Ruben Studdard
Photo: Shore Fire Media

It's been almost three years since former "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard has released an album. But the man they call the Velvet Teddy Bear has spent that time cooking up some new tunes and unique covers for his upcoming album, Love Is, which he thinks will lure back his longtime admirers.

"A lot of people will be pleasantly surprised. ... The music is really good," said the laid-back singer, who performed the silky first single "Together" on "Idol" Thursday night. After parting ways with his longtime label following the disappointing sales of 2006's The Return, Studdard, 30, regrouped and hooked up with two of the most accomplished R&B producers in the business, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Usher, Mariah Carey), who produced the majority of the new album.

"I co-wrote four to five of the songs," said Studdard, who is releasing the album of love songs through Hickory Records/ 19 Recordings on May 19. "This time, the record company was willing to let me be more involved in the process. Not to say that J Records wasn't, but the proof is in the pudding!" Studdard said Jam and Lewis have the unique ability to bring the best out of the artists they work with, and the duo pushed him to go beyond his comfort zone.

That might explain how he came to cover such nontraditional tunes as hair-metal act Extreme's smash "More Than Words" and Canadian rocker Bryan Adams' "Heaven," with an assist on the latter from Boyz II Men.

He also tackles Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" on the album, which includes an original tune Studdard co-wrote for his wife called "A Song for Her." Along with Jam and Lewis, the album features co-production from New Jack Swing legend Teddy Riley and Big & Rich's John Rich.

While he's been busy touring in a revival of the Fats Waller Broadway musical "Ain't Misbehavin'," in which he stars alongside fellow "Idol" alums Frenchie Davis and Trenyce, Studdard is looking forward to getting back to being an R&B singer after a rough few years in which he's endured some financial stress due to tax issues, successfully sued a former manager, gotten married and lost more than 100 pounds after once tipping the scales at 450 pounds.

"It's a lot of work. We dance from top to bottom," Studdard said of his eight-show-a-week schedule on "Misbehavin'," which he'll be on the road with until May. "But I'm excited to get back out there and do a promotional tour and do some radio stuff and hopefully after that get some tour dates together."

Studdard has also teamed up with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America to spearhead the health campaign "Be Sickle Smart," encouraging sufferers of the blood disease — which primarily affects African-Americans — to learn more about iron overload.

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

• Ruben Studdard

Ruben Studdard
Photo: Matt Stroshane/ Getty Images

It's been a little while since "American Idol" fans have seen season-two winner Ruben Studdard. But the Velvet Teddy Bear will change all that Thursday night (March 26) when he steps on the "Idol" stage again, capping a three-week blitz of returning former "Idol" stars visiting the show that has also included performances from Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

"It's like I never left," Studdard said Wednesday evening after a day of "Idol" rehearsals. The singer flew into Los Angeles early Wednesday morning following a performance the night before in a touring production of the musical "Ain't Misbehavin'."

The singer compared returning to "Idol" to going back to your old high school. "You see all your old teachers and you get a chance to see the people who really had a part in helping you get to where you are," he said. But, unlike when you peek into your lunchroom and it suddenly seems so small, Studdard said the glitzy new stage is way "bigger and flashier" than the one he remembers standing on when he won his crown.

Studdard, 30, joked that while he and his fellow contestants had some help from stylists, "These kids now get to wear designer clothes every week! We didn't get to wear Dolce & Gabbana, that's for sure."

Studdard is returning just in time to celebrate "50 Years of Motown" on a show that will also feature a performance from Smokey Robinson. Studdard will perform his buttery-smooth Stargate-produced ballad "Together" on TV for the first time. The song is the first single from Studdard's upcoming fourth album, Love Is, his first effort since parting ways with longtime label J Records in 2007. The album, due May 19, mostly features production by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with the Grammy-nominated Studdard stepping up to co-write four of the songs himself.

"I miss the people [from the show]," he said. "But I don't think I'd want to do the 16-hour days again, though. And to come back on Motown night ... I grew up listening to Motown music, so this will be a fun show for me to do."

Though he's been busy recording and touring with "Misbehavin'," Studdard has stayed close to his "Idol" roots, returning several times to perform. He also provided the farewell song for season seven with his cover of Kenny Loggins' "Celebrate Me Home," which he performed last May on the first night of the finale.

Though he hadn't yet seen the judges when MTV News spoke to him, Studdard said he was looking forward to seeing Randy, Paula and Simon and meeting new judge Kara DioGuardi.

Busy on the road with the musical, Studdard said he's only seen one episode of "Idol" so far this season and was reluctant to say who he favors in the competition. "It's so early on now, and everyone is trying to work out their nerves and get accustomed to being away from home," he said. "I haven't talked to them yet, but the only thing I can say to them is to stay focused. There's a lot going on. Your home life doesn't stop because you're on the show, but you have to focus on the goal at hand because the most important thing while you're there is performing well."

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

• Ruben Studdard

Britney Spears in her "Do Somethin' " music video
Photo: Sony BMG

Celebrities who want to show their love for Louis Vuitton in their videos and album covers better think twice. The company has settled out of court with record label Sony BMG, which represents Da Brat, Ruben Studdard and Britney Spears — all of whom used the brand without authorization.

Louis Vuitton has won an undisclosed sum after battling the label for the past five years. The amount of the earnings is estimated to be near $300,000. The design house didn't like the use of the Louis Vuitton brand in a Da Brat video back in 2003, when the rapper was seen playing with an LV-printed beach ball.

It also didn't like two other uses of its sought-after symbol. Britney Spears rolled around in a pink Hummer with an LV-patterned dashboard in the "Do Somethin' " video. Regarding the video, the spokesperson said, "We don't make dashboards."

Meanwhile, the monogram was also used by "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard. The R&B singer's 2006 album, The Return, displayed a jacket with the insignia printed on it.

"We believe the terms of this agreement will provide strong protection to our brand worldwide," Nathalie Moulle-Berteaux, a spokesperson for the Parisian fashion house, said in a statement. She added that the label also agreed "to educate its record labels," which include Arista, Columbia and Epic, about copyright laws.

A spokesperson for the record label declined to comment on the issue.

• Britney Spears
• Da Brat
• Ruben Studdard

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

Katharine McPhee
Photo: Marc Serota/ Getty Images

Looks like the folks over at Sony BMG — the mega-label that serves as the parent company to Arista, Columbia, Epic, J Records, RCA and others — are cleaning house. While such a move would typically mean widespread layoffs, it seems that this time, the company is shedding artists.

Actually, make that artists who have competed on "American Idol."

Within the last three weeks, Sony BMG has reportedly severed ties with three former "Idol" contestants — the most recent being season-five runner-up Katharine McPhee, whose sole eponymous effort for the label, which dropped in late 2006, has sold only 365,500-plus copies since its release.

While McPhee's dismissal has yet to be officially confirmed by RCA Records, a source confirmed the parting to Entertainment Weekly on Wednesday. A spokesperson for McPhee could not be reached by press time.

Just last week, season-five victor Taylor Hicks was dumped by J Records, in what was described as a "mutual" split. Hicks wrote on his MySpace page that "artistic freedom and control [was] an exciting prospect" for him, and that he's begun writing tracks for his next release, which, according to The Associated Press, he'll be recording independent of any label. Hicks' self-titled debut has scanned nearly 700,000 copies since first it hit stores in 2006; it was the first album from an "Idol" winner that failed to reach the 1 million sold mark.

Late last year, "American Idol" season-two champ Ruben Studdard was also chopped from the J Records roster, following a poor showing for his 2006 LP, The Return, which, to date, has sold 236,000 units.

So, what does the future hold for McPhee, who recently made the leap from songstress-to-actress with her turn as a pregnant hippie in the upcoming comedy "I Know What Boys Like"? No one knows for sure, but it might not be a bad idea for her to concentrate on beefing up those acting chops. McPhee is also starring in the dark romantic comedy "The Last Caller," as a narcissistic woman searching for love, and will be featured in the forthcoming indie film "Success."

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

• MTV.com Exclusive: Katharine McPhee

• Katharine McPhee
• Ruben Studdard
• Taylor Hicks

Hannah Montana (a.k.a. Miley Cyrus)
Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images

The Hannah Montana tour is definitely one of the hottest tickets in town for tweens and their parents, but one woman admits she went a little overboard in trying to win tickets for her daughter. Texas mom Priscilla Ceballos apologized Friday (January 4) on NBC's "Today" show for writing an essay falsely claiming the girl's father had died in Iraq just so the girl could see Hannah (a.k.a. Miley Cyrus) in person. "I just wanted to help my daughter write a compelling story," she said. The fabricated essay won the contest's grand prize, which included airfare for four to Albany, New York, and four tickets to a sold-out Hannah Montana concert there, as well as a makeover that included a blond Hannah Montana wig. "Please accept my heartfelt apology and please do not punish my child for my mistake," Ceballos urged on the show. ...

What's harder to find than a City of Gold? For "American Idol" rocker Chris Daughtry, it was one of his own songs. Daughtry was commissioned to write a song to play over the end credits of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," but the single, "Feels Like Tonight," was left on the cutting-room floor, reports Variety. "It's a great song, and probably could have been a good marketing tool, but when we put it up with the movie, it just felt wrong," Disney music chief Mitchell Leib told the Hollywood trade. ...In other "Idol" alumni news, Season Two winner Ruben Studdard and semifinalist Frenchie Davis (who got the boot from the show after Fox discovered that she worked for an adult Web site before trying out) have signed on for the 30th anniversary national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical revue "Ain't Misbehavin'." Richard Maltby Jr. co-wrote and directed the Broadway production, which showcases the music of "Fats" Waller, and he will re-create his original direction. Studdard was in need of some good news after being the first "Idol" winner to be dropped from his label, when J Records let him go in December. Since appearing on "Idol," Davis was in the Broadway cast of "Rent." The "Ain't Misbehavin' " tour will begin in November and run at least through May 2009. ...

Literature probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of C-Murder, but the rapper — who is to be retried on a second-degree murder charge on February 11 — is taking part in a unique book club that connects readers with authors. On January 19, C-Murder will help christen the New Orleans "chapter" of the Conversations Book Club when he joins the group at the Comfort Inn & Suites downtown to discuss "Death Around the Corner," his recent novel about the city. ...

R.E.M., My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, Daniel Lanois, Tech N9ne and My Brightest Diamond are among the initial slate of bands scheduled to perform at this year's South by Southwest festival. Lou Reed will be the keynote speaker at the fest, which will take place in Austin, Texas, March 12-16. ... Birdman is being sued for allegedly sampling other artists' songs without paying for them. The lawsuit, which was filed in New Orleans, claims that the Cash Money Records co-founder (real name: Bryan Williams) owes several music publishers money for using copyrighted songs without permission. ... Does Britney have some competition? Both Whitney Houston and her estranged husband, Bobby Brown, were no-shows Friday (January 4) at their scheduled court appearance, TMZ.com reports. According to the Web site, Whitney's attorney, Stephen Kolodny, said the singer was sick. ...

Bay Area producer/DJ Amplive won't be putting out his remix of Radiohead's In Rainbows after all. Just a month after announcing his remix album, Rainydayz Remixes, which was to feature a cameo from Too Short, Amp announced on his MySpace page that he had received a cease-and-desist letter from Radiohead's publisher, Warner/Chappell, on December 18 that barred him from releasing the unapproved album, according to a story on Pitchfork linked to from Amp's site. In a video on his MySpace page, a dejected-looking Amp, holding a sign that reads "free," laments, "In Rainbows is one of the top Radiohead albums, and I'm a big Radiohead fan, and it was all done in celebration." He says he wanted to show his appreciation for Radiohead's pioneering pay-what-you-want scheme by doing a hip-hop remix album that would also have featured Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Jurassic 5's Chali 2na. He says he wishes that Radiohead could hear the free remix album, which he knows they would like, and suspects the band is not to blame for the legal action. "Thom [Yorke], holla at me, man," he pleads to the band's frontman at the end of the message. ...

Australia's first couple of music, Silverchair singer Daniel Johns and singer/actress Natalie Imbruglia, have announced that they will separate after four years of marriage, according to the Melbourne Herald Sun. The pair announced their split in a joint statement released Friday (January 4) that read, "While we are very sad that our marriage has ended, we want to make it clear that our parting is amicable and we remain friends. ... This mutual decision has not been taken lightly or quickly. However, our career demands and our lives in different parts of the world have brought us to the point where unfortunately this difficult decision was necessary for both of us. We have simply grown apart through not being able to spend enough time together." ... On March 25, long-running, genre-spanning party-poppers the B-52s will return with Funplex, their first album of new material since 1992's Good Stuff (and their first to feature co-frontwoman Cindy Wilson since '89's Cosmic Thing). Guitarist Keith Strickland describes the album as "loud, sexy rock and roll for your pleasure zones, with the beat pumped up to hot pink," just in case you were wondering. ...

Josh Groban had a great Christmas, but the music industry? Not so much. For the eighth year in a row, album sales were down, with total album sales diving 15 percent in 2007 to 500.5 million units, according to year-end figures from Nielsen SoundScan. The Los Angeles Times reports that it was the lowest tally and steepest decline since Nielsen began publishing estimates based on in-stores sales data in 1993. There was a bright spot with digital-album sales rising 2.4 percent to 30.1 million units, but even that paled in comparison to the 19 percent uptick in 2006. The overall picture, including albums, singles and individual-song downloads, showed a rise of 14 percent to 1.4 billion units, which, again, was down from the 19 percent gain in 2006. ...

Last year's Live Earth concert and the Roskilde Festival in Denmark will be recognized with environmental honors at the upcoming Midem Green World Awards in Cannes, France, later this month, according to BBC News. The awards pay tribute to events that promote a greater awareness of environmental issues. Live Earth is being recognized for the strict green guidelines it set out in order to create a low-impact worldwide event, while Roskilde, one of the largest European festivals, is earning praise for serving all its drinks in recyclable plastic mugs. ...

Not everyone is psyched about the huge music festival that is slated to touch down in Vineland, New Jersey, this summer courtesy of a hookup between Lollapalooza promoters C3 and the people behind England's Glastonbury Festival. According to the Vineland Daily Journal, a group of citizens, including a former City Council president, have mobilized under the banner of Neighbors Against Rock Concert Site in an attempt to block the show. The first meeting of NARCS is slated to take place Thursday, with the goal of blocking the festival — currently scheduled for August 8-10 — from taking place on a local 570-acre farm. The event is expected to draw 35,000-40,000 people over three days, with mostly on-site camping, which neighbors worry will have a negative impact on the area due to potential increases in traffic, noise, crime and pollution. According to the Journal, NARCS isn't opposed to the festival, just its location. The group is considering a lawsuit to stop the show, while suggesting that promoters move it to a more "appropriate" location, such as the local county fairgrounds. ...

The once-in-a-lifetime New Year's Eve gig at a small club in Surrey, England, that featured Who guitarist Pete Townshend, former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and guitar god Eric Clapton might not be a one-off after all. The secret show, which the trio performed under the name Totally Abandoned, benefited charity and included mostly "old classics," according to London newspaper The Independent. A Thursday post on the Who's site confirmed that the gig took place and teased that "a much larger gig" could happen in New York before March. ...

Stephen Stills is recovering after having surgery for prostate cancer on Thursday. He is expected to be at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25 for the world premiere of "CSNY/ Déjà Vu," a movie directed by Neil Young that revolves around his and Stills' group, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

1.3.08

T.I. adjusted his calendar Thursday (January 3) after an Atlanta judge postponed until February 19 a suppression hearing that had been scheduled for Thursday. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Grand Hustle rapper's lawyers are seeking to have evidence thrown out because they claim it was obtained as a part of an illegal search when T.I. (real name: Clifford Harris Jr.) was arrested in October for allegedly attempting to purchase illegal machine guns. Lawyers for the rapper filed a motion in November stating his vehicle had been searched without a warrant, consent or probable cause. He has been under house arrest awaiting trial after posting a $3 million bond in late October. ...

Chris Brown has hit a bump as he tours across the U.S. — the singer's set designer is suing him for breach of contract, according to TMZ. John Troxtel claims in a federal lawsuit he filed Christmas Eve that while he was paid for some of his labor, "extra work was required and requested." He says an oral agreement was made but that the touring company has refused to make good on its promise. Troxtel, who is seeking more than $1 million in damages, is also reportedly suing Brown for unjust enrichment. ...

Former B2K groupmates Dreux "Lil Fizz" Frederic and Jarell "J-Boog" Houston have released a statement through their publicist regarding the claims of sexual molestation Raz-B made against manager Chris Stokes in recent online videos. "We had nothing to do with the [videos], their release and/or their claims, we are unaware of any inappropriate behavior," the statement read. Raz-B later retracted and apologized for the accusations. Meanwhile, Raz-B's business partner had no comment on a new, recently surfaced tape of Raz-B, his brother Ricky Romance and Stokes, and said he didn't know when it was shot. ...

Nate Dogg suffered a stroke on December 19, according to a coordinator for the hip-hop crooner's recently formed gospel choir, Innate Praise. Reports had circulated that the longtime Snoop Dogg associate had been admitted to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in California after suffering a heart attack. Erica Beckwith, however, confirmed to MTV News that Nate Dogg was released on December 26 after being treated for a stroke and is currently in a medical-rehab facility to assist him in his recovery. ...

The Jonas Brothers have inked a fat deal with Live Nation, and it's being called the first of its kind for an up-and-coming group, according to Billboard. The multimillion-dollar agreement will see the band of brothers playing a jaw-dropping 140 shows at theaters and arenas over the next two years. Eight shows have been lined up so far for the Look Me in the Eyes Tour, in Tuscon, Arizona (January 31); Las Vegas (February 1); Los Angeles (February 2); Everett, Washington (February 5); Portland, Oregon (February 6); February 8 (Salt Lake City); El Paso, Texas (February 11); and San Antonio (February 12). ... Radiohead have, according to the U.K.'s The Times, agreed to a deal with iTunes — which some fans may have noticed, given that the band's In Rainbows album is now available through the online store. "In terms of digital income, we've made more money out of this record than out of all the other Radiohead albums put together, forever," Thom Yorke reportedly said about the release. ...

Bono has teamed with Hard Rock for a new tee that is benefiting the Wildlife Conservation Society's Conservation Cotton Initiative, which helps educate impoverished African farmers. The Bono Signature Series T-shirt, which will be available starting Monday at Hard Rock's terrestrial and online shops, is being made available via Edun, a socially conscious clothing company that Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, launched in spring 2005. ... Bright Eyes mainman Conor Oberst, who toured as part of the Vote for Change Tour in support of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004, performed at a rally for another Democratic contender, Senator Barack Obama, in Iowa on Tuesday. According to The New York Observer, Oberst played for a crowd of approximately 1,000 Obama supporters and at one point told them, "I met the next president of the United States earlier today." But that's hardly the only star Obama has on his side. Scarlett Johansson was a special guest at a rally for him in Iowa on Wednesday night, according to The Nation. She reportedly spoke with a group of young supporters in Des Moines. ...

The Facebook profile cited in many articles (including MTV News') about Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the late Benazir Bhutto's son, is a hoax, according to a statement from Farahnaz Ispahani of the Pakistan Peoples Party. "The statement that's on [the Facebook profile] is not his statement," he told The New York Times. "It seems genuine but according to Mr. Zardari, and we checked with him, the Facebook statement has not been written by Bilawal." ...

Foo Fighters are following in Justin Timberlake's footsteps — the band is participating in this year's "My Grammy Moment" segment for the February 10 awards ceremony. Unsigned instrumentalists — sorry, singers — are getting the chance to perform with Dave Grohl and the gang as part of an orchestra, with the winner being showcased as the featured instrumentalist. Interested? Record a performance video that is no longer than one minute and reflects your talent and submit it here. A Grammy Awards panel will choose 45 quarter-finalists, after which the public will narrow down the group to semifinalists who will perform with the five-time Grammy-nominated band. ... Christina Aguilera and Katie Holmes, starring side by side in a new flick? Rumors are circulating online that the two have been tapped for an upcoming comedy called "Humboldt Park," but Rene Rigal, who is executive producing the flick, told MTV News in regards to the castings, "We haven't heard anything as of yet." ...

Mark this one with a "WTF?" on your calendar: Keytar-wielding indie-rockers and former You Hear It First artists Mute Math will open for Matchbox Twenty and Alanis Morissette on their Exile in America tour, which runs from January 25 in Hollywood, Florida, through March 18 in Las Vegas. ... Hot Chip will pad their February 5 release, Made in the Dark, with a smattering of shows in April. The British electro-poppers will play nine gigs, from an April 10 one in Philadelphia through an April 24 show in San Francisco. ... Meanwhile, Ween are barreling on with their longest tour in three years. The band will play six gigs in January — from January 23 in Washington, D.C., through January 31 in Orlando, Florida — and is slated to play February 1-2 in St. Petersburg and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before jetting overseas. ...

Sketch-comedy duo Tim and Eric have a few friends you may know. Maroon 5 bassist Mickey Madden, Phantom Planet frontman Alex Greenwald and the Like singer/guitarist Z have chalked up covers of songs by the pair's fictional Casey and His Brothers group. Check 'em out on TimAndEric.com. ... Sean Penn will head the awards jury at this year's Cannes Film Festival, which is slated for May 14-25. According to AP, the "Into the Wild" director said "a new generation of filmmaking may have begun," and that there seems to be "a rejuvenation of cinema building worldwide." ...

The Offspring are nearly finished with the follow-up to 2003's Splinter. According to a post from frontman Dexter Holland on the punk-rockers' Web site, they're "taking a quick break from recording right now to be with our families. I've got two lyrics to do, a couple more to sing, and various musical tweaks and fixes to get done. Then, we'll be ready to mix." There's no release date for the album yet, but the Offspring "want to thank all our fans who have been so patient, and we want you to know that we've been in the studio nearly every day now for quite awhile working hard to make a great record," the post says. ...

Former Kid 'N Play frontman Christopher "Play" Martin was reportedly hospitalized over the weekend when his car was struck by another vehicle whose driver was wounded by a bullet. According to North Carolina's The News & Observer, the one-time rapper's car was struck after a man — suspected of fleeing from where a home robbery took place — was allegedly fired upon by local police. The man, identified as Raul Riva Aldamo, reportedly died as a result of the gunfire. Martin and his companion, Michelle Gonzales, were released from doctor's care on Wednesday, and according to a rep for Martin, he is at home recovering.

• Hannah Montana
• Miley Cyrus
• R.E.M.
• My Morning Jacket
• Vampire Weekend

Chris Daughtry
Photo: Ray Mickshaw/ FOX

So much emphasis is placed each year on who wins the coveted "American Idol" title that it's sometimes hard to recall that a few of the biggest stars in the recent "Idol" universe were sent home either well before the finale or on the last night.

This season marked the first one which all the contestants really seemed to understand that just making it past Hollywood to the show was probably enough to launch some kind of career. You could tell by the way they marketed themselves using their sex appeal (Haley Scarnato), hairstyles (Sanjaya Malakar), similarity to Justin Timberlake (Chris Richardson) and quirky mouth-magic gimmicks (Blake Lewis). Chances are, they took their cues from last season's galaxy of non-winner stars 2-8, who have all either released or are about to release their own albums.

Though Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are certified superstars, given the relatively modest success of the second albums from Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino, and the solid but buzzless debut from last year's winner, Taylor Hicks, it begs the question: Does it really matter anymore who wins "Idol"?

Even one of this season's finalists, beatbox-crazy Blake Lewis (see "Doug E. Fresh, 'Police Academy' Star Size Up 'Idol' Finalist Blake Lewis' Beatboxing"), feels like he's won already, even if he falls short Wednesday night.

"I've never looked at it as a competition," Lewis told MTV News. "Because I'm such an eclectic artist, I've just tried to represent myself, be true to myself this whole time. And I think I've done that, and I think the support from the show and all the fans of me on the show have seen that, and that's why I've gone this far. ... I won when I got into the top 10. I've already reached my goal, so regardless of win or lose, I think I'm a winner on this show already."

Fellow finalist Jordin Sparks is on the "just glad to be nominated" train too, but she's also not sure if winning is everything. "I came into this competition, and I really do want to win, I do, but at the same time, if I don't, it's not gonna be the end of the world," she said. "It's not going to be, 'Oh my gosh, I'm never gonna sing again' kind of thing. I would be happy if I won, and I would be happy if Blake won. I'm just glad that I got a chance to be a part of it."

Last year, Ace Young went out in the new Sanjaya memorial spot (i.e. #7), which he said was the perfect time for him. "When I was on the show, I realized that after I got off I received so much press I really don't think anyone in the world would have known who I was [otherwise]," said Young, who is finishing work on his S-Curve Records (Joss Stone) debut, due in the fall. "Everybody knows my name, and I don't think they would have if I'd stayed another week."

Young said winning is a double-edge sword. Early on, the winners were the ones who moved on to great fame, but as the show has grown in popularity, more finalists have had an opportunity to shine. For him, that chance was helping to write "It's Not Over," the first single from fellow season-five castoff Chris Daughtry.

Elliott Yamin has seen firsthand that third place is not a bad spot to land. Last year's second runner-up just had a guest spot on "Idol" last week and is riding high with strong sales of his self-titled debut album. "The exposure the show gives you creates so many opportunities," said Yamin, who had nothing but praise for the "Idol" producers for helping him jumpstart his career. "But I don't think you have to win to be successful, especially if you can prove your real talent on the show. I'm glad I could get in a position I am today and to do it independently. I had more creative freedom to do it my way [than if I had won]."

The day after her exit two weeks ago, one of this year's favorites to take it all, LaKisha Jones, was quick with a quip about how she felt about finishing fourth and what it meant for her post-"Idol" career. "Only thing I can say is, look at Chris Daughtry," Jones said.

Ah yes, Daughtry. Six months after getting booted from "Idol," Chris Daughtry was equally blasé about not taking the top spot. While he was the rare "Idol" to vent a bit of frustration about being booted early (see "Daughtry On Elimination: 'I Wasn't Going To Pretend To Be Happy' "), by October, Daughtry had changed his tune. "I wasn't too happy about it," he said. "But for me, it was the best thing that happened. Now I get to put a band together and write my stuff and put the album out that I wanted to put out. So I got what I wanted out of the whole process."

The rest, as they say, is history. Daughtry put that band together and released a self-titled debut that has sold more than 2 million copies, easily eclipsing some guy named Taylor Hicks, who won "Idol" last year and has sold a very respectable, if more modest, 700,000.

"I would definitely say if you win the competition, you have something to live up to," Daughtry said.

Rockers typically face the hardest slog of all "Idol" contestants, fighting for credibility while singing cheesy songs week after week (see: Constantine Maroulis, Bo Bice). One of this year's early castoffs, Chris Sligh, admitted after his ouster that, coming from an alt-rock background with his group, Half Past Forever, he never wanted to win.

"I think winning 'American Idol' would hurt what I was really going for," said Sligh, who almost dropped out of the competition when he faced particularly harsh criticism for his arrangement of Diana Ross' "Endless Love" (see "Chris Sligh: 'I Actually Almost Dropped Out' "). "There is that competitive side of me that kind of kicks in. After that top 12 performance, I kind of took some time to decompress and talk to some people that I trusted, and then I came out and I was like, "I want to do it on my own terms, and if that means that I get cut early, then that means I get cut early.' "

Season four's sixth-place finisher, Constantine "Bohemian Rhapsody" Maroulis, knows all about the rocker conundrum. But the current guest star on daytime soap "The Bold and the Beautiful" said at this point, the music industry has clearly wised up to the fact that "Idol" is a showcase for all different kinds of performers. "People realize it's not corny to go on the show; it's big business," he said. "Not winning, fortunately, turned out to be a good thing for me. I play to win, so I didn't necessarily want to go home early, that's just what happened."

Despite his early exit, Maroulis has parlayed his exposure into his own rock tours, stints in Broadway shows such as "The Wedding Singer," a sitcom deal with ABC that fell through, a song on a 2005 Queen tribute album and his own self-financed solo debut, due in August.

As if further proof is needed, last year's #6 finisher, Kellie Pickler, hit #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with her debut album, Small Town Girl, in October. So far, she's scanned almost as many copies (526,000) as Hicks.

"Do you have to win? Absolutely not," said a groggy Pickler, who is out on the road supporting Brad Paisley this summer. "Look at Chris Daughtry, and Bucky [Covington], who came out and debuted at #1 on the country charts. We all leave winners with the ultimate goal of having a record deal. ... The only pressure with winning is the higher expectations on you. Usually sixth place doesn't get a record deal!"

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

• 'American Idol': Six Seasons In Six Minutes
• 'Idol' In 60 Seconds

• Daughtry
• Kelly Clarkson
• Carrie Underwood
• Fantasia
• Ruben Studdard

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

Anna Nicole Smith
Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images

Attorney Richard Milstein — the guardian for Anna Nicole Smith's 5-month-old daughter, Dannielynn — was given custody of Anna Nicole's body on Thursday (February 22), according to CNN. In an unusually tearful decision, Fort Lauderdale Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin encouraged Milstein to bury Smith in the Bahamas with her son, Daniel, a decision Smith's previous boyfriends Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead supported in a subsequent press conference. Smith's mother, however — who wants the deceased reality-TV star buried in her native Texas — is appealing the judge's ruling. In a separate meeting with reporters, the case's medical examiner added that he has discovered no evidence of foul play. ...

The typically reclusive Dr. Dre called in to L.A. radio station Power 106 this week to discuss his long-delayed Detox project. The pioneering rap producer confirmed to jock Big Boy that the album will finally see the light of day this year and added upstarts Bishop Lamont and Slim the Mobster will be featured prominently throughout. ...

Remember back in December when Axl Rose promised his oft-delayed, more-than-a-decade-in-the-making LP Chinese Democracy would actually surface March 6? Well, surprise, surprise — that ain't happening. According to a post on the band's Web site, the album's release has been postponed. "There is no official release date, as the band is currently mixing, but after some delays and scheduling difficulties, things appear to be moving along," reads the post. "The good news is that all of the recording for the album has been completed. Drummer Frank Ferrer and guitarist Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal integrated themselves into the recordings seamlessly and will have their presence felt." ...

Nas, Kelis, Eddie Murphy, Tracey Edmonds, Eva Pigford and Serena Williams showed up to honor Quincy Jones Wednesday night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. In addition to recognizing the producer — who was dubbed the "godfather of entertainment" — Black Enterprise's Top 50 Hollywood Power Brokers party also recognized the films "Dreamgirls," "The Last King of Scotland" and "The Pursuit of Happyness." ...

A judge has nixed the lawsuit filed against Sacha Baron Cohen and his Borat character by two college students, Variety reports. The South Carolina fraternity students had claimed they were intoxicated while signing 20th Century Fox's studio waiver, but now their lawsuit has been scuttled altogether. Previously, Judge Joseph Biderman rejected a preliminary injunction that would have forced Fox to remove the scene featuring the students from the film's DVD. ...

Giant magazine held a pre-Oscar event Wednesday night at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills to honor Academy Award nominee Jennifer Hudson, who appears on the cover of the magazine's February/March issue. Hudson's "Dreamgirls" co-star Jamie Foxx hosted the GM-sponsored shindig as Ludacris, Chris Brown, Janet Jackson, Lil Jon, Eva Longoria and director Michael Mann all partied in the hotel's penthouse to DJ Irie's tunes. ...

After losing nearly 100 pounds, "American Idol" season-two champ Ruben Studdard is teaching kids in his home state of Alabama — which ranks near the top of the nation's obesity index — the importance of keeping fit. "I don't want y'all to get to college and stop working out and forget all the things you have to do to be healthy," Studdard, spokesman for the Scale Back Alabama weight-loss campaign, told students at Montgomery's Capitol Heights Junior High School. "I want y'all to continue working out for the rest of your life so you don't have to start all over like Ruben Studdard, trying to get yourself back into shape." ... Maroon 5's follow-up to Songs About Jane will be the first release on the newly formed A&M/Octone Records. The Los Angeles pop act's second album is tentatively due in May. ...

Oasis singer Noel Gallagher has been running his mouth again, recently telling British newspaper The Daily Telegraph that U2 should "Play 'One,' shut the f--- up about Africa." Gallagher also expressed his feelings about Thom Yorke's solo album, The Eraser. "Thom Yorke sat at a piano singing, 'This is f---ed up,' for half an hour. We all know that, Mr. Yorke. Who wants to sing the news? No matter how much you sit there twiddling, going, 'We're all doomed,' at the end of the day, people will always want to hear you play 'Creep.' Get over it." Gallagher later added: "I never went to f---ing university. I don't know what a paintbrush is; I never went to art school." Yorke responded to the latter comment on his Radiohead Dead Air Space blog: "I did. It taught me to respect other artists." ...

The Mars Volta have booked a couple of West Coast gigs, after which the band plans to return to the studio to finish up its forthcoming new album. You can catch the Volta on March 31 in Berkeley, California, and April 3 in Los Angeles. ... From Autumn to Ashes will hit the road next month with Haste the Day. The two-month trek launches in Buffalo, New York, on March 6, with dates scheduled through April 19 in Towson, Maryland. ... The Toadies, best known for their 1994 rock radio hit "Possum Kingdom," are making a habit of reuniting. The band, which teamed up for gigs last March and June, will join up for four performances next month in Texas. The band will play March 12 and 13 in Austin, as part of the South by Southwest festival, and then hit Houston (March 14) and Dallas (March 17). ...

Recording engineer Ethan Willoughby, nominated for an Album of the Year Grammy for his work on Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds, was killed in a car accident on Sunday. He was 30. "Ethan Willoughby was not only an amazing talent in the studio, but also an amazing person," Timberlake said in a statement. "We will all miss his presence and his love for music." ... Executives at DreamWorks Pictures, the company behind the Beyoncé-powered movie adaptation of the musical "Dreamgirls," have taken out full-page ads in trade magazines apologizing to Berry Gordy and Motown for "confusion that has resulted from [the film's] fictional work," based loosely on the rise of Motown artists Diana Ross and the Supremes. ... The Emmy Awards are getting an "American Idol" makeover, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, executive producers of the mega-hit reality series, have agreed to helm the ailing awards show, which earned its second-lowest rating in 16 years for the 2006 telecast. ...

Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton is being sued for posting a topless photograph of Jennifer Aniston from "The Break-Up" on his site. Universal City Studios filed a copyright-infringement suit claiming that PerezHilton.com posted an image that was "misappropriated and illegally copied" during the film's production; the shot did not appear in the finished movie. The blogger was sued by photo agencies last year for posting celebrity images without permission, while Aniston settled a separate suit in September with a photographer who took topless photos of the actress at home from a street nearby. ... The camps for Democratic presidential hopefuls Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama exchanged barbs Wednesday over comments that entertainment mogul David Geffen made to The New York Times. Geffen, who had been a longtime Clinton supporter before backing Obama, called former President Bill Clinton "a reckless guy" and questioned the New York senator's leadership, causing Clinton aides to call for Obama to apologize and return Geffen's campaign contribution.

02.21.2007

Former "American Idol" winner Fantasia will perform and make a special announcement on the program's results show Thursday, it was announced Wednesday (February 21). ...

On Wednesday, Eminem announced a contest for burgeoning producers to remix the new track "Jimmy Crack Corn" (featuring 50 Cent), from the rapper's various-artists mixtape Eminem Presents: The Re-Up. The winning version will land in rotation for two weeks on Em's Shade 45 satellite-radio station. ...

Sensing that Britney Spears needs a getaway from her "turbulent lifestyle," the Syracuse Crunch — a minor-league team in the American Hockey League — is offering the pop singer an all-expenses-paid trip to the upstate New York locale to "provide tranquility" to Spears. According to ESPN, the invite begins with the team's Saturday game, and if Spears accepts, members of the team's upper-management staff have offered to shave their heads in support of her. ...

In related news, Evanescence's Amy Lee has come to Spears' defense, responding to a video posted on YouTube that makes fun of the newly bald pop sensation with an Evanescence song. "I have to post that I in no way am going to endorse any kind of Britney bashing after everything she's been through," Lee wrote in a post on the band's message board. "I can't control what people put on YouTube or anywhere else on the Internet, but I would never want my picture or our music connected to something that's based on getting enjoyment out of someone's pain. I know what it's like to feel manipulated, used and helpless — so do most of you — and by now, I know what it's like to feel like your entire life is open to the world for judgment. Remember that this is a human being we're talking about — and who wants to be like those horrible people that have to hurt you to feel better about themselves?" ...

A wrongful-death lawsuit has been filed on behalf of two children whose mother was killed in a December 30 freeway crash involving Brandy. The filing, submitted February 8 in Los Angeles, claims 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj's death was caused by the singer driving recklessly, according to court papers. Aboudihaj's parents filed a $50 million suit against Brandy last month. The California Highway Patrol has recommended that Brandy be charged with a misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office is still considering charges. Hold your jets, Tool fans: The band is planning to reschedule its North American tour itinerary after drummer Danny Carey tore a bicep over the weekend. The bandmember underwent surgery Wednesday and is recovering. ...

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, has indicted 25-year-old Michael Scott Axley on felony murder and aggravated assault charges for allegedly attacking and killing a man at a Korn concert in July. Witnesses claimed Axley punched Andy Richardson, 30, after the two exchanged words at the Family Values Tour stop and Axley took Richardson's cap. Richardson was knocked unconscious, and Axley allegedly punched him again while he was lying on a sidewalk. Richardson suffered skull fractures and severe head injuries and died two days later. ... Through her lawyer, an absent Nicole Richie pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor driving under the influences charges in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday, The Associated Press reports. Richie, who was arrested December 11 after witnesses reported that her car was driving in the wrong direction on an L.A. freeway, already has a 2003 DUI on her record. She faces up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine plus suspension of her driving privileges. A pretrial conference is scheduled for April 2. ...

Former "Friends" David Schwimmer and Paul Rudd were laughing it up Tuesday night at a New York screening of "Hot Fuzz," the new film from the folks behind "Shaun of the Dead." Writer/director Edgar Wright revealed to MTV News that the comedy is "semi-autobiographical" — at least when it came to depicting Wells, the small town where he and co-writer and star Simon Pegg grew up, and where they filmed "Hot Fuzz." "Everything out of the ordinary had to be 'exterminated,' " he joked. Wright also revealed the identity of one of the uncredited cameos in "Hot Fuzz" — though Steve Coogan is clearly visible as a police officer in the beginning of the film, Cate Blanchett is hidden by a "CSI"-type mask. "It's her eyes that give it away," Wright said. ... 'NSYNC member Joey Fatone will step up to a new challenge, so to speak, on the fourth season of "Dancing With the Stars," which premieres March 19. The lineup for the televised talent competition was announced Wednesday, and includes Paul McCartney's estranged wife Heather Mills, country singer — and Miley's dad — Billy Ray Cyrus, actors Vincent Pastore and Ian Ziering, former basketball pro Clyde Drexler, boxer Laila Ali, Olympic speed skater Apolo Ono, supermodel Paulina Porizkova and TV hosts Leeza Gibbons and Shandi Finnessey. ...

Former Guns N' Roses and current Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash has sold his autobiography to HarperCollins, according to Crain's New York Business. Slash will work with writer Anthony Bozza (who helped Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee on his memoir, "Tommyland"), with a manuscript deadline set for this fall. ... That's that: Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro are free from the restraints of married life. AP reports that the couple's divorce was finalized Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. The two plan to split their assets and personal belongings according to a premarital agreement; the couple separated in July. ...

According to a posting on the band's MySpace page, Killswitch Engage have recruited former Halford guitarist and ex-Damageplan frontman Patrick Lachman to fill in for Killswitch's Adam Dutkiewicz during the band's upcoming North American tour with DragonForce, Chimaira and He Is Legend. Dutkiewicz is recovering from a serious back injury, and won't be able to head out with the band for the trek, which kicks off Wednesday in Philadelphia and runs through April 8 in Chicago. ... Former Citizen drummer Ryan Yerdon has joined Puddle of Mudd, replacing Greg Upchurch, who jumped ship back in 2005 to join 3 Doors Down. Puddle of Mudd have also announced the addition of guitarist Christian Stone. Stone replaces Paul Phillips, who left the band due to creative differences. ... The reunited Will Haven have parted ways with vocalist Grady Avenell; he's leaving the band so that he can focus on his family life. Band pal Jeff Jaworski (formerly of Red Tape) has been selected to replace Avenell.

• Jennifer Hudson: 'Dream' Come True

• Bice, Underwood, Clarkson, More Since 'American Idol'

• Jennifer Hudson
• Ludacris
• Jamie Foxx
• Ruben Studdard
• Maroon 5

Diddy's <I>Press Play</I>
Photo: Bad Boy Records

It's been five years since the release of Diddy's last studio LP, The Saga Continues. And although he hasn't spent that time resting on his laurels — he's been busy overseeing his Sean John and Bad Boy empires, performing on Broadway, running the New York City Marathon, developing his own line of commercial fragrances, toiling to promote voter registration and many other endeavours — there's a lot riding on this long-in-the-making LP, which debuts at #1 on next week's Billboard albums chart.

"This #1 right here is probably the most heartfelt one to me," Diddy told MTV News on Tuesday evening. "Because this is the only album where it wasn't about the extra drama that was going in my life; it was about the music. Also, being away for five years and the climate of this industry, nothing is a given. And to come out and have a #1 album on my fifth album, it's definitely one of the greatest feelings. I'm just appreciating it more and understanding it, after all the ups and downs in my career."

Press Play — which features contributions from Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Keyshia Cole, Christina Aguilera, Ciara, Nas, Big Boi and Cee-Lo, among others — scanned 170,500 units in a rather tepid week at retail outlets, but it was more than enough to earn Diddy the third #1 of his solo career: 1997's No Way Out topped the charts with 561,000 scans, and 2002's We Invented the Remix opened at #1 with 255,000-plus scans. (The Saga Continues and 1999's Forever both debuted at #2.)

Diddy's was one of 18 new releases to make it into next week's Billboard albums chart, according to the latest SoundScan totals. This chart's #3 belongs to JoJo's latest, The High Road, which sold more than 108,000 units its first week in stores. Also debuting in the top 10 are country musician Dierks Bentley's Long Trip Alone, which scanned more than 82,000 copies, and "American Idol" season-two champ Ruben Studdard, whose latest, The Return, opens at #8 with more than 70,000 sold.

Evanescence's The Open Door will spend a second week at #2 with 112,000 scans, while Justin Timberlake's Futuresex/ LoveSounds climbs three spots with 99,000 in week-six sales. Rod Stewart's Still the Same ... Great Rock Classics of Our Time falls five slots from #1 to #6 with 79,000-plus scans, while Hinder's Extreme Behavior climbs two spots to #7, selling close to 76,000 units. Tony Bennett's Duets: An American Classic slips to #9 with 68,000 scans, and the Killers' Sam's Town rounds out the top 10 with nearly 62,000 copies sold.

Other debuts include Vince Gill's These Days (42,000 scans to land at #17), Frankie J's Priceless, which bows at #30 with sales of 26,000, and Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith which enters at #33 with 23,000 scans. Meanwhile, Hi-Tek's Hi-Teknology, Vol. 2 bows in the #38 slot, chalking up 22,000 in first-week sales, and Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong lands at #42 with sales at 19,500. Just making the top 50 is Xzibit's latest, Full Circle, which enters at #50 on 16,700 scans.

Checking the debuts further down the chart, Cradle of Filth's Thornography lands at #66 with 13,000 copies sold, followed at #72 by the latest Swishahouse collection, The Day Hell Broke Loose, Vol. 3, which sold 12,700 units in its first week. Primus pops up at #105 with They Can't All Be Zingers: The Best of Primus selling to the tune of 9,100, while the Shiny Toy Guns debut at #131 with 6,900 copies of their We Are Pilots being carried away from the nation's record shops. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes land at #169 with Love Their Country racking up 5,400 in week-one sales, and It Dies Today's Sirens follows at #174 with 5,300 scans.

• MTV News RAW: Diddy

• Diddy
• JoJo
• Evanescence
• Justin Timberlake
• Ruben Studdard

Clarkson, Aiken, Studdard, More Since "American Idol"

• Kelly Clarkson
• Clay Aiken
• Ruben Studdard
• Fantasia

Making the Video: Ruben Studdard

• Ruben Studdard

Kid Rock, Missy Elliott, Clay Aiken, More At 2003 AMAs

• Ruben Studdard
• Clay Aiken
• Kid Rock
• Sean Paul
• Missy Elliott

• Mudvayne
• Clay Aiken
• Diddy
• Bam
• Ruben Studdard

Lil' Kim, Ludacris, Monica, Snoop, More On BET Awards Red Carpet

• Lil' Kim
• St. Lunatics
• Roscoe
• Clipse
• Floetry

Spankin' New Summer Music 2003 Photos

• Ludacris
• Ruben Studdard
• Mya
• Lillix
• Ashanti