Idol Chatter & Voice Views

*** Haley’s single ***

Haley Reinhart announced last night that her first single will be released on March 1.

No word when a debut album will appear from last year’s third-place finisher on Idol.

But I love the response from a fan named swansteel on Twitter:   “Finally!! This is the news I’ve been dying to hear!! See that idiot dancing on the rooftops?  That’s ME!!!  C’mon, March, 1st, hurry up and get here!! Hee hee.”

Given how charming the “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” single/video was that Haley released with Casey Abrams late last year, I’m anxious to hear what Ms. She Sings Sexy can deliver.  (Hey, it’s Steven Tyler’s nickname for her, not mine.)

*** A new Ruben album ***

We haven’t gotten a new Ruben Studdard album since spring 2009, but that’s about to change.

Ruben has announced a March 13 release date for his fifth album, “Letters from Birmingham.”

The lead single from the album, “June 28th (I’m Single)”, is already available and you can go behind the scenes of the video shoot for the song below.

Ruben is, in fact, single.  He’s separated from Surata Zuri McCants, whom he married in June 2008.

He’s also in need of a hit album.  His first post-Idol release, “Soulful,” went platinum.  Sales have declined with every album since that, including “Love Is,” the album of love songs he released in 2009.

He has high hopes for his new single. “The song is amazing, man,” he says during the video shoot. “You can’t get a better muse than life experience.”

*** Jennifer at BET Honors ***

Jennifer Hudson has been everywhere on our TVs promoting her new book, “I Got This,” released last week.

But Saturday night, it was back to singing when she took the stage to perform at the BET Honors events at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Mariah Carey was honored as entertainer of the year and presenters also included Michelle Obama.

The program will air at 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, on BET.

Here’s are photos of Jennifer from her performance.