American Idol
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Mandisa died of complications from class III obesity, according to an autopsy report obtained by People on Tuesday (June 4). The Grammy-winning American Idol finalist was 47 years old when she was found dead on April 18. According to the autopsy report, when she was found in her Tennessee home by friends, she “was last […]
Katy Perry has spent seven seasons on American Idol searching for the best vocalists in the country, but according to her, only one singer is the blueprint: Ariana Grande.
On the red carpet following the competition series’ season 22 finale Sunday (May 19), the “Firework” musician said that this year’s newly crowned Idol winner, Abi Carter, reminds her of the former The Voice coach. “[Carter’s] voice is unlike anything I’ve heard in pop music,” Perry told Extra.
“The last time I said that, I said that about Ariana Grande when she went on The Ellen Show,” she continued. “Like, ‘Oh, this girl is the best singer of our generation.’ I don’t say that lightly.”
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The close of Idol‘s latest season marks Perry’s final turn as a judge. She, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie have served on the panel since the ABC show was rebooted in 2018.
The singer will now set her sights on crafting her next record, which will follow up 2020’s Smile. “I’m pregnant with my next album,” she joked to Extra, teasing that the project is coming soon.
Idol still hasn’t revealed which superstar will replace Perry following her exit, but if she has her way, it’ll be a certain country star who served as a guest mentor on the show earlier this season. “I gotta say Jelly Roll was crazy when he came on the show,” she told E! News in April. “I was convinced at anything he said.”
“He could run for president, he could be my pastor, I might go back to church for him,” she continued at the time. “He could sell me anything … To have any of these guys plus Jelly on the show would be amazing. I love you, Jelly!”
For the record, the “Son of a Sinner” singer is totally down. “Of course!” he said when asked at Stagecoach in April whether he’d consider the gig. “Consider? I’ve accepted the job and they haven’t offered it.”
Watch Perry gush about Grande below.
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05/20/2024
After 22 seasons of the show, who are the most successful entertainers to emerge from the reality singing competition?
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Katie Atkinson, Rania Aniftos, Fred Bronson, Stephen Daw, Kyle Denis, Paul Grein, Gil Kaufman, Jason Lipshutz, Joe Lynch, Heran Mamo, Rebecca Milzoff, Melinda Newman, Andrew Unterberger
05/20/2024
Katy Perry ended her seven-year American Idol run in style on Sunday night (May 19), singing, table jumping and pizza-tossing her way off the stage during the three-hour season 22 finale. While the episode was ostensibly meant to crown this year’s winner — which it did, spoiler alert, in singer Abi Carter — it was also a night to celebrate Perry, who announced earlier this year that she would be leaving the series after serving alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan since the show jumped to ABC in 2018.
In a testament to Perry’s up-for-anything attitude, Idol ran a clip package mid-way through Sunday’s show featuring highlights from her often wild-and-wacky run. From Bryan jump-scaring his partner early on to Perry visiting Luke’s farm for a lesson on corn science, crying with contestants, modeling a series of increasingly outrageous outfits and getting ice cream smooshed on her face by her cohorts, Perry looked happy, and emotional, as the last hour ticked down.
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Just before the final votes were read, Perry, 39, took to the stage one last time to perform “What Makes a Woman” from her 2020 album Smile with finalist Jack Blocker. Initially seated while wearing what looked like a metallic bustier, Perry began to rise up as Blocker sang the second verse, revealing an expansive dress plastered with the faces of Idol contestants who’ve appeared on the show during her run. Soaring high above the stage as paper butterflies rained down all around her, Perry’s dress was the perfect lasting image of the singer’s sweet embrace of her Idol era.
“143, I love you,” Perry said as she held up heart hands. Later in the show, as Katy munched on a slice of pizza, the women of the top 12 performed a medley of Perry’s songs, including “Teenage Dream,” “Dark Horse” and”California Gurls.” The performance ended with Perry jumping to her feet and climbing up on the judge’s desk to flex her arms as Bryan pelted her with beach balls.
With the sand running out following Carter’s coronation, Perry let the tears flow freely as this year’s winner sang Billie Eilish’s Oscar-winning “What Was I Made For?” to cap her golden season 22 run, with Richie sharing a last, long hug with Katy as confetti rained down around them.
Idol has been renewed for a 23rd season, but at press time Perry’s replacement had not yet been announced.
Check out images from Perry’s final night below.
Take a bow Abi Carter.
The 21-year-old Indio, CA native wins the 2024 edition of American Idol, joining a list of previous champs that includes Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Carrie Underwood.
Carter held her nerve during Sunday night’s (May 19) three-hour finale, winning ahead of Jack Blocker, a 25-year-old from Dallas, TX, and Will Moseley, a 23-year-old from Hazelhurst, GA.
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The budding musicians performed “Bed of Roses” by Jon Bon Jovi, “Somewhere” from “West Side Story”, “River” (with Bishop Briggs) and the original song “This Isn’t Over”.
It sure wasn’t over. When America voted, Carter came out on top.
Carter reigned over a season 22 finale that saw Rock And Roll Hall of Famer Jon Bon Jovi participate as guest mentor, plus special performances from Nick Fradiani, New Kids On The Block, Jason Mraz, Hootie And The Blowfish, Cece Winans, James Bay, Wynonna Judd, Seal, Bishop Briggs and Cody Johnson.
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Speaker to Billboard when the top 10 was announced, Carter said, “I want to be an artist. I’ve never felt so passionately about something. I went to school and got a psychology degree because I figured if I can’t express my emotions through something artistically, maybe I can just help other people express their emotions. I was going to be a family therapist.”
As one Idol is crowned, one queen of the reality TV show departs — Katy Perry. The U.S. pop superstar completes her stint on the panel, and has announced that her future plans include new music.
05/16/2024
Despite being voted off, several of these contestants went on to do just fine, thank you.
05/16/2024
Dreams came true for three American Idol contestants on Sunday night (May 12), as the remaining contestants travelled to Walt Disney World for the adventure of a lifetime.
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Disney Night was the theme for the penultimate episode of this 22nd season, as the top 5 visited the theme park with mentor Kane Brown.
When the fun was done, Abi Carter, Will Moseley and Jack Blocker were announced as the three finalists, while Triston Harper and Emmy Russell were eliminated.
For their spot in the final, Carter sang “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid and “The Chain” from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2; Blocker performed “Nobody’s Fool” from Cars 2 and “Space Oddity” from Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny; and Moseley hit “Born To Be Wild” from D3: The Mighty Ducks and “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy” from Toy Story 4.
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Jenifer Lewis and Terence Blanchard joined in on the action with a performance of “Dig A Little Deeper” from The Princess and the Frog, while Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie nailed a rendition of “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” from Toy Story.
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Also on the night, The Walt Disney Company used the platform of Idol to announce that new Walt Disney World Resort attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, will open in Florida on June 28, and Idina Menzel was presented with an award for “Let It Go” from Frozen becoming certified Diamond by the RIAA.
Carter, Moseley and Blocker move into the three-hour grand final, which will feature Rock And Roll Hall of Famer Jon Bon Jovi as guest mentor, along with special performances from Nick Fradiani, New Kids On The Block, Jason Mraz, Hootie And The Blowfish, Cece Winans, James Bay, Wyonna Judd, Seal, Bishop Briggs and Cody Johnson.
American Idol airs live coast-to-coast next Sunday (May 19) at 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT on ABC, and the next day on Hulu.
Another round of singers will get the chance to win big when American Idol returns for a 23rd season. As announced by ABC on Friday (May 10), the network has officially renewed the long-running singing competition series for yet another cycle, just over a week before the current season’s finale is set to air May […]
If given the chance, singer-songwriter Jelly Roll says he would be all in on becoming an American Idol judge.
Speaking with Audacy following his first set as part of the country music festival Stagecoach in Indio, Calif., Jelly Roll reacted to American Idol judge Katy Perry’s earlier comment recommending him as her replacement after she leaves her role as judge on the ABC music competition series after seven seasons.
“I gotta say, Jelly Roll was crazy when he came on the show,” the pop star had told E! News of the country artist, who served as an Idol mentor in April. “I was convinced at anything he said. He could run for president, he could be my pastor, I might go back to church for him. He could sell me anything.”
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While interviewing Jelly Roll backstage at Stagecoach, Audacy station KFRG’s Kelli & Guy asked about Perry’s comments and whether Jelly Roll would consider becoming an American Idol judge. “Of course!” he said. “Consider? I’ve accepted the job and they haven’t offered it.”
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“How cool is Katy, though,” he added. “When we were talking backstage the other day, she tells me this, just me and her, and my wife of course, everybody’s watching. She says, ‘I’m telling you, you need to replace me.’ I always love people that are the same way publicly as they are privately, ’cause some people will tell you how great you are privately, but then won’t post your album. But for her then immediately, first interview she gets asked, brings me up, I’m like, ‘I love you, Katy!’”
Jelly Roll recently appeared as a guest mentor on the April 8 episode of American Idol and performed his song “Halfway to Hell” from his 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel.
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Jelly Roll, who is married to Bunnie XO, also spoke of the possibility of doing a reality television show together. “What my dream is, is to get into scripted television. I think that’d be cool, if we told our story in like, a 10-part series,” he said, also noting that a duet with Bunnie XO would also be realistic.
The country star is vying for numerous trophies at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards on May 16, including the coveted entertainer of the year honor.
Watch Jelly Roll’s interview below:
Nutsa Buzaladze received raves from the American Idol judges when she competed last year on season 21 of the long-running television talent series. Eliminated from the top 12 on April 30, 2023, the singer from the nation of Georgia didn’t sit still. This week she will perform on another televised song contest when she represents her country in the Eurovision Song Contest, which normally reaches a worldwide audience in the hundreds of millions.
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One year after interviewing Nutsa in Hollywood during her time on Idol, Billboard sat down with her again, this time in Malmö, Sweden, to talk about her life since then and what will be the biggest moment of her career so far.
When we talked last year in California, I suggested you sing for Georgia in Eurovision, and here you are. What have the last 12 months been like for you?
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First of all, American Idol was the biggest thing I’ve done in my life. They gave me an open door to new opportunities. Like Lionel [Richie] said to me, “It doesn’t matter what number, you’re a star.” American Idol was a starter for my international career. Being on Idol makes your life much easier because people look at you and say you’re the real deal. I have an agent in America and he had me perform the National Anthem at a Lakers game and a Dodgers game. I had an amazing summer living in Miami and was in the Hamptons for a weekend when a producer [with Georgia’s national broadcaster] called and said, “Nutsa, we are thinking of having you represent your country at Eurovision. When are you coming to Georgia?”
So you said yes to Eurovision?
I told them I only had one condition: I’m going to be involved with every little detail. And they said, “Yes, for sure. We want you to be at your best. We want you to sing the song that you love to sing.” So I had the freedom to be myself and not someone that they want me to be and that is the greatest thing they’ve done for me. And it’s coming from the director of the broadcast.
You’re singing “Firefighter” as the Georgian entry. Who found the song?
We had an open call. We received amazing songs, and we listened to all 300 of them. We had three favorites, and we chose one that I feel very confident in. “Firefighter” was from Darko Dimitrov, a Macedonian producer who has a lot of experience in Eurovision. The writer of the lyrics was Ada Skitka from Estonia. I really loved the song, but only the chorus. I flew from Miami to Macedonia, and we spent three days in the studio finishing the song. It was a very creative process.
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What does representing Georgia in Eurovision mean to you?
I have loved my country ever since I was a very little girl. Because of my country’s history and our people, I want to make them proud. I want to show the world how great Georgia is and how many talented people we have. We are a very small nation and that makes me more motivated to put Georgia on the map everywhere I can. Because especially in America, they think that Georgia is a state.
You competed on Idol and now you’re competing again in Eurovision. What are your thoughts about the competition?
I don’t really think of it as a competition, to be honest. I do it for my career and I do it to become better and to have more experience, because all my life I wanted to have a career where you can go everywhere and sing everywhere. Not only in my country, but everywhere. I think big competitions give you the possibilities to be heard by millions and millions of people and that’s the main reason I’m doing it. I don’t like to compete with anybody. The only person I’m competing with always is myself, because I always want to do something bigger and better.
What was the main lesson you learned during your run on American Idol?
On American Idol, I realized that I had done hard work before, but Idol is the hardest work. I pushed myself to the limits. When I was in my hotel room, I cried because I was so exhausted from the emotions. By the time we were doing the live shows, it was better. I became friends with the contestants and then I became friends with the crew.
What are your plans for your career after Eurovision?
My new single is coming out on May 12. I shot a music video before flying to Malmö. The song is called “Mother’s Day” and I’m releasing it on Mother’s Day. It’s about my mom and she is in the music video with me. I’m sure a lot of people are going to cry because I love my mother very much and I wanted to have a song about her.
What else lies ahead?
There is other news I haven’t told anybody, so I’ve saved it for Billboard. I’ve been invited to audition for Broadway on May 11 [the same day as Eurovision]. So I need to go to New York as soon as possible for that.
Can you tell me for what show?
I don’t think they want me to. It’s a modern musical. The character that they want me to play is very near to who I am in real life and the voice of that character in the songs is my style.
Nutsa Buzaladze will sing “Firefighter” in the first semi-final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday (May 7) in Malmö, Sweden. The live broadcast can be seen in the U.S. on Peacock at 3 p.m. ET. If “Firefighter” is one of 10 songs from the 15 semi-final entries that qualifies for the grand final, she will perform the song again on Saturday (May 11). That four-hour show will be seen on Peacock, also at 3 p.m. ET.