I am happy to report that Diana DeGarmo’s stalker has be sentenced to two years and two months in prison after being convicted for the second time in three years.  She will, however, be eligible for parole in a year.

According to Radar Online, the 23-year-old cyber-stalker, Tanya Maree Quattrocchi, “pleaded guilty to accusations she hacked into the MySpace account of DeGarmo and intercepted the e-mails of her roommate and mother.”

She has made Diana’s life really difficult and I honestly think that the woman is not only dangerous but she’s also in dire need of some mental help (and I hope she gets it!). 

Can you imagine having a stalker?  It’s got to be hard when you’re a celebrity because you’ve got to find a way to feel comfortable with a crowd without being overwhelmed by it but when you know that there is someone out there who is truly obsessed with you (and willing to go to jail for it) and possibly intends to harm you in some way, how do you ever leave the house?  I would be a basket case!

An Australian woman who allegedly stalked American Idol season 3 runner-up, Diana DeGarmo, has been denied bail.

Oddly enough, the cyber-stalking began back in May 2007 when Tanye Maree Quattrocci, 23, was convicted of blackmailing and stalking DeGarmo.  The whole situation would have ended with Quattrocci completing her community service but the woman just could not stay away.  She subsequently hacked into DeGarmo’s MySpace account 700 times between May 2008 and January 2009.  How is that even possible!?

The next hearing for Quattrocci will be held on May 1, 2009 but the woman had tried to petition the court to allow her to get out for Easter, with her mother promising to quit her job to watch over her.  The requests were denied.

I have loved some celebrities in my lifetime but I’ve never understood the concept of stalking.  The only thing it accomplishes is that the object of your affection will begin to hate and resent you.  Sure, they know your name but it doesn’t matter because it’s a negative thing. 

Have you ever been tempted to stalk a star in a non-healthy way?  I’d love to hear about it!

image: Jyle Dupuis

I know that I have a huge number of Diana DeGarmo fans who read this blog so I thought I would let you know about “An Intimate Evening With Diana DeGarmo” which is an all-day workshop and concert at the Virginia Samford Theatre in Caldwell Park (Birmingham, AL). 

The schedule for the event, which takes place on April 4, 2009, is as follows:

• Workshop: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Broadway Auditioning/Q&A
• Workshop: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM - American Ido Auditioning & Critiques/Q&A
• Concert: 7:30 PM in the VST’s Martha Moore Sykes Studio. Opening act will be Nicholas Chambler.

Hurry to get your tickets before they are all sold out.  The workshop registration is $40 for each session or $70 for both.  Tickets for the concert are $30 or $25 for workshop participants.

For more information please contact Showstoppers Promotions at showstopperspro@aol.com or phone 205-798-5361.

Tickets: 205.251.1206 or www.virginiasamfordtheatre.org

After announcing the release of the new albums by Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Hicks, I got many emails from you readers reminding me that there was another American Idol releasing music this week. 

Diana DeGarmo has released an EP titled “Unplugged in Nashville” which is now available on CD Baby, Itunes and Rhapsody.  Here is the tracklisting:

1. Kiss Me
2. Like I’m Not Even Here
3. Thank You
4. Find Me

The songs are all acoustic so the focus is on Diana’s pure vocals which, of course, are amazing.  I’d love to hear what you guys thought of the music.

image: CDBaby.com

American Idol season 3 runner-up, Diana DeGarmo, is currently appearing in Oz: The Musical and this video of her, singing “I’m Here” as Dorothy, was uploaded to YouTube a couple days ago.  Predictably, she’s amazing. 

To see tour dates here, visit the official website of Oz: The Musical.  I wish she was coming to a city close to me!

I just came back from the private opening of the American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios and I had a blast.  I’m thoroughly exhausted but it really was a lot of fun.  Disney really knows how to put on a show and I am extremely grateful to them for the fabulous trip!

I will cover the event in three parts (motorcade, American Idol Experience show and the after-party) over the next three days.  Today, I’ll kick things off by telling you all about the American Idol motorcade. 

The blue carpet was rolled out for the stars and one by one.  Mickey Mouse got things started but was then followed by Justin Guarini (runner-up, season 1).  He looked great and was all smiles for the fans and the media.
Next was Chris Sligh (finalist, season 6).  He talked a little bit about how his song “Here Comes Goodbye” was picked up by Rascal Flatts and is actually the first single off of their new album.

It was a star-studded event.  Check out more pictures including Carrie Underwood, David Cook and David Archuleta after the jump!

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American Idol season three runner-up, Diana DeGarmo, was a featured guest on PopTub this past week.  Wondering what Poptub is?  It’s a YouTube channel, sponsored by Pepsi, that highlights “YouTube stars, the best viral videos, undiscovered gems, and your favorite celebrities.” 

They talked to Diana about a variety of topics but, of course, they began by talking about American Idol but then they asked about the YouTube videos she watches (she said she likes to watch 80s music videos like Quarterflash’s “Harden My Heart”).  It’s a cute little segment.  Watch it here:

American Idol season 1 runner-up, Justin Guarini announced on his BlogTalkRadio show that he has joined the cast of the third season of CMT’s Gone Country. 

He follows in the footsteps of Diana DeGarmo (runner-up of season 3 of American Idol) who appeared on the last season of Gone Country.  It’s been great for her career and I think her new music really suits her.  Hopefully, Justin can find the same kind of success from being on the show.  Regardless, it should be interesting to see how he fits in to the genre!

[Photo Credit: Tony Phipps, CMT. An MTV Network.]

American Idol season 3 runner-up, Diana DeGarmo, has been cast in the lead role of Todrick D. Hall’s “OZ, The Musical.”  If his name sounds familiar, you might remember him as the director of Oprah’s Broadway hit “The Color Purple.”  I’m sure it’s going to be great!  Is anyone already making plans to go see it?  I want to hear all about it and feel free to come back and share stories and pictures!

Here are the current tour dates:

• Abilene, TX – February 5, 2009
• Dallas, TX – February 7, 2009 
• Dallas, TX - February 8, 2009
• Fort Worth, TX - February 10, 2009
• Fort Worth, TX - February 11, 2009
• Waco, TX - February 14, 2009
• Beaumont, TX - February 17, 2009
• Austin, TX - February 21, 2009
• McAllen, TX - February 24, 2009
• Corpus Christi, TX - February 28, 2009

In the meantime, free auditions are being held in each city where the musical is performed.  The director is looking for children (must be between the ages of 6 to 16) to cast as Munchkins.  The kids will get a chance to appear alongside Diana and the other cast members.  What an opportunity! 

For more information, visit the official ”Oz, The Musical” website!

image used with permission

The third season of American Idol was finally a battle between two female contestants – Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo (pictured below on the set of the Larry King Show).

It was also the year that Jennifer Hudson was eliminated in 7th place.  I remember not being about to believe she was sent home and I wondered what was wrong with the public but she got her revenge by winning an Oscar award for her performance in Dreamgirls. 

Since the show Fantasia has released two albums (Free Yourself and Fantasia), has been nominated for awards and appeared in The Color Purple (April 2007 to January 2008) on Broadway.  She is expected to release a third album sometime this year.

Diana released one album, Blue Skies (2004), appeared on Broadway in the musical Hairspray (September 2006 to February 2007), performed at Carnegie Hall (April 2007) and finally made the career-changing decision to appear on Gone Country.  She released the country music track, “Right Back Where We Ended” and has won rave reviews in the genre.

Here are the Top 10 from season three.  I remember really liking Matthew Rogers so I’m happy he’s now the host of the Discovery Channel’s “Really Big Things.”  Who did you like from this list?

• Fantasia Barrino – Winner
• Diana DeGarmo – Eliminated May 26, 2004
• Jasmine Trias - Eliminated May 19
• La Toya London - Eliminated May 12
• George Huff - Eliminated May 5
• John Stevens - Eliminated April 28
• Jennifer Hudson - Eliminated April 21
• Jon Peter Lewis - Eliminated April 15
• Camile Velasco - Eliminated April 7
• Amy Adams - Eliminated March 31
• Matthew Rogers - Eliminated March 24
• Leah LaBelle - Eliminated March 17

image: Newscom