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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > September > 25
Thursday, September 25, 2008
9/26: David Archuleta now has his own corn maze, more Clay Aiken coverage
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CREDIT: Craig Dilger/Daily Herald.
MJ found this. I also heard about this on the radio. A corn maze in the image of David Archuleta in Utah not far from Brigham Young University! Not even Clay Aiken fans were able to conjure this up!
-Speaking of Aiken, remember that uncomfortable interview he had earlier this year with Newsweek, where he got testy when the reporter brought up the Kelly Ripa incident and compared Newsweek to the National Enquirer? Well, here’s that reporter’s take on Aiken’s deceptions over the years.
The denials only made Aiken a bigger target in interviews, and it was mostly his own fault. He told New York magazine that he’d never had a relationship, prompting ABC News to run a story called: “Could Clay Aiken Be Asexual?” When I brought up his sexuality, his face turned into a mask of scorn, but I could tell it was a performance he’d given before. By the time I reached my last question, about “American Idol,” he seemed friendly again, though clearly uncomfortable, talking fast about nothing, in an effort to prevent any more questions about his personal life. The next week, my interview went viral, landing on a number of blogs, including Perez Hilton. The Associated Press and Entertainment Tonight even picked it up. When Aiken himself appeared on the show, he alleged that he’d been misquoted in NEWSWEEK, though misquoted over what he didn’t exactly say.
-This story on eonline notes that others who have come out have seen their career paths improve . Clay’s music career, his successful stint on “Spamalot” notwithstanding, has been sliding since the first CD, which sold 2.8 million. His xmas album moved another 1.4 million. His covers album sold just 520,000 copies. His current album? Fewer than 200,000.
-In somewhat related news, David Hernandez has a gig at the Barcelona night club three nights a week in Scottsdale, Ariz. {More info here.](http://www.thedirty.com/?p=48822). He’ll be singing, not stripping.
-Plenty of “Idol” singers in the top 40 and country charts. Here’s a summary of each sons.
-Jordin Sparks sees her single “One Step at a Time” move up to No. 4 on the top 40 charts, a spot higher than “Tattoo.” It has a shot at No. 3 (the top 3 right now are “Disturbia,” “Closer” and a slipping “Forever”). But Pink’s “So What” and Leona Lewis’ “Better in Time” are in position to hit the top 2 very soon and leapfrot Sparks.
-David Archuleta continues to gain airplay, up from 20 to 15 with “Crush.” Top 10 is a certainty.
-Daughtry has his fifth straight top 20 hit with “What About Now,” an extraordinary run for any album, much less a debut one.
-David Cook sees “Time of My Life” slip from 33 to 36 after peaking in the mid 20s. I’m looking forward to seeing how high up ‘Light On” does.
-Carrie Underwood edges up to No. 7 with “Just a Dream” from No. 8 on the country chart.
-Bucky Covington sees his third top 20 hit “I’ll Walk” move up to No. 17 from 18.
-Kellie PIckler is struggling a bit with “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful,” which gains slightly in airplay but slips from 26 to 27.
-Kristy Lee Cook regains growth in airplay of “15 Minutes of Shame” but traction is slow: it’s up to 43 from 46.
-Josh Gracin is barely there with “Unbelievable (Ann Marie),” which slips from 53 to 54.
-Jennifer Hudson is up to No. 10 on the urban chart, moving a notch from 11.
-David Letterman’s top ten Wednesday:
Top Ten Questions People Are Asking the John McCain Campaign
“I just contributed to your campaign — how do I get a refund?”
“It’s Sarah Palin — does this mean I’m pars’dent?”
“Can’t you solve this by selling some of your homes?”
7. “Hi, this is Clay Aiken. Is McCain single?”
“Do you still think the fundamentals of our economy are strong, genius?”
“Are you doing all this just to get out of going on Letterman?”
“What would Matlock do?”
“Hillary here — my schedule is free Friday night”
“Is this just an excuse to catch up on napping?”
“This is President Bush — what’s all this trouble with the economy?”
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9/25: Kellie Pickler at North Georgia State Fair, Jennifer Hudson’s new album
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I may be on the verge of stalking Kellie Pickler. Not counting the “Idol” tour, I’ve now seen her four times — at a Douglasville mall in spring 2007, opening for Rascal Flatts a year ago, the Etowah High School text messaging contest four months ago and now at the North Georgia State Fair tonight in Marietta. That’s not excessive, is it?
Here are some photos I took at the packed concert, which was included in the $5 entry fee, a good deal! I got there just as it was starting and I could only get about 40 feet away at the start, 30 feet by the end.
At least 4,000 people were there with a lot of families. She sang five new songs from her upcoming album, including her current single “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” plus a cool bluesy tune I really enjoyed called “Lucky Girl” and that song she co-wrote with Taylor Swift “Best Days of Your Life.” And she played her three hits off her first album, with “Red High Heels” as the encore, as well as “Small Town Girl” and “My Angel” in honor of her grandmother.
Over her hour-long set, she played only one cover song in honor of her idol Dolly Parton: a very spirited “9 to 5.”
She didn’t show off her cleavage this time around, wearing a shockingly demure T-shirt saying “My boyfriend is a super hero.” (Yes, she has a boyfriend now and it’s not me.) But those jeans are impressively tight! And get this: no red high heels! She said she was sick of them in the interview I had with her in late July. So she wore what looked like clogs instead.
She usually is serious when she introduces “I Wonder,” her song about her estranged mom. But this time, she actually joked. “If you get hurt, at least you get paid for it,” she said, by singing the song every night. “It’s the child support she never paid!”
So I’ve seen Pickler four times now. In comparison, among the winners, I’ve seen Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks and Fantasia twice each in concert solo and Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and Jordin Sparks once each. And I’ve caught Jennifer Hudson, Daughtry and Clay Aiken once each, too.
-Joke from Conan O’Brien Wednesday night: “Former American Idol star Clay Aiken admitted in a recent interview that he is gay. He said he is gay in the latest issue of ‘Duh!’ magazine.”
-Check out Jennifer Hudson’s new album here.
Bloggers are highlighting “If This Isn’t Love” as the breakout hit. It certainly has more crossover top 40 appeal and feels more current than “Spotlight.” I can hear it comfortably mixed with cuts from Chris Brown, Rihanna and Ne Yo on the radio.
What do you think of the album? I didn’t have time to listen to the whole thing but it certainly showcases Hudson’s intense personality.
