David Cook: New Album, New Confidence

His gritty rock voice is what helped David Cook, 28, win season seven of American Idol.

But when working on his latest, as yet untitled studio album, he learned to use that voice in a whole new way.

As usual, Cook collaborated with an array of music industry veterans, from Kelly Clarkson songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk to OneRebublic vocalist Ryan Tedder. But in contrast to the "anxiety" he felt making his platinum-selling, self-titled, post-Idol album, the Missouri-bred singer told AOL's Popeater: "Sitting in the room with these people, I still managed to find my voice … really speaking up for myself and making sure that what was happening was going to come across as me and not, 'Here's David Cook singing somebody else's songs.' "

In a behind-the-scenes video shot at Emblem studios in Calabasas, California, Cook comes across as self-assured, but not cocky: "I'm very confident in my own ability to write music, but I think anytime you can bounce ideas off of other people – you know, two heads are better than one."

Together We Are One - The Idol WInners

As a farewell to "Idol creater" Simon Cowell, seven of the eight Idol winners performed Together We are One. It was great to see Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and Kris Allen perform, along with many of the other Idol finalists this tribute to Simon Cowell.

Missing in action was Idol winner David Cook who was involved in a prior charity engagement and was unable to attend.

We'll miss Simon!

Is Kelly Clarkson a Bigger Idol than Carrie Underwood? Billboard Has the Answer.

According to Billboard Kelly Clarkson is the most successful American Idol winner of all time with Carrie Underwood coming in second.

Even though Carrie has sold more albums, Billboard also includes other numbers. And, of course, Kelly came on the scene several years before Carrie so she’s had more time to sell records and have them played on the radio.

Here are Billboard’s numbers:

Kelly has sold 10.6 million albums, 15.9 million tracks and has had 4.2 million radio plays.

Carrie has sold 11.5 million albums and 13.9 million singles. And, she’s had 2.4 million radio plays since she won “Idol” in 2005.

Do you want to know how the rest of your favorite "Idols" ranked? Check out this LINK for the Top 24 American Idols, according to Billboard.

American Music Awards Performances

Many of the big names in the music world performed at last night's American Music Awards. Here are my favorite performances:

ADAM LAMBERT


LADY GAGA


JENNIFER LOPEZ


BLACK EYED PEAS


WHITNEY HOUSTON


JANET JACKSON


SHAKIRA


MARY J. BLIGE


KELLY CLARKSON


JAY-Z & ALICIA KEYS


CARRIE UNDERWOOD

MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection #46

Kelly Clarkson is in the #46 spot of the "MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection" countdown of his 100 favorite dance club mixes with "My Life Would Suck Without You" (DJ Ranny vs. The Popstar Mix) from this year.



Get your MUZO fix at http://blog.muzophile.com/.

MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection #53

#53 in the "MUZOPHILE: The Decade Collection" countdown of his 100 favorite dance club mixes is Kelly Clarkson with "Since U Been Gone" (Jason Nevins Club Mix) from 2005.

Here's the original version of this song.



To hear the Jason Nevins club mix of this song, click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_0F-dOWaRE.

For the rest of MUZO's countdown and so much more, visit his blog at: http://blog.muzophile.com/.

Kelly Clarkson is Working on a New Album

Good news, Kelly Clarkson fans; the American Idol fave is already working on her fifth studio album, and plans to release it next Fall.

In a recent radio interview, the All I Ever Wanted songbird revealed: “We’re already working on it. [The songs] are really different. The next record is going to be really different."

As for how many Kelly Clarkson originals will be on the new collection, the singer, who will be on tour until March 2010, isn't sure yet:

“If I end up liking stuff that I’ve done then I’ll include it, but if I like other stuff better I’ll use that. Sometimes you’re just more inspired I guess, and sometimes if you have records that come out really close together it might be more other peoples' songs. Because there’s not enough time to write and sing and perform and do everything.”

Either way, it should be exciting to hear what she cooks up.

VH1 Divas Live Concert - Kelly Clarkson &Melissa Etheridge

Last night we had the pleasure of listening to a new generation of "Divas" at the resurrected VH1 Divas Live concert.

Here is Kelly Clarkson & Melissa Etheridge's "Bring Me Some Water" performance:

VH1 Divas Divas Video

VH1 Divas Live Concert - Kelly Clarkson

Last night we had the pleasure of listening to a new generation of "Divas" at the resurrected VH1 Divas Live concert.

Here is Kelly Clarkson's "Already Gone" performance:

VH1 Divas Divas Video

Kelly Clarkson Licks GMA's Sam Champion

Kelly Clarkson sticks her tongue out and pretends to lick weather anchorman Sam Champion during Good Morning America in Central Park, New York City on Friday morning. The 27-year-old original American Idol performed her hit songs “Already Gone” and “Walk Away.”

Here are her live performances from the show.

"Already Gone."


"Walk Away"

Beyonce and Kelly Clarkson Release Same Song By Accident

If you've listened to Top 40 radio recently, you've undoubtedly heard Beyoncé's new single "Halo," an autotuned departure from her typical ballad. You may have also heard Kelly Clarkson's latest single, "Already Gone." And you might have recognized that the songs share the exact same intro, and many elements thereafter. That's because Beyoncé and Kelly share a producer, Ryan Tedder, who apparently neglected to inform both parties that the song had been given to both of them.

Clarkson isn't particularly happy about the mix-up. She told the Canadian Broadcasting Company: "No one's gonna be sittin' at home, thinking 'Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyoncé and Kelly the same track to write to.' " she said. "No, they're just gonna be saying I ripped someone off."

"I fought and fought" to stop it, she said, but couldn't. "In the end, they're releasing it without my consent," says a frustrated Clarkson. "It sucks, but it's one of those things I have no control over. I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It's kind of a sh---y situation, but...you know, you learn."

At least Kelly made the song her own.

Kelly Clarkson's single:


Beyonce's single:

Video: "Already Gone" by Kelly Clarkson

Check out the new “Already Gone” music video from the original American Idol Kelly Clarkson.



The video was directed by fellow Texan Joseph Kahn, who also worked with Kelly on some of her other videos including “Never Again” (2007), “Walk Away” (2006) and “Behind These Hazel Eyes” (2005).

VH1 Divas: Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis & Adele

The legendary live concert event "VH1 Divas" is returning after a four-year hiatus and will feature big voices like Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis and Miley Cyrus.

The VH1 Divas concert will be televised live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. The special will air at 9:00 pm (ET) on Thursday, September 17 on VH1.

Producer Lee Rolontz said, “Adele, Kelly, Leona and Miley have all captured the world’s attention with their talent and have earned their designation as VH1 Divas this year. Don’t let some of their young ages fool you - these women are among the best entertainers in the world and will continue to thrill music fans for a long time to come.”

Kelly Carlson is Nip/Tuck's Bikini Babe

White hot bikini-clad Kelly Carlson (the actress and model, not Kelly Clarkson the American Idol winner) and costar Julian McMahon shoot scenes for an upcoming episode of Nip/Tuck on a beach on Friday, June 5th in Malibu, California.

What’s with all the white? It’s not a wedding, is it??

19 more episodes of Nip/Tuck will air on FX. They will be split into two halves airing in both January 2010 and January 2011 marking the end of the series with an even 100 episodes.

Which 'American Idol' Star Is the Top Earner?

Winning American Idol isn't a guaranteed ticket to millions - just last year, former winner Fantasia Barrino nearly lost her home due to lapsed mortgage payments. But it doesn't preclude future success either: Jennifer Hudson, who finished seventh her season, went on to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

So which American Idol alum banks best?

According to a study by Forbes, country-singing cutie Carrie Underwood is the top performer, with estimated earnings of $14 million last year. She has played over 300 concerts, released 2 albums, and sold 9.6 million CDs and 10.7 million downloads. Not bad.

Jennifer Hudson is the second most-successful AI alum, having earned $5 million last year. She's just returned to the stage for the first time since the tragic murders of her mother, brother, and nephew last fall.

Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol, is still a top-earner as well, despite her most-recent album, All I Ever Wanted, failing to reach the zenith established by Breakaway (2004). She earned an estimated $4.2 million last year.

Kelly Clarkson: I Do Not Hook Up!

Check out the cover art for Kelly Clarkson’s new song, “I Do Not Hook Up.”

Check out the pink bustier and purple feather details at the bust!

“I Do Not Hook Up” is the second single off Kelly’s latest album, All I Ever Wanted. Greg Wells penned the song with Katy Perry (”I Kissed A Girl”) and Kara DioGuardi (American Idol). “I Do Not Hook Up” is expected to be released on Tuesday, April 14th.

American Idol: Top 13 Perform Live Tonight!

Last week, 13 lucky number contestants made AMERICAN IDOL history when the judges decided to add 4 Wild Card performers to the Top 12 group, instead of 3 previously announced!

Meet the Top 13:Top Row (L-R): Matt Giraud, Lil Rounds, Anoop Desai and Scott MacIntyre, Middle Row (L-R): Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta and Jorge Nuñez and Bottom Row (L-R): Megan Corkrey, Jasmine Murray, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, Kris Allen and Michael Sarver

The Top 13 will battle it out for your votes tonight live at 8 pm (ET). Then Kelly Clarkson and Kanye West will perform during the live results show tomorrow at 9 pm (ET).

America, I ask you, "Who has your vote?" I'm giving my vote to Danny Gokey all the way until he wins in May!

Kelly Clarkson's Idol Encore

Kelly Clarkson is returning to American Idol for an encore performance.

The Grammy Award winner will perform her new hit single "My Life Would Suck Without You" on Wednesday, March 11th on the results show, airing at 9 pm (ET) on FOX.

The new single was released on January 28th and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart two weeks in a row. Her latest CD "All I Ever Wanted" will be released this Tuesday.

Kelly was American Idol's first winner when she took the country by storm in 2002.

Kelly Clarkson is Not a Lesbian

Singer Kelly Clarkson, currently at the top of the U.S. pop charts, said on Tuesday she was not a lesbian but sometimes wished she was because "often times men are very hard for me."

Clarkson, the first and one of the most successful winners of TV talent show "American Idol", told AOL's pop culture news site, PopEater.com, that she was accustomed to being asked if she was secretly gay.

"Lesbians tell it to me all the time. I'm like, 'I'm glad it works for you and I wish I liked women like that because often times men are very hard for me, but I happen to like boys.'

"I could never be a lesbian. I would never want to date (someone like) myself, ever. I'm a crazy person. I need some kind of stable, quiet man," Clarkson, 26, said.

But the double Grammy winner, who has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide since winning "Idol" in 2002, said she had never been in love and defended herself against suggestions that this was odd.

"I recently got back from this European promo tour...and every interview kept focusing on that....I'm like 'Well, maybe ya'll just fall in love too quickly. Have you ever thought about that?' "I was like 'I don't think its very odd. I'm 26 years-old,' and I just think I'd rather have quality than quantity," Clarkson said.

Clarkson said her singing career takes priority right now over dating, adding that she wanted a boyfriend with his own life who could handle celebrity gossip and the demands of the music industry.

Clarkson, whose previous hits include "Since U Been Gone", leapt to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the digital charts last week with her new single "My Life Would Suck Without You.". Her fourth album will be released on March 10th.

Sneak Peak: Kelly Clarkson "My Life Would Suck Without You" Video

My friend, MUZOPHILE, has shared with the world this sneak peak of Kelly Clarkson's video to her newest single, "My Life Would Suck Without You".

I personally love it and am ecstatic to see Kelly is headed back to the top of the charts with this incredible song.