accessAtlanta

I unfortunately missed both Athens concerts with Kimberley Locke, Diana DeGarmo et. al and Tamyra Gray’s appearance at the Salvation Army Christmas concert on Saturday.

justin guarini more emoting.jpg

But I wasn’t totally remiss in my “Idol” duties this weekend. I got to meet season one runner up Justin Guarini for the first time at the Salvation Army Sunday night Christmas concert at the Salvation’s Army’s temple off North Druid Hills and I-85.

I’ve spoken to him by phone but this was my first shot at sitting down with him and just gabbing. He’s definitely more comfortable in his own skin now and has embraced “Idol” as part of him. We talked about his gig with “Gone Country,” an Internet radio show and his engagement.

Diana DeGarmo was originally committed to this event but the holiday tour got in the way. So her mom and Jerry Friday helped track down Justin to sub in. He made a quick pitstop in Atlanta before going to Nashville to work on different songwriters.

Why Nashville? He said he was inspired by the experience. He finished taping last month. The show debuts next month on CMT. (Ironically, Diana was part of the original “Gone Country” a year ago.) He wasn’t very verbose about the show itself in terms of details but he said he roomed with George Clinton and bonded with Sheila E. (Others include Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees, actor Richard Grieco and Miss USA Tarah Connor.)

“The way I write on guitar lends itself to country rock,” Justin said. “I can infuse my soulful sound into it… I’ve been searching for the sound that fits me.” And though he has done jazz, R&B and pop before, he feels he needed to stretch himself. “The show has opened so many doors for me,” he said, echoing Diana’s sentiments last year.

He credits new management for helping him get even more work than before, a small group called Axis Artist Management in Los Angeles with Nelly Neben. It’s smaller than past management groups and gives him far more personalized attention. (Nadia Turner and Anthony Fedorov also work with Axis.)

He is also doing his TV Guide gig again. He seemed to enjoy “Idol Chat” last year with Kimberly Caldwell and Rosanna Tavarez. “It’s our bread and butter,” he said, related to him and Kimberly. “We know all abou it. We lived it.” He is also helping out with the new Idol Disney experience, which debuts in February. And he is working on a new Internet TV show that’s “Late Night meets Chapelle. It’s going to have music and interviews. They’ll be skits, too. That launches in February, too.”

His quick take on season seven: “It was a pivotal year for Idol. They really needed to reprove the brand. I think they did by picking David Cook.” He acknowledges the show is in decline but it’s coming off a very high base. He’s curious to see how the show will evolve minus Nigel Lythgoe and more input from Simon Cowell. “The viewing audience needs that excitement, to mix it up,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the new dynamic among the judges,” with a fourth judge added to the mix.

On his reconciliation with the past: “What I went through at the time, the brand was not nearly as well organized. I got off the merry go round. It gave me wonderful perspective, gave me an appreciation of the gift I was given. I have worked consistently over the past six years doing what I love to do for people all over the world. For that alone, I am grateful.”

At the church, he sang four traditional Christmas songs including “Silent Night” and “Angels We Have Heard on High.” He did a lovely job. He’s toned down some of his cheesier ticks from the “Idol” days and his voice is just as solid as ever. Here’s a video I took of him singing “Angels We Have Heard On High.”

And here he is doing “Go, Tell It On the Mountain”:

Justin is also doing well personally. He just got engaged to Reina Capodici, 26, of Doylestown, PA, his hometown. (Her mom was his English teacher! They grew up together though he’s older than she is.) In fact, he recently got a place there and will make that his home base. He said a tentative wedding date is for July 4, 2009.

On his dad Eldrin Bell, now county commission chairman in Clayton County: “He’s got a servant’s heart, that’s the long and short of it. What most people see as headaches or things they don’t want to deal with, he enjoys. We had a birthday dinner at his house recently. My brother and sister and I got together and hired a chef to cook everything.”

On his hair, which is big as always: “Why mess with the brand?”

I also got a funny anecdote from Pastor Rick Mikles. He said on Saturday while former Norcross resident and fourth-place finisher from season one Tamyra Gray was singing “Silent Night,” a couple of the live animals decided to challenge that sentiment. First, the donkey began braying, then the camel answered the call. Gray, during what is normally a very moving, solemn song, couldn’t help but chuckle at the end.

When I told Justin about it, he laughed. “Never work with children and animals,” he said.

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Comments

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the interview, Rodney. It’s nice to hear from Justin after so much time has passed. He was a personable and talent member of the first Idol class. Glad his life is going in a direction that makes him happy.

By JTesla

December 8, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the interview, can we start calling Justin “the brand” or how about “Mr. Brand”? He seems to know where he wants to go, and how he needs to get there.

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

Nice hat! :-)

By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,

December 8, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

JT, I,too, got a chuckle from all of Justin’s references to “brand”…

I did notice, from the pictures, that although he still has his “brand” of hairstyle, he has at last matured somewhat in his facial features and body shape; he no longer looks so much like a pudgy little kid to me!

I certainly wish him well!

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

LOL!!! I don’t remember Justin EVER looking “pudgy” but you’re right about him looking more mature. I always thought of him as a handsome young man. He still lives up to that description, IMO. He’s had his ups and downs in the last few years but he seems to be making it work for himself now.

By BH

December 8, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

Has anyone read the Stage 46 book, which is suppose to be an idol tell all?

It’s being written about all over. Just curious. I want to see what others thought before buying a copy.

By BH

December 8, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Has anyone read the Stage 46 book, which is suppose to be an idol tell all?

It’s being written about all over. Just curious. I want to see what others thought before buying a copy.

By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,

December 8, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

D i guess “pudgy” is a little strong … what i meant was that “little boy” look … he wasn’t “lean” in my eyes, so… well … subjective observation, LOL!!! maybe i was transfering “pudgy” from Eldrin … who is a bit stocky in build? i dunno… but he HAS grown up and is a nice looking young man by any estimation, imho.

BH, haven’t even heard of it … but sometimes i’m oblivious about celeb news, anyway, so that’s not surprising… sorry, no input on that from me!

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

BH…for an Idol fan I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve never heard of the book. Rodney, do you have any info on it?

linny, Justin’s face was a little rounder back during the competition so he was more like a little boy.

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

BH…I just did a search and found a book called Stage 46 The Reality of Reality Television, a novel by R. Smith.

Novel? R? Smith? Sounds a little suspicious to me.

By JTesla

December 8, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

Perhaps that post was a form of viral marketing.

By Rodney Ho

December 8, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

Well, I finally posted the videos. What do you think?

By RoHo Fan

December 8, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Love your cap! Maybe that could be your brand.

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

LOL, RoHo Fan!

Thanks for the videos, Rodney. The sound quality wasn’t very good but I enjoyed the music! Nice to hear about Justin again.

By BH

December 8, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

Yes that’s the one. Has anyone read it? I googled the name and found write ups on it from New Zealand to London and all over the US.

It’s suppose to be about Idol and from what I have found the author interviewed employees and former contestants to put to the book together.

I want to find out more info about it before I purchase it, like reviews or something along those lines.

Can Mr. Rodney Ho help out?

By BH

December 8, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

Yes that’s the one. Has anyone read it? I googled the name and found write ups on it from New Zealand to London and all over the US.

It’s suppose to be about Idol and from what I have found the author interviewed employees and former contestants to put to the book together.

I want to find out more info about it before I purchase it, like reviews or something along those lines.

Can Mr. Rodney Ho help out?

By musicatl

December 8, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

and he was seen at Atlanta Gay Sports Bar Woofs on Piedmont!!!! and there are pictures

By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,

December 8, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

musicatl - um “he” is rather ambiguous since there are at least two if not three threads running under this particular blog entry, LOL!!!

shaking head, smiling

in any event…BH, i would give such a book about as much credibility as what’s his name that said he was sleeping with Paula. Possible — sure… probable — not so much, methinks!

wee ya, have a great evening!

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

BH…have you noticed that the author bills the book as a “novel” which suggests to me that he made a lot of stuff up. Rodney can you come up with anything about this book?

musicati…if you mean that Justin Guarini was in a gay bar…then I must be missing your point. What does that have to do with how well he sings or how nice a guy he is?

By musicatl

December 8, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

and he was seen at Atlanta Gay Sports Bar Woofs on Piedmont!!!! and there are pictures

By musicatl

December 8, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this

Just saying he was at a gay bar… nothing more, why?? do you know something? woo I feel TMZ at my door!! Christmas money!

and it was Justin Guarini sorry for the “he”

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

And I apologize for the “i” at the end of your name, musicatl.

TMZ? No, sorry! But I’m sure they’d be interested…sounds right up their alley.

By musicatl

December 8, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this

LOL naaa, to each there own, it was just cool to see an American Idol acting like there was nothing going on…

By JTesla

December 8, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this

Let’s do a story problem: Justin is associated with Kimberley Locke and Diana DeGarmo as mentioned in the article above and also due to being in AI. Kimberley and Diana are popular with the crowd that frequents gay bars, Kimberley has performed at said bars, and if my memory is correct Diana has too. So wouldn’t it therefore be very plausible, possible, and probable that if he were there it had something to do with his associations or perhaps he was there due to the fact that gay bars in Atlanta seem to really, really like former AI contestants?

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

JT…I think that’s a plausible explanation, especially when you add to it the fact that Justin has a fiancee, according to Rodney’s interview. That wouldn’t mean anything if we were still back in the 70’s or 80’s but seriously, does a gay guy really have to get married to a nice unsuspecting girl these days? I thought those particular dark ages were over.

By IdolFanJD

December 8, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this

musicatl…You can stop your accusations now. Justin was trying to watch a ballgame at a sports bar. He is a die hard Eagles fan! Since you know so much you will also know that every effort was made to move him to the TV where his game was on. He ate chicken fingers and drank water and cheered on his beloved Eagles. It is gays like you that make the rest of us look bad! It�s no wonder straight people don�t want anything to do with us. The funny part is we all saw you taking pictures so getting on here and acting like your posts are anonymous isn�t working any longer. The guy did a great thing for a wonderful organization and you are trying to make something out of it. I applaud him for being comfortable with all people and being secure enough in his own sexuality to not care who he watched a ball game with. Enough said

By Fan

December 8, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

Rodney, thats a very good picture of you and Justin!

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this

Well said, IdolFanJD! Thanks for the clarification.

By JTesla

December 8, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this

Umm IdolFanJD, you didn’t answer the most important question: who won the game?

No wait, can I have a do-over on the “most important quesiton”? How well did he tip? That is the dirt that I like to hear.

By IdolFanJD

December 8, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this

I paid the bill and I tipped very well. The staff was wonderful to get Justin to a table where he watched the Eagles win! He was one happy guy. May I add, a great guy!

By pat

December 8, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this

Thanks so much for the report on Justin and what he is doing. I think he looks fantastic and sounds wonderful, and I am so happy to hear how well he is doing. Justin has always been a “class act” and what I thought was the definition of what a true American Idol was all about. I really enjoyed these two new performances and I can’t wait for new music from this really talented performer. Thanks so much!

By Deirdre

December 8, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this

IdolFanJD….Thanks again for your first hand info. We are a lively bunch here during the Idol season(especially on performance night when we argue for hours about who was better) Please consider joining us when the season starts. We welcome all opinions but do not promise that we will agree. We try to remain civilized in our arguments but, again, cannot promise that we are not occasionally joined by bigots, harassers and maniacs. It’s always fun even when it’s infuriating. Keep us in mind.

By IdolFanJD

December 8, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this

Thank you so much for saying that. I need to apologize to anyone I offended. I was just blown away that someone would try to start something that was so not true. I am a die hard Idol Fan, but also a die hard fan of the truth! Rodney, you Rock! It was great to finally meet you Sunday.

By Nana

December 9, 2008 7:13 AM | Link to this

Good Morning Bloggers. Hope you all had a great evening last night.

I see we had quite a discussion regarding Justin. IMO, he is a doll! If I live to be a hundred, I will never understand the saga of putting someone down, esp someone you don’t know. So he went to a gay bar, so what? That doesn’t mean that he is gay, now does it?

To IdolfanJD, I second Deirdre’s welcome aboard. We are a feisty but likable bunch here. Come and join us anytime. In a few weeks, we will be in full form and ready to meet new people.

By harrietth

December 9, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this

Good morning to all! I have been missing in action this past several days, due to the annual flurry of end of the year stuff at a college—fnals, grades, registration for next year, etc. It will gradually die down, though. I have peeked in from time to time to see what you’ve talked about, and I applaud you, IdolFanJD. And, I join the others in the same invitation. Rodney, thanks for keeping us abreast of things during the “down” time of the Idol year.

By Deirdre

December 9, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

Morning!

I almost always enjoy it when Rodney does a piece on a former Idol and his/her fans show up. It’s always nice to meet new people. I hope some will join us during the season.

By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,

December 9, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

IFJD, let me add my welcome to the Blog … please DO join us in the future!!! Your input is not only welcome, it’s refreshing!!! And lest you be driven away by the slooooooooooownesssssssss of this style blog, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that AJC will move this blog to a much more user-friendly format soon (hey Rodney, any word yet???)

catch you guys later!!!

By atlsitcom

December 9, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

to IdolFanJD

you missed it, please read before you go off the deep end.. I could call you an idiot… but ill hold back

By musicatl

December 8, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this

LOL naaa, to each there own, it was just cool to see an American Idol acting like there was nothing going on�

is what I said, I really dont care what he is or what he does or what he does, it was just cool to see him out and about… I think he needs better friends…

By atlsitcom

December 9, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

To: IdolFanJD

I paid the bill and I tipped very well. please queen… we know how your bread is buttered…

By Deirdre

December 9, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

atlsitcom…we try to avoid name-calling here so perhaps you could make your point in a more friendly way. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and, believe it or not, we welcome yours.

It’s very difficult to view someone as intelligent or to respect their opinion when they’ve included name-calling in their statement.

By Stephen

December 9, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

It is unreal to believe that there are still people (shallow ones) who want to label someone as being gay simply because they go into a gay bar. It is 2008, and gay people have straight friends who feel very comfortable hanging out with them in their comfort zone just as gay people go to straight clubs with their straight friends to hang out. So..to the dude/queen throwing stones about Justin, JUST GET A LIFE PLEASE!!!!! and keep your silly innuendos to yourself.

By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,

December 9, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

Stephen, LOL! Take a deep breath. If you will re-read, we already sorta took care of this… all is good!!! there’s a thin thin line between being judgmental and stating a fact. sometimes, when it’s just “written word” it’s hard to tell the spirit in which the words are meant. I.e., a bigot can say the words “He was hanging out at a gay bar” and a…. fan, let’s say, can say “He was hanging out at a gay bar” … the bigot probably means then he must be gay while the fan means see how open-minded and friendly he is, and how so many diverse people are fans of his.

Since we cannot know for sure, the pollyanna in me tends to TRY to take the more positive meaning and ignore the possibility of the negative…

just a little soap for the day :-)

By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,

December 9, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

ahhhhhhhh new thread… just in the nickle of dime!!!

By LwrvilleRider

December 9, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

I agree with Linnie, I think the person was only stating he was seen at a Gay bar, not saying that he was, and reading it, he never stated that he was, I think it was the others jumping way to quick to say thats what the poster was saying, Thank you very much Linnie for pointing this out, I think this conversation is done, he was seen at a gay bar with friends… and thats what the poster on this blog was saying, Stephen, please take into heart the real subject only , he was seen, nobody say he was doing anything but watching sports..

By JTesla

December 9, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

And the collective response to Justin being at a sports bar seems to be… yawn. If some chump thinks that they can make money from TMZ for having pictures of Justin eating chicken wings then please come back and tell us how much they paid for pics of a D list celebrity watching TV. The guy is doing gigs for the Salvation Army, any exposure at this point would be good for “the brand”

By gay-dar

December 9, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

From the moment I saw this kid, I thought he was gay. (Not that there’s anything wrong with it.) So, I’m surprised about the engagement. Never even saw him with anyone in pics. Again, not bashing. Just hope he isn’t trying to boost his hetero fans by pretenting to be one of them. I wish him the best.

By karen

December 9, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

He sucks… He cant sing worth a damn..

By Marie

December 9, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the interview and the videos of Justin’s performances. He seems to have a great attitude and is doing well. It is great that American Idol provided a platform for all these young people to launch their careers.

By IdolFanJD

December 9, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this

If I jumped to conclusions too quickly I apologize, but when you said �there are pictures to prove it� I took it as you were trying to claim he was gay because he was in a gay bar. I am not the only one who came to that conclusion. Another poster started this whole thing about the poor girl he was marrying, blah, blah, blah� I met Justin the first season of Idol and I can honestly tell you with every fiber of my being he is not gay. I wish he was! I have a huge crush on him! He is, in my opinion one of the most wonderful guys in the world. He has a heart of gold and is one of the most humble and caring artists I have ever worked with, and as an event producer I have worked with them all. Again, I apologize To atlsitcom, I don�t have a clue what your �bread and butter� comment means, but I am assuming it�s hateful. I am a man of integrity and I do not hide behind anonymous posts. I take full responsibility for every word I speak and believe firmly in the biblical principal that the truth shall set you free. I stand proudly stand behind every word I post and sleep at night with a clear conscience. I am glad to be a part of your group and after I return from the Christmas concert in WPB will tell you all about it. JD