while we await the tour...

Taylor's talking to Gray Charles, and he ain't mincing words. My favorite quote? "Nigel and Simon don't know crap about American music." Hell, I've been saying that for years. Thanks Taylor. The best news? There will be a live band for the tour, not that canned stuff like last year's generic outing.

And Randy Jackson's talking Idol on his weekly radio show, Randy Jackson's HitList. Here's a quick excerpt that should make Kat fans happy. And Taylor fans happy. And Pickler fans happy. And Chris fans happy. And Elliott fans happy. Sorry if you're not among the happy.

in case you missed it...

If you couldn't stay up late enough or screwed up your VCR like somebody I know and live with, the MSNBC Live & Direct Idol Access interview can be found here.

for elliott fans...

The boy is getting great press. Check out his feature/interview on CNN's The Glenn Beck show.

And a reminder: the top ten will be with Rita Cosby on MSNBC's Live & Direct tomorrow night.

taylor tidbits...

Yes, that's him. And he's with Snoop Dogg, on the stage in Birmingham, Alabama. Last night. Read all about it and see more photos here. And this performance followed one with the Black Crowes. The man gets around!

Taylor and the rest of the top ten touring crew will be on Rita Cosby Live & Direct this Thursday, June 22. The show airs at 10 p.m. eastern on MSNBC.

If you haven't seen Taylor's Ford commercial, you can watch it here.

Anybody got any news to share, just leave a link in the comments.

Remember, tour kicks off July 5.

a break with tradition?...

Hmmm. Interesting.

But not yet confirmed.

The New York Post's Page 6 is hinting that Taylor Hicks has signed, not with 19E, but with The Firm, the same entertainment management company that's flirting (at last report) with Elliott Yamin.

And to think Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken had to sue to become clients. (Clarkson is still under their wing; Aiken has moved on.)

This could prove to be fun.

friday news and notes...

Since we got gypped out of a charity group CD single this season, looks like Taylor Hicks is gonna pick up the slack for the American Red Cross. Y'all gotta buy, now.

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OMG! Will Ferrell wiped the Pickler pits! Y'all gotta watch!

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Elliott Yamin is reportedly going to sing the national anthem before game two of the NBA Finals between the Mavs and the Heat. Game time is 9 p.m. eastern, Sunday, June 11 on ABC. Y'all gotta cheer!

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Chris Daughtry may have said no to Fuel, but he is saying yes to home. L.A.'s fine, but it ain't home. Y'all gotta agree. (Unless, of course, you're from L.A., then, well, it's the same dang thing.)

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And three of the season five gang are still present on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with their tracks from the compilation CD. Chris' track Wanted Dead or Alive is this week's #52, Taylor's track, Takin' It To The Streets is #87, and Elliott is on the Pop 100 with his track Moody's Mood for Love at #100.

The boys are doin' good.

Maybe we can get Pickler to interview them.

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Thanks everyone for the links, the news and the tips. And as always, if you find something, please leave a link or a tip in the comments!

have a little fun...

People online asks...

So, you think you know Taylor?

So, you think you know Katharine?

So, you think you know Elliott?

I thought I did. I was wrooooong.

dealings, dealings...

Of course Taylor Hicks was officially signed by RCA Music Group last week, as was expected, and Katharine McPhee will, undoubtedly, do the same soon, but now it's being reported that Chris Daughtry and Ace Young are being pursued by the Clive Davis label.

And while it seems RCA will pass on its Elliott Yamin option, looks like he's being wooed by a top-level management firm, the same people who represent Kelly Clarkson.

And speaking of Elliott, next week's edition of TV Guide gives him a two-page spread. Maybe that will make up for him being one of the two final sixers omitted (the other was Paris Bennett) in the magazine about a month ago. Or maybe not.

but was it worth the dance?...

I know it's a few days old, but it's an honest and revealing Rolling Stone audio interview with Taylor Hicks.

American Idol?

It was "dancing with the devil."

billboard reports...

The Billboard charts, the ones that rank sales and airplay, are out for the first time since the finale and the release of the compilation CD, Encores, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard top 200 listing.

The big singles winner, though, was Chris Daughtry, whose track Wanted Dead or Alive debuted at #43 on the Hot 100, #37 on the Pop 100, #16 on the Hot Digital Tracks list and #17 on the Hot Digital Songs list.

Idol winner Taylor Hicks's compilation track, Takin' it to the Streets, broke the Billboard Hot 100 at #69, #38 on the Hot Digital Tracks list, #42 of the Hot Digital Songs, and at #53 on the Pop 100.

Elliott Yamin's track Moody's Mood for Love debuted at #73 on the Pop 100 list and is #1 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 List, ironically ahead of the Bono/Mary J. Blige single, One. (The Bubbling Under Hot 100 List is the list of 25 singles oh-so-near-but-still-too-far from the Top 100 list.)

Katharine McPhee charted as well, with her track Think, hitting the Pop 100 at #90.

in case you missed them...

Elliott Yamin made the rounds of the NYC shows Thursday, appearing on Regis (Vince Vaughn) and Kelly, followed by Fox's Dayside (didn't know there was such a show until this week) and later with Rita Cosby, with various radio stops along the way.

If you missed him on Vince and Kelly, you can catch his performance of Moody's here, but please, ignore (if you can) the pianist who, it seems, was given the wrong sheet music. (And if you want an up-close-and-personal account of Elliott's encounter with his fans, don't miss Rickey's, complete with photos.)

If I find clips of the other visits, I'll certainly pass them along.

Meanwhile, Taylor and Katharine were showing up on the Today show, now not-starring Katie Couric. Their interview can be seen here. And the music is here.

And remember, Taylor is a guest with Ellen DeGeneres today and, thanks to Marshall in the comments, we get a scoop: Taylor will be performing at the meeting of Wal-Mart shareholders this morning at around 10:15 eastern, and we can watch live. But if we can't watch live, his performance will be online around 2 p.m. eastern here.

Thanks for the scoop, Marshall!