American Idol

American Idol finalists are ringing wedding bells everywhere. Next up, LaKisha Jones.

The Flint, Mich., native is reportedly getting married this weekend to boyfriend Larry Davis. The ceremony is expected to take place in Beverly Hills with an “old Hollywood” theme.

On the guest list are BeBe Winans, who is rumored to be performing, and one of LaKisha’s biggest influences, Chaka Khan. Also expected to appear are friends and fellow Idol finalists Melinda Doolittle and Gina Glocksen.

According to LaKisha’s MySpace page, her status is “ENGAGED.” She also is priming fans for her upcoming Oct. 28 album release.

Clay Aiken no longer is keeping his mouth shut about his sexuality. In the latest issue of People magazines, on newsstands this week, Aiken admits his homosexuality.

Clay Aiken has confirmed what many long have suspected — he’s a gay man. In the same way N’Sync superstar Lance Bass outed himself, Aiken is on the latest issue of People magazine with the headline, “Yes, I’m Gay.”

On the cover, Aiken is holding his baby son, Parker Foster Aiken, and the headline continues, “The Idol star opens up about his emotional decision to come out: ‘I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things.’”

People has an interview with Aiken, who was runner-up on Idol in 2003 and recently made a return to Broadway in The Monty Python’s Spamalot. He recently released his latest CD, On My Way Here, and soon after became a parent with the help of music friend and producer Jaymes Foster.

Since appearing on Idol, Aiken has been the punchline to many jokes — comedian Kathy Griffin often refers to him as “Gayken” — but he always has kept his sexuality off-limits for interviews. Until now.

Season 7 American Idol winner David Cook

DAVID COOK DEBUT RELEASE SET
He may be having The Time of His Life, but there’s no question David Cook is ready for his first full-length release. The latest singer to be crowned American Idol, Cook is set to release his debut album November 18 on 19 Recordings/RCA Records. The first single, Light On, will be available on iTunes beginning Sept. 30.

Light On was co-written by Chris Cornell, lead singer/songwriter for megabands Soundgarden and Audioslave, and Brian Howes, a well-known producer and songwriter. Keep up with the latest David Cook news at his now-live Web site, www.davidcookofficial.com.

CHRIS DAUGHTRY TURNS BACK TO TV
Season 5 American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry may be leaving his reality days in the past, but he’s certainly not done with television appearances. It recently was announced Daughtry would appear as a guest star on an upcoming episode of CSI: NY.

The 28-year-old is expected to first appear in the show’s 100th episode as a character named Machiavelli Taylor, according to reports. With Katharine McPhee taking on the big screen recently in House Bunny — not to mention an Oscar winner and dozens of Broadway gigs among other past finalists — Idol no longer can be seen only as a chance to become the next big pop star.

NEW ‘IDOL’ JUDGE IS ‘PRETTY HONEST’
Judge No. 4, Kara DioGuardi, has been spending some time in the judging chair at Season 8 auditions in New York, Jacksonville, Louisville and San Francisco. The newest judge to join the Idol panel talked to the New York Post about her new job and finding her spot on judges row.

“I just know I’m getting my groove, loosening up and forgetting about the big elephant in the room,” she told the Post. “The first few cities I was like, ‘Oh my God, the camera is on me’, it was a little strange. … But I’m starting to let my true self come out. You forget about the camera and start being you. And that’s been fun for me.”

In the end, DioGuardi said she has been trying to be “pretty honest” in her opinions and comments to Season 8 hopefuls.

It’s beginning to look like Jennifer Hudson may be taking over the world. One. Project. At. A. Time.

Today marks the DVD release of Sex and the City: The Movie, Hudson’s first major film role since her Oscar-winning performance as Effie White in Dreamgirls. One week from today, she gives her music fans — the ones who discovered her as a finalist on American Idol — the gift they’ve been waiting. Her debut CD, featuring the first single, Spotlight, hits stores Sept. 30.

In a few weeks, on Oct. 17, Hudson will star in her next major motion picture, The Secret Life of Bees. She stars as Rosaleen, a caregiver charged with watching after a 14-year-old girl who has lost her mother in a tragic accident.

On her debut CD, Hudson offers a variety of tracks — from pop and gospel, her standards, to a little bit of hip-hop. Early reports suggest the hip-hop tracks, featuring Ludacris and T-Pain, are misrepresentations of what J. Hud. really is all about as a musician. But there are a lot of other collaborative efforts to look forward to on the disc — Robin Thicke is among a list of contributing writers and, the biggest treat, perhaps, will be a duet featuring Idol winner Fantasia. The track, I’m His Only Woman, likely will be getting both artists much attention, based on their powerhouse voices.

All of this career success aside, it also recently was announced Hudson was taking herself off the dating market. After less than a year dating her current boyfriend, David Otunga (a contestant from the VH1 reality show I Love New York 2), the two are said to be engaged.

A booming movie career, a debut CD and wedding bells? I’m telling you … Jennifer Hudson’s not going.

Jordin Sparks arrives at MTV’s 2008 Video Music Awards.

Jordin Sparks wasn’t just going to sit there and take it. Oh, no. The American Idol winner had something to say during Sunday night’s 25th anniversary Video Music Awards on MTV.

Comedian and host of the 2008 VMAs, Russell Brand (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) was aiming joke after joke at the popular Jonas Brothers and their commitment to abstain from sex. The jokes started off when Brand suggested it was a mistake for the singers to not take advantage of their fame and the women who would be willing to take their virginity.

After a handful of running jokes, it was Jordin Sparks’ turn to present an award on stage. When she and singer John Legend stepped up to the mic, Jordin proclaimed abstinence is not a bad thing, especially for those who don’t want to be a “slut.”

A short time later, during another segment featuring the host, Brand made an attempt — in his own way — to apologize for his earlier comments. He said he hadn’t intended on offending anyone.

Jordin talked openly about her commitment to abstain from sex before marriage when she was questioned about a ring fans noticed her wearing during her run on American Idol. Her ring, said to be a gift from her father, is inscribed with the words “True Love Waits.”

“I haven’t been in love yet,” Jordin said at the time. “I’m saving myself for marriage.”

Megastars thanks to their success beginning on the Disney Channel, the Jonas Brothers have made similar comments about the rings they wear. They are open with their fans and the media about their purity and commitment to it.

He won American Idol’s second season, which likely was the happiest day of his life. Then, in late June of this year, Ruben Studdard got married … arguably the new happiest day of his life.

But it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster year for Studdard who, apparently, owes about $200,000 in back taxes. The singer now is facing property liens due to $21,730 owed in state income taxes and $171,920 in federal income taxes.

According to reports on BlackVoices.com and other sites, the lien was filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court. Studdard married Surata Zuri McCants in late June, shortly after he lost his recording contract.

Studdard’s former official Web site, www.rubenstuddard.com, no longer seems to be working. A MySpace page set up at www.myspace.com/rubenstuddard shows someone has logged into the site on Sept. 2. The latest blog entry or any sign of updated content is in late July. But, because anyone theoretically could set up a MySpace count in the Velvet Teddy Bear’s name, there’s no guarantee it’s really Studdard checking in on his top friends.

Hopefully he’s checking into getting a new record deal and making good on his back taxes.

Katharine McPhee, far right, arrives at TRL with some of her co-stars from the big-screen comedy The House Bunny.

Jennifer Hudson may be the only American Idol alum to be an Oscar-winning actress, but she’s not the only one who was bitten by the big-screen bug.

Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee appears as a pregnant sorority girl in the underdog comedy, The House Bunny. The film opened Friday and, I must say, is one of the funniest comedies I’ve seen in some time. The humor star Anna Faris brings to the big screen is as good — maybe better — than that of today’s other comedic heroes — Seth Rogen, James Franco and Steve Carell, included.

There’s just something laugh-out-loud hysterical about Faris’ portrayal of a Playboy Bunny-turned-Zeta house mom. Her over-the-top take on an American icon is just too good for words. At the same time, McPhee is somewhat overshadowed by the completely powerful Faris. But she still has a significant role in the film. It’s just that she’s surrounded by so many supporting cast members it’s hard to think of anything other than, “Hey, that’s Katharine McPhee. From American idol.”

This weekend, fellow Season 5 finalist Kevin Covais will make his film debut in another film set on a college campus. This one simply titled College. Covais, who TMZ and other news outlets reported was hospitalized late last week, has been promoting the film for some time.

In an interview with www.watchingamericanidol.com, Covais told me of the script, “Immediately, I thought it was one of the funniest things I’d read.”

College was filmed in New Orleans, La., and will be released Friday by Lionsgate films.

American Idol contestants are about to get a little bit more criticism — or support, if they’re doing things right.

Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul will be joined by a fourth judge for the upcoming season of Idol. Kara DioGuardi, a songwriter and music producer known for working with the original Idol winner — Kelly Clarkson — will pull up a chair to the judging table for an added twist to Season 8.

“For the past seven seasons, Paula has had to endure the experience of being the only woman at the judges’ table,” Mike Darnell, president ofalternative programming of Fox wrote in a statement. “With Kara by her side, Paula has some backup and now there is going to be a lot more ‘girl power’ on the show.”

Girl power or not, the fourth judge is not something all too uncommon for Idol fans. During the first season celebrities guests and mentors for the week joined the three most famous judges on reality television to share their thoughts and give contestants feedback.

But adding DioGuardi, who also has worked with Faith Hill, Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood and others, will be a new kind of voice, so to speak. Her expertise and hands-on work with at least to past Idol winners (Clarkson and Underwood) will bring another industry opinion that could provide new insight to the show.

What may be interesting to see is how DioGuardi’s expertise will shift the focus of the show. It also will be interesting to see if she pens the upcoming winner’s Idol finale song. In the past two years, a songwriting competition has determined the first Idol single.

David Cook may have gotten more votes than David Archuleta to take the American Idol crown. But it’s the younger David who is getting the numbers where it really matters — on the charts.

Crush, the first single from Archuleta’s upcoming CD debuted No. 2 on the Hot 100 singles chart, one spot higher than Cook’s No. 3 opening with The Time of My Life. Crush also made its way to the No. 1 position on iTunes (it’s now at No. 6) for top downloads on the day it was released.

We haven’t seen this kind of winner vs. runner-up chart battle since Clay Aiken showed Ruben Studdard who American really liked back in 2003.

Still, Cook has plenty of reasons to smile. Time of My Life sold 236,000 digital copies in its debut week, crushing Crush, which only was downloaded 166,000 times in its opening week. In time, I’m betting the reigning Idol champion will outlast the younger David. But you just never know …

Clay Aiken will reprise the role of Sir Robin, beginning Sept. 19, in Monty Python's Spamalot on Broadway.

It’s been a big week for Clay Aiken, who announced Friday that his first child had been born.

Now the Season 2 American Idol runner-up is getting ready to get back to work. Aiken will return to the Broadway stage to reprise the role of Sir Robin in Monty Python’s Spamalot. The singer ended his initial run on the show May 4. He returns Sept. 19 and has signed on to continue the roll through Jan. 4.

According to unofficial reports, Aiken’s first tour with the New York-based show increased ticket sales dramatically. It’s likely the most successful Broadway appearance by an Idol alum — and there have been plenty.

Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino performed in The Color Purple, both Frenchie Davis and Tamyra Gray have or are appearing in Rent, Taylor Hicks in Grease, Diana DeGarmo in Hairspray and the list goes on and on.

There’s something about an Idol castoff that seems appealing to Broadway producers. It may be the instant stardom and playing off the instant success of the young stars. It definitely has to be a lot less expensive to bring in an Idol castoff than a big-time star, which also has been a formula used to try and increase ticket sales. (Think Mario Lopez in A Chorus Line.)

There’s a new (little) man in Clay Aiken’s life.

On Friday, the Season 2 American Idol runner-up announced on his Web site that his first child, Parker Foster Aiken, was born in North Carolina. The 29-year-old fathered the child with friend and music producer Jaymes Foster. The two met during Aiken’s time on Idol.

Since appearing on the FOX series, Aiken has become one of the most talked-about finalists ever to appear on the show. His legions of fans — Claymates — have supported him through multiple album releases, a Broadway run in Monty Python’s Spamalot and, now, becoming a father.

“My dear friend, Jaymes, and I are so excited to announce the birth of Parker Foster Aiken,” Aiken wrote on his site, adding that Parker is “healthy, happy and as loud as his daddy.”

Even though there was a great deal of buzz around Aiken’s pending fatherhood earlier this year, it will be interesting to see if that buzz continues post-birth. Will the first pictures of the baby be as valuable as some other celebrity offspring? It’s not likely to be a Brangelina situation, but you never know.

Nigel Lythgoe will no longer be executive producer of American Idol.

You don’t see him as up-close-and-personal as you do on So You Think You Can Dance, but Nigel Lythgoe was running the show on American Idol for the first seven seasons. But that’s all about to change.

Lythgoe, the show’s executive producer, is leaving his most popular show behind to focus on regional versions of So You Think You Can Dance in South Africa, Canada and Australia. He also is working on a new project with 19 Entertainment.

Fox executives released a statement this week saying, “[Nigel] is an extraordinarily talented producer whose creative contributions to the No. 1 show on television has been immeasurable. While we are disappointed that he will no longer be executive producing American Idol, we are pleased to continue working with him on So You Think You Can Dance.”

Some “exciting changes” are expected to keep Idol fresh as it enters Season 8, according to the network. That change in direction has been rumored by some media outlets as the reason for Lythgoe’s departure.

The new executive producer has not been announced for Idol, but who really cares about that part, right? We just want to see some good singers. And maybe some snarky comments from Simon.

She may have lost to now country superstar Carrie Underwood, but now it’s Mikalah Gordon who’s going country. The Season 4 American Idol finalist is one of the competitors on the CMT reality show Gone Country.

It’s the second season for the show, which features singers, actors and other celebrities who are not currently country singers. Each week they compete to stay in the competition, which results in a the winner recording a country single.

Aside from Gordon, this season also includes contestants Sebastian Bach, Irene Cara, Jermaine Jackson, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lorenzo Lamas and Sean Young. Gone Country 2 airs at 8/7c Fridays on CMT.

Gordon finished in the Top 12 on Idol, where one of her most-noted performances was Billie Holiday’s God Bless the Child. Aside from her singing, Gordon was known for her resemblance — and similar accent — to Fran Drescher. Even after the show, she guest-starred on the sitcom Living With Fran.

Find out more about Gone Country 2 at www.cmt.com.

He may have been the last to lose, but American Idol’s newest runner-up, David Archuleta, isn’t wasting any time on releasing his own music.

The teenage favorite from Season 7 will release his first single, Crush, to radio on Aug. 12 (available for airplay Aug. 11). The full-length debut is expected in early November.

Archuleta is working on the recording while also fulfilling his obligation to the American Idol summer tour. Other contestants, including winner David Cook and Kristy Lee Cook, also are working on their new CDs.

American Idol, David Archuleta

Buzz is building around Jennifer Hudson’s much-anticipated debut CD release. And now even more buzz is building around the release, as the cover artwork shows a much, um, different looking artist than the healthy Jennifer Hudson we know.

If you compare the CD cover artwork with the recent photo of Hudson, taken July 10 at a red carpet event, you’ll notice a bit of a difference. Of course, maybe the Photoshop shrinkage is coming to us in anticipation of what the singer is expected to look like by the time the CD drops on Sept. 30.

I have to imagine, though, Ms. Hudson wasn’t behind this idea. Her full-figured look has become a signature for her, even as she did press interviews alongside her super skinny Sex and the City co-stars.

American Idol, Jennifer Hudson