Posts Tagged ‘Ryan Seacrest’

On the heels of the latest American Idol castoff being Massachusetts native, Ashley Sullivan, “Idol Across America” is coming to Boston tomorrow!

Although Sullivan, who was labelled “unstable” by “American Idol” was sent home this week, she doesn’t mind and is using her “Idol” fame to kickstart her career.

You can jumpstart your “Idol” career on Sunday, February 27, when “Idol Across America,” a traveling tour bus that is visiting 16 cities across the U.S. stops at Harvard Square.

As part of the tour, visitors  can enter into their “This is American Idol…,” a nationwide contest where fans can record their own take on the introduction made famous by Ryan Seacrest. The winner will be flown to Hollywood and deliver the famous line on the “Idol” stage alongside Ryan.

Fans will also be able to participate in the “Be Your Own Idol” singing experience, pose for photos at the Idol judges’ table, and view one-of-a-kind “American Idol” memorabilia, like Ryan Seacrest’s suit and Carrie Underwood‘s finale dress.

To follow “Idol Across America” and for full contest rules on “This is American Idol…” make sure to check americanidol.com.

On the evening of February 13, the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards aired on CBS, featuring all the biggest stars in music who were nominated for awards, performing on stage, or merely in attendance to show support for their fellow artists.

While he walked the red carpet, R& B singer John Legend stopped to speak to E’s Ryan Seacrest, who asked him about what he did prior to becoming a singer. The artist shared a surprise secret–he at one time worked for a company based out of the Bay State!

Turns out, Legend, whose original name is John Stephens, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999, and first began working as a management consultant for Boston based Boston Consulting Group (BCG). While his stint there did not last very long, his connections there helped to initially market and launch his singing career.

Though they were not there at the same time, former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney is also a former employee of BCG, having graduated from the four year joint Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration program coordinated between Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School, and being recruited by the company upon graduating in 1975.

The company was originally formed when Bruce D. Henderson, a Harvard Business School alumnus, left Arthur D. Little, another consulting firm, to become head of a new management consulting division of the Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company.

John Legend ended up walking away with 3 awards by the end of the evening, to add to the 6 he already won in prior years.

Once again New England represents on America’s top singing competition, “American Idol.”  Last Thursday, Siobhan Magnus from Cape Cod and Katie Stevens from Middlebury, CT nabbed spots in Idol’s Top 12. Last night, the New England singers belted out songs by the Rolling Stones for the first time on the big stage with positive reviews by the judges.

Siobhan Magnus, 19, is known for her blues style of singing with her smashing rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Think” 2 weeks ago.  She may have been lacking in stage presence but last night, she got raving reviews from the judges.  Singing “Paint It, Black” Siobham was original and ended with a screech reminiscent of Adam Lambert.  Randy Jackson thought she was “Hot!” and Simon called it the “stand-out performance of the night.”

With a mature and sultry voice, Katie Stevens, 17,  gave up her senior year of high school for the opportunity to be on American Idol.  Previously on Idol, she was criticized for not showing her youthful side and a lack of emotion.  Last night, after singing “Wild Horses,” Simon Cowell said to Stevens “It was the only week where you chose a strong song, and for the first time, you connected with the song and gave it 100%.”  The remaining judges called it “pitchy” and that her singing is “never technically perfect.”

There’s no doubt the Rolling Stones aren’t easy to sing.  But did these Idol hopefuls rise to the challenge?  You tell us.  The results of last night’s performances will be announced at 9 p.m. tonight on Fox. Watch Katie and Siobham’s performances from last night’s Rolling Stones – themed show and tell us who won your vote!

American Idol kicked off it’s 9th season on Fox last night with auditions in Foxboro and Boston.  Contestants stood in the rain last summer at Gillette stadium in Foxboro but held out with hopes of making it to Hollywood. Although Paula Abdul is no longer on the show, guest judge Victoria Beckham graced the panel doing a fine job as she recalled her days starting out as a singer with the Spice Girls.  According to Ryan Seacrest, “She sees the good in everyone” perhaps making her a fitting replacement for Paula during these early auditions.

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, especially for those from Hollywood East.  Vocal talent was abound here in New England and we can’t wait to watch local talent rise to Idol stardom this season.  Comments from Seacrest included “Boston brought out the big guns but also got downright nasty,” and “Boston has stellar talent.” Many New Englanders received the golden ticket to Hollywood including Ashley Rodriguez, a Berklee student and Boston native, and Katie Stevens of Middlebury, Connecticut.

Getting ahead in Hollywood East or West isn’t easy.  So when anyone gives advice, such as Simon Cowell’s 3 Ps on making it on Idol, we were listening.  Along with a strong voice, Simon says you need “Presence, Power, and Personality” to make it on Idol.  Sounds like star power ingredients to us! We watched the show and tweeted about it last night, so check out the winners and the losers on our Twitter page.

Watch contestants who waited in line at Gillette Stadium last summer on this Hollywood 411 video:

On August 13th, the “American Idol” judges, minus the apparently now defunct Paula Abdul, plus the ubiquitous Ryan Seacrest and none other than Posh Spice herself, Victoria Beckham. The former Spice Girl while originally was only contracted to appear on one episode, flew in to Boston along with the rest of the regular crew to film the second round of auditions for the around 50 regional contestants picked in mid June.

The arrival of Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, and Kara DioGuardi, as well as Seacrest and Beckham created quite a frenzy in the Financial District on Thursday, as the group supposedly caucused at 60 State Street, up on the 33rd floor State Room. While the “AI” regulars paused to sign autographs and pose for pictures with passing fans, Posh, it seems, could not be bothered, and declined to address the audience that had accumulated.

Ryan Seacrest’s Twitter page revealed local stopovers at the Kiss 108 morning show, as well as sampling some Legal Seafoods takeout on, and the garlic calamari at the lip-smacking Lucia on Hanover Street in Boston’s North End, and even made some new local friends along the way.