According to The Hollywood Reporter, former American Idol winner, Fantasia Barrino will be starring in a new unscripted series on VH1.  The show, which is currently planned to premiere in early 2010, will chronicle her life as a recording artist and single mother. 

They decided to do the show based on the fact that “Fantasia has one of the most fascinating stories in show business” and I can see what they mean.  I hope this works out for her and doesn’t end up adding stress to her life but, with the economy the way it is, I can’t imagine turning down an offer to do a television show.

When I watch programs like Jon & Kate Plus Eight and even American Chopper, I always wonder how having cameras following you around affects your real life.  Do your relationships become fake?  Do you lose the intimacy of those private moments? 

What do you think?  Would you do a reality TV show and, more importantly, will you watch Fantasia’s new show?

image: Bauer-Griffin

Fantasia Barrino has told Access Hollywood that she has decided to earn her high school diploma this year.  That’s great!  Despite being famous, it probably feels pretty bad to not have graduated from high school.  The 24-year-old singer said: “Yep, going back to school to get my diploma.  Well of course I can’t go in a school because I would probably like, start a riot , but I’m gonna get a teacher to come teach me everyday. I’m gonna get my diploma starting in maybe three weeks. So you know, it’s gonna be tough, it’s gonna be hard, but it’s gonna be a testimony to a lot of young people and a lot of people who are in my shoes. I wanna go back to show them you can go back, it doesn’t matter, never too old. Go back.”

She also wanted to address all of the rumors that her home was in foreclosure because she couldn’t pay for it.  Of the 1.3 million estate in North Carolina, Fantasia said: “We’re still in my home. I take care of my whole family so there’s no way I could [let] anybody take it,” she said. “It wasn’t a foreclosure, it was just somebody trying to take it away from me, but that’s the industry and there’s a lot of people out here, but as you can see I’m still a strong tough cookie, I got that from Miss Celie.”

I’m guessing Fantasia is quite attached to the role since it looks like she will be returning to the play: “Yes, Miss Celie. [I’m] going back, end of June around my birthday time, so another birthday with Miss Celie,” she said.

image: Bauer-Griffin

I cannot put up pictures yet of what I saw while I was inside the American Idol Experience attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios but I can tell you a few things! There were five finalists and we were given instructions about how to vote for the person we liked best (there’s a voting panel on the armrests).  The only problem is that you can accidentally change the vote of the person sitting next to you, which happened to me (fortunately, it was my husband).

At the event, all of the former American Idol winners were brought on stage where they were presented with awards made especially for this occasion (they looked like old-fashioned microphones).  This was the first and only time that I saw Kelly Clarkson. 

Season 7 winner, David Cook, did an acoustic version of his hit, “Light On” and then season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood, also performed an acoustic rendition of her song “All-American Girl.”  They pair then sang “You Can Go Your Own Way” together and it was such a good duet that a lot of people were later saying they should actually record and release it as a single.

There was also a pretty hilarious exchange between Ryan Seacrest and Paula Abdul while they spoke to the “contestants” before the performances.  Paula went over to give them tips on how to relax and when she started massaging one girl’s shoulder, Ryan said something like “now, remember Paula about the rules regarding contestants?”  The audience booed but we also laughed when Ryan referenced the situation with former contestant, Corey Clark, who alleged that he had an inappropriate relationship with Paula.

That’s basically all I’m at liberty to say but, in the meantime, here’s a video that walks you through the attraction:

image: Jyle Dupuis

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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Did you guys tune in to see the 40th Annual NAACP Awards? The amazing Jennifer Hudson, who suffered a big loss recently, won four awards last night! We also saw a win for American Idol season 7 and one for Fantasia Barrino.

Jennifer won for The secret Life of Bees which took the award for Best Motion Picture while American Idol season 7 won for best Reality TV Series.

Fantasia and Jennifer both won for Best Duo, Group or Collaboration for J-Hud’s song “I’m His Only Woman” featuring Fantasia. Then, Jennifer snagged two more awards! One for Best New Artist and the other for Best Album for her self entitled CD, Jennifer Hudson.

Were there any disappointments for you guys at the awards last night?

image: Bauer-Griffin

American Idol season 3 winner, Fantasia Barrino, sparkled in a gorgeous black dress on the red carpet at the 2009 Grammy Awards (I don’t know about those shoes, though).  When she stopped to speak to Idol host, Ryan Seacrest, he actually asked her if the rumors about Simon Cowell paying off her defaulted mortgage were true.  She said “no” but wished that he would pay for it! 

Jennifer Hudson blew me away last night.  Not only did she look absolutely stunning, she gave an emotional performance that left me crying on my couch.  She is so brave.  She only recently returned to the public eye after the tragic murder of her mother, brother and nephew and I think she is doing incredibly well.

Her performance garnered a standing ovation. Watch it here:

American Idol stars turned out to attend the pre-Grammy Awards part of Arista Records head, Clive Davis.  From the pictures I was able to find, I saw Carrie Underwood (winner, Season 4), Jennifer Hudson (finalist, Season 3) Kelly Clarkson (winner, Season 1), Chris Daughtry (finalist, Season 5), Fantasia Barrino (winner, Season 3) and Idol judge, Paula Abdul.  Other guests included big-name celebs like Miley Cyrus and Rihanna.

SEE MORE PICTURES AFTER THE JUMP

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 Fantasia Barrino can breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate since it looks like her home will not be auctioned.  A lawyer for a lending company claims the matter over her million-dollar home has been resolved after the two parties came to an agreement. 

Apparently, the lender had helped the American Idol winner pay off her taxes back in 2006 but she had failed to repay the money they had loaned her. 

Wow… tough times.  I don’t know all the details but I am happy that this matter could be resolved without having to auction off the home.  If nothing else, it’s embarrassing to have something like this happen publicly, regardless of the reasons. 

image ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Frank Micelotta / FOX.

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