Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Add Haley Reinhart to the list of former American Idol standouts who have decided to release new music around the time of the show’s finale.

In Haley’s case, her new single “Better” will hit iTunes Friday.

And it’ll be available as an immediate download for anyone pre-ordering her new album, set for an April 29 release.

Also in the works: A video for “Better” and a summer tour that will include stops in Philly and D.C.

The third-place finisher on American Idol Season 10, Haley is enjoying a resurgence thanks to, of all things, a TV commercial.

She wound up recording a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” for the Extra gum commercial “The Story of Sarah and Juan.”

The commercial blew up to the tune of 18.7 million on YouTube. And, just like that, Haley Reinhart was back on the music charts.

The new album will be her first since the under-rated “Listen Up,” released in May 2012. In a recent radio interview, Haley said she wrote on of the songs on the album, “I Belong to You,” nearly four years ago.

Both of her parents are also musicians, and Haley worked with her dad on the new album, something she calls “an amazing experience.”

As for the tour, Haley says “the fact that I’m going out and headlining this thing is incredible. I’ve been waiting for this for quite a few years now.”

That tour kicks off June 3 with a show in Petaluma, Calif. Haley will perform at World Cafe Live in Philly on June 19 and at The Hamilton in D.C. two nights later.

You can check out all the tour dates and listen to that full radio interview on Haley’s website.

And, of course, Haley will be among the former contestants performing on Thursday night’s American Idol finale.

Meanwhile, here’s a live version of “Better.”