American Idol

As previously reported, American Idol producers are receiving a bit of flak this season for allowing so many singers with professional backgrounds to audition for the show.

One early favorite, Kristy Lee Cook, and another who has been rumored to advance to Hollywood (Carly Hennessy) were each signed to recording contracts a few years ago.

Now, we've received word that Kady Malloy - our favorite singer so far - actually released an album awhile back. Unfortunately, songs from the CD have been whitewashed from the Internet, likely by American Idol higher-ups.

But a post on the MySpace blog of indie music store Amie Street reads: "Kady Malloy's powerful voice and Hip Hop-influenced pop songs bring to mind a cross between Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, and The Pussycat Dolls.

Kady's been working with Nick Trevisick, a producer and writer for artists like Mandy Moore and Natalie Imbruglia, so remember: you heard her on Amie Street first!"

Does this bother you, folks? Are you okay with the fact that Kady Malloy and so many others are not the type of undiscovered talent that American Idol has claimed to promote?

Alaina Whitaker didn't lack confidence on American Idol last night. When asked if she looks like Carrie Underwood, the 16-year old from Oklahoma responded:

I'd like to think Carrie Underwood looks like me.

We like the confidence - but we loved the voice and the fact that she's moving on to Hollywood. Check out her audition of Faith Hill's "Stronger" now:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_WK5LKi7R0[/youtube]

Aside from Whitaker, here are a few names to keep in mind from the Dallas auditions last night:

• Kady Malloy (follow our link to hear her Britney Spears impression!)
  
• Colton Swon
  
• Kayla Hatfield
• Jessica Brown
• Kyle Ensley

No sighting yet of Carly Hennessy - the singer with a professional background who many have dubbed an early season favorite - but we'll keep you posted!

Did we leave anyone out? Who was your favorite contestant on last night's American Idol?

If her relationship with Adnan Ghalib doesn't work out, perhaps Britney Spears should go back to her innocent dating roots.

No, we're not referring to Justin Timberlake.

We're talking about Robbie Carrico. The former lead singer of awesomely named pop group Boyz N Girlz United used to date Britney, long before there was a K-Fed, Jayden James or Sean Preston.

Now - as Spears abandons her kids and buys pregnancy tests - Carrico is back in the spotlight on American Idol. Rumors about the show state that he gets a ticket stamped for Hollywood either this week or next.

Robbie Carrico and Britney Spears, back in the day. Way, way back in the day.

The new season of American Idol is less than 24 hours old. So how can there already be controversy over the results?

Here's why: the singer considered to be most impressive last night, Kristy Lee Cook, was under contract with record company Arista Nashville in 2001, and even inked a deal as the debut artist in Britney Spears' (now defunct) production company.

This raises an interesting question, in regard to American Idol: Is the show reserved solely for amateurs, those whose singing background extends no further than the local karaoke bar?

Or is it acceptable for Cook and others with a professional history to try out?

At the age of 17, Kristy Lee Cook signed a recording contract. Should this disqualify her from American Idol?

In a bit of an American Idol spoiler, this debate may heat up when Carly Hennessy moves on to Hollywood.

The Irish singer - who producer Nigel Lythgow has gone on record as picking to win this season - was given a $2.2 million marketing and production budget from MCA Records in 2005. But her album went on to sell a total of 378 copies.

Last year, Melinda Doolittle was an example of someone with a professional resume, as a backup singer, who made it all the way to the final three. She eventually lost, of course, to a pair unknowns: Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks.

We all know the initial few episodes of American Idol typically provide us with more flops than favorites.

Take Paul Martarano last night, for example, who wrote an unnamed love song for Paula Abdul that went something like this: I broke into her house when she wasn't there/Took off all my clothes and tried on her underwear...

Still, a few singers did stand out from the Philadelphia round of auditions. Here are a few names of contestants headed for Hollywood. You never know, one of these might become the next Carrie Underwood...

• Kristy Lee Cook (pictured)
• Junot Joyner
• Angela Martin (whose daughter was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome)
• Chris Watson (whose lost over 200 pounds; this is the Mike Huckabee of the group)
• Melanie Nyema
• Jose Candelaria

Here's a video of Joyner's audition. Take a look at the wink he receives from Simon Cowell at the end. We wonder what that means:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu0nKDB95nU[/youtube]

The seventh season of American Idol begins tonight - and we'll recap every last detail up until the next winner is announced in May.

For now, we've gotten our hands on the following pair of brief American Idol spoilers:

• A former champion's brother tries out.

So much for the suspense: it's Ricco Barrino, brother of season four winner Fantasia. Don't get too excited, though: Simon Cowell recently said in an interview that Ricco wasn't exactly Idol material.

• A lobster auditions.

Okay, it's just Erin Hughes. And she's merely dressed as a lobster. But consider this one of numerous untalented singers who will attempt to earn their 15 minutes any way they can:

With the new season of American Idol premiering tomorrow, we're guessing producers hope Jessica Sierra just goes away. She doesn't exactly bring positive publicity to the franchise.

And now it does look like the trouble singer is leaving the public spotlight. Sort of. Sierra has entered Pasadena Recovery Center and has started her one-year, court-ordered rehab.

Of course, sources tell TMZ that Dr. Drew Pinsky met with Sierra on Saturday afternoon, as he tries to work with a Florida court to get permission for her to attend group meetings outside the facility. Which he'll probably televise for a reality show.

The singer still faces the uphill battles of her pregnancy, a year in rehab, and Vivid Entertainment's release of a the Jessica Sierra sex tape some time week.

For those that haven't watched commercials in six months (thanks, DVR!), American Idol premieres tomorrow night.

But will its seventh season be an improvement over a lackluster sixth? Even Simon Cowell admitted that the reality competition needs a kick in the voice box this year.

"I think last year just wasn't one of our better seasons," he recently said to Variety. "The show has got to look better. It's got to be more fun."

According to sources, American Idol producers are expected to give more air-time to competitors and their families this season, a solid move considering how Idol alumni have faced mixed fortunes lately.

A handful â€" such as Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson â€" have thrived; but others such as Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard and Katharine McPhee have actually been dropped by their record labels.

Still, Cowell remains upbeat about keeping American Idol in tune.

"[It's] got a better cast this [season]," he said, adding that contestant-wise, "I will go on record as saying this is one of the strongest years we've had."

In case Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were somehow not washed up enough, Super Bowl XLII might be adding another ancient act to its musical show.

TV Guide is reporting that FOX is talking to insane American Idol judge Paula Abdul about performing on the telecast. Who cares that she hasn't released an album of new material since 1995's Head Over Heels?

Move over, Tom Brady and Tony Romo. Paula Abdul may be the star of this year's Super Bowl.

With Tom Petty set to bore us at halftime, and Jordin Sparks singing the national anthem, it's unclear when Abdul would go on. But it's evident just what she'd be doing during her time back in the spotlight:

The former Laker Girl is in rehearsals for a video duet with Randy Jackson, the first single from his upcoming Music Club Vol. 1 CD. Paula would use this choreography as a basis for any Super Bowl routine.

Do you wanna see the American Idol judge dancing and singing again? Or might this lead to a performance that trumps Britney Spears at the Video Music Awards for sheer ineptitude?

We can only hope finalists from the upcoming season of American Idol provide us with as much news - and beauty - as Katharine McPhee and Carrie Underwood.

We're sad to report, though, that McPhee has parted ways with RCA after just one album, a 2007 self-titled CD that debuted at #2 on The Billboard 200.

The album has sold just 366,000 units in the U.S. Fortunately, Katharine still has Nick Cokas to go home to every night. We think she'll bounce back.

Meanwhile, Underwood has finally come clean about her relationship with Tony Romo. In the latest issue of Women's Health - which Gossip Girl star and current Carrie boyfriend Chace Crawford may wish to avoid - the singing sensation says:

"He was not my boyfriend and we were never dating. The more I screamed ‘We're not dating!' the more headlines claimed that we were a couple or that I was crying because he was out with another girl. We're really good friends, we hang out a lot, and we're close… well, friends smooch occasionally."

We wonder how Jessica Simpson feels about this.