Tag Archives: Keith Urban

Carey Takes Her Place at the American Idol Judges’ Table

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Mariah Carey has taken her seat at the (judge’s) table…

Fox released the first official photo of the new American Idol judging panel on Sunday, with the 42-year-old part-Venezuelan singer sitting pretty at one end of the desk.

American Idol Judges

The photo, taken on the first day of auditions for the upcoming 12thseason, was released just hours after Fox officially confirmed that hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj and country singer Keith Urban would join Carey on the panel this season.

Original Idol judge Randy Jackson was also confirmed to return as a judge, after talks with Enrique Iglesias stalled.

The image shows Jackson sitting in his usual seat at one end, with Carey at the other end of the judges’ table. Urban sits on Carey’s immediate left, and Minaj is positioned between him and Jackson.

Ryan Seacrest, also pictured, is returning as host, while Interscope Records chairman Jimmy Iovine is expected to return to provide commentary.

Auditions kicked off Sunday in New York. Other audition cities include Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, NC, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, LA and Oklahoma City.

American Idol returns in January.

Iglesias’ “American Idol” Judge Dreams Dashed

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It’s apparently a no-go for Enrique Iglesias on American Idol…

The 36-year-old Spanish singer was reportedly offered $4 million to serve as a judge on the upcoming season of Fox’s hit singing competition last week.

Enrique Iglesias

But now comes word that the network has pulled the plug on negotiations with Iglesias, according to a source close to the show.

Iglesias, who recently wrapped his North American tour with Jennifer Lopez, had been eyed as a possible fourth judge, joining the already-announced panel that includes Mariah Carey, as well as Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban, both of whom are thisclose to wrapping up deals to join the show’s 12th season.

Randy Jackson, the sole remaining original judge, was said to be moving on to take more of a mentor role on the show.  But now Fox, producers FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment have reportedly abandoned that idea in favor of having Jackson return to the judges’ table.

No word on what derailed Iglesias’ talks, but money seems to be a big issue with talent show judges.

The current plan, according to the source, is to announce an Idol judges panel of Carey, Minaj, Urban and Jackson in time for the show’s on-site auditions, which start by the end of September.

McCreery Getting in the Holiday Spirit…

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Scotty McCreery will be spending his first Noel as a country singer with fellow Nashville musicians.

The 18-year-old American Idol winner is one of the featured performers for this year’s CMA Country Christmas television special, hosted by Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles.

Scotty McCreery Perfoms CMA Country Christmas

For the second straight year, the Country Music Association is hosting the down-home special, which brings together a cast of country stars to help ring in the holidays with performances and personal insight into their own memories of the season.

Taped last week in front of a live audience at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the special features McCreery performing the classic Christmas carol “The First Noel.” He also takes the stage to sing “Jingle Bells” with other country stars like fellow Idol alum Kellie Pickler and Faith Hill.

Scotty McCreery Performing at CMA Country Christmas

Along with the part-Puerto Rican country artist—who scored his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart earlier this year with his debut album “Clear as Day”—the special features appearances by Lauren Alaina, Keith Urban and Vince Gill.

CMA Country Christmas will air on Thursday, December 1 on ABC at 9:00 pm ET.

Click here to see more images from the taping of the special.

Iglesias’ Texas Thanksgiving Plans Revealed…

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Enrique Iglesias will be spending the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday in the Lone Star State…

The 36-year-old Spanish heart-throb will perform at this year’s Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game to kick off the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign.

Enrique Iglesias

The “I Like It” singer announced his upcoming performance during a recent tour stop at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

“This is a great opportunity – to spend Thanksgiving in Dallas where music, football and helping others truly comes together,” says Iglesias. “The Dallas Cowboys and The Salvation Army have a great partnership—throw in some great music and I know we can get viewers dancing and encourage donors to give generously.”

The campaign has raised $1.4 billion—including a record $142 million last year—since the partnership with the Cowboys began 15 years ago. This will be the 120th anniversary of the organization’s iconic Red Kettle Campaign.

The halftime extravaganza has become almost as big of a tradition as the holiday game itself. Previous performers include Keith Urban,  Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Destiny’s Child, Jessica Simpson and Reba McEntire.

“We are more than excited to have superstar artist Enrique Iglesias kickoff the Red Kettle Campaign,” says Charlotte Jones Anderson, Dallas Cowboys’ executive vice president of brand management and Chairperson of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board. “We know he will put on a halftime performance that will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Cowboys partnership with The Salvation Army in style.”

To commemorate his participation in this year’s halftime show, America’s Team leaders presented Iglesias with a Cowboys #67 jersey in honor of the 67 No. 1 spots he’s held on the Billboard charts.

As part of the kickoff, fans of Iglesias and the Cowboys can be entered to win a trip for two to the Thanksgiving Day game by signing up to host an Online Red Kettle. In addition, supporters can make a $10 donation to the Red Kettle Campaign by texting the word “GIVE” to 80888.

The Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the Miami Dolphins will take place on November 24 at 4:15 pm ET at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The game will be broadcast live on CBS.