Reality TV Tag Archive: American Idol
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By Louisa Gonzales
MK Nobilette made headlines early on during this season of American Idol when she became the first openly gay contestant. Of the attention on her sexual orientation instead of her singing skills, she says, “I was definitely a little taken aback at first, but I get that it plays a role. I’m a singer, and I’m also gay. I felt like it was important to address that. I’m very proud of it and open about it.”
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By Liz Kim
Ben Briley quickly became a fan favorite on American Idol this season during rush week when the judges couldn’t decide between him and Neco Starr to advance to the top 13. They put the decision in America’s hands, and Briley was voted to move forward. From his southern drawl to his love for everything Tennessee, he might seem like the token country singer, but one look at the 24 -year-old’s YouTube channel, and you’ll quickly learn that he enjoys music ranging from John Mayer to James Taylor.
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By Liz Kim.
Emily Piriz may be done on the American Idol stage, but she believes this is only the beginning of her music career. The 18-year-old is no stranger to reality television, having auditioned for The X-Factor, America’s Got Talent, and The Voice before finally making it through on Idol. She made the brave decision to sing Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud” this week, a song that she used “to sing along to, hairbrush in hand.” Of her final performance, she says, “I don’t regret doing it. That song is home to me.”
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Interview by Whitney Johnson. Written by Liz Kim.
This week, American Idol decided to let the audience get a better sense of the thirteen finalists by giving the singers free rein in terms of song choice. Kristen O’Connor, a 24-year old nurse tech, chose Kelly Clarkson’s “Beautiful Disaster.” On Wednesday night’s show, she explained, “This song is typically about a boy, but I interpreted this song to be about me.” Judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr. gave generally positive — but slightly underwhelmed — feedback.
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By Kerri Sheehan
American Idol crooners Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo have officially tied the knot. According to UsMagazine.com, the two got married on Saturday, June 1 at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Bel Air, California. The couple tried to make their ceremony specialized to really reflect who they are. “We want everybody to have fun, let their guard down,” said Young.
What are some ways to incorporate personal elements in your wedding?
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Soul singer Candice Glover has been a frontrunner since the start of season 12 of American Idol, so it wasn’t surprising when she took home the crown on last night’s finale. Glover, though, was sure to take things slow. “My goal was to make it to the top 20. If I got that far, I knew I’d have a fan base that would keep voting for me,” she shares. “Then, I made it to the top ten, the top five, and finally the top two. That’s when I knew I could win this whole thing.”
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By Kerri Sheehan
After a long season of strained vocal cords and sad goodbyes, we finally have a new American Idol, Candice Glover. But she’s not the only one headed for stardom: runner-up Kree Harrison has a bright future ahead of her as well. Viewers first became acquainted with the songstress when she performed with three other country crooners during Hollywood week. During the Idol segment, “Kree Harrison Comes Home,” fans learned that the 22-year-old singer lost both parents, her mother to an accident at age 19 and her father to a plane crash at age 12. Many found it refreshing to see the stunning brunette return to her roots in Texas.
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The American Idol road ended last night for 19-year-old Massachusetts native Angie Miller. Known for winning over the judges during her first audition by performing an original song and playing the piano during many of the live shows, fans were surprised to see her go. She sobbed throughout her goodbye song “Never Gone,” originally sung by Idol alum Colton Dixon, as Mariah Carey encouraged her from the judges’ table.
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By Kerri Sheehan
American Idol viewers were disappointed to say goodbye to 19-year-old Texas native Amber Holcomb last night. After her elimination from the competition was announced, Holcomb broke down in tears as she belted out her last song “I Believe In You and Me,” originally sung by Whitney Houston. “Before the performance, we watched the video of memorable clips, and that always gets to me every single week. It was just a lot. It was really overwhelming.”
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Lazaro Arbos was a fan favorite on this season of American Idol from his first audition, capturing our hearts with his rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” He struggles with stuttering when he speaks, but when he sings, it’s not an issue. Ultimately, his talent carried him to a sixth-place finish, outlasting the other male contestants and leaving an all-female top five for the first time in the show’s history.
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American Idol viewers were surprised to see New Orleans native Burnell Taylor sent home last night. Even mentor Jimmy Iovine predicted that he would be the last guy standing, saying at the start of the elimination show that Lazaro Arbos should be voted off. Taylor, though, says he “had a feeling it was going to be me this week. I was prepared — it’s always a possibility.”
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Many viewers were disappointed to see Paul Jolley eliminated on last Thursday’s American Idol episode. The sweet Southern boy from Palmersville, Tennessee, knew that it would be his final week though. “I was just so ready for it,” the performer said of leaving the show. “I talked about it throughout the day. Everybody could see that I was going to be okay no matter what.”
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By Nic Baird
American Idol season eight finalist and wife Leyicet had their first child on Sunday, People reports. The newborn boy, Daniel Emmanuel Gokey, weighed 8 lbs. 11 oz. and arrived at 9:52 p.m. EST. “Leyicet and I are overjoyed to welcome the new member of our family. I’m ecstatic to be a first time dad and to have a new little buddy to hang out with,” Gokey said.
How do you decide how to long to wait to have a child after marriage?
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By Jennifer Ross
Although Pia Toscano was the one to end their relationship, neither she nor ex Mark Ballas had any hard feelings about it. Ballas, 26, was recently reunited with Toscano, 24, at the annual Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times Halloween carnival in L.A., where both performed separately, according to People. The professional ballroom dancer even uploaded Instagram photos of the two after the event. Even before meeting up at the event, Ballas told L.A.’s 104.3 radio station that the two have ran into each other before. “She lives down the street, so we ran into each other the other day at Starbucks. It’s cool. We’re still friends. It’s all good.”
What are some ways to get your relationship to a civil place after a breakup?
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American Idol alumna Diana DeGarmo is bringing her personal life into the spotlight. In a recent interview, DeGarmo explained exactly how she bonded with long-term boyfriend Ace Young, a fellow American Idol contestant, reports UsMagazine.com. “We are best friends! I truly believe us having been through ‘Idol’ is one of the big reasons as to why we understand each other so well; unless you go through it, you don’t get it,” said DeGarmo. “We were the first Idols to do a Broadway show together, the first Idols to live together–and the first to write a country song for a soap opera together!”
Is having a lot in common a requirement in a relationship?
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Former American Idol star Danny Gokey is once again a married man. The singer exchanged vows with his fiancee, Leyicet Peralta, in a small ceremony among 100 of their family and closest friends, Gokey’s manager confirmed to People. The intimate ceremony celebrated the theme of “romance and love” and took place in Florida on Sunday. “We are so thankful to have found each other and now be able to spend the rest of our lives together,” the newlyweds said in a statement. “We pray our gratitude grows more every day because there is so much for us to do now.” This is the second marriage for Gokey, who lost his first wife Sophia in 2008 after undergoing a routine surgery for congenital heart disease. The newlyweds paid tribute to Sophia by asking their guests that all gifts be in the form of donation to Sophia’s Heart, the children’s charity founded by Gokey to honor his late wife.
If your partner passes away, how do you know when to move on?
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Brooke White, who made her performing debut as a finalist on season 7 of American Idol, is expecting her first child in May with husband, Dave Ray. “By the time the baby’s born, we’ll have been married eight years. I met Dave when I was 19 years old – we’ve been together a really long time, and we’ve always wanted to be parents,” White told People. Last January, the Idol alum showed off her acting skills in the FOX TV movie Change of Plans ironically about how the unexpected things in life end up being the best.
How do you prepare your relationship for a child?
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Friday was bring your boyfriend to work day, or at least it was for Jennifer Lopez. Lopez’s new boy toy, Casper Smart, was seen arriving to the American Idol set in Lopez’s Bentley as he stopped by to visit his new lady. The new couple have been inseparable, having recently spent Thanksgiving in Hawaii with Lopez’s twins before jetting off to Morocco. While the singer seems to be wearing divorce well, her ex-husband Marc Anthony, isn’t quite complimenting her style. According to various sources, not only does Anthony not want smart to drive his kids around due to his arrest for drag racing, but he apparently doesn’t want Smart around his kids at all, according to Hollyscoop. In the meantime, Lopez and Anthony have continued working together in their Latin-American talent show venture, Q’Viva!
What do you do if your ex is upset with your new relationship?
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Fantasia Barrino, American Idol‘s season three winner, gave birth to a baby boy on Tuesday. According to People, Dallas Xavier Barrino was born in North Carolina at 7 lbs., 9 oz. and was 21 inches long. Dallas joins his big sister Zion, 10. Barrino does not comment on the father of her children, although she has been seen with Antwaun Cook since summer 2010. “I feel so blessed that my son Dallas Xavier was born healthy, and is a wonderful new addition to our family,” said the singer. “I thank all my fans for their well wishes and continued support.”
How do you introduce a new baby to an older child at home?
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American Idol Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard is divorcing his wife of three years, reports UsMagazine. “Ruben and Zuri have gone their separate ways,” said Studdard’s rep. Studdard, 33, married Surata Zuri McCants in Mountain Brook, Alabama on June 28th, 2008. The couple shares no children.
What are three things to consider before filing for divorce?
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The party is over for Mark Ballas and Pia Toscano. After a long heartfelt talk, the singer and the ballroom dancer have decided to call it quits. According to People, the split was a mutual decision. “They both decided with everything going on that they couldn’t give each other what would be fair,” said a source close to the former couple. Though the relationship is over, Ballas and Toscano are both experiencing great career success. Ballas is rehearsing for the next season of Dancing with the Stars and Toscano is finishing up a successful American Idol tour.
How do you keep career demands from ruining your relationship?
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American Idol alum Jason Castro and his wife Mandy welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world this past Sunday, according to People. The baby girl, named Madeline Emilia Castro, is the first child for the Castros and they are ecstatic. On his website back in April when he first announced they were expecting, Jason’s quoted as saying, “We just found out yesterday that it is going to be a girl! That makes me laugh … what am I going to do with a sweet little girl?! Probably just smile a lot … I cannot wait!!!” Congratulations to these two love birds and their growing family.
What are some ways to prepare your lifestyle for a child?
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Former American Idol star, Justin Guirini, welcomed a son, William Neko Bell Guarini, on Tuesday, April 26. “Reina is doing wonderfully and should be given a medal for going 10 months and 1 week with child,” Guirini said about his wife. He added, “We’re resting comfortably in the hospital and can’t wait to introduce him to his big sister…”
How does the dynamic change when you add a second child to the family?
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Stefano Langone may have been eliminated from American Idol after his performance of “Lately,” however, according to People, the breakout star is single and ready to live it up. Though the singer says he’s playing the field, he’s also dedicated to putting his music first. “I’m single and very happy, but I am mingling and having fun. But, worrying about my music is number one,” he said. Along with making an impact on the American public, Langone has grown very close to celebrity couple Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez through his American Idol experience.
Is it important to be established in your career before entering a relationship?
