singles. Should I be upset that I sold 951,000 singles, and he sold 961,000 singles?" Studdard said. "I can't be anything but happy with that."


Studdard is working with hit-makers such as R. Kelly and Missy Elliot on his disc, which also will include guest appearances by rapper Fat Joe and gospel star Fred Hammond. It will be released on J Records, while Aiken's will be released on RCA Records. Both are part of the conglomerate BMG.


The 24-year-old Birmingham, Ala., native is the second winner of the "American Idol" competition. Kelly Clarkson (news) won it last year, and her debut album, "Thankful," released in April, has sold more than 1 million copies.

Who plans on buying it?

I will definitely buy Ruben's album. Since he won AI, shouldn't Clay wait until Ruben's album comes out first? I thought that's how it's supposed to go down. :confused: :confused:

I will continue to wait on K Lo's and Trenyce's musical efforts, but might buy Ruben for my boyfriend as a belated birthday present. :)

I'ma pick it up. I'm looking forward to it, if for no other reason then to here his remake of Lutha's song :D

I will buy both CD's. I'm kind of worried that KLo and Trenyce won't relese CDs. I haven't heard or seen anything about them since the show. Whatever happened to Tamyra's CD? I want a CD from her more than Clay, Ruben, K Lo or Trenyce:confused:

They've been touring all summer. I would say probably not until late winter will their CDs be released.

Tamyra's CD should have been out this summer.

Entertainment - AP TV

'American Idol' Bans Songs for Next Show
Fri Sep 5, 1:59 PM ET


NEW YORK - A number of songs will not be heard on the third edition of Fox's "American Idol."


AP Photo


Reuters
Slideshow: American Idol




People magazine reports contestants will not be allowed to sing certain songs from artists like Bruce Springsteen (news), Mariah Carey (news), Carly Simon (news) and James Taylor (news).


Fox won't give an official reason why, but a source says acquiring the television rights to the song can be difficult or expensive. Another song that's banned is "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys (news). THANK GOD!! Too many mofos mess that song up!!!Sharp-tongued judge Simon Cowell says there's a simple reason for banning that one: The judges have heard it a million times.


Birmingham, Ala., native Ruben Studdard, 24, is the second winner of the "American Idol" competition. His album "Soulful" is scheduled for release on Nov. 11. Kelly Clarkson (news) won it last year, and her debut album, "Thankful," released in April, has sold more than 1 million copies.

HOLLA!!

Does anyone remeber the guy from last season named Edgar, I think that's his name? He didn't make it at one city so he went to another one and changed his hairstyle to look different. He was at the NY auditions for AI3.

EDGAR is like the jheri curl . . . just won't go away. :o

'Idol' Finalist Locke Signs with Curb


By Fred Bronson

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Kimberley Locke, who finished in third place behind Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken on the second season of "American Idol," has been signed to Curb Records, home of such acts as LeAnn Rimes (news) and Tim McGraw (news).


"I was pulling for her to win," Mike Curb, chairman of the Curb Group, told Billboard.com. "When she didn't, I thought she's the one I wish I had, then I didn't think any more about it."


When Curb learned through Bryan Stewart of his A&R department that Locke was available to sign, he flew to Memphis to see her in concert with the "American Idols Live" show and offered her a contract on the spot. The deal was finalized on Saturday.


"On 'American Idol' we watched her sing everything from Neil Sedaka (news)'s 'Where the Boys Are' to Billy Joel (news)'s "New York State of Mind" to 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' to 'Over the Rainbow,"' said Curb. "She put her own stamp on these classic songs. She's a true pop artist who can sing in all genres."



Locke, 25, will begin recording her debut album for Curb Monday in her hometown of Nashville. Her first meeting with Curb and Stewart was captured on video in Memphis and will be seen in a Fox TV special featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the "American Idols Live" tour. The special will be telecast on Sept. 24.



In other "American Idol" news, RCA Records has confirmed that "Invisible" will be the follow-up to Clay Aiken's platinum single, "This Is the Night" /"Bridge Over Troubled Water." There will be no commercial single, but a promo single is going to radio and the song will be included on Aiken's self-titled debut album, scheduled for release on Oct. 14.

Entertainment - E! Online

"American Idol" Puts Stamp on Xmas
Mon Oct 13, 7:05 PM ET Add Entertainment - E! Online to My Yahoo!


By Lia Haberman

American Idol is dreaming of a white-hot Christmas.


• News: Simon Cowell gets dramatic
• News: American Idol dawg slims down
• News: Simon says yes to Idol



E! Online Photo



Fox has scheduled a one-hour holiday special of the amateur talent show during November sweeps to drum up ratings and leave Idol's imprint all over the festive season.


American Idol: Christmas Songs will air November 25, the sweep's next-to-last night and close to a month after the release of The Great Holiday Classics CD, which includes Ruben Studdard and Tamyra Gray's duet of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Clay Aiken's rendition of "The First Noel" and Justin Guarini singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas."


As for the TV special, it will feature past Idol champs Kelly Clarkson (news) and Studdard, along with runners-up Guarini and Aiken and other favorite contestants performing classic holiday tunes.


The pressure (and maybe the performances?) will be off this particular evening as judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul (news) have no plans to appear. Ditto host Ryan Seacrest.


Industry watchers assume Fox is trying to recapture the ratings glory of last May when Studdard and Aiken's highly anticipated faceoff helped the network finish first among 18 to 49 year olds in sweeps.


However, the Idol singers will meet with some tough musical competition that evening as veteran performers Shania Twain (news) and Justin Timberlake (news) perform on NBC.


Also going head to head this holiday season are Simon and Randy. The Idol judges both plan to release how-to-make-it-in-the-biz books within a month of each other.


While Simon's boffo book deal with Random House has already been widely reported, Randy's tome has just been announced by Hyperion.


The veteran record producer's literary effort, What's Up Dawg? How to Become a Recording Star, is scheduled to hit stores in January 2004. Simon's book, I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But..., drops a month earlier, on December 2.


Randy's book includes tips for making it big in the recording biz plus gives an insider's perspective on how to become a recording star "drawing on his decades of experience in the music industry."


Ditto for Simon, though stamped with his own "wicked and witty" brand of humor.


As such, Randy's thrown down the literary gauntlet in a statement released Monday. "Yo, Dawg, if you read one book about the long, hard journey to success in the music industry, this is the one to read. I'm going to keep it real about what it takes to make it in one of the toughest industries in the world."


No word on which way Paula plans to vote in this showdown.

Jawn's Juice Catches Us Up on Idol Contestants
 

Nov. 11, 2003) “American Idol” Update: I love “American Idol” like Whitney Houston loves Bobby Brown. It’s more like an infatuation. My unwavering affection for the show made me curious about what some of my favorite “Idol” contestants were up to since competing on the Fox series. Here’s an update on those I could track down.
Trenyce: I had an in-depth conversation with this Memphis, Tenn.-based singer on the telephone last week, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I made no secrets that this was my favorite contestant during the second season of the reality competition, and after seeing her live on “American Idols Live!” I was even more impressed by her vocal prowess.

Trenyce is a southern belle who uses “ma’am” and “sir.” It’s no secret that she’s a bonafide talent. Even the legendary Clive Davis pulled her to the side backstage at one of the “Idol” tour dates and told her, “I haven’t seen anyone sing like you since Whitney Houston was young,” though the esteemed executive hasn’t signed her to either RCA or J Records as of yet.

Nonetheless, Trenyce is still working on new material and already recorded three original songs that she, herself, wrote. “I’ve been blessed to have some really wonderful people helping me like Fred Bronson of Billboard magazine and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph,” shared Trenyce. The singer recently performed Whitney’s “I Have Nothing” at Sheryl’s “Diva Simply Singing” benefit in Los Angeles, and Ralph also helped secure Trenyce’s audition for the lead role in Broadway’s “Aida.” The role is currently being played be Toni Braxton, who will be followed by Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, and then by none other than Trenyce. “The cast director told me that he hadn’t heard anyone sing the songs like I did since Heather Headley originated the role. I’m not sure when I start, but it all depends on if Michelle extends her contract in January or not,” she shared. Trenyce has been performing spot dates around the country with other “Idol” contestants. “I have dates booked throughout the rest of the year and basically they’ll carry me right up until I begin ‘Aida,’ she explained.

The down-to-earth darling was also quite frank about the Oct. 1999 felony theft charge that made tabloid headlines during the height of the “American Idol” finals. “I never really got a chance to talk about that,” said Trenyce. “I dealt with that. I never attempted to come across as perfect. We all have done stuff and regret it. I helped a friend, and I shouldn’t have. I got in trouble, and it came off my record. The stories were really negative and I blame the show -- they knew this going in -- for not allowing me to comment on it. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I paid for that. I was only concerned with how people back home were treating my family. I was concerned with how they were dealing with having to see and read this.”

Despite it all, Trenyce has moved on and is anticipating a great career in music. Right now, she’s looking for a solid music industry manager (someone tell Benny Medina) and hopes to ink a record deal early next year. “Before “American Idol” I was frustrated and struggling,” admitted Trenyce. “Now I am doing what I love to do.”

On a side note, Trenyce is dating a very pleasant Memphis attorney named Donald. I also spoke on the phone with Donald, who laughed when he realized I was the same person who was on the Doug Banks Morning Show talking about how beautiful Trenyce was and begging anyone in Memphis who knew her to hook me up with a date. If you’d like to contact Trenyce, you can e-mail her directly at Trenyce1@aol.com or visit her online at www.idolonfox.com/contestants/trenyce.htm.

Ruben Studdard: Ruben may be this season’s “American Idol,” but we all see that Clay Aiken is getting all of the attention. (I don’t recall Justin Guarini’s album coming out before Kelly Clarkson’s. But I digress.) According to the label, Ruben’s album “Soulful” will drop next year and will feature production from R. Kelly, Missy Elliott and other top producers. The album will also feature a duet with label mate Tamyra Gray, and a collaboration with rapper Fat Joe. For more information on Ruben, go to www.jrecords.com/Ruben-Studdard/.

Kimberly Locke: The full-figured contestant, who ended up being the second runner up, has inked a deal with Nashville, Tenn.-based Curb Records. The label is known for its country acts like Wynonna Judd and Leann Rimes, but Kimberly, who is from Nashville, will definitely be releasing an R&B/pop record. For more information on Kimberly, go to www.Curb.com.

Corey Clark: Corey was the contestant disqualified from the show when producers claimed they didn’t know he was facing assault charges in Kansas. Corey was eventually cleared of the charges, but that was after the show made him leave. Even so, Corey is now working on new music. “I’ve recorded about 17 songs. My sound is a blend of R&B, alternative and hip-hop,” he said by phone from a studio in California. Though he hasn’t landed a record deal yet, Corey hopes to score one soon. The singer has been performing several live shows and actually has one coming up in Oklahoma City, Okla. with Chingy. You can find more information on Corey at www.CoreyClarkOnline.com.

Tamyra Gray: Season one contestant Tamyra was a favorite of mine as well. There were rumors that J Records had dropped her, but the label assures me that’s not true. “She’s still recording and we’re hoping to put her album out early next year,” said a label rep. Tamyra has been acting pretty regularly. She had a recurring role on “Boston Public” last season and recently guest-starred on UPN’s “Half & Half” this season. Tamyra is also featured on “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson’s CD, “Thankful,” on a duet called “You Thought Wrong,” which is likely to be Kelly’s next single.

Ricky Smith: “Hercules! Hercules!” Yep, Ricky became famous for his impersonation of those famous words from “The Nutty Professor,” but now, the singer wants to become famous for his vocals. “People still notice me, and they’ll see me and point and look at you while you’re eating. I’m just having a great time,“ said Ricky via phone. The Dallas bred singer is now residing in Los Angeles where he’s working on a new album he plans to shop for a record deal. He’s been working with producer/songwriter Madukwu Chinwah who has worked with artists like Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg. Ricky also maintains a friendship with all season two “Idol” participants. “I am really close with Ruben, and Clay and I had lunch the other day,” he said.

Charles Grigsby: The bright-smiled singer drew immediate comparisons to Usher while on the show, but the Oberlin, Ohio-based singer wants to make a name for himself. Charles has been doing a lot of public speaking dates, promotional appearances and some singing dates. He’s headed to Atlanta in the coming weeks with Tamyra Gray and R.J. Helton to judge “Delta Idol,” which is an “American Idol”-inspired competition that Delta Airlines is holding. “I recently signed with an agency that’s working to get my record deal and help me get acting work,” said Charles. The singer is slated to appear on an upcoming episode of the Anthony Anderson sitcom, “All About the Andersons.”

“Idol” fans will be glad to know that “An American Idol Christmas” will air on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 8 p.m. EST. In addition to performances by Ruben and Kelly, the show will also feature Tamyra, Kimberly, Clay and Christina Christian.

Justin Guarini Dropped By RCA, Missing From 'Idol' Christmas Special
Mon Dec 1,10:00 AM ET

LAUNCH Radio Networks

Season one American Idol runner-up Justin Guarini is among the missing. The Pennsylvania native was dropped from his record label, RCA, after his self-titled debut album landed at Number 20 on the Billboard 200 album chart selling a mere 54,000 copies. While 54,000 may seem like a fair amount of albums, it pales in comparison to Kelly Clarkson (news)'s first week sales of 297,000 copies of her album Thankful, or Clay Aiken's first week slaes of a whopping 613,000 copies of Measure Of A Man.



Guarini was noticeably absent from the Fox special An American Idol Christmas on Tuesday, November 25, and the word is from sources close to the situation that the 25-year-old singer refused to appear on the show. Interestingly, Guarini was on the bill when the show was first announced in October. Clay Aiken, Christina Christian, Kelly Clarkson, Tamyra Gray, Kimberley Locke, and Ruben Studdard were among the Idol stars who did perform.


Paula Abdul (news), Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson return for a new season of American Idol on Fox-TV in January. A special two-hour episode of American Idol will air on January 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and a special one-hour episode of the show will air on January 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

I think I saw Randy on TV the other day and it looked like he had lost a lot of weight. Did anyone else see this? What did he do?

He had his stomach stapled or gastric bypass.

WTH?!?!?!

I am watching Nickelodeon and they just showed a commercial for a new Playstation 2 game ~ American Idol. . . no I am not joking. :(

Yeah I saw that. I don't think it will sell.

WTH is the object of the game? Do tell...

From what the commercial showed, AI with auditions. :rolleyes:

How do you know if your "player" can sing or not? Can you make the voice better? If you are the only player, do you automatically win? I doubt that anyone will buy this game...

Looks like Tamyra was dropped from J Records like Justin was dropped from RCA. . .

What? What happened?

from MTV.com
 

Guarini is not the only "American Idol" finalist to lose a record deal. Without even releasing an album or single, Tamyra Gray has been dropped by J Records (see " 'American Idol' Finalist Tamyra Gray Gets Recording Deal"), the label confirmed Tuesday.



—Corey Moss

Re: from MTV.com
 

How did Kelly get to keep her deal? She has no skills to me.

What is Kimberly up to?

Don't forget Ruben's CD comes out tomorrow. For alla yall that thought he shoulda won over K Lo, you betta BUY IT!!!!!:mad: :p

I heard his new single on the radio today, and I don't know if it's just me but it sounded like his voice has changed... Like he finally cleared his throat. He sounds a lot like dave holister to me. What do y'all think?

he sounds like he was having fun recording the album. I son't know about comparing him to Dave now, but I can see a little resemblence. I can't wait to get his CD if only for the Lutha remake!

Re: Re: from MTV.com
 

kelly sold records.. lol. I wonder why Tamyra was dropped though.

I like the cd! Reuben is still my favorite idol. I had to buy his cd. I like 1,2,3,7,10, and 11,12, and 14...

Yay!

Go Ruben, Gooooooooo!
 

No word on Ruben's sales, but Clay is double-platinum...WTFE!

I think I'll buy Ruben for my mother and my niece.

I saw on CNN that Ruben's sales were platinum just off of preorders. That's great news! I feel bad because I didn't buy it yesterday. Instead I bought Avant and Musiq. I'm gonna buy his album this weekend though. Gotta support my brotha!

Did y'all see him on 106 and Park last night?

i'm buying 2
 

one for me and one for my secret soror!!

http://www.bet.com/articles/0,,c2sc2...9-9055,00.html

It was mentioned on the BB awards last night that Clay is outselling Ruben. Uhhhhh, duhhhhhh, his CD has been out LONGER than Ruben's. :confused: :o :rolleyes:

Anyway, this article says that Ruben's PRE-ORDERS are over 1 million.

'Idol' Castoff Davis Lands Stage Role
Fri Dec 12, 1:23 PM ET

By The Associated Press

SEATTLE - Kicked off the TV talent show "American Idol" because she once worked for an adult-oriented Web site, Frenchie Davis has landed her first professional lead role.


AP Photo



The big-voiced, full-figured singer from Los Angeles will begin rehearsals Monday for the top role in the upcoming production of "Dreamgirls."


"There are a lot of people who were on 'American Idol,'" Davis told The Associated Press in an interview. "But not all of them are getting lead roles."


The 24-year-old singer will play the top role of Effie Melody White in the revival of "Dreamgirls," which was a major Broadway hit in the 1980s. It's a co-production of the 5th Avenue Theatre of Seattle, American Musical Theatre of San Jose, Calif., and the California Musical Theatre of Sacramento.


"Dreamgirls" will play in San Jose from Jan. 9-25, Sacramento from Jan. 27-Feb. 8 and Seattle from Feb. 11-29.


Davis was one of the 30 contestants on "American Idol" earlier this year and had planned to sing a song from "Dreamgirls" as part of the competition when she was given the boot by producers of the reality series and Fox executives. Fox said she was fired because she'd worked on the adult-oriented Web site after her sophomore year at Howard University in fall 1999.


"I disclosed that I posed in lingerie on an adult Web site to pay my tuition for college," she said. "I told them that in November and it wasn't a problem. In February, they decided to kick me off of the show."


Since then, Davis has appeared on Broadway in "Rent" and signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records to record her first CD.

Only listened once so far since I bought it last night, but my favorite track is SORRY 2004!!! That song RIGHT THERE is yes indeed status. :D

Sorry 2004 and No Ruben are my favorite songs off of the cd right now. I am glad that I bought it. As for his voice I think he had some training. During the interviews when he first won you could barely understand him. Now if you watch him he is playing it up. And he looks like he is having fun. As for Tamyra I wish her the best of luck in getting a recording deal. If not Boston Public will probably take her back

Kimberley's CD comes out May 4, 2004

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.LZZZZZZZ.jpg