Preparations are in full swing for Thursday night's American Idol grand finale at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre where, following Wednesday's showdown between Kree Harrison and Candice Glover, the entire audience was loaded out and a new one brought in for a pre-tape of Mariah Carey's performance.
Because in this battle of soul singers -- the first girl versus girl finale since 2004 -- Kree Harrison and Candice Glover, both wildly talented, have proven to be equally deserving of the season 12 title.
It’s the night before the AmericanIdol finale and the moment when millions will see you give your all in three high-stakes performances. Your career is on the line, your family, friends and town are counting on you... So how did KreeHarrison and CandiceGlover prepare for their big day?
Carly Rae Jepsen debuted a new song on American Idol Wednesday night. "Take a Picture," a tune written with the help of season 12 viewers via the Coca-Cola "Perfect Harmony" program, had fans contribute lyrics and performance elements in eight phases. The singer delivered the final version live on the Fox show.
With sagging ratings, the departure of veteran judge Randy Jackson and the future of the show in flux, it needs to be asked: can AmericanIdol be saved?
According to Swedish American record producer RedOne, and season 10 alum Haley Reinhart , it can definitely be done. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the BMI Awards at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles, RedOne said the answer could be found in a familiar face from last season.
Every week, AmericanIdol sends a finalist home -- but not before they step in front of the cameras for one last interview with The Hollywood Reporter's special correspondent (and season 10 alum) CaseyAbrams.
In the middle of a busy schedule that includes wardrobe fittings, song rehearsals and media interviews, season 12’s top two finalists Candice Glover and Kree Harrison took a few minutes of their Tuesday afternoon to do a rooftop press conference on the highest level of Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre: the roof of the parking garage.
The Hollywood Reporter was invited to spend a day with American Idol musical director Ray Chew on the set of the Fox staple. Our vantage point was the vertigo-inducing top step of the staircase that Ryan Seacrest walks down every week to begin the show. That meant looking down at Chew in his well-designed space. For each of his three seasons on Idol, Chew has had a different location, depending on the design of the set.
"Teddy bear," "sweetheart," "supporter" -- those are just some of the words used to describe Randy Jackson by American Idol graduates. Since 2002, when he first sat alongside then-judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, the affable music industry veteran has become a pop culture icon thanks to his signature catch-phrases and less-is-more critiques.
Hours before ad buyers flood into the Beacon Theatre for Fox’s upfront presentation, entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly took time to pontificate about broadcast’s ailing model and the potential changes he’s looking to make.
'THE VOICE' BOOSTS AN IDOL: Here’s a first: a performance on The Voice has sent an American Idol’s single hurtling up the charts. Danielle Bradbery sang “Jesus, Take the Wheel” on the NBC talent competition series and now finds her own version of Carrie Underwood’s first post-Idol hit debuting on Top Christian Songs at No. 13.
Angie Miller's American Idol exit came as a shock on Thursday night, as the top 3 finalist, and presumptive frontrunner cleared the way for Kree Harrison and Candice Glover to duke it out on the season 12 finale.
Perhaps equally surprising: how the 19-year-old Beverly, Mass. native managed to maintain her composure following the show.
