‘The show exists to find the next cute white guy with a guitar,’ says Richard Rushfield, author of ‘American Idol: The Untold Story.’ By Gil Kaufman Phillip Phillips performs on the “American Idol” finale on May 22 Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images Even if she hadn’t been saddled with what is possibly the worst “American Idol” finalist song in the show’s history, the chances of Jessica Sanchez beating Phillip Phillips seemed slim. The guitar-strumming, foot-swiveling, five-o’clock-shadow-having Dave Matthews doppelg
G.O.O.D. Music producer Mike Dean ‘was bumpin’ us before we got hot. Why stop now?’ A$AP Rocky says on ‘RapFix Live.’ By Rob Markman A$AP Rocky on “RapFix Live” Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News When A$AP Rocky broke through last year with “Purple Swag,” he didn’t exactly scream NYC. Instead of producing a more-recognized New York sound, Rocky and his A$AP Mob drew from Southern influences. Rock’s slowed-down, syrup-drench swag was more Houston than Harlem — then again, that was part of its appeal. Still, Rocky’s crew has had its share of critics — most recently, a veteran dirty South producer. “We need some new H Town rappers to blow up. Why the f— there all these fake ass Houston knock off artists from up North and West,” Mike Dean tweeted Sunday. “I mean rep where you are from not us. We gotta stop this sh– ASAP!!!!” “He was just talkin’ subliminal about Northern people. You gotta look at it like even Bun B embraces us, and we look up to him too,” Rocky said when he appeared on “RapFix Live” on Wednesday. “Not only that, it’s love when we’re out in the H-Town, and on top of that, he was bumpin’ us. This Mike dude was bumpin’ us before we got hot. Why stop now?” After the initial tweets, A$AP Yams responded to Dean in defense of his crew: “@therealmikedean. I respect ur work legendary [but] u def sound ignorant. The new generation is a melting pot of influences from everywhere. Get off that old head sh–.” Dean, who now works with Kanye West and produced a number of tracks on Watch the Throne , made his name with songs for Houston rap legends Big Mello, Z-Ro and Scarface. After some back and forth, Dean tweeted that he “wasn’t speaking on anyone in particular” and thanked Yams for keeping the H-Town movement alive. Yams joined Rocky on the “RapFix” couch Wednesday, saying, “You gotta realize, we’re a whole ‘nother generation. We didn’t just grow up on our sound regionally. We didn’t just have DJ Kay Slay mixtapes. We were 8 years old when Master P and Cash Money was coming out, so we still had that as an option. If you look at all the greats, they all just a mixture of everything.” Share your opinion about Mike Dean’s comments below! Related Videos A$AP Rocky Rips Up ‘RapFix Live’ Related Artists A$AP Rocky
Frontrunner Phillips beats out 16-year-old Jessica Sanchez for the season 11 crown after a ‘world record’ of 132 million votes. By Adam Graham Phillip Phillips performs on the “American Idol” season 11 finale Photo: Getty Images The lights were dimmed, the votes were counted, and Phillip Phillips became the new “American Idol.” As expected, Phillips beat out Jessica Sanchez on Wednesday’s (May 23) Season 11 “Idol” finale, live at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre. Phillips topped Sanchez after a reported 132 million votes were cast — “a new world record,” according to host Ryan Seacrest. Phillips teared up while performing his winning song “Home,” while confetti rained down on the stage around him. The Leesburg, Georgia, native has been a cool cucumber all season long, but he broke down in the moment, just as he did during his hometown visit last week. Phillips didn’t finish the song, but strolled off stage and into the arms of his family, who were waiting in the first few rows. As streamers fell and the band played on the stage behind him, Phillips hugged his family members, and later judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. Phillips came out of Tuesday’s performance episode the heavy favorite to win it all and was celebrated by the judges for his “Home,” which was tailor made for his laid-back style. On the other hand, Sanchez’s would-be winning song, “Change Nothing,” was sloughed off by the judges and even Sanchez herself, who acknowledged the song wasn’t really in her wheelhouse, and said she’d aim to put more of herself in her future recordings. Heading into this season, the buzz was that a woman would win “Idol,” becoming the first female winner since Jordin Sparks in 2007. Four of this year’s top six contestants were female, but Phillips proved unbeatable in the stretch. Sanchez was an early favorite in the season, stepping out in front with her show-stopping rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” on the March 7 episode. But she hit her stumbling blocks along the way, and was voted out on the April 12 episode, and had to be saved by the judges to stay in the competition. Phillips was steady throughout the season. His name — that name! — made him an instant standout, and he played it cool all season long, never letting much of anything — including the season-long illness he battled — ruffle his fathers. (On Thursday’s show, he joked — he was joking, right? — that he got nine and a half to 10 hours of sleep the night before.) He was often criticized, and fairly so, for his similarities to Dave Matthews, but he came alive in the final two weeks, knocking out Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight” and his winning “Idol” song, “Home.” Wednesday’s finale packed the usual array of medleys, group performances and guest appearances. Stars on the roster included Rihanna (who hit the stage to perform “Where Have You Been”), Chaka Kahn (who joined the female finalists on “I’m Every Woman”), Neil Diamond (who did “Sweet Caroline” with the male contestants) and Reba McEntire (who sang “Turn on the Radio” with Skylar Laine). Josha Ledet sang Elton John’s “Take Me to the Pilot” alongside Fantasia Barrino, whom he introduced as “the biggest inspiration in my life” and who hit the stage in a wild, form-fitting catsuit and long hair, while another former “Idol” winner, Jordin Sparks, took the stage with Hollie Cavanagh on “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” John Fogerty teamed up with Phillips on the Creedence Clearwater Revival classics “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and “Bad Moon Rising,” and Jennifer Holliday teamed up with Sanchez on the “Dreamgirls” signature song “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” (Earlier, Sanchez hit the stage on her own to reprise her performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”) The “Idol” finalists — minus Phillips and Sanchez, who teamed up on Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes’ “Up Where We Belong” late in the show — opened the show with Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby,” and the male finalists paid tribute to the late Robin Gibb by running through a handful of Bee Gees classics, including “How Deep is Your Love,” “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” and “To Love Somebody.” The “Idol” judges got in on the action as well. Jennifer Lopez performed “Goin’ In” with Flo Rida and Lil Jon and “Follow the Leader” with Puerto Rican duo Wisin & Yandel, while Steven Tyler hit the stage with his Aerosmith cohorts to do their new single “Legendary Child” along with “Walk This Way.” The show also featured “Idol’s” first live wedding proposal, when fifth season finalist Ace Young proposed to third season runner-up Diana DeGarmo while the dramatic “Idol” suspense-building music played in the background. (DeGarmo accepted despite Young’s tacky jewelry store plug mid-proposal.) Phillips and Sanchez were also given new Ford automobiles for their efforts. Next up? After the finalists make the media rounds, the “American Idol” summer tour — featuring the season’s top 10 finalists — kicks off July 6 in Detroit. What did you think of the “Idol” finale? 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 Finale Red Carpet
‘It’s not really something I would write, so I’m excited to get my own stuff out there,’ he tells MTV News. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Kelly Marino Phillip Phillips on the “American Idol” finale red carpet Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images As has been his M.O. throughout this 11th season of “American Idol,” Phillip Phillips wowed the crowd and the judges with his show-stopping final performance of would-be single “Home.” MTV News was lucky enough to chat with Phillips on the red carpet leading up to the big finale Wednesday (May 23), where he revealed a few details about how he wound up choosing the rootsy ballad. “It wasn’t really too much of a process,” Phillips admitted with his trademark “aw, shucks” smile. “I got to hear it once and they said, ‘Would you like to do it?’ ” Obviously, Phillips did want to do that song, a smart decision that led to the evening’s only standing ovation from the judges. However, if the Georgia native had to do it all over again, without the strict time constraints they work under on “Idol,” Phillips said he would have preferred to have performed his own original song. “I wanted to do my own stuff, but we only had a certain amount of time to do everything, so I had to do that one, and it’s a really good song,” he said. “The writers are really good. It’s not really something I would write, so I’m excited to get my own stuff out there.” We’re sure Phillips’ adoring fans are excited to listen to his “stuff” as well. In the meantime they can watch and re-watch the sweet-tempered 21-year-old’s final performance, complete with a marching band, to hold them over. 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 Finale Red Carpet
‘I’m very nervous but I’m very excited at the same time,’ 16-year-old contestant tells MTV News before the season 11 finale. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Kelly Marino Jessica Sanchez on the “American Idol” finale red carpet Photo: Getty Images It’s all come down to this: the finale of the 11th season of “American Idol” , with 21-year-old guitar-strumming southern gentleman Phillip Phillips pitted against 16-year-old vocal powerhouse Jessica Sanchez. There are endless sports-related clich
Singer sits down for a now-rare interview on ‘Ellen’ before release of his upcoming album Born and Raised. By Jocelyn Vena John Mayer appears on “Ellen” Photo: Warner Bros. John Mayer really is putting his “Shadow Days” behind him. After being a bit too candid in interviews back in 2010, where he frequently talked about his sex life and exes, Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson, the singer decided he needed to step back from the spotlight. With a week until he drops his new album, Born and Raised, the singer/songwriter sat with Ellen DeGeneres for a now-rare interview airing Tuesday. video platform video management video solutions video player “It was a very strange time and it sort of rocketed me into adulthood. It was a violent crash into being an adult,” Mayer told DeGeneres of his “TMI” era, per Usmagazine.com . “For a couple of years, it was just figuring it all out, and I’m glad I actually stayed out of the spotlight. Because I think back then I would’ve said, ‘Give me two weeks or let me get out and do ‘Ellen’ and let me explain myself.’ It was like, ‘No, idiot. Go away and be 33 and 34 instead of 28 for the fourth year.’ ” He added that he needed a break from the publicity and “had to go home for a minute… I just sort of lost my head for a little while.” With a new album on the horizon, Mayer is also dealing with some lingering vocal-cord issues, which caused him to cancel his spring tour and scale back on album promotion. “They cut this thing out of your throat and then they inject your vocal cords with Botox, which freezes your vocal cords so that this thing can heal without smacking up against the other side. I just need more Botox next time,” he explained. “It’s not a health concern whatsoever, but it has taken me out of singing. I tried to beat it the first time and couldn’t.” Related Artists John Mayer
Jonas Brother and co-star Michael Urie, who end their Broadway run Sunday, tell MTV News the fans ‘say some pretty wild things.’ By Jocelyn Vena Nick Jonas Photo: MTV News Nick Jonas will end his run in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” when the Broadway show closes Sunday. The singer, along with his co-star Michael Urie, will no longer play business rivals on the Great White Way, but do continue to hold fond memories of their time in the show. When MTV News caught up with the actors recently, they recalled some of their favorite fan encounters during their tenure in “How to Succeed.” “The craziest fan encounter? The great thing about the fans is that they are polite during the show,” Jonas said. “At the beginning of the show, they have an opportunity get excited, and then throughout the show, they are very polite.” Everyone’s polite — at least, until Jonas got his smooch on. “Occasionally, they’ll have little outbursts of craziness,” he remembered. “It usually comes for me during the kissing moment during the show. They can say some pretty wild things I can hear out of the corner of my ear. It’s fun.” Urie joked, “I actually stand offstage during the kiss and scream things like, ‘Nick, Nick, oh Nick,’ with about that [deep] inflection.” All joking aside, Urie did have some warm, fuzzy encounters with the show’s fans before every performance. “Before the show, it’s fun to come into the theater every night, because there are people waiting. Sometimes there are people camped out waiting that aren’t even there to see the show,” he said. “They’ve already seen the show or they’re seeing the show in the future, and they’ll be like, ‘Hey Michael, good show.’ And they’re very cool and easygoing.” Both Jonas and Urie joined the show in January. Their run was expected to go until July 1, but they’re closing a bit early. With the show ending Sunday, Jonas will now devote more time to recording a new album with his brothers. The Jonas Brothers are currently hard at work on their follow-up to 2009’s Lines, Vines and Trying Times . Have you seen “How to Succeed”? Share your review in the comments below! Related Artists Nick Jonas & The Administration
Band will attempt to break Hov’s record for most live concerts in 24 hours at the O Music Awards, set for June 27. By James Montgomery Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images The O Music Awards are back once again. And this time, they’re taking the bus … all day long. Yes, on June 27, the digitally driven event will let someone else take the wheel as they play out aboard a tricked-out tour bus that will travel through the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of rock and roll. The trek — from Memphis to New Orleans — will take place over 24 hours, making the O Music Awards the world’s first 24-hour awards-show live stream. Of course, that’s not the only first that’ll take place during the show. In keeping with tradition, the O Music Awards will also see another attempt at a Guinness World Record as the Flaming Lips ride along aboard the bus as the de facto house band and aim to break Jay-Z’s record for the most live concerts in 24 hours by playing gigs in eight different cities. “I don’t remember if I was asked or if I volunteered. … But I’ve accepted the job of not driving but commandeering the Magical Mystery Merry Prankster bus,” Lips frontman Wayne Coyne said. “I’ve accepted the attempt at breaking the world record of performing eight shows in 24 hours. And I’ve explained to the music freaks at MTV, VH1 and CMT that I am not a host. … But I always liked the way Jerry Lewis would get all sweaty toward the end of his yearly telethon. To play and sing Flaming Lips songs at eight in the morning, well … I’m open to new experiences.” You can watch Coyne go for greatness on June 27 when the O Music Awards stream live at OMusicAwards.com . That’s also where you can vote for your favorites — including Nicki Minaj, One Direction, Taylor Swift and, uh, MC Hammer — in O Music Award categories like Fan Army FTW, Must-Follow Artist on Twitter, and Too Much Ass for TV, given to the best NSFW video. The full list of nominees can be seen over on the O Music Awards official site . Additional performers and presenters for the June 27 show will be announced in the coming weeks.
‘[Today] is the last episode of the season and I think we are just really relieved,’ finalist Jessica Sanchez says about Wednesday’s finale. By Kelly Marino Jessica Sanchez performs on the “American Idol” finale on May 22 Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images The end is finally upon us. On Wednesday night (May 23), someone will be showered in confetti and ultimately crowned the 11th “American Idol” after going head-to-head in last night’s final performances. Will Jessica Sanchez take home the title, finally becoming the first female contestant since Jordan Sparks in 2007 to win? Or will it be Phillip Phillips , whose stage presence is so similar to the last few years’ winners, apparently all he needs to do is make the ladies melt with that guitar and he’ll be a shoo-in for first place. Regardless, not a lot of people can say they stuck it out this long. “Of course we all want to win, but it gets to a point where nobody really makes it this far,” Sanchez, a.k.a. the tiny girl with the huge voice, said backstage Tuesday night. “I love that I’m with [Phillip] in the top two. It’s amazing. He’s goofy and he’s funny and he is an amazing artist and an amazing person overall.” And those feelings were mutual — in so many words or less. When asked what his favorite performance of the night was, the humble yet painfully bashful Phillips replied with that infamous smile, “Probably all three of Jessica’s.” According to the judges though, it was Phillip Phillip’s song choice of “Home” in the final round that stole the show, giving him the one and only standing ovation of the night — a moment that might not have happened had he not calmed his nerves earlier on. “I was scared to death,” the husky-voiced Georgia native explained after realizing he would be performing in front of more than 7,000 audience members inside the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. “But you know, I went out there and finally loosened up throughout ‘Stand by Me,’ and I just had fun the rest of the night. It was so, so fun.” And after three months of crazy schedules, lack of sleep, countless critiques, powerful (and some not so powerful) performances, it’s about time to have some fun and loosen up. With Tuesday night’s two-hour finale their last show of the season, both “Idol” hopefuls, who will take the stage singing duets with some of their favorite artists, agree it is a stress-free road from here on out. “We just feel like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders,” 16-year-old Sanchez admitted. “[Today] is the last episode of the season and I think we are just really relieved. We are going to miss each other so much. We are going to be on tour together, but I mean, this competition has taught us so much and it’s been really tiring too.” “We got to the point that whatever happens, happens,” Phillips, the only contestant never up for elimination, added. “We are two completely different artists and we wish each other the best with both of our careers.” 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
‘He’s the best celebrity dance partner anyone could ask for,’ his pro dance partner Peta Murgatroyd said. By Kelley L. Carter Peta Murgatroyd and Donald Driver on “Dancing With the Stars” Photo: ABC Upon hearing his name called as the season 14 winner of ABC’s hit show “Dancing With the Stars,” Donald Driver stopped, dropped and rolled. “Amazing! This is awesome!” he said, his fist punching the sky in excitement. It was a sweet moment, considering that Driver, an NFL star, revealed that he’s been a longtime fan of the show and had watched it since its inaugural season. Driver ran around the ballroom dance floor and screamed his excitement, while rolling around on the floor after he found out he outscored classical singer Katherine Jenkins (Monday night’s top scorer) and her partner Mark Ballas. On Monday night, Driver and his partner, Peta Murgatroyd, danced the Argentine tango for their first dance, and head judge Len Goodman said he loved Driver’s intensity. The other judges thought his storytelling through dance was moving. The three judges gave him one point shy of a perfect score for that round. For the freestyle round, the Green Bay Packers wide receiver two-stepped to country music, which could have been a risk on the ballroom floor. The judges loved it, and Carrie Ann Inaba actually jumped up on the table and proclaimed, “This is my favorite dance of the season!” For that, Driver earned a perfect score. As for Tuesday night’s finale, he danced one last shirtless dance, for which the judges gave him another perfect trio of 10s. Len Goodman named him the best dancing footballer they’ve ever had on the show. “He’s the best celebrity dance partner anyone could ask for,” Murgatroyd said before her partner was crowned the winner. “I was lucky.”
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