For now, American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks is having to take the back seat on the charts to runner-up, Blake Lewis.
Blake’s single “You Give Love a Bad Name” broke into the top 10 at #9 and Jordin’s “This is My Now” is hovering at #14.
It’ll be interesting to see where they are after summer.

Here’s a clip from Simon Cowell’s tribute on “This is Your Life.” Performing “Somewhere” from West Side Story is the male pop-operatic quartet that Simon discovered, Il Divo with Leona Lewis, the current reigning champion of The X Factor.

NBC will celebrate America’s 231st birthday with a live broadcast of the “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular.” Of the performers, country music star (and American Idol guest) Martina McBride will open the event and Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle will perform a song together to tribute the Nation’s birthday.
The event is America’s largest 4th of July fireworks extravaganza and will feature 35,000 shells which will be set off over New York City.
Cool. Wish I could be there but I’ll just have to watch it on television!
source

Ever wonder what is going on behind the scenes before American Idol airs? Well here’s a glimpse into what happened before the finale.
Blake’s VIP Treatment
Thirty minutes before the show started, Blake Lewis, rockin’ his performance gear, made an appearance in the FOX VIP room in the Kodak Theatre lobby. The room lit up as the finalist was escorted in, looking cool as ice despite having to get onstage and take on Jordin Sparks moments later. Blake, who was all smiles, greeted guests, shaking hands as he made his way around the room.

Blake Lewis beatboxed his way to second place with the help of Doug E. Fresh and Jordin Sparks had a touching duet with Ruben Studdard.
Now that it’s all said and done, who performed best tonight?
{democracy:32}

I was happy to read this interview with American Idol judge Simon Cowell because it pretty much sums up how I have been feeling. I have no idea who will win this and neither does he! He told People magazine that he thinks “they both have different strengths. One’s a better entertainer and one’s a better singer, so I think it will be down to what they do on the night.”
On Finale Predictions “I think they will both chose their favorite song from what they’ve done over the past 11 weeks – and I’m hoping Blake will …read more

Blake Lewis is from Bothell, Washington (Seattle suburb). Today, he got a real idea of how much his hometown loves him. This morning, he was on a local TV talk show. Then he was interviewed by four different radio stations. Next, he gave a 45-minute concert at Westlake Center in downtown Seattle and at 4pm a parade, in his honor, made its way down Main Street in Bothell. Tonight, he is set to sing the National Anthem for the Mariners-Yankee game.
BuddyTV was on the scene and have some great mp3s and a video of the …read more