Ruben to release 'Love IS" on May 19

The second season's big, lovable velvet teddy bear champ may have lost his record deal with J Records, but he need not worry thanks to Hickory Records. Ruben Studdard was picked up by the independent label, which also is home to Elliott Yamin, and plans to release his fourth studio album Love IS in partnership with 19E on Tues., May 19. Per Croshal Entertainmnet Group (CEG)'s Web site:

Ruben Studdard's new album is officiall titled "Love IS" and will be released May 19th on the 19 Entertainment/Hickory label and will feature new songs along with classics from the past American Idol winner. The first single titled "Together" is going to radio this week!

The single is available to stream on CEG's Web site, along with Elliott's new single "Fight For Love." No word yet on when "Together" will hit digital retailers.

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Cook signs with J Records

There are rumblings that David Cook has signed with J Records, which is where a few Idol winners have ended up, most notably Ruben Studdard (who was dropped earlier this year) and Fantasia. This comes on the heels of learning that David Archuleta has signed with another label under the Sony BMG umbrella - Jive. Look for a press release in the near future.

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Taylor Hicks to join the cast of 'Grease'

Taylor Hicks is the latest Idol alum to try his hand at Broadway. It was announced yesterday that the Season 5 champ will star as "Teen Angel" in the revival of the classic 1950s era musical Grease beginning June 6 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

Taylor is not the first former finalist to the Great White Way, nor will he be the last, as Tamyra Gray (Season 1, fourth place) starred in Rent and Bombay Dreams, Clay Aiken (Season 2, runner-up) was in Spamalot, Diana DeGarmo (Season 3, runner-up) played a supporting role in Hairspray, Frenchie Davis (Season 2) starred in Rent, Fantasia (Season 3, winner) was in The Color Purple, as was LaKisha Jones (Season 6, fourth place) among others.

Taylor is also reportedly working on another album after he was released from his contract by J Records earlier this year after his self-titled album failed to sell 1 million copies, stalling at 700,000 copies.

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Keeping up with Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson, the only Academy Award-winning Idol alum, has found a home on the silver screen since placing seventh on the show's third season. After playing the role of Effie White in the critically-acclaimed film Dreamgirls alongside Beyonce and Eddie Murphy in 2006. Aside from winning an Oscar for her supporting role, Jennifer won a Golden Globe, an SAG and a BFCA.

Jennifer next appears in Sex In the City: The Movie as an assistant to Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker), which goes nationwide on May 30. She has a song on the soundtrack titled "All Dressed Up In Love," which will be out May 27. You can listen to the song here.

She will also appear in Winged Creatures with Forest Whitaker and The Secret Life of Bees with Dakota Fanning. Both films are due out in 2008.

As for her recording career, Jennifer signed with J Records in 2006 and expects her debut album to be out sometime in September. To listen to some of her music, visit her official MySpace page.

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