The "American Stars in Concert: Spring Break" tour kicked off yesterday (if you went to the show, I’d love to hear how it was!).  The show features performances by American Idol finalists Melinda Doolittle (Season 6), Chikezie (Season 7), Gina Glocksen (Season 6) and Phil Stacey (Season 6).

Here are the tour dates are as follows:

• 3/15/09 - Ft. Pierce, FL at Sunrise Theatre
• 3/18/09 - Panama City, FL at Marina Civic Center
• 3/20-3/21/09 - Dallas, TX at Dallas Symphony
• 3/25/09 - Lancaster, PA at American Music Theatre
• 3/26/09 - Kalamazoo, MI at Wings Stadium
• 3/27/09 - Dearborn, MI at Ford Center
• 3/28/09 - St. Charles, IL at Arcada Theatre
• 3/30/09 - Marion, IL at Marion Cultural and Civic Center
• 4/15/09 - Worcester, MA at Hanover Theatre
• 4/16/09 - Springfield, MA at MassMutual Center
• 4/17/09 - Morristown, NJ at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts
• 4/18/09 - Glenside, PA at Keswick Theatre
• 4/24/09 - Boise, ID at Morrison Center
• 5/1/09 - Ivins, UT at Tuacahn Center for the Arts

Melinda has been pretty great, updating her comings and going on Twitter.  If you haven’t added her already, you should! - http://twitter.com/mdoolittle

Do you have a Twitter profile?  If you don’t, you should consider getting on there because it’s one of the best ways to keep track of what your favorite celebrities are up to!  There are a growing number of American Idol stars on there that you can start following (if you haven’t already).  Feel free to email me or add some that I’ve missed in the comments area and I will update this post.

• Michael Johns (finalist, season 7) - http://twitter.com/michael_johns
• Jordin Sparks (winner, season 6) - http://twitter.com/TheRealJordin
• Ryan Seacrest (host) - http://twitter.com/RyanSeacrest
• Melinda Doolittle (finalist, season 6) - http://twitter.com/mdoolittle
• Anoop Desai (top 36, season - http://twitter.com/noopdogg
• Brooke White (finalist, season 7) - http://twitter.com/babblingbrookie
• Alexis Grace (finalist, season - http://twitter.com/AlexisGOnline

Do you use Twitter?  If so, feel free to add me (http://twitter.com/JeanneD) or share your Twitter ID in the comments section below!

image: twitter.com

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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Melinda Doolittle was a force to be reckoned on the sixth season of American Idol.  Judge, Simon Cowell, had hoped she would be in the finale but she ended up finishing in third place behind Blake Lewis (runner-up) and Jordin Sparks (winner).  Today, Melinda’s first album drops and I hope you pick up a copy!

The album, Coming Back to You, was recorded using live instruments and you can feel and hear the richness in the quality of the tracks.  It’s got a real old-school, Motown kinda feel to a lot of it but I think it’s definitely worth a listen.

image: Amazon

The sixth season of American Idol brought us a fantastic Top 12.  It also brought me to this site.  I started blogging on Idol Stalker right around the time the Top 12 was announced that year so, it always brings back fond memories.

What do you remember about that year?  Was it Jordin Sparks’ winning moment?  Blake Lewis’ killer performance of “Shot Through the Heart (You Give Love a Bad Name)”?  Sanjaya’s ponyhawk? 

To help jog your memory, here’s the Top 12 list from the sixth season of American Idol (dates indicate when the contestant was eliminated, year was 2007):

• Jordin Sparks – Winner
• Blake Lewis - May 23
• Melinda Doolittle - May 16
• LaKisha Jones - May 9
• Chris Richardson & Phil Stacey - May 2
• Sanjaya Malakar - April 18
• Haley Scarnato - April 11
• Gina Glocksen - April 4
• Chris Sligh - March 28
• Stephanie Edwards - March 21
• Brandon Rogers - March 14

image: Newscom

American Idol season 6 finalist, Lakisha Jones (or “Kiki”) will be marrying her fiancé, Larry Davis, this coming weekend in Beverly Hills.  I know it’s probably not going to be some $30 million wedding but, having seen Lakisha’s vivacious personality on the show, it’s probably going to be lavish (in her way) all the same. 

Her rumored guests include former Idol hopefuls, Melinda Doolittle and Gina Glocksen, singer Chaka Khan and a performance by the legendary gospel singer, BeBe Winans.

I wish Lakisha and Larry all the best and hope that their wedding day is everything they want it to be!

image credit: newscom

American Idol season six finalist, Melinda Doolittle, was on the Today show this morning and she looked fantastic.  She was on the show to surprise her cousin at her wedding (Melinda told her that for contractual reasons, she couldn’t attend the wedding but she lied!!!).  She sang for them and it was really touching and sweet to see the bride come out and squeal with delight when she saw Melinda!  Ms. Doolittle also revealed that her album will be out this fall!!!  Can’t wait!

Watch Melinda sing “Never Felt This Way“

Watch Melinda sing “I Love You I Do” after the jump!

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Melinda Doolittle was eliminated from season 6 of American Idol on May 16, 2007 and it was a sad moment.  I was sure she was going to be in the finals.  Simon Cowell had expressed his preference for Melinda with lavish praise only to see her get eliminated.  He, along with many of us, was shocked to see her go.

Here’s her performance of "Nutbush City Limits"

I can only really include a couple of the Idol shows since my ability to really follow them is limited by what I can see on television or watch online.  So, please keep that in mind when you leave your comments

Shocker #5 - A Chinese Contestant on Indian Idol

Meiyang Chang, a dentist, was the first contestant of Chinese origin to reach the top 5 on Indian Idol. 

His elimination on August 25, 2007 (he finished in 5th place) was so shocking to judge, Alisha Chinai, that she got up and left the stage in tears.  She later returned at Chang’s request.

Watch Meiyang Chang perform!

More after the jump!

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Melinda Doolittle is currently appearing in a Zaxby’s commercial for fried chicken.  First, I just want to say that I am really frustrated that a woman of her talent has not been signed to a label.  That being said, I think she does a great job on the commercial and I would buy chicken from her any time!!!  Check it out and tell me what you think!