A quick clip of American Idol winner Kris Allen's new song "Live Like We're Dying" was just leaked. It's the first single of his yet-titled debut album, out November 17.
Do you like the song? Did you see Kris and the rest of the Idols on tour this summer? Will you buy Kris' album when it comes out in November?
Good news, American Idol fans - you'll be hearing a lot more music from three of your fave 2009 contestants! Season 8 winner Kris, runner-up Adam, and fourth-place Allison all just inked record deals this week -- Kris signed with 19 Entertainment and Jive Records, Allison's linked to 19 Records and Jive Records, while Adam is teaming up with 19 Entertainment and KCA Recordings.
Kris can't wait to start recording. "Everyone's been asking me what it's going to sound like," he says. "It will be very similar to what you heard from me on the show -- definitely in the pop/rock genre." Adam can't contain his excitement either. "It's going to be ridiculous! Get ready!" he exclaimed.
But before she records her debut album, Allison is psyched to perform on The American Idol 2009 Summer Tour -- it starts July 5 in Portland, OR! "[There's] going to be a girls' bus and a guys' bus," she explains exclusively to J-14. "The guys are going to be pretty happy that they're all going to be in one stinky bus, and it's only going to be us three girls in the party bus, so that'll be really fun for us girls!"
Tell us -- will you be catching a show this summer? Who's album are you most excited for -- Kris's, Adam's, or Allison's debut?
J-14 rounds up everything you need to know that happened this weekend...
1- The Jonas Brothers official YouTube account was "suspended" temporarily on Saturday, but is now up and running again (and is now up to 3.3 million views and counting!).
2- Fan sites have been following Twilight star Rob Pattinson's every move for the last few months... but he finally got a few days of privacy as everyone wondered where in the world is Robby P.? Did he fly back to London and slip out without being spotted? Turns out, he'd actually been keeping a low profile in New York City and was caught again by cameras this afternoon enjoying the warm weather in the city with his longtime friend Tom Sturridge.
3- Kris Allen continued the American Idol tradition of singing the national anthem at the NBA finals less than an hour ago. Also in attendance at the game were Zac Efron, Rihanna, Diddy, Denzel Washington, Adam Levine, Will.I.Am, and Christopher Mintz Plasse. If you missed it, here's the clip:
5- Rumors are swirling about what really happened to Heidi Montag down in Costa Rica during the filming of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. Stay tuned for details.
6- The Nickelodeon stars all got together too for a big photo shoot, with Keke Palmer, Miranda Cosgrove, and Victoria Justice all in attendance.
7- The Young Hollywood Awards are just about to start out in L.A.
8- How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the Tony Awards live from Radio City Music Hall in New York right now... and just mentioned J-14!
9- Tons of celebs turned up today for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation 20th Annual A Time for Heroes Celebrity Carnival today. Among the heroes were Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Pete Wentz, Miley Cyrus, Sharon Stone, Denise Richards, Vanessa Minnillo, Nick Lachey, Melissa Joan Hart, Lauren Conrad, Kristin Cavallari, Rumer Willis, Selena Gomez (with a new short haircut!), Shenae Grimes, Joely Fisher, Lo Bosworth, Laila Ali, Billy Baldwin, Billy Crystal, Emily Osment, Kaycee Stroh, and Debby Ryan.
10- And last but not least, the JoBros just debuted their new music video for "Fly With Me":
11- Oh, and also this weekend's hottest trend is the new Twitter game, Twitter Vampire. (We're such Twilight fans, we couldn't resist playing!) J-14 readers loved biting us so much that we became the #1 Most Bitten "Tasty Prey" of the day (even beating Twilight's Peter Facinelli, as well as Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, Ashton Kutcher, and Selena Gomez!).
American Idol winner Kris Allen will sing the national anthem at the NBA Finals on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. This is his first big gig since he won the title on May 20.
Kris continues the Idol traditional of singing at the big sports showdown since the first season of the show. Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, and David Cook have all sang the national anthem in pervious years. After Kris sings, game 2 of the finals will kick off between the L.A. Lakers and Orlando Magic.
Quick Kris Facts:
- Kris got started in music by playing viola in elementary school. He also plays the guitar, piano, and ukulele.
- He once worked as a shoe salesman -- and then called his self-produced 2007 album, Brand New Shoes.
- Kris was in the Arkansas all-state orchestra!
Adam and Kris may still be friends regardless of who wonAmerican Idol last night, but here at the J-14 offices, it's all out war! We are totally divided Team Adam vs. Team Kris! We want to know what's on your minds! Do you think Kris totally deserved it or are you upset that Adam didn't win?? Check out our blogs (Team Adam here and Team Kris here!) for each contestant and tell us what you think!
I get it. Kris Allen is cute. He has fluffy brown hair, spiked oh-so-perfectly. He has puppy brown eyes and strong forearms that flex when he plucks his acoustic guitar strings or when he's manning the piano. He's also humble, genuine, and overall very sweet. I GET IT -- he's Adorable (with a capital A even!)
I also understand that he is talented! I appreciate American Idol's new(ish) take on what a good musician is: someone that actually PLAYS instruments and possibly even knows how to write music. With singer/songwriters like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga at the top of the charts, it's about time that Idol started celebrating this "trend" -- and Kris is the perfect poster boy for the campaign.
But even with his charm, his sweet melodic voice, and his musical abilities, I don't think he is a star. An "artist," (as Kara has been saying over and over), sure! But if you want to see a superstar -- American Idol win or not -- it's Adam Lambert.
While Kris makes me nostalgic for ex-boyfriends that have serenaded me with Jack Johnson in the past, or local open mic nights, or the dreamy Jason Mraz, Adam leaves me speechless. There's nothing already on my iPod that will satisfy my fix for more Adam! And when someone on the show has made a comparison, they're pinning Adam next to rock LEGENDS. As Paula pronounced, Adam is "iconic."
After watching Kris take the crown as Adam gracefully accepted second place, I think it's odd that we have been dubbing him the "underdog." Really? Maybe he wasn't everyone's first pick (although I know he had a lot of fans in this office), but is it really a big shock that a nice Arkansas boy who plays great covers won American Idol? Where was the adversity that he had to overcome? That people (and the judges) preferred Danny Gokey over him originally? Yawn! Adam had to work past a hateful campaign attacking his personal life circling the Internet and certain media outlets -- talk about tough!
Our votes are at least some part emotional. While there were some that loved or hated the contestants' singing abilities, there were people that hated Adam for something deeper than his American Idol performances. I voted for Adam all along because I thought he was the most talented. But if he had garnered the most votes in the end, my heart would have been warmed in a way it wasn't while I watched our supposed "underdog" Kris take home the grand prize. With Adam, it would have been a different victory, with winnings more valuable than a record contract.
Where are my Adam fans? Were you guys sad he didn't win yesterday? And who do you think will have a better career after Idol?
Come on Team Adam! Let's hear what you have to say :)
Lisa
J-14 Editor
Fun Facts about Kris:
- His favorite female artist is Kelly Clarkson
- Kris tried out for American Idol because "my brother made me."
- He combats stage fright by stretching.
- The first concert he went to was Reba McEntire.
- One thing Kris wishes he could change about himself? "I wish I had chest hair."
What a journey this year's American Idol has been -- from the wacky Norman Gentle (aka Nick Mitchell) and sassy Megan Joy to the heart-tugging Danny Gokey and the err, interesting Tatiana Nicole Del Toro... and of course, the attention-grabbing Bikini Girl (heck, did anyone bother to learn her name?! Ha!).
But the entire way, the quietly charming Kris Allen was the little engine that could. And just hours ago the 23-year-old Conway, Arkansas, student captured the American Idol title that most people predicted would go to the 27-year-old San Diego showman, Adam Lambert.
And to be honest, I breathed a sigh of relief when Ryan Seacrest read out the name. (Okay, I shed a tear of joy too. ;) ). But it's not that I was on Team Kris because I was against Team Adam. In fact, Adam was one of my early favorites -- his unique take on anything and everything was so fearless that I admired him (and wished I could be like him!). He has that one-of-a-kind nature that Blake Lewis did on season six with the music -- plus he can work the stage like no other. I defy you to blink during any of his performances... Adam knows how to get your attention -- and keep it. And he's just so frickin' likable!
But there was just something about Kris from the first time I spotted him in one of those group numbers in the Hollywood round. Maybe it's because I always root for the underdog... or maybe it's because I tend to judge people on how they handle fame and Kris is 110% modest... but when it comes down to it, whether he planned it or not, Kris' strategy on the show was perfect: starting out slow and shy and transforming into a super star -- and that's what American Idol is all about.
Unlike most competitors who have their off weeks -- Kris grew every single week. Sure, he had his not-so-good performances, but his overall projectile was the perfect course and he peaked exactly when he needed to in order to capture that crown. (Seriously, have you ever seen the guy sing his heart out the way he did on Tuesday in "Ain't No Sunshine"?)
Kris comes as a package artist -- you already know the kind of music he's going to bring on his debut album. One part pop, one part rock, with that tinge of country. He'll give artists ranging from John Mayer and The Fray to fellow Idol alumni David Cook and David Archuleta a run for their money since his genre mixes them all together.
I have no doubt that Adam's album is going to be spectacular as well -- yet at the same time have no idea what to expect. Adam is all about the surprise, which is perfect for a show like American Idol, but may not translate so well post-Idol.
Both Kris and Adam are going to be super successful in the next year... we definitely have a Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood on our hands as opposed to, errrr, some other past winners I won't name. ;)
But perhaps the most appealing part of the season was the true friendship between Kris and Adam. Have you ever seen two contestants genuinely support each so much? David Cook definitely seemed to look out for David Archuleta like a big brother -- but this was different. Kris and Adam seemed to truly appreciate and understand each other's talent and be rooting for the other one. Kris even said on Tuesday night they weren't competing!
Yet when it comes down to it, Kris still didn't believe he could win. One of the first things he said after the results was "Adam deserves this! I don't know what to say, this is crazy!" Fellow finalist Alexis Grace confirmed, "[Kris] did look dumbfounded. He was definitely shocked. He thought Adam was going to win!"
And that's why Kris deserved to win... the little engine that could.
Congratulations, Kris on your American Idol win! And congrats to you too Adam on an amazing season!
What do you guys think of Kris Allen's win on American Idol?
Can't wait to hear from you!
Rachel
J-14 Editor
PS- How brilliant was the Jason Mraz, Anoop Desai and Alexis Grace trio sining "I'm Yours"? I would have died to be in Alexis' place! ;)
Drumroll please.... the American Idol season 8 winner is: Kris Allen!!!
His single, "No Boundaries" will be released this week.
Idol finalist Alexis Grace said on the red carpet after the show, "[Kris] did look dumbfounded. He was definitely shocked. He thought Adam was going to win!" And Scott MacIntyre said, "I'm very happy for Kris. He's a great, great guy!"
Congratulations to Kris Allen!
Kris Allen's official American Idol portrait.
Kris Allen jammed with Keith Urban on the final results show.
Kris Allen was shocked to hear he won American Idol.
The newly-crowned American Idol sings "No Boundaries."
Right after the results were announced, Kris Allen posed with American Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller backstage.
After a five-month television journey, the American Idol season 8 winner was announced literally a minute ago live on Fox... was it 27-year-old Adam Lambert from San Diego, California, or 23-year-old Kris Allen from Conway, Arkansas?
Out of respect for those who haven't seen it, we are NOT posting the name on our home page yet. However... if you'd like to know, click here to find out who is your new American Idol. And don't say we didn't warn you... click at your own risk. ;)
If you want to know who won American Idol, click here.
Adam Lambert and Kris Allen arrive at the American Idol finale.
Just minutes after the show kicked off, J-14's got photos from the American Idol finale tonight. Sure, we're all dying to know if the winner will be Kris Allen or Adam Lambert, but the show has also been filled with amazing surprise performances.
The Top 13 American Idols from this season kicked off with Pink's "So What?" -- all dressed in white. Then David Cook took the stage with an emotional performance of "Permanent." Lil Rounds joined Queen Latifah, Alexis Grace and Anoop Desai joined Jason Mraz, and the girls joined Fergie... and later the Black Eyed Peas.
Other performances so far have included Keith Urban with Kris and Kiss with Adam.
Join us on Twitter for our LIVE J-14 AMERICAN IDOL TWITTER CHAT. Just go to @j14magazine.
In just a few minutes, we'll know the winner. We won't post it on our homepage, but we will provide you with the link if you want to know.
Kris sang "Ain't No Sunshine" and "What's Going On" and Adam sang "Mad World" and "A Change is Gonna Come" -- and then both guys sang the new Idol song written by judge Kara DioGuardi called "No Boundaries."
What did you think of the American Idolfinale performances?
And who are you rooting for? And who do you think will win? (Yes, that's two different questions :) )
J-14 got up-close and personal with Idol top-three finalist, Danny Gokey, and he spilled about Kris and Adam, his jokester personality, and his famous glasses! Remember, tomorrow is the AI big season finale at 8 pm on FOX!
J-14: What did you learn from your experience on Idol?
Danny: I learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about how pressure has an effect on a person. I think, for me, this whole experience I learned to overcome things in my life. You know, overcome insecurities, overcome doubt because sometimes there were times I just didn't want to go out on that stage because I just felt maybe unprepared or I felt like, "Man, is anyone going to like what I'm doing?" and I over-thought the process.
J-14: Tell us a little about the final two, Kris and Adam!
Danny: One thing I admire about Kris is that he's very mellow, and that's always one character trait I've always wanted. I'm a person who, you know, I'm an intense personality and times. And Adam, he's just an all around great guy. I really can't fault him on anything. Adam is who he is onstage and who he is offstage. He's very creative. He lives creative. He dresses creatively. He talks from that perspective.
J-14: So who do you think its going to take home the title?
Danny: Kris, you know, obviously he's really artistic, and Adam has a way on the show of capturing the audience. I think the thing is that people think that -- here's what I think, and I'm going to say it like this. People need to vote. Don't automatically assume someone -- don't have your assumptions. If you want some person to win, you've got to vote. I'm telling you. This competition is not over yet. This is going to be a very tight. I have a feeling it's going to be a very tight race.
J-14: What are you like behind the scenes? The prankster? The serious one?
Danny: I'm a jokester. I love joking around all the time because I just think it's funny. I like to laugh, and I make this farting noise out of my mouth, and I tend to go, and I'll go in places, and if sounds just like a fart. And I'll just, I'll do it, and people will give the funniest looks, and I crack up all the time. And I love to laugh. Ask every contestant on American Idol. That's what I do. I joke around a lot. It feels good.
J-14: How many pairs of glasses do you own?
Danny: I started in the beginning of the season with 15. And now I'm about 50 or more. I mean, being on American Idol, the blessings of glasses have rained from the sky, and more is to come, and I really would like to start maybe a Danny line or a Gokey line one of these days.
Who do you think is going to win American Idol? Do you wish Danny was still in the race?
J-14: Were you shocked when you got voted off?
Allison: I've been in the bottom three so many times and I was just really prepared for anything. I've got to say, everyone is prepared -- and when it was down to me and Danny I was like, "Whoa it's either him or me," and it was me. So I'm pretty happy that I made it that far, and I'm just glad that I got the opportunity to be on that stage, you know.
J-14: What did you think about having a fourth judge this season?
Allison: I don't know, change is good. And I loved Kara. And it's awesome that they change it up. You know you don't want to be stuck on seeing the same thing, right. So I think it's pretty cool that they bring something different to the table.
J-14: You said that Danny, Kris, and Adam treated you like a little sister. Do you have any examples of when they acted like big brothers to you?
Allison: Oh yes, there was a lot. It was so fun, like they would pick on me, because they were having like a little argument and I'd be like, "Yeah" and they're like, "You stay out of this, you're only 12 years old." And I'm like "Aw." It's love! And the cool thing is that they would help me with like song choice and we would all help ourselves and it was great.
J-14: How did you feel standing up to Simon?
Allison: You know I'm really not the kind of person that talks back. I really just felt it was the perfect time to standup for myself and I was like, "Alright, I'm not who you are saying I am. I'm not boring, first of all and you say I don't talk," and I was like, "I might as well just talk."
J-14: Did you ever get bummed out from his comments?
Allison: It sort of did. I was like come on, I'm singing here. But I think overall they all look for what you're going to do as a selling artist. I know there were a lot of risks I did in dressing and all that, but I had fun with it, so I think that's what mattered.
J-14: Who do you think our readers should vote for next week in the finale?
Allison: Well you know what, they've got to vote for whoever they think is awesome. It's so crazy, this competition, because everybody is so different. So it's like, if you find someone that is awesome and you like and you can totally connect to, you go and vote for them, because they're going to be the next American Idol, and they're going to be great. You know everyone else that has been on the show has been great and we've been different. So whoever they feel just connects with them.
In one of the most nerve-wracking episodes of American Idol ever (the 301st episode of Idol!), the season 8 finalists were announced live on FOX tonight... and drumroll... Adam Lambert and Kris Allen have advanced to the finals next week!
That means 29-year-old Danny Gokey from Milwaukee was sent home. With his trademark glasses and natural voice, Danny was a fan favorite and judge favorite from the start. He sang Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful" and Terence Trent D'Arby's "Dance Little Sister" on Tuesday.
Next Tuesday, the Top 2 American Idols will face off! So will it be 27-year-old Adam from San Diego, California, or 23-year-old Kris from Conway, Arkansas?
Are you on Team Adam or Team Kris? Why?
Photos: Courtesy of Frank Micelotta / PIctureGroup for FOX
Allison Iraheta was the last girl standing on American Idol -- but tonight she was cut. That leaves three guys in the competition: Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, and Adam Lambert.
"Top 3 is crazy!" Adam says. "It's a big milestone. We get to go home. To have my hometown rooting for me and following the show is really surreal and really, really exciting. I have a feeling it will be overwhelming. I'm a little nervous, but looking forward to it."
"Making the Top 3 is a huge thing for me," Kris says. "I get to go home and interact with people from my hometown. That is what I am most looking forward to."
Danny echos, "It means everything to me that I get to go home. My heart looks forward to that. I can't wait to hug necks, shake hands and sing my butt off."
Who do you think WILL win American Idol? And who do you think SHOULD win? (Yes, that's two different questions! :) ).
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