American Idol Update

It's been a while, I thought I would let you know what some of the most successful Idol alums are up to.....

Kelly Clarkson's new single "I Do Not Hook Up", cowritten by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, is doing great on radio and climbing the charts. Her new album has sold 400,000+ albums and counting.
As reported on her myspace page, Tamyra Gray is about half way through her sophomore album, (www.myspace.com/tamyragray)
Season 2 winner, Ruben Studdard is starring in the traveling tour of the Tony Award winning musical, "Ain't No Misbehavin".
Joshua Gracin is touring this summer and you can see the schedule be going to his official website, www.joshuagracin.com and click on the "tours" section.
Miss Fanstasia Barrino, Season 3 winner, will star in the Oprah Winfrey produced film adaptation of "The Color Purple" musical. She will also reportedly release her third album this summer entitled Him vs. Them. As a side note, she is set to appear at this year's 42nd Hampton Jazz Festival in Hampton, Virginia (June 25-28).
George Huff (remember him?) released his second album, the self titled gospel influenced CD can be bought on his myspace page (www.myspace.com/georgehuff).
Jennifer Hudson is currently on tour with R&B phenom Robin Thicke. She will also appear on the Today Show summer concert series on May 15th.
The lovely miss Carrie Underwood has lots to celebrate, two new singles, "I Told You So" and "Home Sweet Home". She took home two huge awards from the Academy of Country Music for Top Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year. Carrie is the first woman to achieve the Entertainer of the Year honor since 2000 when The Dixie Chicks won the award. Overall, she is only the 7th woman to win this honor in the 42 year history of the award show. Carrie has also indirectly confirmed that she is dating Ottawa Senators Hockey player Mike Fisher. Check out Carrie's acceptance speech at the ACM's... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEjPbDepI5M
Bo Bice has a few tour dates for this summer, especially in the New England states, check out his website for details www.bobice.com
Elliott Yamin's new album Fight For Love drops on May 5th; the album boasts music from producers Dave Tozer, StarGate, and Jermaine Dupri.
Kellie Pickler is spending the whole summer and part of the fall touring with gal pal Taylor Swift; check to see if she is coming to a location near you.... http://www.kelliepickler.com/?content=tour.
Bucky Covington has a new single on radio, "I Want My Life Back", and he releases his new album on September 8th, keep checking his myspace page for updates, www.myspace.com/buckycovington
Freedom is the title of Mandisa's new gospel album from Sparrow Records; it is the follow up to her Grammy nominated album True Beauty. The first single off Freedom, "My Deliverer" is inspired by Mandisa's desire to lose weight; she has lost 75 pounds and counting.
Jordin Sparks, Season 6 winner, is hard at work in the studio working on her second album which is expected to be released in the second half of 2009. She is scheduled to perform the lead single off that album, "Battlefield" on the May 13th results show on Idol; the song is written by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic.
LaKisha Jones is expanding her family, she and husband Larry Davis are expecting a child in August; LaKisha has a 6 year old daughter Brionne from a previous relationship. She is also releasing her debut album on May 19th, So Glad I'm Me.
Chris Sligh has found his way into the gospel genre of music; he is currently nominated at the Dove Awards for New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Empty Me". Chris also co-wrote Rascal Flatts' current single, "Here Comes Goodbye".
David Archuleta is touring this summer with Disney artist Demi Lovato, check out his website for tour dates.... http://davidarchuletanetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs/david-to-tour-with-demi-lovato.
The unforgettable Jason Castro has signed a record deal with Atlantic Records! He is working with writer and Idol judge Kara DioGuardi and producer Jon Fields. Castro has rerecorded the song that got him noticed on Idol, "Hallelujah", and it will be on the movie soundtrack for the film Amar a Morir, currently filming in Mexico.