'Idol' odds 'n ends: Antonella "Jersey Girl" Barba premieres a music video

The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:

>Antonella Barba is back on the scene with a new single and music video. The Jersey girl is acknowledging what she is and after releasing the single "Jersey Girl" on iTunes back in May, she premiered her new music video for the track on her official YouTube page yesterday. Watch the video below (I'd suggest doing so with the audio off):

Well, I hear producers of MTV's Jersey Shore are searching for a theme song to the second season of the reality series. Maybe this will be a real winner? Or maybe Antonella could earn a spot in the cast. Now that would make the show worth watching!

>News of Kellie Pickler's engagement to Nashville-based songwriter Kyle Jacobs came as a bit of a surprise to many, but when considering the recent string of engagements among blonde country singers (see Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert), it wasn't too out in left field. According to an article on People.com:

The couple met through friends about 2 1/2 years ago, and Pickler, who was raised by her grandmother after her mother left and her father went to jail, says she learned how to have a healthy relationship from her new fiancé.

"Kyle took away all my fear of marriage and has shown me the way love is supposed to be," she says.

Thanks to Jacobs -- as well as a renewed relationship with her dad, Clyde Pickler, who's been sober for a year -- "I'm in the happiest place I've ever been," she says, adding that she plans to have her father walk her down the aisle.

This development is a very positive one for Kellie and caps off a great year for her career-wise.

>In what seemed to be more of an afterthought than an example of striking while the iron is hot, Crystal Bowersox was finally allowed to perform on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Monday night. Watch her perform "What's Up?" below:





Also on the show was self-professed Idol fan and actress Dakota Fanning, who coincidentally said she was also a "huge fan" of Crystal.

>Adam Lambert was up in Canada for the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards on Sunday, where he was one of 10 American and Canadian artists to perform. Watch his performance of "Whataya Want From Me" below:





Adam actually took home an award, too. He nabbed the "UR Fave: International Video" category (whatever that means).

>Danny Gokey released his second music video last week, this time for his latest single "I Will Not Say Goodbye." It premiered exactly one week ago during CMT's "BIG NEW MUSIC WEEKEND," which also featured new video premieres from artists like Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw and LeAnn Rimes. Watch the video below:





The video is pretty hard-hitting, and even though his late wife Sophia is not referenced by name or anything, it's pretty clear she serves as the inspiration for the video along with the side stories of loved ones speaking about family members they've lost.

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IDOL LIVE Blog - Top 10 Girls Perform (3/3/10)

Tonight we blog during the Top 10 female semifinalists' performances, which will have to work hard to be worse than last week's offerings. Considering neither of the girls that went last week were unexpected, tonight should go a little smoother and should feel lighter with less voices needing to be packed in together. Hopefully Crystal will be well enough to perform.

Please feel free to add your input throughout the two-hour blogcast, with coverage starting just prior to 8 p.m. ET.

Tonight's blogcast features the music of Antonella Barba, Carly Smithson, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Kelly Clarkson, LaKisha Jones, Megan Joy and Melinda Doolittle.

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Flashback: Antonella Barba's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing"

Antonella Barba was one of the most talked about semifinalists in Idol's history during the show's sixth season before famously being eliminated during Top 16 week, but it was not for her performances on the stage. After being lambasted in the media for racy photos that leaked on the internet, Antonella's singing abilities were overshadowed by calls for her expulsion from the show. Now almost three years since the controversy, watch her performance of Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" on the show making sure to focus just on her vocals below:

Antonella might not have been the strongest vocalist on her season, but she did put up a valiant effort in the face of a nationally publicized airing of dirty laundry. Still, these things happen when relatively unknowns are launched into the spotlight overnight.

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IDOL LIVE Blog: Top 7 Results (4/15/09)

Tonight we will almost certainly see someone go home, although the judges might be more tempted to use their save opportunity since they've only got a few weeks before that option goes out the window. Regardless of whether or not someone is granted immunity, it probably is worth following along to see how badly Miley Cyrus fails in her pre-taped performance, and how Jennifer Hudson shows her how it's really done in her live performance. As usual, the blogcast will begin at 9 p.m. ET and will last one hour.

Tonight's blogcast will feature music from Antonella Barba, Bo Bice, Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson and Kellie Pickler.

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IDOL LIVE Blog: Group 3 Performs (3/3/09)

Join us tonight as we blog during the third and final group of 12 semifinalists' performances in this two-hour extravaganza. Will they heed the judges' warnings and choose the right songs? Probably not, but that will make for good TV at least. The blogcast begins at 8 p.m. ET as usual.

Tonight's blogcast will feature music from Alexandrea Lushington, Antonella Barba, Blake Lewis, Brandon Rogers, Carly Smithson, Chikezie, Danny Noriega, Diana DeGarmo and Fantasia.

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Mikalah Gordon celebrates her 21st b-day in LA

Mikalah Gordon recently celebrated her 21st birthday bash in Los Angeles, Calif. Read a full press release below courtesy of 11-16 Entertainment:

AMERICAN IDOL FAVORITE AND GONE COUNTRY STAR MIKALAH GORDON CELEBRATES 5 YEARS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND HER 21ST BIRTHDAY

Los Angeles, CA (January 20, 2009) - Singer/TV Personality MIKALAH GORDON from American Idol and CMT's Gone Country, celebrated her 21st birthday Hollywood style with an official red carpet bash at Mood Nightclub in Los Angeles, presented by top event and promotions company Red Carpet Events and management company 11-16 Entertainment on Saturday January 17, 2009.

Fellow Idols and celebrity friends came out to celebrate this special night with MIKALAH, including special guest host Antonella Barba (Idol Season 6), last season's Chikezie (Idol Season 7), AJ Tabaldo, (Idol Season 6), TV Personalities Ryan Boone (The Denise Richards Show), Jarrett del Bene (The Hills), Lamorne Morris (BET), and many other industry guests. Adding to the excitement leading up to the event was last week’s two-hour premiere for the new season of American Idol, which also featured a look back at memorable Idol moments including audition footage of then contestant MIKALAH GORDON at 16 years old.

Wearing a silver strapless minidress with black trim from cutting edge designer VOOM by Joy Han and distinctive jewelry pieces from Andrea Lucille Designs, MIKALAH arrived with a large group of friends and hit the red carpet showing off her colorful tattoos and edgy, rock ‘n roll style. Chikezie serenaded MIKALAH with “Happy Birthday” as she partied the night away, sharing bottles of Belvedere with her guests. Cameras followed MIKALAH throughout the evening taping for a yet to be revealed reality television project. The event was sponsored by trendy chic Jenny B Clothing www.jennybclothing.com and hot new Caramba Tequila www.carambatequila.com.

Mikalah will next appear at Tabu Ultra Lounge in Las Vegas on Sat., Feb. 7.

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'Idol' odds 'n ends: Ratings improve for second episode

The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:

>Although there was much ado about Season 8's premiere's ratings, which were the lowest since 2004 when the third season's special Monday premiere drew 30 million viewers even. Tuesday's premiere garnered 30.1 million, but Wednesday's follow-up episode was able to take in 30.2 million, up ever so slightly. The episode is the single-highest rated episode of any show on any network for the current TV season.

>Jennifer Hudson may not be singing the National Anthem at the Inauguration as some had speculated, but she will be fulfilling the duty at the Super Bowl on Sun., Feb. 1, in Tampa, Fla. She follows in Jordin Sparks' footsteps as the second Idol alum to receive the honor.

>Playbill.com yesterday announced that Diana DeGarmo will be starring as Dorothy in the Texas tour of the new show Oz the Musical. It will run from Feb. 5-28 and will be directed by veteran producer Todrick D. Hall, who also directed Oprah's The Color Purple on Broadway.

>Taylor Hicks appeared on Chicago's WGN News today to promote the release of his upcoming single and album in addition to his current national tour with Grease. Watch him perform "Gonna Move" below:

He also played the Grand Prize Game, for which he donated $500 to Chicago's Boys and Girls club for every ball he made in during the game.

>Mikalah Gordon is celebrating her 21st birthday Idol style. The Gone Country star will party at Mood in Hollywood tomorrow night beginning at 10 p.m., with Antonella Barba fulfilling hosting duties and Chikezie providing entertainment for the affair. It is open to the public.

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'Idol' odds 'n ends: Simon done with 'Idol' next year?

The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:

>In a conference call with reporters on Wed., Dec. 17, Simon Cowell said he will "make a decision about (whether to stay with the show) next year," prompting many to speculate that Simon is tired of judging the show or perhaps there might be too much on his plate at the moment.

>There were a few Idol-related certifications issued this week by the RIAA. David Cook's David Cook was certified gold, while Jordin Sparks' Jordin Sparks finally received a platinum certification.

>Carly Smithson was featured on the front page of AOL.com today for a story by the company's Pop Eater blog on a story Carly did with the Los Angeles Times earlier this week. The Pop Eater story paints a bleak future for her and many other Idol alums. Carly was in the studio earlier this week working on a demo.

>David Archuleta performed at the last "jingle" ball/jam/etc. concert on his schedule on Wed., Dec. 17, this one sponsored by Atlanta's Star 94 FM. At the concert, his band gave him a birthday surprise - a big ol' birthday cake equipped with trick candles.

>Antonella Barba posted a blog entry on her official music MySpace page today to thank her fans and let them know that she will be in the studio working with Interscope/Aftermath producer and aFam Records CEO Bernard Edwards in two weeks.

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Antonella sez: "Vote, then party!"

Antonella Barba has been busy inviting people to the 2008 Election Night Party, being sponsored by ElectionNight.us and ElectionMall.com. She will be hosting the event and is currently starring in the following video promoting the bash:



The party will take place at Ultra Bar in Washington, D.C., at 8 p.m. Per a Facebook Event page, New York City's DJ Burnout & DJ Nik will be spinning. Tickets are still available to purchase online ($25 non-beverage, $40 open bar). IDOL LIVE can't think of a better way to spend Tuesday night than with Antonella.

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Keeping up with Baylie Brown

Season 6 will forever be remembered more for its controversies than its talent, and Baylie Brown was a casualty of the former. The then-16-year-old country singer drew comparisons to Carrie Underwood due to her appearance and the fact that she lived on a ranch and impressed the judges with her rendition of Faith Hill's "Stronger," so much so that Simon called her "commercial with a capital C."

But Baylie's hopes were dashed in Hollywood when she was stuck with best friends Antonella Barba (the one with the pictures, remember her?) and Amanda Coluccio, which led to feuding and ultimately Baylie's demise.

Despite the fact that she could not advance on Idol, the Krum, Tex., native has actively pursued a career in country music, and is currently in the process of putting her debut album together. It helps that Jay DeMarcus, one of the members of Rascal Flatts, is producing the album. There are three tracks up on her official music MySpace page, "This Is My Life," "Young As Me" and "I Wish Ya Woulda Told Me," all of which sound like they could be hits on country radio.

Baylie, who is signed to Universal South Records, will appear today at 12th & Porter in Nashville where she will have a showcase at 6 p.m.

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VFTW nets $40K in 2007

Only halfway through the seventh season of American Idol, the infamous Votefortheworst.com (VFTW) has made the headlines for its unconventional approach to the hit FOX show and breaking news many times since the start of 2008. In today's New York Times, however, the site's founder, Dave Della Terza, was profiled. The reason for giving Della Terza a valuable spot on the Times' layout: the revelation that the controversial site netted him roughly $40,000 in revenue in 2007.

Terza said the revenue came mostly from Google Ads, and it has been gaining every year since the site's inception in 2005. Della Terza told the Times the following:

"It didn’t start out as a moneymaking venture; it wasn’t an attempt to leech off the ‘American Idol’ brand."

VFTW's most notable story leaks include the controversial photos of season 6 semifinalist Antonella Barba and news that season 7 finalist David Hernandez had worked as a stripper in the past. The site is currently encouraging members to vote for Amanda Overmyer.

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