Rihanna will perform her latest new hit single “Where Have You Been” on the American Idol season finale Wednesday, May 23, Fox has confirmed. The newest winner will be crowned that night, with the two remaining finalists duking it out in live performances a day earlier, Tuesday, May 22. With only three performance shows left this spring, Hollie Cavanagh, Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez are still vying for the title. Here’s the video for the song she’ll perform on the Idol season-ender. It was also a big part of Rihanna’s SNL performance this past weekend … Rihanna – Where Have You Been
21. It’s the number most often associated with Adele, due to her best-selling album, one of the most popular in the history of the universe. But let’s all focus on 24 today instead, shall we? That’s because it’s the new age of this incredible artist. That’s right… it’s her birthday! The singer’s 2011 was easily one of the best years ever for a musician, and she kicked off her 2012 in impressive fashion, as well, returning from throat surgery to simply dominate the Grammys. Just watch this rendition of ” Rolling in the Deep .” Wow. Adele is now one of the Most Influential People in the World . And she’s only 24! Just barely, to boot! Send in your birthday wishes now.
There’s been a major shake-up in our American Idol Power Rankings , considering – ouch! – our number-seed from a week ago has been eliminated. Fare thee well, Skylar Laine . Who will take over the top spot? Which of the final four do you think will will the title? Read on. Find out. Vote. 4. Phillip Phillips . We’ve just been here too many times. He’s white. He’s handsome. He plays the guitar. Very well, mind you. But we know exactly what to expect on a weekly basis and it’s no longer unique or exciting. 3. Hollie Cavanaugh . Not too different of a critique than we have for Phillip, really. A great voice, but not a great deal of stage presence. We can’t think of one performance that really stands out and expected her to be voted off this week. 2. Jessica Sanchez . A beautiful rendition of ” You Are So Beautiful ” on Wednesday, continuing her trend of the Ballad Master. We could easily see her win and would stand up and cheer if so, but… 1. Joshua Ledet … not after the week Ledet enjoyed. Both of his covers on Wednesday were stellar, highlighted by ” Ain’t Too Proud to Beg .” Is he theatrical? Yes. Overly dramatic sometimes? Sure. But we’re big fans of Adam Lambert, so we can’t exactly complain about those traits. What a voice! WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD WIN?
After traveling back to the 1960s for their first round of performances last night, the final five on American Idol traveled overseas. They covered a slew of British pop songs, with Joshua Ledet once again leading the way and an interesting race to the bottom unfolding. Who will be eliminated this week? Watch the second set of Idol covers from this week and then vote on the best… Hollie Cavanagh went all Leona Lewis on viewers, following up a version of “River Deep Mountain High” with this solid take on “Bleeding Love.” Hollie Cavanagh – “Bleeding Love” It was back to the guitar for Phillip Phillips for “Time of the Season.” Compare this performance with his rendition of ” The Letter ” now. Phillip Phillips – “Time of the Season” Skylar Laine struggled a bit with her opening song, but did she make up for it with “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me? We think so. Skylar Laine – “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” Jessica Sanchez slowed it way down and told somebody out there: “You Are So Beautiful.” It was an impressive follow-up to ” Proud Mary .” Jessica Sanchez – “You Are So Beautiful” But nothing could match Joshua Ledet on this night. Was “To Love Somebody” his best audition to date? Decide for yourself.
A hearty round of congratulations are in order for Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.: the couple is expecting its second child! “She and Freddie are thrilled,” a friend of Gellar and Prinze tells Us Weekly . “They’re amazing parents.” The famous twosome met while filming the classic 1997 thriller I Know What You Did Last Summer , but didn’t start dating until three years later. They then married in September 2002 and welcomed daughter Charlotte Grace in September 2009. The news of Gellar’s pregnancy arrives just as The CW is figuring out the fate of her latest series, Ringer – and let’s just say the beautiful mother will likely have a lot of free time ahead of her to spend with a new baby.
Following a performance night that saw the remaining American Idol contestants cover both Queen and a song of their choice , six finalists awaited their fate this evening. And after both Stefano Langone and Katy Perry took the stage, we were left with Elise Testone, Hollie Cavanagh and Skylar Laine in the bottom three. There’s no way viewers were voting out Laine, right? Right?!? Right. Instead, Elise Testone heard her name called by Ryan Seacrest to conclude the episode. The soulful crooner bid farewell via “Whole Lotta Love,” as J. Lo got up and danced and the crowd offered one final ovation. What do you think? Did America get it right? Should Elise have been eliminated?
Perpetual cellar-dweller joined in bottom three by Hollie Cavanagh and Skylar Laine. By Adam Graham Elise Testone on “American Idol” Photo: Fox Another one bit the dust, but this one wasn’t hard to see coming. After two weeks of shocking elimination episodes, “American Idol” took a break from the surprises Thursday (April 26), sending perpetual bottom-dweller Elise Testone home. Testone, the 28-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, had faced elimination so many times that “Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine joked she had a “vacation home” in the bottom three. Testone came up on the short end of the reported 58 million votes cast following Wednesday’s performance episode, where she took on Queen’s “I Want It All” and a very wordy rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Bold as Love.” Following the Hendrix song, Randy Jackson told her it “wasn’t the right song for this time in the competition,” and on Thursday’s show, Iovine called Testone “a great singer who makes bad choices.” He called “Bold as Love” a “double down on bad decisions.” Testone, the oldest of this season’s finalists, sang Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” during her exit. It was one of her signature songs of the season. Testone was joined in the bottom three Thursday by Hollie Cavanagh and Skylar Laine. Laine was sent back to safety immediately, leaving Testone and Cavanagh to await their fate. According to host Ryan Seacrest, the 58 million votes cast were 10 million more than the number of votes cast at this point in the season last year. Queen Extravaganza, an official Queen tribute band, opened the show with a performance of “Somebody to Love.” The episode also saw performances from season 10 “Idol” contestant Stefano Langone — who now goes simply by Stefano — who did his debut single “I’m on a Roll,” and Katy Perry, who in a taped performance did a military-themed “Part of Me.” What did you think of “Idol” on Thursday? Let us know in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances Related Artists Katy Perry
Arthur de Soultrait, a friend of Pippa Middleton , is coming to her defense after one of their friends, Romain Rabillard, aimed a gun at photographers last weekend. Romain, Arthur, Pippa and one other individual are now subject to potential prosecution for the bizarre scandal , which shocked the French, US and UK media. Although Kate Middleton’s 28-year-old sister has yet to address the scandal, Soultrait was apologetic in a statement on Wednesday, in which he defended her. He also said the gun wielded at celebrity news media was fake. Pippa Middleton Gun Photo “Last Saturday I was in a car with Philippa Middleton, and we were being followed by the paparazzi,” Soultrait explains of the late night/early-morning incident. “The car was being driven by a friend of mine, whom Pippa had only met a few hours before,” Soultrait, 30, said of Romain Rabillard, a 36-year-old attorney. “As a joke, my friend brandished a toy pistol in their direction.” “Obviously Philippa had no idea that he had the pistol, or that he was going to do that, and told him to stop immediately. She did not find it funny.” Pippa was seen smiling in the gun photo that surfaced after the incident, but it’s unclear if she was smiling at that specifically, or who knew what. There have also been reports that the paparazzo in question knew the piece was fake and laughed it off, rather than feeling threatened in the least. Reports of Pippa facing criminal charges may be overblown, but she’s faced plenty of public backlash, and her sister’s royal in-laws surely aren’t thrilled.
Following the judges’ save of Jessica Sanchez last night, the top 7 finalists on American Idol returned to the stage last night, singing two tracks apiece: a “Now” hit from 2000 and beyond; and a “Then” soul cover. Which contestant impressed you most with his/her first performance? Watch, listen and vote below… Hollie Cavanagh took quite a risk to opening the evening, belting out a version of 2011’s biggest hit, Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.” Hollie Cavanagh – “Rolling In The Deep” Colton Dixon then went all gaga on viewers. Lady Gaga, that is! Check out his version of “Bad Romance” now. Colton Dixon – “Bad Romance” Elise Testone proceeded to give us the first Alicia Keys rendition of the night, taking on the heartfelt ballad “No One.” Elise Testone – “No One” Phillips Phillips may not remind many of Usher, but he did that Atlanta native proud with a take on “U Got It Bad,” remaining one of the season 11 favorites. Phillip Phillips – “U Got It Bad” Jessica Sanchez , taking advantage of her second life on the show, also took on Keys, this time via the hit single “Fallin.” Jessica Sanchez – “Fallin” It was then back to Gaga for Skylar Laine , who made it very clear to the audience: folks, she was “Born This Way.” Skylar Laine – “Born This Way” Joshua Ledet closed the first half of the evening with “I Believe,” an appropriate choice for someone known as “Mantasia,” wouldn’t you say? Joshua Ledet – “I Believe” Seven performances down, seven to go. Which of the “Now” selections did you like best?
Sounds like Jesse James has been reading Bristol Palin’s memoir Not Afraid of Life . Okay, probably not. But he is back with a new reality show and is defiant as ever. “I’m not afraid of s–t,” James proclaimed to E! Online this week while promoting Jesse James: Outlaw Garage , his new Discovery Channel special premiering April 9. “Everyone can say whatever they want about me and call me whatever, but guess what? I’m still standing . I think I’m in a pretty awesome place in life.” That he is, it’s just not in Hollywood. James now resides in Austin, Texas, and slowly returned to TV with an appearance on Discovery’s American Chopper: The Build-Off in December. Outlaw follows James and his team at the Austin Speed Shop as they rebuild a 1932 Ford Roadster. He’s hoping it will soon become a regular series. In any case, he’s not gonna let the sex scandal(s) that torpedoed his marriage to Sandra Bullock (or his engagement to Kat Von D ) get the best of him: “In light of everything that’s happened, I think I came out of it a better dad and a better person while living and working in a place that’s like heaven to me.” James, who sort-of trash talked Sandra on American Chopper, says fans can expect a little bit of an update on his life when his new show debuts. “There’s a little bit of personal life [in Outlaw ] with the kids and kind of explaining where I am now,” James said. “I hate those words ‘reality TV’ because I think this is a refreshing change because none of it is scripted … there’s no made-up drama.” Hey, if anyone knows non-made-up drama, it’s Jesse James. [Photo: WENN.com]
