The Top-Earning American Idol Star Is ...
Forbes has released its annual list of the top earning American Idol stars, and Carrie Underwood leads the whole field by leaps and bounds.
In fact, the country star earned so much more than any other Idol, the top four money-makers after Carrie barely eclipse her total combined.
Below is the list of top Idol earners from May 2010-May 2011. Note the lack of the last three winners of the competition from the top 10 ...
1. Carrie Underwood – $20 million
2. (tie) Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry – $6 million
4. Fantasia Barrino – $4 million
5. Jordin Sparks – $3 million
6. Kelly Clarkson – $2.5 million
7. Jennifer Hudson – $2 million
8. Kellie Pickler – $1.8 million
9. Clay Aiken – $1.5 million
10. (tie) Katharine McPhee, David Archuleta, David Cook – $1 million
American Idol Season 11 Audition Dates, Cities: Revealed!
With Scotty McCreery's album sales justifying his selection as this year's American Idol, Fox is already making plans for season 11 of its beloved franchise.
When will auditions - which are open to men and women between the ages of 15 and 28 - come to a city near you? Find out below:
June 28: St. Louis, MO
July 2: Portland, OR
July 8: San Diego, CA
July 15: Pittsburgh, PA
July 22: Charleston, SC
July 29: Denver, CO
August 26: Houston, TX
Will Jennifer Lopez be part of the judging panel on the new season? That decision is still up in the air.
Jennifer Lopez on American Idol Future: Uncertain!
It may be a negotiating ploy, but Jennifer Lopez continues to claim she's uncertain about her future on American Idol.
Soon after the conclusion of season 10, the singer - who only signed a one-year deal - said it was "too early to tell" if she'd be back on the judging table in 2012. Now, a few weeks later, she says she's still uncertain.
“I don’t know. I haven’t been forced to make a decision and I’m glad about that because honestly I’m very kind of on the fence about it," she told the BBC, citing "a lot of other things happening" at the moment.
No, that's not a sex tape reference. She actually has a reality show of her own on the way, Q’Viva.
Do you want J Lo to return for season 11?
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Lauren Alaina Debut Single Sales: Pretty High!
Lauren Alaina may not have won American Idol, but she's already proving formidable on the music charts with her first single, "Like My Mother Does."
The track entered Billboard's all-genre Hot 100 chart at No. 20, in addition to No. 9 on the trade's Digital Songs chart, with 121,204 single downloads sold.
This impressive feat marks the highest debut for an Idol runner-up in six years, besting a group that includes David Archuleta and Adam Lambert.
"This is so awesome!" Lauren Alaina said. "American Idol has changed my life, so I'm excited that the songs I performed on there are doing so well."
"I can't believe that I have a song out on country radio, much less that so many stations started playing it right away. I can't wait to get out and meet everybody and thank them personally for playing my song."
Something tells us she'll have time. This girl will be around awhile.
Scotty McCreery Digital Download Sales: Impressive!
Scotty McCreery is off to a solid start at the latest American Idol champion.
A compilation of studio performances by the country crooner has been downloaded 23,000 since the season 10 finale, landing Scotty at number-12 on the Billboard chart.
How does this compare with other famous Idols?
Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze moved only moved 2,000 downloads in the same time frame, while Kris Allen settled at 10,000. His season's runner-up, Adam Lambert, sold 16,000.
As for Lauren Alaina? She also outperformed Kris and Lee with her digital set: it debuted at #42 on sales of 11,000.
[Photo: Pacific Coast News]
American Idol Final Four Take the Stage in Atlanta
There's no rest for the talented.
Just days after they all performed on the season 10 finale of American Idol, champion Scotty McCreery and the rest of the final four took to the stage again in Atlanta. They were on hand to help open a new Microsoft store in the city.
On a hot afternoon, Scotty performed "I Love You This Big," "Gone" and "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not," while Lauren went with "Flat on the Floor" and "Like My Mother Does." Haley Reinhart and James Durbin also belted out a few singles, all of which are posted below. Watch and enjoy!
Will Jennifer Lopez Return to American Idol?
Randy Jackson says all three American Idol judges will return for season 11.
We hope he's right, but there's a problem with that prediction: Jennifer Lopez only signed a one-year deal with Fox, and she hasn't committed yet to a new one.
"It's too early to tell," if I'll return, Lopez said soon after this week's finale.
Do we think she'll be back? Absolutely. American Idol resurrected J. Lo's music career, as her single "On the Floor" shot to the top of the charts.
But do you want Lopez back on the panel? Vote now:
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[Photo: WENN.com]
American Idol Producer to Lee DeWyze: LIAR!
We didn't see this feud coming.
Just hours after the season finale of American Idol, producer Nigel Lythgoe called out season nine winner Lee DeWyze for not appearing on stage and handing the trophy to Scotty McCreery.
Lee's response to the accusation that he snubbed the show? No one asked him until the final moments.
But now Lythgoe has fired back again, basically calling DeWyze a liar. He Tweeted today: “True, he wasn’t asked to sing, but Lee knows he was asked to present the trophy [to the new Idol] a week before.”
The producer then said he didn't "wish to continue" this feud, but it's safe to assume DeWyze will reply to this charge.
Whose side are you on in this controversy?
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[Photos: WENN.com]
UPDATE: Lee has simply Tweeted: "I respect the decisions made for the finale, and hope alls well that ends well."
Scotty McCreery vs. Lauren Alaina: Yes, Again...
They did battle on the American Idol stage. But Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina will soon do so again on the radio.
Both finalists have recorded studio versions of songs they sang on the Tuesday night finale - "I Love You This Big" for Scotty and "Like My Mother Does" for Lauren - and each will soon be available on iTunes and blasted in cars around the country.
With Scotty and Lauren both entering the country music industry, this likely won't be the last time their singles compete. Listen to both official renditions below and cast your vote between these two once more...
Which studio release do you prefer?
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Did Lee DeWyze Snub Scotty McCreery, American Idol?
In the wake of Scotty McCreery's American Idol triumph, the country is asking multiple questions today?
- Did he deserve to win? It's debatable.
- Are Lauren and Scotty dating? No.
- Did Lee DeWyze snub the show last night? Sort of.
Typically, the previous winner ends up on the stage to congratulate the new champ and hand him/her a trophy. But DeWyze was seated in the fifth row at the finale, and Ryan Seacrest never even mentioned his name.
What happened?
According to producer Nigel Lythgoe, DeWyze refused to be a good sport. The producer Tweeted today: "I was so upset Lee DeWyze wouldn't present the winners trophy to Scotty. Especially as he's been on the show this Season. I guess he was shy."
