Justin Guarini
Photo: Arnold Turner/ WireImage

Long before rumors emerged that Kelly Clarkson may have a song on the "New Moon" soundtrack, fellow "American Idol" alum and "From Justin to Kelly" co-star Justin Guarini was launching a campaign to get his song "I Can't Live" on the album for "Twilight" sequel.

Believe it or not, Guarini insists that he's not just trying to bank on the success of the franchise. He says it's because he's a big "Twilight" fan. "I'm a fan of the books," Guarini told MTV News. "At the time I went in to write this song, the two other writers were talking about the books, and we got into a conversation about it. As we were writing it, we thought, there's a new movie coming out, and so why not give it a shot? And so, we sent it in."

Although Guarini's "New Moon" fate is still up in the air, he did say that the folks at the Chop Shop, the film's music supervisors, have told him they've given the song a listen and will let him know if he makes the cut as soon as the decision is made. Guarini said that's more than enough recognition for now. "I'm just happy they are considering it," said the TV Guide Channel host, who's currently working on his third full-length album. "It would be an honor to be on the soundtrack."

Guarini said that the response from Twilighters has been mixed, however. Some fans have been supportive, while others have been "dead set against it." "The reason why I posted the demo is because I really know that the 'Twilight' fans are really protective of the 'Twilight' brand," he said. "I really wanted to see what they had to say about the song, and I'm pleased and thankful that the response has been generally positive."

Will the vampires grab more trophies than the slumdog? What was the year's ultimate onscreen WTF moment? It's up to you to decide the winners of the 2009 MTV Movie Awards. Vote now, and tune in on May 31 at 9 p.m. ET, when the big show airs live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.

Check out everything we've got on "New Moon."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• Justin Guarini

Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks
Photo: FOX

Before "American Idol" sucks you in with the latest crop of contestants, make sure you're well-versed on the show's long (and sometimes lurid) history!

From the ear-pleasing highs to the glass-shattering "no!"s, this timeline by MTV News' "American Idol" expert Jim Cantiello will tell you everything you need to know about the first six seasons: the scandals, the shocking eliminations and the so-bad-they're-brilliant, oh-no-they-didn't performances.

Season Six: 2007

WINNER: Jordin Sparks

RUNNER-UP: Blake Lewis

HIGH NOTE (OF THE SEASON): The first time Jordin Sparks sings "I (Who Have Nothing)" proves that the 17-year-old is a major contender in the competition, giving older, more seasoned singers like Melinda Doolittle a run for their money. (However, the second time Jordin sings the Shirley Bassey classic proves Sparks is less an emotionally mature 17-year-old and more an easily programmed teen-bot.)

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): During Diana Ross week, similarly follicled Chris Sligh takes "Endless Love" and Coldplay's "Clocks," throws them in a blender and hits the "pulverize" button. The result is a 90-second performance of whiny high notes and off-kilter melody tweaks. Appropriate enough, it feels endless.

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: Kristen Wiig look-alike Nicole Tranquillo doesn't survive one week of the semifinals, and you can't really blame America, considering the wild-eyed caterwauling she displays on Chaka Khan's "Stay." Between the funny faces, the spastic body jerks (I don't dare call it dancing), and the cocky persona, Nicole emerges as the looniest, most passionate contestant of the season. No surprise that Nicole is Paula's favorite singer.

SEASON SHOCKER: A 16-year-old country crooner named Baylie Brown wows viewers with an audition that Simon calls "commercial with a capital C." Many expect to see her in the finals, only to be floored a few weeks later when, during Hollywood Week, the judges cut Baylie for forgetting the lyrics (even though her groupmate Antonella Barba — more on her below — makes it through to the next rounds despite also drawing a blank). Later in the season, arguably the best singer in "Idol" history, Melinda Doolittle, fails to make the top two as beatboxer Blake Lewis and young whippersnapper Jordin Sparks move on to the finale. You know it's a shock when even Simon Cowell looks sincerely flabbergasted.

SEASON SCANDALS: In the midst of the semifinals, PG-13-rated photos of Antonella Barba surface, some of which show her either cavorting around a veterans memorial in a wet T-shirt or sitting on a toilet. (Additional X-rated photos that claim to be of Barba are quickly proven to be fake.) Producers keep Antonella around, which prompts Frenchie Davis fans (Rosie O'Donnell included) to cry racism. Alas, America isn't feeling Antonella's vocal stylings and sends her back to New Jersey the final week of the semis. Once in the top 12, iffy contestant Sanjaya Malakar somehow avoids the dreaded "bottom three" for several weeks. Howard Stern and VoteForTheWorst.com take credit for his longevity after running public campaigns to keep the less-than-outstanding singer around as long as possible. And finally, during the finale, Clive Davis spends what feels like 45 minutes praising Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks, Kellie Pickler — hell, practically every "Idol" contestant except Kelly Clarkson, with whom he's embroiled in a very public dispute over the creative direction of her angry album "My December." (In a delicious TV moment, after Clarkson finishes ripping through her single "Never Again," the "Idol" director cuts to an awkward audience-reaction shot of Davis.)

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY : Season six suffers from I.I.C., or "Idol Identity Crisis." Rather than focusing on the one thing fans actually care about — the contestants — "Idol" instead acts like Angelina Jolie ("Idol Gives Back"); "TRL" (patience-testing appearances by Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Akon, J. Lo and Robin Thicke, to name a few); and NASCAR (even more product placement than usual). During the competition, Blake Lewis and Chris Sligh take major risks with contemporary song choices and their own modern arrangements of classic tunes, letting audiences know that they're more than just karaoke stars. Meanwhile, Sanjaya's outrageous hairstyles and awkward disposition make him a household name (and the punch line to countless late-night talk-show jokes). Toward the end of the season, producers hold a songwriting competition to fight off complaints from viewers that the "Idol" coronation song is always too sappy. Ironically, America chooses "This Is My Now" (perhaps the sappiest song yet) as the big finale single. The first season during which numbers are dangerously down — both in ratings and in album sales — suggests that "Idol" isn't invincible. And lastly, a little girl named Ashley Ferl becomes an overnight celebrity after she spends the entirety of Sanjaya's "You Really Got Me" in hysterics.

Season Five: 2006

WINNER: Taylor Hicks

RUNNER-UP: Katharine McPhee

HIGH NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Paris Bennett's "Take Five" (from her first audition) still gives me goose bumps with every single note. It's so genius that Paula's sheep-like "Ya-a-a-a-a-a" reaction is poetry compared to the joyful-but-bizarre noises I made when I first heard Bennett. It's really unfortunate that during her "Idol" run Princess P never tops this flawless first impression.

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Ace Young squeezes Train's "Drops of Jupiter" out of his voice box and then exposes his chest to reveal a scar ... while he sings a lyric about a scar. Seriously, dude? P.S.: It looks like special-effects makeup, if you ask me.

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: In the season's semifinal kickoff, Manilooney (and just plain looney) Bobby Bennett proves that what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas, and fans of all things campy hit the jackpot. Between the wide-eyed mugging, the "Liza with a Z" jazz hands and the song dedication to his dead "gram," Bennett's performance is deranged enough for you to think that John Waters cast this round of "Idol."

SEASON SHOCKER: The two-hour season finale is so jam-packed with surprise guests, weeping random audience members and cheesetastic group numbers that for once "Idol" airs a results show that isn't 99 percent boring filler — and that might be the biggest "Idol" shocker ever.

SEASON SCANDALS: Any plus-size divas out there? Take note: Gay men will probably make up most of your fanbase, so don't pull a Mandisa. The singer cites "Pray the Gay Away" preacher Beth Moore as a personal hero, and then busts out some spoken word at the top of a song that comes off as being ... questionable: "Your addiction, lifestyle and situation may be big, but God is bigger!" Regardless of 'Disa's clarification attempt — "When I said 'lifestyle' I was talking about my food addiction" — the harm is already done and her fans flee. A week later, she goes bye-bye. On an also-ran note, flamboyant identical twins Derrell and Terrell Brittenum are "uninvited" from the competition after they're thrown in jail for a 2005 incident in which they allegedly stole a man's identity to buy a car. Thankfully, their arrest happens after the Hollywood Week episodes taped, so viewers are still treated to their fair share of Brittenum-related diva tantrums and hissy fits.

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY : Considering nine out of the 12 finalists score music deals (including fourth-placer Chris Daughtry whose debut album breaks records), it goes to show you that you don't have to win "American Idol" to have a career — and considering the fizzling sales of Katharine's and Taylor's records, it goes to show you that winning "American Idol" (or at least making it to the finale) doesn't guarantee a career, either. (Both Kat and Taylor were dropped from their record labels in early 2008.)

Season Four: 2005

WINNER: Carrie Underwood

RUNNER-UP: Bo Bice

HIGH-NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Rockers Bo Bice and Constantine Maroulis each have their moment in the sun. Bice's a cappella "In a Dream" stops everyone dead in their tracks, while Constantine's "Bohemian Rhapsody" is not the train wreck it should be. Ironically, country star Carrie Underwood shines brightest when singing a rock song, Heart's "Alone."

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): I'm tempted to pick Anthony Federov's "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" only so I can mention Simon's hilariously simple "hideous" assessment, but Mikalah Gordon's "Love Will Lead You Back" is far too offensive to overlook. The hyperactive teen takes Taylor Dayne's lush ballad and sings it like a goose warning its gaggle of imminent danger: 92 seconds of ear torture.

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: The theme is " '70s Dance Music" (or, as everyone else in the world calls it, disco), and lucky for us, country fembot Carrie Underwood is not wired to handle it. During her dazed, confused and downright petrified "MacArthur Park," someone switches the Underwood-4000's vocal mode to "4-year-old pageant queen" and her hairstyle to "40-year-old drag queen." Yes!

SEASON SHOCKER: Judd Harris' elimination is a jaw-dropper — not necessarily because we expect him to advance, but because of the manner in which he is eliminated. During the semifinals, Seacrest tells the front row (Judd included) to sit pretty and relax. Then, after "safe"-ing each of the back row's contestants, the host, without any warning, turns back to the couch and announces, "Judd, you are out." If there's such a thing as karma, Seacrest is in for one hell of a firing some day.

SEASON SCANDALS: Days before the top 12 are set to hit the stage, front-runner Mario Vazquez drops out of the show for personal reasons. (A lawsuit filed against Vazquez in 2007 claims he pulled a George Michael on a crew member. Whoa!) Later in the season, "Idol" is forced to hold a re-vote after a production error displays incorrect phone numbers on a performance show. Oops! The "Idol" gods save the best scandal for last, however. Season-two degenerate Corey Clark (see season-two scandals below) re-emerges with an inflammatory book to sell. In it, he claims that the real reason he was DQ'd from the show back in '03 was because he was having an illicit affair with Abdul. On a sensational prime-time news special (called — wait for it — "Fallen Idol") the former contestant speaks (and sings) about his "relationship" in graphic detail. (I'm still trying to track down an MP3 of the song "Paulatics," by the way.) Abdul denies it, "Idol" hires a private-investigative team, and wouldn't you know it? They conclude that Paula was straight-up telling the truth.

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY: The "rockers" put a much-needed new spin on the "Idol" formula, juicing up the competition with a fresh, unexpected energy. (There are only so many times you can hear an amateur destroy "My Cherie Amour," right?) Also, in order to prevent season three's crazy gender gap, the show institutes the six boys/ six girls top-12 quota we all know and loathe. Plus, producers get even looser with their moral code. The show barely bats an eyelash when domestic charges against Scott Savol and past drug arrests for finalist Bo become public. (Audiences don't seem to care, either.) And finally, the first country "Idol" is crowned and goes on to become one of the biggest names in the genre, while Bo the Rocker's career flat-lines.

Season Three: 2004

WINNER: Fantasia Barrino

RUNNER-UP: Diana DeGarmo

HIGH NOTE (OF THE SEASON): If you look up "wow moment" in the "Idol" dictionary, you'll see a picture of Fantasia singing her signature "Summertime."

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Poor John Stevens. Unless it's standards night, there's no way in hell the crooner can succeed. But there's no excuse for his listless Latin-night offering, "Music of the Heart." Simon says it best when he tells the young singer, "You and Latin music go together like chocolate ice cream and an onion." That actually sounds appetizing compared to this painful schlock-a-thon. And this dude outlasts Jennifer Hudson?

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: Camile Velasco is a walking disaster: The girl has such bad stage fright that every time she performs, it looks like she is one swallow away from projectile vomiting all over the judges. Maybe meeting her idol Elton John will loosen her up? Nah. She turns "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" into a whiny, cat-in-heat debacle. I break into cold sweats just thinking about it — while simultaneously wishing it were my ringtone.

SEASON SHOCKER: Is it the result of racism (Sir Elton's theory), a random side effect of an Illinois tornado (Al Roker's theory) or just plain vote-splitting (common-sense theory)? Whatever the case, the bottom three of Barry Manilow week end up being the best singers of the season: Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson and La Toya London, dubbed "The Three Divas" by Ryan Seacrest. (The future Oscar winner is the one to say goodbye.) Three weeks later, the two remaining divas land at the bottom again, as the perennially pitchy Jasmine Trias sits pretty on the "safe" couch. Paula solemnly notes that "America got it wrong" before sobbing uncontrollably as La Toya sings her swan song.

SEASON SCANDALS: Midway through the competition, the increasingly loopy Paula Abdul begins showing up to "Idol" with her arm in a sling. The judge tells "Entertainment Tonight" that she almost lost her thumb in a freak manicure accident, but never fully explains why her entire arm has to be cradled. Two years later, in what might be the oddest celebrity cause ever, Abdul pressures California lawmakers to enforce nail-salon regulations. You can keep your African poverty, Bono. Abdul wants our cuticles protected!

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY: Because of the gospel-influenced divas, season three is remembered as the year "Idol" went to church. (No wonder watching Fantasia's post-win performance of "I Believe" is a religious experience!) Season three is also notorious for "discovering" William Hung, a naive Asian civil-engineering student who auditions for the show and is catapulted into the limelight thanks to a severely off-key rendition of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs." His fame (and record contract) births a new breed of "Idol" celebrity: the freak show.

Season Two: 2003

WINNER: Ruben Studdard

RUNNER-UP: Clay Aiken

HIGH NOTE (OF THE SEASON): During Hollywood Week, the big (voiced) girls Frenchie Davis and Kimberley Locke band together for a diva-licious duet of "Band of Gold." It's supposed to be a group number, but the other female contestants are too chicken to share the stage with the two best singers in the batch. They're smart to steer clear.

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Deciding on the worst Carmen Rasmussen performance is like choosing between death by a swarm of bees or toothpick stabbing. I'll go with her Wild Card performance, where Simon puts the attractive-but-tone-deaf singer through to the top 12 even though he says her "Can't Find the Moonlight" was awful. Typical!

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: Marine Josh Gracin performs "Jive Talkin' " like he's trying to pick a fight with everyone in America at once. The hand-held camera remains about 4 inches away from his face as he walks through the crowd, making "give it to me" hand gestures for a minute straight for no apparent reason. Did I mention that his facial expressions make him look like a dude in a porno? It is stunning in its wrongness.

SEASON SHOCKER: Aside from the ousted contestants (see scandals below) and the terrifying Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire being a guest judge, the biggest shock has to be that the formerly annoying Ryan Seacrest is a lot more likeable without scripted banter and an unnecessary co-host at his side. Sorry, Brian Dunkleman!

SEASON SCANDALS: Pack a lunch — it's gonna take awhile to weed through all this. First, before the semifinals begin, front-runner Frenchie Davis is told to hit the road after it is uncovered that she has modeled topless for a skuzzy porn site. Although Frenchie says she was honest to executives about her past, the same cannot be said about Corey Clark. Nine hours after the Smoking Gun posts a mug shot of the alleged sister-beater, the blindsided producers oust Corey from "Idol." And lastly, Trenyce is humiliated when her especially unglamorous mug shot (for a 1999 felony theft charge) pops up on the Internet. Producers let her stay because of her honesty, but America ends up doing the show's dirty work by voting her off.

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY : By casting Ruben, Clay, Kimberley and Frenchie, "AI 2" broadens America's definition of "pop-star image." Fans eat it up. However, by voting on voice over looks, the season ends up being fairly predictable, where the singer who deserves to go home each week does. The final Ruben/Clay showdown is a tight race (one that Seacrest calls a "photo finish"), and although Studdard is the victor, Aiken ultimately wipes the floor with him in record sales. The disqualified Frenchie ends up paving a path that several "Idol" contestants (including Aiken) will follow once their pop music careers stall: Broadway. Speaking of struggling singers, in 2007, Ruben wins a new title: First "Idol" to be dropped by a record label. Ouch.

Season One: 2002

WINNER: Kelly Clarkson

RUNNER-UP: Justin Guarini

HIGH NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Simon may have called Tamyra Gray's "A House Is Not a Home" one of the best performances on TV ever, but I'm still partial to Kelly Clarkson's offering on big-band night. Her "Stuff Like That There" is sassy, flirty and oozes sex appeal without being over-the-top. (Haley Scarnato, take note!) Bonus points for making me finally understand a genre of music I thought only my grandparents liked. (Xtina, take note!) Christina Christian's mesmerizing "Ain't No Sunshine" is a close second.

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Between the Molly Ringwald dance moves and singing that would make Ashlee Simpson wince, "rocker" Nikki McKibbin's "Always Something There to Remind Me" is a complete and utter disaster. The arrangement certainly doesn't help (nothing says "hard rock" like bad drum programming and an inexplicable "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"-style Vegas breakdown, right?), but the performance truly crosses the line in its final moments, when the single mom panders for votes by pimping her son accepting a rose from her kid. Even Paula hates it.

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: From the "I see London, I see France" miniskirt to the manic delivery, Ryan Starr's "Frim Fram Sauce" had me clapping with catty glee. How she's able to stay so hilariously earnest while singing a song about wanting "chafafa on the side" blows my mind.

SEASON SHOCKER: Thanks to a lame Patti LaBelle song choice, über-talented Tamyra gets ousted before the shaky-at-best Nikki McKibbin. An emotional McKibbin is propelled into the top three, the studio audience boos, and in five seconds, "Idol" becomes the most unpredictable show on TV.

SEASON SCANDALS: Some cry foul when Christina Christian's elimination falls on the same night she happens to be recuperating in a hospital bed due to "exhaustion." (It's even fishier considering her solid performance that week.) For non-conspiracy theorists, the big scandal occurrs in the semifinals when contestant Delano Cagnolati is disqualified for lying about his age. (The equally forgettable Ejay Day replaces him.)

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY : More than just "the season with two hosts," season one lays the low-budget foundation for what will later become the "American Idol" empire. Several seasons — and "Idol" winners — later, purists still point to Kelly Clarkson as the only true "Idol." Her record sales suggest the same, although both Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry have had impressive-so-far post-"Idol" careers as well (sales-wise, anyway). Clarkson's first single breaks a record previously held by the Beatles (!!!) and her first two albums sell a bajillion copies. (Actually, it's more like 12.5 million.) In the broadcast world, reality-show producers bark in unison, "GET ME A CRANKY BRITISH JUDGE!" (see "So You Think You Can Dance and/or Ice-Skate With the Stars and Have Talent?!"), while an ill-conceived (and rushed) attempt at big-screen domination results in one of the worst movies of all time. Paula Abdul enjoys fame again — this time without the help of an animated cat. And lastly, America learns a new word: pitchy.

Which season was your favorite? Do you think season seven will stand the test of time? And will this show ever end?

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• 'American Idol': Six Seasons In Six Minutes

• Jordin Sparks
• Blake Lewis
• Taylor Hicks
• Katharine McPhee
• Carrie Underwood

Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini on the first "American Idol" season finale
Photo: Kevin Winter/ImageDirect

And you thought the sixth season of "American Idol" was filled with hair-raising moments ...

From the ear-pleasing highs to the glass-shattering "no!"s, this timeline by MTV News' "American Idol" expert Jim Cantiello will tell you everything you need to know about the first five seasons: the lurid scandals, the shocking eliminations and the so-bad-they're-brilliant, oh-no-they-didn't performances.

Season One: 2002

WINNER: Kelly Clarkson

RUNNER-UP: Justin Guarini

HIGH NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Simon may have called Tamyra Gray's "A House Is Not a Home" one of the best performances on TV ever, but I'm still partial to Kelly Clarkson's offering on Big Band night. Her "Stuff Like That There" was sassy, flirty and oozed sex appeal without being over-the-top. (Haley Scarnato, take note!) Bonus points for making me finally understand a genre of music I thought only my grandparents liked. (Xtina, take note!) Christina Christian's mesmerizing "Ain't No Sunshine" is a close second.

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Between the Molly Ringwald dance moves and singing that would make Ashlee Simpson wince, "rocker" Nikki McKibbin's "Always Something There to Remind Me" was a complete and utter disaster. The arrangement certainly didn't help (nothing says "hard rock" like bad drum programming and an inexplicable "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"-style Vegas breakdown, right?) but the performance truly crossed the line in its final moments, when the single mom pandered for votes by pimping her son accepting a rose from her kid. Even Paula hated it.

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: From the "I see London, I see France" mini skirt to the manic delivery, Ryan Starr's "Frim Fram Sauce" had me clapping with catty glee. How she was able to stay so hilariously earnest while singing a song about wanting "chafafa on the side" blows my mind.

SEASON SHOCKER: Thanks to a lame Patti LaBelle song choice, über-talented Tamyra gets ousted before the shaky-at-best Nikki McKibbin. An emotional McKibbin is propelled into the top three, the studio audience boos, and in five seconds, "Idol" becomes the most unpredictable show on TV.

SEASON SCANDALS: Some cry foul when Christina Christian's elimination falls on the same night she happens to be recuperating in a hospital bed due to "exhaustion." (It's even fishier considering her performance that week was solid.) For non-conspiracy theorists, the big scandal occurred in the semifinals when contestant Delano Cagnolati was disqualified for lying about his age. (The equally forgettable Ejay Day replaced him.)

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY : More than just "the season with two hosts," season one laid the low-budget foundation for what would later become the "American Idol" empire. Several seasons — and "Idol" winners — later, purists still point to Kelly Clarkson as the only true "Idol." Her record sales suggest the same, although both Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry have had impressive-so-far post-"Idol" careers as well (sales-wise, anyway). Clarkson's first single breaks a record previously held by The Beatles (!!!) and her first two albums go on to sell a bajillion copies. (Actually, it's more like 12.5 million.) In the broadcast world, reality-show producers bark in unison, "GET ME A CRANKY BRITISH JUDGE!" (see "So You Think You Can Dance and/or Ice-Skate With the Stars AND Have Talent?!"), while an ill-conceived (and rushed) attempt at big-screen domination results in one of the worst movies of all time. Paula Abdul enjoys fame again — this time without the help of an animated cat. And lastly, America learns a new word: pitchy.

Season Two: 2003

WINNER: Ruben Studdard

RUNNER-UP: Clay Aiken

HIGH NOTE (OF THE SEASON): During "Hollywood Week" the big (voiced) girls Frenchie Davis and Kimberley Locke banded together for a diva-licious duet, "Band of Gold." It was supposed to be a group number but the other female contestants were too chicken to share the stage with the two best singers in the batch. They were smart to steer clear.

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Deciding on the worst Carmen Rasmussen performance is like choosing between death by a swarm of bees or toothpick stabbing. I'll go with the Wild Card performance, where Simon put the attractive-but-tone-deaf singer through to the top 12 even though he said her "Can't Find the Moonlight" was awful. Typical!

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: Marine Josh Gracin performed "Jive Talkin' " like he was trying to pick a fight with everyone in America at once. The handheld camera remained about four inches away from his face as he walked through the crowd, making "give it to me" hand gestures for a minute straight for no apparent reason. Did I mention that his facial expressions made him look like a dude in a porno? It was stunning in its wrongness.

SEASON SHOCKER: Aside from the ousted contestants (see "Season Scandals" below) and the terrifying Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire being a guest judge, the biggest shock had to be that the formerly annoying Ryan Seacrest was a lot more likeable without scripted banter and an unnecessary co-host at his side. Sorry, Brian Dunkleman!

SEASON SCANDALS: Pack a lunch — it's gonna take awhile to weed through all this. First, before the semifinals began, front-runner Frenchie Davis was told to hit the road after it was uncovered that she had modeled topless for a skuzzy porn site. Although Frenchie says she was honest to executives about her past, the same cannot be said about Corey Clark. Nine hours after the Smoking Gun posted a mugshot of the alleged sister-beater, the blindsided producers ousted Corey from "Idol." (The saga continued: see Season Four.) And lastly, Trenyce was humiliated when her especially unglamorous mugshot (for a 1999 felony theft charge) popped up on the Internet. Producers let her stay because of her honesty, but America ended up doing the show's dirty work by voting her off.

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY : By casting Ruben, Clay, Kimberley and Frenchie, "AI2" broadened America's definition of "pop star image." Fans ate it up. However, by voting on voice over looks, the season ended up being fairly predictable, where the singer who deserved to go home each week did. The final Ruben/Clay showdown was a tight race (one that Seacrest called a "photo finish") and although Studdard was the victor, Aiken ultimately wiped the floor with him in record sales.

Season Three: 2004

WINNER: Fantasia Barrino

RUNNER-UP: Diana DeGarmo

HIGH NOTE (OF THE SEASON): If you look up "Wow moment" in the "Idol" dictionary, you'll see a picture of Fantasia singing her signature "Summertime."

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Poor John Stevens. Unless it was standards night, there was no way in hell the crooner could succeed. But there's no excuse for his listless Latin night offering, "Music of the Heart." Simon said it best when he told the young singer, "You and Latin music go together like chocolate ice cream and an onion." That actually sounds appetizing compared to this painful schlock-a-thon. This dude outlasted Jennifer Hudson??

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: Camile Velasco was a walking disaster: The girl had such bad stage fright that every time she performed, it looked like she was one swallow away from projectile-vomiting all over the judges. Maybe meeting her idol Elton John would loosen her up? Nah. She turned "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" into a whiney cat-in-heat debacle. I break into cold sweats just thinking about it — while simultaneously wishing it was my ringtone.

SEASON SHOCKER: Was it the result of racism (Sir Elton's theory), a random side-effect of an Illinois tornado (Al Roker's theory) or just plain vote-splitting (common-sense theory)? Whatever the case, the bottom three of Barry Manilow week ended up being the best singers of the season: Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson and La Toya London, dubbed "The Three Divas" by Ryan Seacrest. (The future Oscar winner was the one to say goodbye that night.) Three weeks later, the two remaining divas landed at the bottom again, as the perennially pitchy Jasmine Trias sat pretty on the "safe" couch. Paula solemnly noted that "America got it wrong" before sobbing uncontrollably as La Toya sang her swan song.

SEASON SCANDALS: Midway through the competition, the increasingly loopy Paula Abdul begins showing up to "Idol" with her arm in a sling. The judge tells "Entertainment Tonight" that she almost lost her thumb in a freak manicure accident, but never fully explains why her entire arm had to be cradled. Two years later, in what might be the oddest celebrity cause ever, Abdul pressures California lawmakers to enforce nail-salon regulations. You can keep your African poverty, Bono. Abdul wants our cuticles protected, dammit!

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY: Because of the gospel-influenced divas, season three is remembered as the year "Idol" went to church. (No wonder watching Fantasia's post-win performance of "I Believe" was a religious experience!) Season three is also notorious for "discovering" William Hung, a naive Asian civil-engineering student who auditioned for the show and was catapulted to the limelight thanks to a severely off-key rendition of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs." His fame (and record contract) births a new breed of "Idol" celebrity: the freak show.

Season Four: 2005

WINNER: Carrie Underwood

RUNNER-UP: Bo Bice

HIGH-NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Rockers Bo Bice and Constantine Maroulis each had their moment in the sun. Bice's a cappella "In a Dream" stopped everyone dead in their tracks, while Constantine's "Bohemian Rhapsody" was not the train wreck it should have been. Ironically, country star Carrie Underwood shone brightest when singing a rock song, Heart's "Alone."

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): I'm tempted to pick Anthony Federov's "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" only so I can mention Simon's hilariously simple "hideous" assessment, but Mikalah Gordon's "Love Will Lead You Back" is far too offensive to overlook. The hyperactive teen took Taylor Dayne's lush ballad and sang it like a goose warning its gaggle of imminent danger: 92 seconds of ear torture.

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: The theme was "70's Dance Music" (or as everyone else in the world calls it, disco) and lucky for us, country femmebot Carrie Underwood was not wired to handle it. During her dazed, confused and downright petrified "MacArthur Park," someone switched the Underwood-4000's vocal mode to "4-year-old pageant queen" and her hairstyle to "40-year-old drag queen." Yes!

SEASON SHOCKER: Judd Harris' elimination was a jaw-dropper — not necessarily because we expected him to advance, but because of the manner in which he was eliminated. During the semifinals, Seacrest told the front row (Judd included) to sit pretty and relax. Then, after "safe"-ing each of the back row's contestants, the host, without any warning, turns back to the couch and announces, "Judd, YOU are OUT." If there's such a thing as karma, Seacrest is in for one hell of a firing some day.

SEASON SCANDALS: Days before the top 12 were set to hit the stage, front-runner Mario Vazquez dropped out of the show for personal reasons. (A lawsuit filed against Vazquez in 2007 claims he pulled a George Michael on a crew member. Whoa!) Later in the season, "Idol" is forced to hold a re-vote after a production error displays incorrect phone numbers on a performance show. Oops! The "Idol" gods saved the best scandal for last, however. Season-two degenerate Corey Clark re-emerged with an inflammatory book to sell. In it, he claimed that the real reason he was DQ'd from the show back in '03 was because he was having an illicit affair with Abdul. On a sensational primetime news special (called — wait for it — "Fallen Idol") the former contestant spoke — and sang — about his "relationship" in graphic detail. (I'm still trying to track down an MP3 of the song "Paulatics," by the way.) Abdul denies it, "Idol" hires a private investigative team, and wouldn't you know it? They conclude that Paula was straight-up telling the truth.

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY : The "rockers" put a much-needed new spin on the "Idol" formula, juicing up the competition with a fresh, unexpected energy. (There's only so many times you can hear an amateur destroy "My Cherie Amour," right?) Also, in order to prevent season three's crazy gender gap, the show institutes the six boys/ six girls top-12 quota we all know and loathe. Plus, producers get even looser with their moral code. The show barely bats an eyelash when domestic charges against Scott Savol and past drug arrests for finalist Bo become public. (Audiences don't seem to care, either.) And finally, the first country "Idol" is crowned and goes on to become one of the biggest names in the genre, while Bo the Rocker's career stalls.

Season Five: 2006

WINNER: Taylor Hicks

RUNNER-UP: Katharine McPhee

HIGH NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Paris Bennett's "Take Five" (from her first audition) still gives me goose bumps with every single note. It's so genius that Paula's sheep-like "Ya-a-a-a-a-a" reaction is poetry compared to the joyful-but-bizarre noises I made when I first heard Bennett. It's really unfortunate that during her "Idol" run Princess P never topped this flawless first impression.

LOW NOTE (OF THE SEASON): Ace Young squeezed Train's "Drops of Jupiter" out of his voice box and then exposed his chest to reveal a scar ... while he sang a lyric about a scar. Seriously, dude? P.S.: It looked like special-effects makeup, if you ask me.

HOT-MESS PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON: In the season's semifinal kickoff, Manilooney (and just plain looney) Bobby Bennett proved that what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas, and fans of all things campy hit the jackpot. Between the wide-eyed mugging, the "Liza with a Z" jazz hands and the song dedication to his dead "gram," Bennett's performance was deranged enough for you to think that John Waters cast this round of "Idol."

SEASON SHOCKER: The two-hour season finale was so jam-packed with surprise guests, weeping random audience members and cheesetastic group numbers that for once "Idol" aired a results show that wasn't 99 percent boring filler — and that might be the biggest "Idol" shocker ever.

SEASON SCANDALS: Any plus-sized divas out there? Take note: Gay men will probably make up most of your fanbase, so don't pull a Mandisa. The singer cited "Pray the Gay Away" preacher Beth Moore as a personal hero, and then busted out some spoken word at the top of a song that came off as being ... questionable. "Your addiction, lifestyle and situation may be big, but God is bigger!" Regardless of 'Disa's clarification attempt — "When I said 'lifestyle' I was talking about my food addiction" — the harm was already done and her fans fled. A week later, she went bye-bye.

CULTURAL IMPACT/LEGACY : Considering 9 out of the 12 finalists scored record deals, it goes to show you that you don't have to win "American Idol" to have a career — and considering the fizzling sales of Katharine and Taylor's records, it goes to show you that winning "American Idol" doesn't guarantee a career.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• 'American Idol': Six Seasons In Six Minutes

• Kelly Clarkson
• Justin Guarini
• Ruben Studdard
• Clay Aiken
• Fantasia

Christina Aguilera
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

Christina Aguilera will release the Linda Perry-produced "Candyman" as the third single from Back to Basics. Aguilera, whose North American tour begins February 20, is co-directing the video with Matthew Rolston (Hilary Duff, Jessica Simpson). ...

It might be comeback time — again — for Michael Jackson. The Associated Press reported Friday (January 26) that the singer has relocated to the U.S. after living for the past year and a half in Bahrain, France and Ireland. Jackson is also planning two fan-appreciation concerts, to be held in Japan in March, with one of them allowing fans to meet him for the hefty sum of $3,300. The singer postponed an expensive Christmas party for fans in Japan last year so he could add a second date to the appreciation events. ...

Oscar nominee Jennifer Hudson is Essence magazine's March cover girl and explains in an interview inside that the world can expect to hear a lot more than the "Dreamgirls" showstopper "And I'm Telling You (I'm Not Going)" from her. "I don't intend to say, 'OK, I'm going to sing this song for the rest of my life, and this will be the only character that I portrayed,' " she said. "I'm Jennifer, not Effie," she added, remarking about the character she plays in the film. "I'm flexible and different and have other dreams and other goals and songs to pursue." ... Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony will perform at Ocean Drive magazine's Super Bowl party in Miami on February 3. DJ AM will also entertain the VIP crowd. ...

Chris Daughtry — sans his chart-topping band, Daughtry — will treat Greensboro, North Carolina, to a free concert at Greensboro Coliseum on March 23, AP reports. The gig, which is expected to draw 6,000-7,000 people, will act as a prelude to the women's basketball tournament games slated for March 24 and 26. ... "American Idol" season-one runner-up Justin Guarini is joining "Idol Tonight" as a correspondent. Fellow "Idol" vet Kimberly Caldwell and "Popstars" winner Rosanna Tavarez will continue to host the pre-show series broadcast on the TV Guide Channel. The new season of "Idol Tonight" will air Wednesdays beginning in March. ...

Dre & Vidal, Alchemist and Fredwreck are joining the celebrity panel to be showcased at the One Stop Shop Conference on February 10-11 in Phoenix. The event, put on by G-Unit and Sha Money XL, will focus on music producers and also include workshops and networking sessions. Swizz Beatz, DJ Premier and others will also be on the celebrity panel. ... It's almost time to pay your underground-hip-hop dues again. Expect to see Alchemist, Sage Francis and Brother Ali perform as part of the second Paid Dues shindig, to be held March 24 in San Bernardino, California. The eight-hour event, to be hosted by Lucky I Am, will also feature Felt — the group consisting of Murs and Atmosphere's Slug and Ant — plus Blackalicious, Mr. Lif, Cage, Pigeon John, Jean Grae and Devin the Dude. ...

VH1 is calling on Mat Kearney to headline the first You Oughta Know Tour. The jaunt, which will also feature Rocco DeLuca and the Burden and the Feeling, begins March 17 in Denver and ends April 20 in Atlanta. VH1 will give the Burden another boost by rebroadcasting its documentary, "I Trust You to Kill Me" — which features their tour manager, Kiefer Sutherland — February 2. ... The Ataris will kick off a U.S. tour February 20, the day their album Welcome to Tonight hits stores. The band will start off in Philadelphia and visit cities including New York, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago and Denver before finishing up the run on March 17 in Salt Lake City. ...

Tom Waits has settled his lawsuit with General Motors and the company's ad agency, which had created a series of European commercials that used a Waits sound-alike as background music in its ads. A Germany attorney representing Waits said the singer will donate his net settlement from the suit to charity. ... B.B. King was hospitalized Friday in Galveston, Texas, with "flu-like symptoms," Reuters reports. The blues legend, who is being held for observation, was forced to cancel a concert as a result. ... Joe Satriani is lining up dates for another G3 tour, to begin in Phoenix on March 14. The trio — which also includes Dream Theater's John Petrucci and Mr. Big's Paul Gilbert — will also bring their guitar-hero antics to Las Vegas (March 15); Reno, Nevada (March 16); Berkeley, California (March 17); and Los Angeles (March 18). More dates are expected to be announced shortly. ...

The flap over Ted Nugent's performance at Texas Governor Rick Perry's inaugural ball hasn't ended. Writing a guest column in the Thursday edition of the Waco Tribune-Herald, the Motor City Madman lashed out at people who have deemed racist the remarks he made about non-English speakers. "In total defiance to the vicious lies and hateful allegations of 'racism' leveled at me by irresponsible, unprofessional and downright goofy media punks, I never said a word about immigration or language, specifically not the alleged slam against 'illegal immigrants' or 'non-English-speaking' anyone," Nugent wrote. He added, however, "I will intensify my fight for a united America by demanding all Americans speak English." ...

Dead or Alive frontman Pete Burns has filed a lawsuit against a plastic surgeon over lip injections he claims left him "physically repulsive" and "suicidal," BBC News reports. The suit claims that the singer has suffered several side effects from the procedures, such as swelling, blisters and an inability to eat, drink or speak. Doctors have told him his lips may need to be amputated. Burns claims he received an "excessive number" of injections, and was never warned about the potential side effects. He said he did not leave his home for seven months, because his face was "distorted with swelling," and underwent corrective treatment over 17 months. ... Move over Bacon Brothers: There's another acting Kevin with a band. The Kevin Costner Band will perform a NASCAR Nextel Cup pre-race show at the California Speedway on February 25. Costner will also serve as the event's grand marshal.

01.25.2007

Police ruled out mechanical failures as contributing to the fatal car crash involving Brandy on Thursday (January 25), Reuters reports. Still, the singer could be found to be primarily at fault or criminally negligent in the December 30 crash, which took place in Los Angeles. A police spokesperson, who said investigators will be sifting through more evidence and conducting more interviews in the coming days, added that Brandy was being "fantastically cooperative" with authorities. ...

Ludacris, John Legend, Norah Jones and New Edition will anchor this year's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, The Associated Press reports. Luda and Jones — along with Rod Stewart, Van Morrison and others — are slated for the first weekend, April 27-29. Legend, New Edition, ZZ Top, Steely Dan and others will perform May 4-6. ...

James Brown's children want the trustees of the late music icon's estate removed, citing mismanagement, AP reports. In an emergency petition filed Wednesday, the six children also warned that some of Brown's assets are in danger of being "lost or dissipated or stolen." An irrevocable trust that was signed in 2000 is said to contain most of Brown's assets, and Buddy Dallas — a trustee, as well as Brown's former lawyer — told AP that the process was handled "appropriately and properly" when Brown passed away. ... A full-on Crowded House reunion tour is in the works, Reuters confirms. The band, which has been confirmed to perform at the Coachella festival on April 29, has yet to unveil dates for the trek, although it has been revealed that a new LP will coincide with it. The lineup will feature singer/guitarist Neil Finn, bassist Nick Seymour and keyboardist Mark Hart, and auditions are being held for a new drummer. ...

The latest addition to the Grammy Awards lineup is a triple-threat collaboration between nominees John Legend, John Mayer and Corinne Bailey Rae. The trio will play together at the February 11 ceremony, which will also feature previously announced performers Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, the Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley, Ludacris, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Justin Timberlake and Carrie Underwood. ...

The Beastie Boys have been quietly working on a new studio record, the group revealed to Australian newspaper The Age. Down Under fans will get a first taste of the new material when the Boys headline next month's Good Vibrations Festival. Mike D told The Age that the new album "is actually really different," and joked that fans "can expect to be disappointed; they can expect to be angry at us." ... Lily Allen, the Shins and Cold War Kids will headline radio station KCRW's sixth annual A Sounds Eclectic Evening festival April 14 in Universal City, California. Rodrigo y Gabriela and Bitter: Sweet will also take the stage at the Gibson Amphitheatre. ...

Tool will tour the U.S. again in March. Nine confirmed gigs have been announced through the band's Web site; additional dates will be released in the coming weeks. Confirmed dates run from a March 15-16 stint in Las Vegas through a March 27 show in Corpus Christi, Texas. The trek will also take the band to San Diego; Tucson, Arizona; El Paso, Texas; and San Antonio. ... The sold-out Slayer show scheduled for February 17 at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has been nixed due to "venue production issues." The stop was part of the band's 22-city North American jaunt, which kicked off Wednesday in Tucson, Arizona. ...

20th Century Fox is after YouTube to disclose the identity of a user uploading entire episodes of the network's shows, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Google-owned video-sharing site was served Wednesday with a subpoena by Fox, demanding that YouTube reveal the name of the member that posted recent installments of "24" and "The Simpsons." It is not known whether YouTube has complied with the legal request, the trade paper reports. Fox also hit video site LiveDigital with a similar subpoena. A spokesperson for the smaller video-sharing portal told the Reporter that the company would comply. ... Nicole Kidman was taken to — and subsequently released from — a Los Angeles hospital after being involved in a car crash Thursday, AP reports. The accident happened downtown, where Kidman has been shooting the sci-fi thriller "The Invasion." ...

Relient K, the band that brought you "Be My Escape," is heading out for a long spell starting March 9 in New York. Relient K are using the tour — which will keep them on the road through May 20 in Cleveland — to promote their March 6 release, Five Score and Seven Years Ago. ...

Godsmack frontman Sully Erna will sign copies of his forthcoming memoir, "The Paths We Choose," February 24 at Borders on Vine Street in Los Angeles. The book hits stores February 7. ... Staind frontman Aaron Lewis is hitting the road on a solo acoustic trek that kicks off March 1 in Royal Oak, Michigan. The tour runs through April 4 in Buffalo, New York. ... AFI have added six more shows to their winter trek, which kicks off Wednesday in Tampa, Florida. Five of the new dates are in California (Davis, San Bernardino, Bakersfield, Chico and Eureka), beginning with the Davis stop on March 1. ...

Pop/rockers Locksley — who have toured with OK Go, We Are Scientists and She Wants Revenge — will lend the Rapture some support as the latter band spreads its dance-rock goodness across the Northeast and Midwest next month. The Rapture — whose Universal Motown LP Pieces of the People We Love came out in September — and Locksley will hit Cincinnati (February 2); Pittsburgh (February 3); Milwaukee (February 5); Indianapolis (February 6); State College, Pennsylvania (February 7); and Northampton, Massachusetts (February 10). ... Now-defunct Scottish indie squad Arab Strap are getting a send-off with Ten Years of Tears. The 18-track set will feature unreleased demos, plus new recordings, B-sides, remixes and more. ...

Hot Rod Circuit's forthcoming LP, The Underground Is a Dying Breed, will land in stores March 20. The effort will feature guest vocals from Kenny Vasoli of the Starting Line and Anthony Green of Circa Survive. ... Days of the New are returning to the stage as a trio on Saturday, performing at the Gasparilla Pirate Fest in Tampa Bay, Florida. A representative for the band said that frontman Travis Meeks, who chronicled his journey to rehab for drug addiction in an episode of the A&E series "Intervention," has been clean for a year and a half and is rehearsing with bandmates Ray Rizzo and Malcolm Gold in New York. ... NYC indie-rockers Stellastarr are writing their second album but will put their pens down for a handful of East and West Coast gigs. The seven-date run starts February 5 in San Diego and ends February 22 in the band's hometown. Stellastarr have been demoing their new songs in Philadelphia and posting them to their MySpace page.

• Jennifer Hudson's Fashionable Oscar Campaign

• Christina Aguilera
• Michael Jackson
• Jennifer Hudson
• Jennifer Lopez
• Marc Anthony

Jennifer Hudson as Effie Melody White in "Dreamgirls"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

When it comes to post-"American Idol" careers, a certain movie title comes to mind. "From Justin to Kelly" not only stands as the worst after-"Idol" decision ever, but the title perfectly sums up the divide between what can happen if things go terribly wrong or terrifically right.

Justin Guarani has had the most disastrous career of any former winner or runner-up since "Idol" began (although, God bless him, he's still trying). And Kelly Clarkson has arguably had the greatest, with her third album one of the most anticipated releases of 2007.

So what did Kelly do right and Justin do wrong? It's not easy to pinpoint, but it's safe to say translating "American Idol" fame into legitimate stardom is no easy task. Fortunately — with Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and other "Idol" alumni attempting to launch careers this fall — those who have been there were willing to share some lessons learned.

"Really stick to what got you to the finals," Guarini offered. "That's the most important thing. I think that at times with my first album, it was a little bit of 'throw it at the wall and see what sticks,' whereas I hope with these guys, they're going to stick with the sound that got them there."

After "From Justin to Kelly," Guarini also learned it's OK to say no. "I got offered reality shows, do this, do that, left and right," said Guarini, who recently self-released a jazz vocal album. "That's not the kind of entertainer I feel that I am. If other people chose that for themselves, good for them, but for me I really wanted to make sure that what I did spoke from my heart."

Since parting ways with the management and record label associated with "Idol," Guarini has juggled managers (including Jennifer Lopez mastermind Benny Medina) and publicists, something season-three finalist Jennifer Hudson cautioned against.

"You wanna have everything in place, make sure you've got your whole team together, because you're gonna need that support behind you," said Hudson, who is garnering Oscar buzz for her role in "Dreamgirls" after a slow start. "Just be ready, because it's gonna be crazy. You're gonna be thrown back out into the world, but you're not gonna be that same Jennifer that nobody knew."

Like Hudson, fellow season-three finalist Jon Peter Lewis failed to get a major-label contract right out of the gate (although Hudson just inked a deal with Clive Davis' Arista Records), but he's since self-released an album and is touring regularly.

"I would say that anybody from 'Idol,' winner or loser, has to learn to take good advice," JPL said. "There's a lot of people who are gonna tell you a lot of things, and you gotta look past the B.S. and listen to people when they have a good thing to say."

Since his departure from the show, Lewis has been keeping in touch with fans through his Web site, JPLewisMusic.com.

"You definitely want to take advantage of that fanbase that you have," fellow season-three finalist LaToya London said. "A lot of people don't have that privilege, to have that fanbase so fast. So [keep in touch through the] Internet, do it however you can."

London, Lewis and many others moved to Hollywood after their "Idol" adventures (Lewis' album is called Stories From Hollywood), but one successful runner-up said that isn't always the best move for an artist's sanity.

"Being in Hollywood makes it a lot different than being in North Carolina or in most anywhere," said Clay Aiken, who moved home after a stint in Los Angeles. "It's just a different beast, and I kinda wanted to be back with people who knew me and didn't think of me as Clay Aiken the singer but, you know, Clay Aiken the dork. I needed to be close to family, and I just kinda liked the stability of that."

Of course, Aiken's success allowed him that freedom, but for still-struggling singers, Hollywood is probably the best place to make things happen. Just don't expect it to come easy.

"It's a lot of hard work," third-season finalist Jasmine Trias said. "You have to meet the right people, make the connections and make the right decisions, and at the same time really hone your craft. You really have to practice and improve yourself as a performer."

"You gotta hustle, because when the show is over, nobody is gonna care about you," fourth-season finalist Anthony Fedorov added, more glumly. "I mean, they will, but it's not gonna be the same."

Regardless, it's important to stay confident, which is the advice from Constantine Maroulis, the fourth-season finalist who has found success on Broadway.

"Believe in what you're doing," he said. "Sometimes things take a bit of time, but you need some patience and you need to do quality work, and all will be revealed."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• American Idols Aren't Staying Idle
• 'American Idol' Alumni Report

• Jennifer Hudson
• Justin Guarini
• Clay Aiken
• Constantine Maroulis

Justin Guarini
Photo: Chrissy L. Nguyen/ MTV News

ANAHEIM, California — Back in 2003, on the eve of the release of his debut album, first-season "American Idol" runner-up Justin Guarini told MTV News he just wanted to sell enough to get to the third album, "because usually they'll give you a chance for the second album, but it's the third album where you really [have to] establish yourself."

Less than six months later, RCA Records dropped Guarini after selling 134,000 copies in about the same time Kelly Clarkson had sold 1.7 million (see "Where's Justin Guarini These Days? Not On RCA Records, Apparently"). He read about it in a trade magazine and never did hear from the label.

"American Idol," meanwhile, banished his name from any further episodes of the show, while lending plenty of support to second season runner-up Clay Aiken.

All that considered, the last place one might expect to find Guarini on a recent Tuesday night is in front of his television, watching Simon Cowell dis singers, like he so often did to Justin during that first season. But — as the title of Guarini's self-released second album suggests — Stranger Things Have Happened.

"As much as it seemed liked things just started to go horribly wrong, and to be honest with you, it felt that way at the time, it really has been just Music Industry Education 101," Guarini said, coincidentally while supporting music education at the John Lennon Education Tour Bus at the annual National Association of Music Merchants convention. "I learned a lot from it. I think that ultimately things worked in my favor. If I had not paid my dues before then, I definitely did during that period. And it's not a finger-pointing issue to me; I take as much responsibility as I can. It was more just me not really knowing what I wanted to do and how to get it done."

Guarini insisted he holds no hard feelings for RCA or "Idol," and said he still watches the show.

"It was one of those things where everything happened the way it needed to happen, and it may sound pie-in-the-sky, but it's really true," he said. "[I'm] so grateful because it got me to this point with my new album, and I don't have to deal with a lot of the same pressures and a lot of the same contractual obligations that a lot of other people have to deal with coming off of that show. It is a win/win for me."

The singer said he maintained a great relationship with "Idol" and wants to work out a cross-promotion with the fifth season and his new record.

"It's not show friendship, it's show business," he continued. "It's part of a business, and everything 'American Idol' takes from you, they'll give you just as much, especially if you know how to work it. They're giving you promotion, deals, access to people you couldn't buy. It's one of those things where it's give and take, and that's part of everything from politics to the entertainment industry to whatever."

Guarini did take a slight jab at "From Justin to Kelly," the disastrous musical film he and Clarkson made after finishing their season, noting that he would only make another movie if it took longer than two months to write the script. "Actually, the musical was awesome, man," he added quickly.

After he was dropped by RCA at the end of 2003, Guarini was offered some other reality shows, but turned them down to retreat from the music industry and get back into stage musicals (Justin studied theater in college and worked as an understudy on "The Lion King"). Eventually, he returned to the studio to record Stranger Things Have Happened, which he's selling on his Web site (www.justinguarini.com) until he finalizes a new record deal.

"I really wanted to make sure that what I did spoke from my heart, and I think that's what this album is," Guarini said. "It's kind of a fresh arrangement on some really beloved standards and I'm really proud of it."

Along with a few originals, the album includes remakes of "My Funny Valentine," "I'll Take Romance" and "Night and Day."

"Jazz is not the format where I want to stay, but it really is a starting point for me," Guarini said. "These songs have been rearranged in some really cool modern versions of jazz and I think it's part of the evolution that is going to lead me to more of a jazz/soul/funky format, and the next album after this is really gonna be more of the essence of me."

Once again, he's eyeing that third album.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• Justin Guarini

Paris Hilton no longer has "Screwed" — she's lost the song, which was to be her first single, to Haylie Duff, who says she blocked the hotel heiress from attempting to release the song. "Paris has talked to the people who wrote the song, and I think it's all under control now," Duff told USA Today. ...

Print and broadcast PSAs featuring Christina Aguilera and Outkast's Andre 3000 encouraging young people to vote will hit magazines and airwaves later this month. Declare Yourself, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, is behind the ads, which were shot by fashion photographer/video director David LaChapelle. ... R. Kelly made an unexpected appearance in a Chicago court Tuesday (July 13) to ask permission yet again to travel. Kelly put in a request to perform in Detroit at the Detroit Music Festival on July 24, which would require him to leave Chicago on July 23 and return by July 26. The court granted his request. ... Rosa Parks will not be compelled to give a deposition in her lawsuit against Outkast and Arista Records. According to Parks' lawyer, a judge ruled in her favor at a hearing Tuesday (July 13) after the group's attorneys argued that they should be allowed to question her. Last month, a January 10, 2005, trial date was set for the lawsuit. In addition to this suit — in which Parks claims Outkast violated her trademark rights and defamed her when they named a song after her — Parks' lawyer said a second suit will be filed against Arista. That lawsuit concerns the song's placement on several compilations and the alleged willful defamation of Parks' name that occurred by having the video for the song directed by former pornographer Gregory Dark. ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers hold the honor of having staged the highest-grossing concert event at a single venue so far this year, their three-day sold-out stint at Hyde Park in London. The June 19, 20 and 25 shows took in more than $17 million, according to Reuters. Highlights from the shows have been captured on the upcoming double CD Live in Hyde Park, which comes out overseas on July 26, but which is not scheduled for release in North America. ... Britney Spears' fiancé, Kevin Federline, has been having a few troubles lately. He's being sued in small-claims court by a car dealership that claims he was delinquent with payments for his truck. Classic Chevrolet in Anaheim Hills, California, claims Britney's beau owes them $1,600. The truck has since been repossessed. Meanwhile, anti-Kevin shirts and hats — bearing logos such as "Kevin Federline Must Be Stopped" and "Just Say No to Kevin Federline" — are now available at http://www.cafeshops.com/sexandthecity/333057. ...

Prince has released an exclusive track called "Silver Tongue" at his online music store, www.npgmusicclub.com. The song is available for download for 99 cents for non-members of his fan club. ... Mandy Moore posted on her Web site on Monday that she's collaborating with Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz — whom she calls "one of my favorite people" — for her next record. "I guess he heard Coverage and really liked it and somehow we ended up writing some kick-ass music together," she wrote. "It's all very exciting. Hopefully some of it will end up on the finished album." ...

Alanis Morissette is now offering a ticket auction for her Au Naturale Tour with the Barenaked Ladies. Ticket packages include two seats in the front row and a meet-and-greet with the singer. The auction is taking place through www.stubhub.com and www.alanis.com. Proceeds benefit Equality Now, an international organization working for the rights of women and girls. The trek kicks off Tuesday in Cleveland. ... Rockabilly singer Ersel Hickey has died at the age of 70. Hickey, best known for his 1958 song "Bluebirds Over the Mountain," had been hospitalized at NYU Medical Center in New York after surgery to have his bladder removed because of a tumor, his friend Johnny Vallis told The Associated Press. The singer died after coming down with an infection. Hickey's "Bluebirds Over the Mountain" was re-recorded by the Beach Boys. He also wrote songs for such artists as Jackie Wilson and LaVern Baker. ...

After six years, the legal wrangling between Dead Kennedys members East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride and D.H. Peligro and singer Jello Biafra and his label Alternative Tentacles Records is finally over. The San Francisco Superior Court's May 2000 decision to award the bandmembers more than $200,000 in compensatory and punitive damages after finding Biafra guilty of fraudulently shortchanging them will now stand, as the singer has dropped all countersuits. ... First season "American Idol" runner-up Justin Guarini has signed on to star in "Good Vibrations," a musical based on the music of the Beach Boys about a group of teens on the beaches of Southern California. The production opens July 29 at the new Martel Theater at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. ...

Social Distortion, Pennywise, A Static Lullaby and Kottonmouth Kings will perform at Moto Music Mayhem, a festival blending music with motocross set for August 21 at the National Orange Show Events Center and Speedway in San Bernardino, California. ... The next set of Elvis Costello reissues has been slated for August 3. His albums Almost Blue (1981), Goodbye Cruel World (1984) and Kojak Variety (1995) will each feature an extra bonus disc with 27, 26 and 20 songs, respectively, of demos, outtakes and unreleased tracks. This marks the fifth batch of LPs from Costello's catalog that has been re-released over the last two years. ...

Sebadoh are expanding their tour and will be hitting the West Coast this summer. The tour kicks off July 31 in Austin, Texas, and will hit Sacramento, California; San Francisco; Portland, Oregon; Seattle; Tucson, Arizona; Phoenix and San Diego before wrapping in Los Angeles on September 2. ... Previously unreleased tracks by Thrice and Avenged Sevenfold are available on the 14-track compilation of punk, hardcore and metalcore songs Hopelessly Devoted to You, Vol. 5. The collection is available for $3 from www.hopelessrecords.com. ...

07.10.04

Brandy scored a hit single talking about love, so she's doing it some more. The R&B singer, whose "Talk About Our Love" helped her Afrodisiac debut at #3 on the Billboard albums chart, is following up the single with the LP's title track. " 'Afrodisiac' is about a love, a desire, a need for somebody," Brandy said. ...

In the wake of her canceled summer tour, Christina Aguilera's one-off show that was to take place in Pittsburgh on Saturday has now been scrapped as well — because the promoter filed for emergency bankruptcy at the last minute. Though a total number of fans who bought tickets has not been disclosed, up to 20,000 of them paid between $75 and $150 for passes to Elements, an all-night dance party which would have been the singer's first public performance since strained vocal cords caused her to cancel her tour. Ticketholders now have to wait for bankruptcy court to review the promoter's assets and debts (which he has to provide within two weeks) before they can be considered claimants and get any refunds, even if they paid through Ticketmaster or PayPal. A lawyer representing the promoter said that they're going to make every effort to pay back fans, but there's no guarantee. ...

Alicia Keys is the first artist announced for an international pop music concert at the Great Wall of China to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Great Wall restoration project. The event, which will take place September 25, will mark the first time a concert is staged in front of the national landmark. The Wall of Hope - China 2004 concert will be the first of a series of benefits planned for Beijing, Shanghai and Guanzhou. Proceeds will go to the China Children and Teenagers' Fund. ... Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl played drums for Nine Inch Nails during a session at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, on Friday. The performance will likely make NIN's upcoming album, Bleed Through, for which no release date has been set. ...

Following his sentencing last week for a DUI, Scott Weiland issued a statement late Friday, stating that he has been clean and sober for more than eight months and has reunited with his wife and children. He claimed that the drugs in his system during the DUI, from October, were prescribed by his doctor. "Now that this is all behind me, I will be able to set the record straight," Weiland said. In an interview with Stuff magazine, the Velvet Revolver singer said that he had been on medication for manic depression, for which he'd sometimes medicate himself with heroin. "I was in a suicidal depression, a narcissistic, obsessive depression," he told the magazine. "And the only thing I could think about was my own self-centered, dark world. My thoughts today are not on myself." ... Seventeen-year-old English soul singer Joss Stone will release her new album, Mind, Body & Soul, on September 28. Stone's sophomore LP, the follow-up to her breakthrough debut, The Soul Sessions, will feature original songs this time around, and such guests as Betty Wright, the Roots' ?uestlove, producer Salaam Remi, Angie Stone and Portishead's Beth Gibbons. ...

One of TV's most famous wives and mothers, Isabel Sanford, died of natural causes on Friday in Los Angeles. Sanford, an Emmy winner best known for playing George Jefferson's spouse, Louise ("Weezy"), on the long-running sitcom "The Jeffersons," was 86. ... Hanson's "I Will Come to You" is going to be used in a multimedia Volkswagen campaign — but only in China. The band is planning to tour Asia in November, and the car company will co-sponsor the group's dates in China. Sony Music Asia will also release a special version of the band's Underneath album containing a live recording of the song as an exclusive bonus track. ...

The first full account of Belle and Sebastian's history is due on bookshelves next year. "Just a Modern Rock Story" will be the first biography on the enigmatic group, notorious for avoiding the press. In addition to giving author Paul Whitelaw in-depth interviews, lead singer Stuart Murdoch is also donating pictures for the book and art for the cover. The tome is due out in the spring/summer of 2005, to coincide with the release of the band's next album. ... The White Stripes are also ending up on bookshelves, thanks to the handiwork of Detroit rock journalist Chris Handyside. His book, "Fell in Love With a Band: The Story of the White Stripes," includes their entire history, from inception to current day. The book is due in October. ...

Apple's iTunes has found a winner for its contest where the person who purchased the 100,000,000th song from the iTunes music store would win an Apple gift pack. Kevin Britten of Hays, Kansas, will win a 17-inch PowerBook laptop, a 40GB iPod and a gift certificate for 10,000 iTunes songs. The track he downloaded to win? Danger Mouse's remix of "Somersault" by the group Zero 7. ... Wilco planned to play select shows at Lollapalooza before it was canceled, and now they've announced six replacement U.S. shows. Dates start in Milwaukee August 2 and wrap up in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 8. ...

Ben Folds has produced and co-written a new album for "Star Trek" actor William Shatner. Titled Has Been and due October 5, the record includes tunes co-written by novelist Nick Hornby ("High Fidelity") and country singer Brad Paisley, and a cover of Pulp's "Common People." Shatner last worked with Folds on the latter's Fear of Pop, Vol. 1 in 1998. ... On Saturday night at Strata in New York, clubgoers were treated to a surprise performance of "Slow Motion" by Juvenile and Wyclef Jean. Clef also performed renditions of "Gone Till November" and "Guantanamera" while Robert Iler of "The Sopranos" looked on. ...

• OutKast
• R. Kelly
• Mandy Moore
• Justin Guarini
• Prince

Singer Faith Evans and her husband, music producer Todd Russaw, agreed Wednesday (February 4) at a hearing in Fulton County, Georgia, to enter a 13-week, pretrial drug-abuse intervention program. Last week, the two were arrested on drug-possession charges. If they complete the program and are not arrested again on similar charges, their case will not go to trial. ...

Beck, Jack Black, Madonna and Evanescence's Amy Lee are among a new crop of presenters for the 46th annual Grammy Awards, taking place Sunday in Los Angeles. The newly announced additions will introduce performances by Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Outkast and Justin Timberlake. ... Though his condition has improved since he suffered a stroke last April, Luther Vandross is still not well enough to attend the Grammy Awards. The 52-year-old singer, who is still confined to a wheelchair, is up for five awards, including Song of the Year — the first time in his career he's been nominated in any of the major Grammy categories. ...

Eminem is back for more dirty puppet tricks on the second season of "Crank Yankers." The rapper appears on the first episode of the new season, along with Sarah Silverman, David Allen Grier and others, making crank calls in a puppet guise. The second season premieres on Comedy Central on Tuesday. ... On February 24, Janet Jackson will release a DVD of an old concert recorded at Madison Square Garden in New York. "Janet Jackson - The Velvet Rope" features a live performance originally broadcast on HBO in 1998. ...

Guitarist William Tell has left Something Corporate, citing a desire to work on his own music. Tell appears on all of the band's albums, including its latest, North. Bobby "Raw" Anderson, formerly of River City High, will step in for a handful of dates in February, as well as for their co-headlining tour with Yellowcard in March. ... Scratch, who filled Rahzel's spot as resident human beat box for the Roots, is no longer a part of the group, drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson wrote on the Roots' Web site Tuesday. Saying that the vocal gymnast's last appearance with the group was at last year's Bonnaroo festival, Thompson cryptically explained Scratch wasn't fired but didn't quit either. ...

Grandmaster Flash will host a DJ Summit this weekend in Seattle for popular DJs around the world. Microsoft is sponsoring the event. ... Cornelius Bumpus, a former member of the Doobie Brothers and a performer with Steely Dan for more than a decade, died on Tuesday from a heart attack at age 58. Bumpus was on an airplane from New York to California to perform at the Columbia College Jazz Concert Series, when he suffered cardiac arrest and died before the plane could make an emergency landing. ...

Justin Guarini has signed on with a new manager, Benny Medina, who has guided Jennifer Lopez's career, among others. The "American Idol" runner-up recently told "On-Air With Ryan Seacrest" he was auditioning for television pilots and recording another album, after getting dropped from RCA "without even a phone call." ... Along with possibly duetting with her sister Hilary, Haylie Duff is hoping to collaborate with some other ladies on her own debut album. "I'd love to work with Nikka Costa or Norah Jones, who's an inspiration for me," Duff said recently. ... And speaking of Costa, her manager, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson, is readying two new acts for 2004, a soul singer named Van Hunt, whose album is due in February, and a woman named Tamara. "She's kinda R&B, in a Mary J. Blige kinda R&B way," he said. "Dope, though. Hot." ...

Dicky Barrett gets to showcase his collection of suits on a nightly basis, as the frontman for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones has been tapped for the gig of announcer on the late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Barrett started working for the ABC show in an unofficial capacity this summer, while his band remains on hiatus. Barrett also has a cameo role as a homophobic cop in the upcoming indie film "Home of Phobia." ... Sevendust have added a string of dates to their winter tour. The first new date is February 18 in Pensacola, Florida, and the tour now wraps up February 28 in Columbia, South Carolina. On March 24 the band will head to Australia, but will return for more Stateside shows this spring. ...

Indie New York band the Walkmen will launch a North American tour on February 10 in Victoria, British Columbia. Dates run through March 24 in Carrboro, North Carolina. The band will be touring to support its second album, Bows and Arrows, which came out February 3. ... Sigur Rós have released three pieces of music composed for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company's Split Sides performances last December in Paris and October in Brooklyn, New York. The music is available at iTunes now, with a CD and vinyl release to follow in mid-March. The Icelandic group has also tracked the foundations for six songs for its follow-up to 2002's ( ), which it hopes will drop in the fall. Unlike their traditional MO, this time out Sigur Rós are writing songs while in the studio. ...

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments from both sides of the peer-to-peer file-sharing debate in Pasadena, California, Tuesday. The recording and motion-picture industries are hoping to overturn a judge's ruling in April that declared file-sharing networks Grokster and Morpheus legal. That decision was based on a precedent set in the 20-year-old Sony Betamax case, which decided that that technology couldn't be held responsible for copyright infringement just because some people chose to use it in that way. If the case is overturned, it may mean the end of p2ps. If it's upheld, the RIAA and MPAA must continue with lawsuits as the only means to prevent piracy. The decision may not come for months. ...

02.03.04

Avril Lavigne's second album, the follow-up to 2002's Let Go, is slated for a May 25 release. The skater girl's collaborators on the untitled effort include former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody and Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida. ...

A Perfect Circle have added eight shows to their North American spring tour. The new dates begin April 17 in Indianapolis and run through May 1 in Holmdel, New Jersey. ... Kylie Minogue will appear on the first episode of the new season of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," which airs February 17. Minogue's new album, Body Language, comes out the same day. The first U.S. single from the LP is "Slow." ...

Following a car accident last month, Beenie Man is out of the hospital and recovering in his home in Kingston, Jamaica. He won't be able to participate in a Bob Marley festival in Long Beach, California, on February 14, though his spokesperson said he will be well enough to make the quick hop to Miami for a show the day before. ... Godfather of Soul James Brown has filed papers to seek an annulment from his 33-year-old wife, Tommie Rae, who had Brown arrested last week for domestic violence. Brown is looking for an end to the relationship, insisting she is still legally married to another man, The Augusta Chronicle reported. ...

Will Smith will make another guest appearance on UPN's "All of Us." In the special one-hour episode set for broadcast February 17, Smith plays Robert's college buddy Johnny, who rekindles the flames with Neesee. ... On reggae pioneers Toots & the Maytals' new album, True Love, the man who coined the term "reggae" (though he spelled it "reggay") gets much love from some friends. No Doubt, Willie Nelson, Ryan Adams, Phish's Trey Anastasio, the Roots, Bootsy Collins, Shaggy, and Keith Richards all appear on the LP, due April 6. ...

David Bowie is launching a second leg of his U.S. tour. The singer's next Stateside visit — with the Polyphonic Spree, Stereophonics and a to-be-announced guest switching off on opening duties — starts in Philadelphia on March 29 and concludes with two New York area shows June 4 and 5. ... Rapper Suga Free hit the jackpot by having Chingy and Morris Day, among other guests, on his second album, The New Testament (The Truth), due March 2. The LP follows Suga's 1997 debut, Street Gospel. ...

Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell and Blondie's Deborah Harry are scheduled to shoot a video on February 11 and 12 in Los Angeles' Griffith Park for "Patience Bossa," their duet which appears on the children's album A World of Happiness. Due March 9, the album features a host of stars, including Gary Oldman, Magic Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson. ... Monster Magnet's ninth album, Monolithic Baby, will be released in North America in March. The disc was produced by Scott Humphrey and features new members Jim Baglino (bass) and Bob Pantella (drums). Tracks include "Slut Machine" and "Supercruel." ...

Los Angeles alternapunks the Muffs are preparing to drop their first album in five years. The as-yet-untitled effort, which follows 1999's Hamburger, is in the mixing stage and tentatively scheduled for release this month. ... Barry Manilow is home recovering after a 24-hour stay in Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California. The singer was admitted to the hospital after complaining of chest pains on Saturday. ...

• Faith Evans
• Tenacious D
• Eminem
• Something Corporate
• Justin Guarini

Justin Guarini
Photo: RCA Records

"American Idol" runner-up Justin Guarini has reportedly been dropped from RCA Records after his self-titled debut failed to sell even one-tenth as many copies as Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken's albums.

Neither his record label nor his management would comment on Tuesday (December 2), but Guarini has been removed from the roster of artists on RCA's Web site. Guarini was also mysteriously missing from last week's "An American Idol Christmas" special, despite sharing the bill with his counterparts in early ads for the show. Producers of the show had no comment.

The singer's agent said he is still booking performances, but he referred questions about Guarini's record contract to RCA.

Simon Cowell, who was often hard on Guarini during the first "American Idol" season, recently told Us Weekly that the singer had been dropped, saying, "It happens sometimes." The magazine then informed Clarkson of the label fallout. "Oh my God," she's quoted as saying. "I had no idea. I'm friends with Justin. That is so sad."

Guarini released his album in June, just before "From Justin to Kelly" bombed at the box office. With little help from radio — the first singles, "Sorry" and "Unchained Melody," were released to different formats just a couple of days before the album — it sold about 54,000 copies in its first week, en route to a total of 134,000.

By comparison, Clarkson's Thankful, released in April, has sold 1.7 million copies, and second-season runner-up Aiken's Measure of a Man has sold 1.3 million copies since October.

Aiken and Ruben Studdard, whose Soulful is due December 9, released their first singles the same day as Justin Guarini hit stores, and the two second-season vocalists rocketed to the top of the singles chart (see "Has America Changed Its Mind? Clay Beats Ruben On Singles Chart").

"There's room for this season's winners, and then there's room enough for last season's as well," Guarini said at the time (see "Justin Guarini Sets Out To Prove 'I Can Really, Really Sing' "). "I just want to sell enough to get to get to the third album, because usually they'll give you a chance for the second album, but it's the third album where you really [have to] establish yourself."

While Guarini believed the album showcased his voice better than his run on "American Idol," reviewers disagreed. Even his "dawg," Randy Jackson, panned the album in Savoy magazine. "Everyone who had a hand in this catastrophe, y'all really should rethink your jobs," he wrote.

(For the record, Brian McKnight, Wade Robson and Babyface all had a hand in it.)

Later in the summer, Guarini said he had planned to make a video to promote the album, but one was never released. Clarkson, meanwhile, has made three, and they've all been "TRL" hits.

Guarini is not the only "American Idol" finalist to lose a record deal. Without even releasing an album or single, Tamyra Gray has been dropped by J Records (see " 'American Idol' Finalist Tamyra Gray Gets Recording Deal"), the label confirmed Tuesday.

• Justin Guarini

At least two Vancouver police officers have been cited in the Guns N' Roses riot that occurred at the band's kickoff tour date at GM Place on November 7, 2002. The officers are accused of using "unnecessary and excessive force," according to a report issued by the Vancouver police commissioner on Friday. One concertgoer — who did not appear to be resisting police in footage of the incident — had two teeth knocked out by a police baton that night, and later had to have six teeth removed as a result. …

Tiding "American Idol" fans over until the third season launches next year, Fox will air the one-hour special "American Idol: Christmas Songs" on November 25. The winners and runners-up from both seasons, plus other contestants, will perform on the show. American Idol - The Great Holiday Classics album is due Tuesday. ... Kelly Clarkson, 'NSYNC's Lance Bass and JC Chasez, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, Fabolous, Ice Cube, Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath, Bow Wow, and Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson will be among the presenters at the 31st annual American Music Awards on November 16 in Los Angeles. ...

50 Cent won all five awards for which he was nominated at Sunday's World Music Awards in Monaco. T.A.T.U. nabbed three trophies, followed by Eminem and Norah Jones, who each took home two. ... R&B singers Joi and Truth (formerly Truth Hurts) have each signed to Raphael Saddiq's Pookie Entertainment record label. Joi previously sang with Saddiq in the band Lucy Pearl and released a solo album in 2002, Star Kitty's Revenge. Truth, meanwhile, was last on Aftermath Records but was dropped after her debut album, Truthfully Speaking, couldn't live up to the hype of its lead single, "Addictive." ...

Sharon Osbourne's father, Don Arden, the infamous manager who once handled Black Sabbath and became estranged from his daughter for nearly 20 years after she took on Ozzy as her first client when he was fired from Sabbath, is now promising to "spill the beans" about his life (and, presumably, former clients) in a tell-all autobiography. The self-described "Al Capone of Pop" plans to name the book "Mr. Big," according to www.DonArden.com. ... After a radio festival on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden in New York and a benefit October 23 in Los Angeles, Seal will launch a headlining tour to promote his recently released Seal IV album. The outing begins November 14 in Temecula, California, and ends December 13 in Washington, D.C. ...

Josh Kelley will perform his breakthrough single, "Amazing," on the November 12 episode of "Smallville." The singer/songwriter is touring with Train now and will hit the road with Third Eye Blind in November. ... Depeche Mode's Martin Gore will release Loverman EP2, a live DVD/CD-EP on November 18. The DVD will consist of live tracks from his recent tour stop in Milan, Italy, while the bonus CD will include different versions of the Nick Cave song "Loverman" and the Nico track "Das Lied Vom Einsamen Madchen," both of which appear on Gore's covers album, Counterfeit2. ...

Smalltime shock-rockers Hell on Earth, who recently grabbed the mainstream media's attention with the announcement of the impending onstage suicide of a terminally ill fan, played an uneventful gig at the Liar's Club in Tampa, Florida, over the weekend in front of about 20 people, according to the Tampa Tribune. It's the second time the group has performed, without any suicide taking place, since the date the band first promised would include the grisly event. ...

10.10.2003

Although the Ying Yang Twins will no longer be performing their collaboration with Britney Spears, "I've Got That Boom Boom," on "Saturday Night Live" on October 18, they'll still be teaming up with the pop princess a few days later. The duo will perform with Spears for her forthcoming ABC special, which tapes October 21 and 22 at New York's Gotham Hall. The show is slated to air November 17, one day before her album drops, according to the Twins' rep. ...

A planned tribute concert in Nashville for the late Johnny Cash might be adding some more star power to its lineup soon. Bono, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen are in talks with organizers to perform at the Ryman Auditorium show on November 10. They would join a bill that already includes Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow and Kris Kristofferson. ... Travis Barker can now join his Blink-182 bandmates in the daddies club. The drummer's girlfriend, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler, gave birth Thursday in Santa Monica, California, to Landon Asher Barker. Moakler has another son from her relationship with boxer Oscar De La Hoya. ...

Courtney Love's arraignment on a misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance has been postponed until October 31, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Superior Court. After receiving a call about a possible burglary on October 2, police found Love near the home of her former manager/boyfriend, where she admitted to smashing a handful of windows. A field sobriety test led to Love's arrest on the drug charges. ...

Rapper N.O.R.E. was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday to face charges of marijuana possession after being busted in New York on September 3. The case has been adjourned until December 8. ...

Virginia rap duo the Clipse were supposed to release their sophomore album, Hell Hath No Fury, on December 16, but the album's been pushed until February. The group just dropped the Neptunes-produced "Pu---" as a street single for the mixtape circuit and still plans to release a proper single after the holidays. ... Just three days after exposing a flaw in the copy-protection software used on an Anthony Hamilton CD, Princeton graduate student Alex Halderman is being sued by the software maker. Los Angeles' SunnComm Technologies Inc. claims it lost more than $10 million in market value and that Halderman violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act when he posted a paper on his Web site detailing how to defeat the MediaMax CD-3 software with a simple push of the "Shift" key. ...

A DVD with three hours of videos, live performances and other footage will be featured in a special edition of the Stone Temple Pilots' greatest hits, Thank You, due November 11. Included on the DVD will be live versions of "Sweet Emotion" performed with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, and "Wichita Lineman" with Glen Campbell. ... Along with classics like "In Your Eyes" and "Sledgehammer," Peter Gabriel's double CD Hit, due November 4, will include rarities (such as the "Philadelphia" soundtrack's "Lovetown") and a new song, "Burn You Up, Burn You Down." The latter is featured in the latest edition of the video game "Myst." ...

Kylie Minogue's ninth album, Body Language, will feature production by Curtis Mantronik, Cathy Dennis, Emiliana Torrini, Baby Ash and Rez and was recorded in London, Ireland and Spain. Track titles for the LP, due February 10, include "Slow," "Still Standing," "Sweet Music" and "Red Blooded Woman." ... Toni Braxton will release an 18-song greatest-hits collection, Ultimate Toni Braxton, on November 4. The set will include the previously unreleased tracks "Whatchu Need" and "The Little Things" along with hits like "Un-Break My Heart," "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" and "You're Makin' Me High." ...

The Libertines reformed with their eccentric singer Pete Doherty to play a show on Wednesday, the evening of his release from prison. Doherty spent a month in jail in England after pleading guilty to breaking into a bandmate's apartment July 25 and stealing several items while the rest of the band was on tour in Japan without him. The reunion show took place before a crowd of 200 at the Tap N' Tin club in Kent, England. ... Robert Downey Jr. is the latest actor to want to add "singer" to his résumé. He's recording an album reminiscent of Steely Dan, he told FOX News, and plans to perform Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years" — with the band — on "The Wayne Brady Show" on October 24. ...

• Guns N' Roses
• Kelly Clarkson
• Justin Guarini
• Ruben Studdard
• Clay Aiken

Scorching-Hot Pics From The "Idol" Finale Red Carpet

• Taylor Hicks
• Katharine McPhee
• Daughtry
• Ace Young
• Paris Bennett

Amanda Bynes, Kelly Clarkson, Brittany Murphy, More, At Teen Choice Awards

• The Donnas
• Evanescence
• Jessica Simpson
• Nick Lachey
• Kelly Clarkson

"From Justin To Kelly" Photos

• Kelly Clarkson
• Justin Guarini

• Justin Guarini

Kelly Clarkson & Justin Guarini On The Set Of 'From Justin To Kelly'

• Kelly Clarkson
• Justin Guarini

• Joe Budden
• Boomkat
• Justin Guarini
• Kelly Clarkson
• Michelle Branch