Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > August > 18 > Entry
8/18: Idols Live meet and greet at Gwinnett Arena, new Daughtry video
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Larry King wanted to tape an interview with the 10 Idols so CNN ended up taping it today at Gwinnett Arena. That kind of threw off the standard Q&A interview portion but I got to take some shots of them during the interview below and got to finally meet the two former Atlantans Carly Smithson and Michael Johns. The “Larry King Live” is set to air Friday.
I got a few more tidbits from Michael Johns about this upcoming post tour plans. He will be working with Andrew Farriss from INXS in October on a song. He’s also hoping to attend the Elton John celeb-am tennis match in a few months. He also expects to move back to Atlanta next year. He’s working with the same people as Elliott Yamin to get his album out. He also gave a shout out to www.michaeljohnsonline.com for being such a great fan site.
He described the umbrella bit they did last night at Charlotte, which is already online. Michael, Syesha and I watched it on this computer:
Johns said by pure coincidence, he had heard Turner Classic Movies had paid homage to Gene Kelly of “Singing in the Rain” fame that same day.
As I was putting these pictures up in the meet-and-greet area, Kristy Lee Cook came up and looked through them. Brooke came by, too. Sweet gal. And Michael hated his shot below, says he looks kind of weighty. I said he looked fine but what do I know?
ABOVE: Kristy Lee Cook with Michael Johns.
A side shot with Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael and Chikezie Eze.
Usually, the “Idols” get to meet and greet fans outside at around 2 p.m. but today, because of the “Larry King Live” shoot, they couldn’t do it, leaving disappointed fans to hang outside.
I got to meet Carly in person. She remembered that I knew Jennifer Ordonez, who wrote that WSJ piece about her. She has amazing blue eyes. She has no concrete plans post tour yet but she’ll be working an album of course.
Brooke White with Jason Casto.
My favorite shot: David Cook with a mischievous grin while David Archuleta does his grin.
Carly with Chikezie.
Jason with Kristy.
David Cook recently got this tattoo of an eye. Not sure why or what it means. I wasn’t listening carefully to his explanation during the taping.
My artsy shot of the day from the second floor over some sweatshirts set to go on sale soon.
Ah… yes. The fans!
Michael, Carly and Chikezie from the side.
Syesha and the two Davids cutting up. One random observation about Archuleta I got from Johns. Archuleta eats constantly, usually healthy stuff, but he eats a lot. I saw him grabbing a few corn dog bites from the MarquisJet NetJets food spread. Ah… the advantages of youth!
Here’s other “Idol” news:
-This from a press release I got from CNN:
CNN today announced that platinum-selling recording artists Daughtry have rerecorded “Feels Like the First Time,” originally made famous by Foreigner in 1977, as the theme song for the network’s League of First Time Voters initiative. The music video will premiere on Campbell Brown: Election Center on Monday, August 18, and will be available on CNN.com via video on-demand.
The single will appear on Daughtry Deluxe, the band’s upcoming deluxe version of its debut album, due out Tuesday, Sept. 9.
“We strongly believe that it doesn’t matter who you vote for, as long as you vote,” said Chris Daughtry, lead singer of the Grammy-nominated band. “Getting to rerecord a classic song like this was a real honor for us, and we hope it helps inspire people to vote.”
-Word is from SOHH.com that Fantasia is in town working on her third album with Rock City.
Comments
By Nana
August 18, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Thanks Rodney for the report. I had read the story about Daughtry earlier today on CC entertainment section. Hopefully, it will bring out the voters. This election they are really needed.
By Nana
August 18, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
On my last post, I meant to say that I read the info on Daughtry on CNN and not CC.
By Nana
August 18, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
On my last post, I meant to say that I read the info on Daughtry on CNN and not CC.
By flats
August 18, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
NICE NANA!!!!!!!!!FIRST GIRL!!!!WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!WHERE’S D??
By flats
August 18, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
NICE NANA!!!!!!!!!FIRST GIRL!!!!WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!WHERE’S D??
By woodpappy
August 18, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Wish I was going but I’m not….No tickets.
By Nana
August 18, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Hey flats: My time on my double posts are the same, but yours??????? Was that what one would call a delayed double post?
WP: Maybe the next go around you will be able to go.
I think everyone has got the heart dropsies today and not posting. I assume you know what the heart dropsies are, right?
By flats
August 18, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
I dont why that happens,it really plsses me off to no end!!!!
By woodpappy
August 18, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
Heart dropsies on Mondays are really bad too.
By kellyfan
August 18, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
Hey y’all…Rodney, enjoy the show!
I thought about going for a hot minute, but eh. Couldn’t make myself go.
Maybe it’s just me, but shouldn’t Daughtry be working on another album instead of re-releasing the first one? ;)
Oh, some Carrie news (she’s easier to track than Kelly these days): She’s on the cover of the new Allure magazine. Wow. :)http://www.allure.com/magazine/2008/09/carrie_underwood
As far as Kelly, all I’ve see of her is the hilarious video of her at a Red Sox game with her backup singers (Jill&Kate). Kelly is the one popping in and out of the shot. I must say, she seems like she’d be lots of fun to hang out with. Ha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwqbTsDYhqM
That’s all I got… :)
By Nana
August 18, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Thanks KF for the information on CW and KP.
WP: So you KNOW what heart dropsies are, huh?
Almost time for me to head home, so this will be it for me until later this evening. Ya’ll drive safe and be careful on your drive home.
By kellyfan
August 18, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
NP, nana…BUT…CU and CK, I know…who are CW and KP? :)
By Deirdre
August 18, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
LOL!!! I was wondering that myself, kf.
Having one of those days but I’ve been checking in occasionally.
By flats
August 18, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this
D…Where the jackets ranked????LOL!!!!!
By Deirdre
August 18, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
Rodney Did you get a new camera…most of those pictures are really good…very clear! And…remember what I asked you to check out but couldn’t because it was a phone interview????? Did you check it out this time? Just curious.
Larry King really screwed the fans…that ‘meet and greet’ the Idols do is really popular. On the other hand, it will be nice to see them on TV again.
Thanks, Rodney…enjoy the show!
By Deirdre
August 18, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
And the “Mavid” routine is getting really elaborate now that they are free to do it!
By Nana
August 18, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this
kf and D: Don’t know where my brain is today. The CW should have been CU for Carrie Underwood and the KP is for Kellie Pickler. After re-reading your post kf, I think you were talking about Kelly Clarkston instead of Pickler. I noticed the difference in the spelling. I had just read a story about about Kellie P and she was on my mind. One of these days, I promise to post without any errors. One would think that I was not to bright with the errors, but I assure you all that I definitely have a pretty smart brain in my head. Some days, it’s just slow. It’s been working for over 60 years and gets tired. Sorry for the confusion I caused.
By Deirdre
August 18, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
Nana…the day any of us manage to post without errors…they’ll have to hold a celebration!!! :-) Maybe a parade! I can just see the headline:
Idol Bloggers Perfect…First Time Ever!!!
By Nana
August 18, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this
D: That headline may make The World Book of Records. At times, I just get ahead of my typing and say the words in my head and not type them.
You know, it would be great to see at least one day without errors on here. Shall we try?? I’m game if everyone else is. Just ONE day. That would be amazing, wouldn’t it?
By Karen
August 18, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Thanks for an article featuring the Idols. I like them all, but I idolize Archuleta. I’ve logged over 7,200 miles going to see him at three events. I’d go to more but they’re all on the east coast, and I can’t afford the airfare. Dang it!
David A. is incredible! I love his exquisite, soaring, emotive voice, his endearing personality, and that cute face of his. His new single, “Crush”, is great! I listen to it and the rest of his music almost 24/7.
I’ve never been a fan of anyone before, so becoming so captivated by him was a big surprise for me. I swear I will be a fan of his til my dying day. I never buy CDs, but I’ll buy everything he ever puts out. David got me listening to music again after a lapse of 20+ years. (I was strictly talk radio and an occasional trip to the symphony…that is, until I heard David sing. Then, I spun on a dime.)
Pretty major change for me! I love this kid like he was my own! I see great things ahead for him.
By search engine placement
August 18, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this
That would be pretty cool to be there.
search engine placement
tanning lotion
By Susan
August 18, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this
So happy to hear Michael mention our great fan club, michaeljohnsonline.com. People should sign up so they are on Michael’s email listing. He is such a CLASS ACT and wonderfully talented, witty, warm person. We are extremely proud of him!
By kellyfan
August 18, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
Ha, no worries, Nana…just know that when it comes to me, there’s only one Kelly. (aka, Clarkson. lol). The other Kellie, I somewhat affectionately refer to as “The Pickle.” :)
By J.D.
August 18, 2008 11:46 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the Michael Johns update. All great news!
By Miller
August 18, 2008 11:59 PM | Link to this
Thanks Randy. I wish you could have talked to Jason. He’s extraordinary.
By sue
August 19, 2008 3:01 AM | Link to this
Where is Rami?
By TJ
August 19, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
Castro FTW. Closely followed by Archuleta, Smithson, Cook and MJ. Brooke and Eze get a shout out to :)
Can’t wait for the interview.
By TJ
August 19, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
*too
By jamie Maybin
August 19, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
So when is the taping going to be on TV?
By Deirdre
August 19, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
jamie…to quote Rodney:
“The “Larry King Live” is set to air Friday.”
By bigbigbig
August 21, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
Nana, you remind me of s’one i know…are you from vietnam ?