‘American Idol’ concert tour will start July 1
‘American Idol’ concert tour will start July 1
LOS ANGELES — Whether it’s David Archuleta or David Cook who wins “American Idol” next week, both singers will be part of the show’s annual concert tour.
Tickets for this summer’s “American Idols Live! Tour,” which features the TV show’s top 10 contestants, went on sale Saturday, said series creator Simon Fuller and concert promotion company AEG Live.
With more than 50 stops, the tour is scheduled to begin July 1 in Glendale, Ariz., and end in September in Tulsa, Okla.
Besides finalists Cook and Archuleta, other contestants taking part are Syesha Mercado, Brooke White, Carly Smithson, Chikezie Eze, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns and Ramiele Malubay. The season finale of “American Idol” airs Wednesday on Fox.
Taylor Hicks will join cast of ‘Grease’
NEW YORK — Taylor Hicks is going from “Idol” to “Angel.” The “American Idol” alum will join the Broadway cast of “Grease” on June 6, playing Teen Angel in the revival of the popular musical.
The gray-haired singer — whose “Idol” fan base was called “The Soul Patrol” — said he plans to add “soulful flavor” to his performance of “Beauty School Dropout.” The flashy role, he said, is “a classic fit for a classic performer.”
“It’s a big number, and, you know, I’ve made some pretty grand entrances before,” Hicks told The Associated Press on Thursday. “And this one is probably the grandest entrance I’ve had in my career.” Well, besides “Idol.”
Hicks, 31, took home the title in the fifth season of the top-rated Fox show — the biggest stage on television.
Today’s birthdays
Actor Bill Macy (“Maude”) is 86. Actor Pernell Roberts (“Bonanza,” “Trapper John, MD”) is 80. Actor Robert Morse is 77. Actor Dwayne Hickman (“The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis”) is 74. Bluegrass singer-guitarist Rodney Dillard of The Dillards is 66. Country singer Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys is 60. Keyboardist Rick Wakeman of Yes is 59. Country singer George Strait is 56. Singer Butch Tavares of Tavares is 55. Actor Chow Yun-Fat (“Anna and the King,” “The Replacement Killers”) is 53. Singer-guitarist Page Hamilton of Helmet is 48. Guitarist Barry Graul of MercyMe is 47. Singer-actress Martika is 39. Comedian Tina Fey (“Saturday Night Live”) is 38. Rapper Special Ed is 34. Musician Jack Johnson is 33. Singer Darryl Allen of Mista is 28.