I read on The Insider that American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood has decided to take part in a public service announcement honoring teachers.  It makes sense if you know anything about Carrie’s family - her two sisters are teachers and so was her mom (click here to read their stories)! 

“Teaching was something that ran in my family," says Carrie. "I have always admired my mother and sisters for making a difference in the lives of so many.”

The Teacher’s Count "Behind Every Famous Person is a Fabulous Teacher" campaign is incredibly effective.  How many times have we all heard big stars talk about that one teacher who believed in them and gave them the tools, support and confidence to reach higher and dream bigger? 

I love these types of campaigns (and the celebrities who support them) because I think that educators are often unsung heroes, especially now with all the budgetary constraints schools are facing.  The role of teacher now often includes being the school nurse, guidance counselor, confidante, lunch monitor, computer technician and more. 

I know that it’s a challenge that I could never take on so I have a lot of admiration and respect for those teachers who go above and beyond their job description in classrooms around the world.

Carrie is joined by many other celebrities who have supported the cause.  The list ranges from football players to actresses, singers and even the former First Lady, Laura Bush.  To see more, visit www.teacherscount.org.

image used with permission from Teacher’s Count

American Idol judge, Simon Cowell, is definitely a hit with the ladies.  He was swarmed by a group of them when he returned to his hotel in Manchester, England.  I don’t know what got into these women but I’m guessing there wasn’t any paper around since they asked him to autograph their body parts. 

In the image on the left, Simon signed the breast (see a better angle of the breast signing!) of one fan and then in the picture on the right, he is signing another woman’s belly!  Click on the images to enlarge.

image credit: splashnewsonline.com

American Idol judge, Simon Cowell, was spotted with his ex-girlfriend, Terri Seymour, as they left the Vanilla club in London, England.  I took a quick glance at the hot spot’s website and it looks like it has a pretty cool lounge (kind of a futuristic feel to it) and a limited menu.

I’ve got to say that these two little awfully cozy for a couple who is broken up.  Why would Terri fly all the way over to England if there wasn’t hope that this relationship could be rekindled.  Either way, I’m not always a fan of her clothes but I think that she looks very nice in this blue dress.  I also think Simon is a very sexy man but I can’t condone smoking – he loses major points with that cigarette in his hand…

image: Bauer-Griffin

Former American Idol finalist, Kellie Pickler, performed at the 2009 Country Stampede Music Festival which took place from June 25-28.  The four-day event is the largest annual music festival in Kansas and, this year, it featured a great lineup including Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton among others.

It looks like Kellie really enjoyed herself which is great.  It’s so important to love what you do and I always hate to see someone performing who looks like they’d rather be somewhere else.

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Mikalah Gordon, who you might remember from the fourth season of American Idol, was spotted on the red carpet at the 2009 Braylon Edwards Foundation Arts & Stars Gala in Detroit, Michigan.  It looks like it was quite an event but it also benefited a worthy cause – a portion of the evening’s proceeds went to the Music Hall, The Detroit School of Arts (DSA) and the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. 

I lived in a suburb of Detroit for a couple years and I know that this is a city that needs a lot of support from the more affluent people in the community.  I’m glad that NFL star Braylon Edwards found a way to give back (his father, Stan Edwards, actually played for the University of Michigan and the Detroit Lions).

Reigning American Idol champion, Kris Allen, has revealed that he will be working with some great talents on his debut album.  Along with songwriter, Claude Kelly (who penned Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You” and Britney Spears’ “Circus”), producer Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Nas) and former Evanescence keyboardist David Hodges and Joe King of the Fray. 

In an interview with Billboard, he said: “I’ve been writing a lot with a lot of different people, and it’s going well.  Each writing session has been a learning experience. I think that we are trying to figure it out and that it’s going the right way and I’m really excited about it. I can’t wait.”

I love that he refers to it as a “learning experience” because too many people go into the studio with the attitude that they already know it all.  The whole benefit of working with others is to get as much from the collaboration as you possibly can and it sounds like he’s doing that.

It hasn’t been all work and no play for the Idol winner, though.  He was recently spotted taking his wife, Katy, out to dinner at Madeo in Beverly Hills.  The photographers asked him how he felt when runner-up, Adam Lambert, revealed that he had a crush on Kris during the competition.  Kris retorted by saying Katy had a crush on Lambert!  What a good sport.  Some people would be so freaked out.

Last season of American Idol is barely over but winner, Kris Allen, is already working on his debut album.  It’s got to be tough to be planning such a big release when you’re also getting ready to embark on your first real tour (American Idols Live!).  I wonder how he feels about being separated from his wife all this time.  They are still newlyweds after all!

Anyway, I thought he looked absolutely adorable as he went into Center Staging rehearsal studio in Los Angeles with his Robeks Juice smoothie in hand.

image: Bauer-Griffin

Kellie Pickler looked gorgeous at the 2009 CMT Music Awards last night in both her red carpet dress and the outfit she wore during her performance. 

She performed “Best Days Of Your Life” and was nominated for Female Video of the Year and Video of the Year for “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” but ended up losing both times to her close friend, Taylor Swift, for her hugely popular “Love Story.”

Watch Kellie’s performance below. I think that she’s definitely gotten better at singing this song live but she still had a few shaky moments. Overall, it was pretty good for an awards show appearances since I’m sure it’s pretty scary to sing in front of all those other country stars!

Kellie also presented the “Breakthrough Video of the Year” award with fellow American Idol personality, Randy Jackson.  I know that I said Kellie looked good but Randy looked pretty great too!  Their dialogue was a bit silly, though.

The prize ended up going to the Zac Brown Band for their hit “Chicken Fried.” 

American Idol alum, Kellie Pickler, looked adorable in these backstage shots of her rehearsing for her performance on the 2009 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee which are less than two hours away!  

Kellie is nominated for “Female Video Award” for “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful.”  I sing that song constantly but I doubt she’ll win since she’s up against Taylor Swift for the hugely popular “Love Story” video.  Oh well.  It’s nice to be nominated! 

Former American Idol finalist, Constantine Maroulis, was nominated in the “Best Performance By a Lead Actor in a Musical” category at the 63rd Annual Tony Awards last night but, unfortunately, lost out to the three actors from Billy Elliot.  Still, I’m so impressed that he was nominated at all!

Looking at his performance with his Rock of Ages cast mates, it is amazing to see how far he has come.  He has so much more control over his voice, he’s got less vibrato and I’m telling you that it’s really hard to run around a stage and still sound coherent.  I’m so happy for him.  Watch and enjoy!

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