American Idol Stars

Last night was great, I thought all of the performances were awesome. It's going to be hard to pick who will be eliminated this week. I think it will be Chikezie. I think he's done all he can at this point. The competition is way too stiff. I thought David Cook's performance was spectacular. The guy is willing to make songs his own. I get tired of contestants getting up there and doing cover versions of the songs. Do something to make it special...follow David Cook's lead.

At this point, I think it will boil down to David Cook, Brooke White and Carly Smithson. But then it is anyone's guess who will win, they are all really strong singers.

BLUE SKIES AHEAD FOR MUSICIANS INSTITUTE ALUM BROOKE WHITE, WHOSE CHARMING TAKE ON “HERE COMES THE SUN” VAULTS HER INTO AMERICAN IDOL’S TOP TEN

A Favorite Of Both Fans And The Show’s Judges, White Will Join Her Fellow Idol Top Ten Finalists On Tour This Summer

Musicians Institute voice alum Brooke White brought her bright smile and enough musical sunshine to American Idol’s second Beatles Night to earn her a coveted spot in the competition’s Top Ten.

By winning America’s heart with her earnest rendition of George Harrison’s “Here Comes The Sun,” the Mesa, Arizona native also secured her place alongside her fellow Idol top ten finalists this summer on the show’s annual national tour.
A check of the comments in the viewer forums on the American Idol website reveals the way the singer is capturing hearts across the country. One fan writes, “Is it her sincerity when she sings? Her beautiful, captivating smile? Her quirky, sweet personality? I'd have to say it's all of the above and more. She's the real deal, she’s super cool, and really connects with the music she is singing.”

Others echo the sentiment: “Brooke, thank you for bringing the sweet breeze of real music to this pop-heavy competition.” “I think Brooke is extremely talented. Aside from being a charming young beauty, her voice is impeccable.”
And: “I love everything about Brooke. Her voice is unique, she is a pure soul, and she seems like such a kind and humble person. Brooke is someone who I feel won’t let the spotlight change who she is.”

The previous week, White earned the praises of the notoriously hard to please judge Simon Cowell with her transcendent piano and vocal performance of “Let It Be.” He said, “I thought, Brooke, it was again one of the best performances of the night…a brilliant choice of song…three weeks running now…great!”  read more »

Hi Chikezie,

I was appalled to see Ryan rub your head last week! He didn't do that to anyone else and I can't imagine him doing that to anyone except a child. And, he called you, "Boy"! You're a man and deserve to be treated as such.

I saw that you mentioned it on Idol last night and thought that maybe he hadn't apologized to you otherwise you may not have mentioned it. I would like to contact Fox to ask the executives there to ask him to apologize to you. I wish there was something I could do, but don't know how to contact the executives.

David Hernandez was the first contestant eliminated from the Top 12. I'm not really all that sad to see him go. He had a good run, but I don't think he deserved to go much farther. Now if we could only get rid of Syesha, Chikezie, Amanda and Kristy it'd be a serious contest.

SIMON COWELL'S LOVE AFFAIR CONTINUES

ON AMERICAN IDOL WITH FORMER MUSICIANS INSTITUTE STUDENT BROOKE WHITE

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Former Student Is A Top 12 Finalist On American Idol

"Once again, two weeks running, you've done a great performance!" praised America Idol judge Simon Cowell after Brooke White's rendition of of the emotional Pat Benetar ballad "Love Is A Battlefield" on Wednesday nights show. Brooke was spared Simon's usual "tough as nails" critique after she performed a stripped-down acoustic version of the '80s mega-hit while sitting on the steps of the Idol stage.

White, a recent student at Musicians Institute's Vocal Institute of Technology (VIT), made it through to the final Top 12 contestants on Thursday night's elimination show.

Since opening its doors in 1977, Musicians Institute has primed over 20,000 musicians, producers, engineers, vocalists and industry professionals for successful careers in every genre of contemporary music. Located just blocks from the Capitol Records tower, MI has an incredible history of innovation dating back to its origins in 1977 as the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT), which broke new ground as a performance-based contemporary music school taught by working professionals. Within a few years, GIT was joined by bass and drum programs to form Musicians Institute and the evolution has continued to this day with degree and certificate programs for career-minded guitarists, bassists, drummers, vocalists, keyboardists, recording engineers, independent producers, guitar makers, music business professionals and filmmakers.

If you've been wondering what's new with Season 5's country-rocker Bucky Covington, wonder no more--he's been busy building a career in Nashville. His debut album, Bucky Covington, hit the Billboard country charts last year at #1, and his first single. "A Different World", reached the Top 5 in country radio airplay in summer 2007. Bucky's current single, "It's Good to Be Us", is headed up the charts even as we speak.

But wait, there's more! Not only is Bucky on a nationwide concert tour with Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan, he's also just been announced as a nominee for the 100% fan-voted CMT Music Awards, where his video for "A Different World" is competing for the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year nod. (Bucky faces a familiar friendly rival in that category; Season 5's other country success story, Kellie Pickler, is also nominated.) The voting's open now, and the awards show airs on April 14th.

To check out how far Bucky's come since those Idol days, watch his videos for "It's Good to Be Us" and "A Different World" at CMT.com, and catch him live in concert with Dierks Bentley all spring--Bucky's official website has the dates and cities.

It’s my mother’s birthday coming up, and I always fall short on my gifts. She always likes what I get her, but then wishes I was just spending more time with her. I still want to get her something though, any thoughts?