Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Tidbits on various Idols …

** Katharine McPhee, who’s trying to get some buzz going about her upcoming second album, will perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

So says a blog she posted Monday, though the link to annoying parade Web site provides no additional information at this point.

By the way, Kat, the song is great, but you look way too much like Bridgette Neilson with the slicked back blonde hair in the “Had It All” video.

Kat has released three singles from her new album. You can find out more at her Web site.

** Speaking of Thanksgiving, Daughtry will be performing at the Dallas Cowboys game on turkey day.

According to the American Idol Web site, the performance will kick off the Salvation Army’s 2009 Red Kettle Christmas campaign.

The band has also added a number of tour dates, including some with Nickelback. Sorry, folks, no new dates in this area. But, remember, Daughtry plays the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Nov. 16. Tickets can be had for as little as $14.99, plus facility and convenience charges of about $8.50.

Wasn’t that a great performance by Chris and Vince Gill on the CMA Awards? If you missed the Idol Chatter photo galleries from the ceremony, featuring lots of pics of Chris, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler (and Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift), go here and here.

** Idol semifinalist Kendall Beard is one of five finalists in the running to become The CW Austin Star for the Austin, Texas, television station.

If she wins, she’ll work with The CW in Austin for one year, both in front of and behind the camera.

In her audition interview, Kendall describes herself as personable and bubbly. Having interviewed her, I’d say, yep, that’s an apt description.

If you want to vote for Kendall, you can do so here. And if she wins, she can also call fellow Idol contestant Casey Carlson for pointers. Casey’s part of The CW Twin Cities crew in Minneapolis.

Kendall was one of several Idol semifinalists who really didn’t get a fair shake during season eight because of a lack of airtime and a new semifinal format.

** Those of you who just can’t wait for Jason Castro’s post-Idol debut album can keep up with Jason through weekly “That’s What I’m Here For: Road to the Debut Album” webisodes on his Web site.

Jason’s posted two so far. In the latest, we watch Jason as he addresses studens at the University of Southern California’s Grammy Camp. Part 2 of that visit, a Q&A with students, will be posted sometime this week.

Jason has released a single, “Let’s Just Fall in Love Again,” that you can hear on his Web site. But the release of his debut album was pushed back from mid-November to early 2010. Pre-orders are still being taken on the aforementioned Web site.

** Brooke White has announced a ustream chat with fans, scheduled for Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST. You can listen in or participate at http://www.ustream.tv/brookewhite or at http://apps.facebook.com/brookewhitelive/ and ask questions via Twitter or directly from Facebook.

I sat in on one of these around the time of Brooke’s album release. The real treat came when Brooke sat down at the piano and played stripped-down versions of some of her new songs.

For those who missed it, Brooke released a great album back in July. You can hear several of the songs on her MySpace page. Make sure to check out one of my favorites, “Smile.” She also has a new EP available through iTunes that includes a cover of “Rhiannon” (yep, the Stevie Nicks song) and a fun new tune (”Take It Away”).

Here’s a link to an Idol Chatter interview with Brooke from August.