Shania Twain

Shania Twain, Frederic Thiebaud Engaged -- And Other Happy Endings

20 Dec 2010 21:52:57 EST

The country music star joins Jessica Simpson and other celebs who've found love after very public breakups.
By Kara Warner

After going through an emotional and very public split from her husband of 14 years in 2008, country star Shania Twain has found a happy ending to her heartache, in the most serendipitous of circumstances. On Monday (December 20), People reported that Twain is engaged to Swiss executive Frédéric Thiébaud — the ex-husband of the woman with whom Twain's ex, Robert "Mutt" Lange, allegedly had an affair in 2008.

"Her happiness certainly shone through," Twain's friend Stéphane Lagonico told the magazine recently of the happy couple, who have reportedly been engaged for two months. "They are a great addition to each other's lives."

Twain and Thiébaud's fairy-tale-esque, lemonade-from-lemons story reminded us of a few other formerly unhappy souls who have also found love again this year.

The biggest well-wishes go out to Jessica Simpson and fiancée Eric Johnson, a free agent NFL player who popped the question last month. After her very public split from ex-husband Nick Lachey five years ago, Simpson had a string of other high profile relationships with Tony Romo and John Mayer.

Coincidentally enough, congrats also go out to Romo and his new fiancée, TV reporter and former beauty pageant queen Candice Crawford, who became engaged December 16; and Lachey and Vanessa Minillo. Lachey proposed on November 4, just a week before Johnson and Simpson's engagement.

Last but not least, congrats to Dean Sheremet, who endured a very public split from wife LeAnn Rimes in 2009. Speculation surrounding the breakup focused on an alleged affair between Rimes and her co-star Eddie Cibrian, who have been dating since their respective splits. The happy news is that Sheremet has also found love again via photographer Sarah Silver, and they got engaged in November. There's hope for celebrity romance yet!

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'American Idol' Fans Want Jennifer Lopez, Shania Twain As Judges

14 Aug 2010 20:02:40 EDT

'Idol' followers also name Harry Connick Jr. and Steven Tyler as good picks to judge the 10th season.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by James Lascina

"American Idol" fans are very opinionated when it comes to the judging panel.

Auditions for the 10th season are in full swing, but as the Fox hit continues to comb the country for new talent, producers still have not confirmed a final lineup of judges. Fans waiting to check out the American Idols Live! Tour in Los Angeles on Friday (August 13), offered suggestions about who should dish out feedback when the next season kicks off.

"Gene Simmons would have been amazing," George Garcia told MTV News. "Howard Stern too because Howard Stern [has] that mouth." Garcia said that Jennifer Lopez, a much-rumored addition to the "Idol" panel, could have added "flavor, but I heard she was asking for outrageous stuff." Diane Emerson is rooting for onetime mentor Harry Connick Jr. to return to the show as a permanent judge.

"When he helped them be a mentor, he helped them so much, each and every one of them," Emerson said. "He knew what he was talking about and I think he should become a judge." Chloe Coleman is on Team J. Lo and said, "Jennifer Lopez would be interesting." Kayla Erath said Lopez' star power would mean an uptick in viewers. "I think it would be cool if J. Lo's on it because she's really famous and a lot more people will watch if another famous person is on it." Sarah Garman said that she's down to have Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler join the amateur talent behemoth "to add a little rock [to] it." "That'd be hilarious," Garman smiled. Her pal Jill Davy added, "Yeah, I think they need some rock and roll."

The ladies also said they were up for another buzzed-about singer, Shania Twain, to take a seat at the judges' table. Garman mentioned that Shania would bring "a little country, a little twang," to the competition. Davy also pointed out that Twain, who appeared as a guest judge on the ninth season, already has experience. "Shania's done it before," said Davy. Chloe Song said that the folks behind "Idol" would probably do well with any of the big-name celebs that have been mentioned as possible additions to the show. "I think Steven Tyler, Shania Twain and J. Lo are all really well-known singers so I think they'll have really good thoughts and opinions on the 'American Idol' contestants," Song said. Amanda Slater didn't single out one person in particular but insisted that "Idol" needs someone with the same blunt approach to giving feedback as former judge Simon Cowell. "I think it needs to be someone that can be harsh like Simon," Slater said. "Otherwise [the show is] too nice. Simon gave the real answers. He was tough but it was needed."

Danielle Slater said that whoever joins the panel next, needs to know what he or she is talking about. "[The show needs] somebody that's good with music [and has] a lot of experience," Danielle said.

Who do you think would make a good "American Idol" judge? Tell us in the comments below!

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

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'American Idol' In 60 Seconds: Shania Twain Gives The Boys A Boost

29 Apr 2010 11:06:00 EDT

Siobhan Magnus and Crystal Bowersox struggle on country week.
By Jim Cantiello

This week, the top six had to sing Shania Twain songs, but the contestants were completely upstaged by Shania herself, who displayed a perfect blend of characteristics from all the "Idol" judges. She had Simon's sharp insight, Paula's sweetness, Kara's songwriting chops and Randy's passion for peculiar cardigans. Plus, it was so nice of Shania to bring along the woman who takes care of her horses. (Seriously, who was that expressive lady sitting next to Shania all night? She should sit next to every guest mentor from now on.)

Ironically, when it came time to sing the Shania Twain songbook, the guys fared better than the two remaining women. Casey James got serious (and seriously good) with "Don't!," Aaron Kelly turned a song about making love into a tender tribute to his mama, and Lee Dewyze sang "You're Still the One" softly UNTIL HE SHOUTED THE CHORUS. (Nothing says "I love you" like an aching eardrum.) Meanwhile, Michael Lynche's "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing" garnered raves from the judges and tears from Shania. (And with the way the exchange rate is going now, Canadian tears are worth about the same as American tears. So good job, Big Mike!)

Unfortunately, the remaining ladies struggled with the country sound. Siobhan Magnus sang/shrieked "Any Man of Mine" while high-fiving audience members, and Crystal Bowersox hid behind a bluegrass band ... except when it came time to air her dirty laundry out on live television. You see, her custom T-shirt-wearing, no-good boyfriend is dragging his feet when the word "marriage" comes up. (Cue "Single Ladies"!) Bummer that the backstory was far more engaging (no pun intended) than her throwaway performance. (The song had something to do with cupid. And being stupid.) The lesson is that Crystal can't do everything, like making bluegrass cool and receiving criticism gracefully.

On a "jam-packed" results show, Rascal Flatts performed their new single "All Our Songs Sound the Same (So Why Bother With a Title?)." Carrie Underwood pimped out her buddies Sons of Sylvia (formerly the Clark Brothers, formerly the Great American Band, formerly Hey Record Label Execs, You Can Change the Name of the Group All You Want But America Still Won't Give a Crap). Then 19 Entertainment continued their frustrating habit of taking a perfectly good solo song and forcing it to be a duet for no reason whatsoever by making Shakira perform "Gypsy" with Gary LeVox. (To quote the Mighty Bowersox, "Bigger isn't always better.")

Highlighting the fact that "Gypsy: The Duet" was pointless, Lady Antebellum showed up to sing an actual duet, their irresistible hit "Need You Now."

Four musical performances, an extended promo for "Shrek Forever After" and a vampire-themed Ford commercial later, the bottom three were revealed. Big Mike sat first, leaving Siobhan and Casey on the chopping block. Ultimately the Glassblower joined the elite club of People Who Had the Pimp Spot and Were Sent Home Anyway (chairwoman: Lilly Scott). Her farewell was pretty shocking and emotional, but let's look at the bright side: At least her elimination caused a cameraman to run up to Casey James' mother's face, giving us a sassy reaction shot that was more entertaining than 99 percent of this season of "Idol." If only we could vote for Mama Casey.

Next week the top five will do Sinatra songs with the king of Sinatra impressions, Harry Connick, Jr. I wonder if he'll bring his gun to rehearsals.

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

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'American Idol' Report Card: Who Nailed Shania Twain Week?

28 Apr 2010 12:39:00 EDT

No one flunked outright, but Casey James was the only contestant to impress us much.
By Eric Ditzian

Oh, you crazy "American Idol" kids! We'd been worried all day for you. Was the songbook of '90s country queen Shania Twain the type of "Idol" classroom material that would sink every single one of you? Were we in for a live performance on Tuesday night that would have us harkening back to those ear-bleedingly awful top-24 shows in late February?

No and no. Collectively, this was the finest group of performances of the year, and we're pleased to announce that for the first time, not one contestant notched a failing grade on our weekly "Idol" report. That doesn't mean we've got a bunch of honor students on our hands. In fact, the ranks of the Average Idols have swelled — which is to say that while no one crashed and burned, almost no one soared. Considering how worried we were, though, let's just be happy with how the whole thing turned out. On to the grades!

Excellent

Casey James: On Tuesday afternoon, we went ahead and suggested Casey sing "You're Still the One," and when Lee went first and busted out that tune, we were worried for Goldilocks. Would he once again try on his rocker hat, even though it has clearly not been fitting for weeks? Nope! Casey has learned his lesson well, because he went slow and acoustic with "Don't." From "Heaven" to "Jealous Guy" to last night's cover, Casey's wheelhouse really is the smoldering ballad. We think he understands that now.

Good

Lee Dewyze: One of the hardest things to do on "Idol" is sustain momentum, to follow up one killer performance with another and keep the judges' praise — those American votes — coming. That Dewyze has followed up last week's first-rate take on the "Boxer" with a fine, contemporary cover of "You're Still the One" is cause for applause (even if we did think that song was a better fit for Casey James). The kid has found his niche with an acoustic-guitar-driven, lite indie-rock sound. It's working well for him.

Mike Lynche: While Big Mike's rendition of "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing" didn't go as far in an R&B direction as we might have hoped, at least he indulged that side of his artistic personality. It was no "This Woman's Work," but we'll take it. For the sake of Mike's future, let's hope he's finally ditched that weak-sauce indie-rocker shtick and embraced his R&B soul. Last night's performance was hardly the stuff of Luther Vandross, as Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell maintained, but it's a comparison that Mike should take to heart.

Average

Crystal Bowersox: Remember what we were saying just before about sustaining momentum? It ain't easy! And perhaps it's asking a little much to expect MamaSox to equal her best-of-the-season performance last week during "People Get Ready." But actually, we feel kind of guilty. We suggested Crystal perform "No One Needs to Know Right Now," and that's exactly what she did. Unfortunately, she didn't follow our advice to ditch the song's country flavor. We warned that Tuesday night would be all about the arrangement. On this front, Bowersox didn't make the grade.

Aaron Kelly: You could see it in Kelly's eyes: He knew before he even stepped onto the stage that he's in trouble this week. And after a so-so performance of "You've Got a Way," you could really see that the kid doesn't want to go home. Who could blame him? Last night, Kelly was as strong as he's been in the competition, but "Idol" is just that, a competition. If there's any justice in the reality-show universe, he'll not only land in the bottom three; this will be the end of the line for this sweet 17-year-old.

Siobhan Magnus: We have an idea what Siobhan was thinking when she decided to tramp around the "Idol" auditorium during "Any Man of Mine," from stage to crowd to stairs and back again: Engage the audience! Have some fun! Her heart may have been in the right place, but what happened in the moment was a young singer struggling to breathe, walk and sing all at the same time. She simply did not look comfortable, and it showed — both on her face and in her pitch. The judges seemed to think Siobhan was back, baby! We have a feeling she's headed to the bottom three.

How would you rate last night's "Idol" performances? Share your grades in the comments. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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'American Idol' Shania Twain Night Fits Michael Lynche, Siobhan Magnus

27 Apr 2010 22:13:00 EDT

For the first time all year, the judges do not rave about Crystal Bowersox.
By Gil Kaufman

In a season filled with youthful mentors like Miley Cyrus, Usher, Adam Lambert and Alicia Keys, Tuesday night's (April 27) "American Idol" brought back a country/pop superstar who hasn't released a new album in eight years. But Shania Twain knows what she's talking about, since she was a guest judge during the audition rounds, and her soft-focus advice to the remaining six finalists helped a few — Michael Lynche, Aaron Kelly and Siobhan Magnus — get back in the thick of the competition, even as longtime front-runner Crystal Bowersox faced her first neutral notices of the finals.

First up was barroom rocker Lee Dewyze, who Twain met during the Chicago auditions. He chose "You're Still the One," with Twain suggesting he hold off on the guitar at the top and come in more subtly with a piano. Dewyze took her advice, starting off quietly and then rising to sing the everlasting-love lyrics in his signature raspy voice.

Admitting it's one of his favorite songs of all time (really, Dawg?), Randy Jackson said it started out, yes, pitchy but praised Dewyze for finding a way to make it his own by mid-song. "You found your sweet spot," he said, with Ellen DeGeneres agreeing and saying that Lee's talent is finding himself in each song. Simon Cowell said Lee picked the absolutely perfect tune from Twain's catalog but faulted what Kara DioGuardi labeled a smile as a "weird face."

Shania said she was moved by the way Michael Lynche sang "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing," reminding him that even though his singing seems effortless, he should remember to imbue it with feeling. Big Mike transformed the tune into a Maxwell-like R&B seduction play, giving the song a gospel flair and throwing in some ear-candy falsetto at the end that brought a tear to Twain's eye.

Ellen compared the emotion Lynche brought to the song to the late, great Luther Vandross, and Jackson said Lynche has found his lane as a sensitive balladeer. "I thought the performance, however, was a little bit wet, as if you were in a musical acting out the words," Cowell said to the rest of the panel's confusion after agreeing with DeGeneres' Vandross analogy. "It was a little bit girly for you."

How was construction worker Casey James going to rebound from criticism that he was a bit lazy last week? Encouraging him to let his confidence shine through, Twain was excited about James' choice of "Don't." Sitting on a stool and playing simple rhythm guitar, James sang a straightforward version of the midtempo ballad, stripping away some of his calling-card bluesy grit in favor of a more emotional, mellow rock vibe.

"Casey, artists do not hide: the good, the bad, the ugly. They show it all, and that's what you did in that performance," said a pumped-up DioGuardi. "You didn't hide. You didn't cover it up with guitar. You were vulnerable, you were raw." Cowell and Jackson also said it was one of the best performances James has given on the show so far, praising him for finally finding his sweet spot.

She can do blues and pop, but can season leader Crystal Bowersox do country? MamaSox, who got her guitar signed by Twain during the Chicago auditions, chose "No One Needs to Know," and Shania said she needed to let the emotion shine through. Backed by simple percussion, lap steel guitar, standup bass and mandolin, Bowersox crooned the tune in a peppy, old-timey country cadence, imbuing it with her particular charm while smiling through lyrics she said she hoped would get her boyfriend to "man up" someday.

"Shocker, we don't like Crystal this week," Cowell frowned. "It was limp," he added, comparing it to being forced to listen to a hired band in a coffee shop. "I didn't feel any conviction from you." Randy was into the Nickel Creek vibe, even if, like Ellen, he didn't love the performance. Though Kara said it's kind of impossible for Crystal to not be good because of her honest nature, she, too, thought it was just OK.

Aaron Kelly, 17, has been on the bubble for weeks, and Shania tried to put him at ease about singing "You've Got a Way," telling him to not worry about hitting the notes and just sing the song the way he feels comfortable. Kelly, arguably the most country of the remaining singers, convincingly and confidently sang the expansive ballad, giving one of his most solid performances in weeks.

"The amount of emotion and depth that you showed when you sang that song ... the maturity you had to embrace those lyrics," Ellen said. Kelly proved he gets the "Idol" game by explaining that he changed a line about making love because he was singing the tune to his mom, and Kara praised his conviction. "For the first time in weeks, it actually felt sincere, it felt believable," Cowell said.

The final spot belonged to Siobhan Magnus, who went with "Any Man of Mine." Twain encouraged her to get into the character of a woman who knows what she wants. Though her vocals were typically uneven, Magnus worked the crowd while strutting across the stage in a short flowered skirt and white boots, unleashing a pair of her signature rebel yells to cap off an upbeat performance.

Simon, no fan of country music, loved the song, even though he felt the screaming at the end was unnecessary, comparing it to the sounds of a woman in labor. "I loved it!" Randy raved simply, as Kara agreed, saying Magnus was back in the competition.

Someone will be sent home on Wednesday night's show, which will feature performances from Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Sons of Sylvia and Shakira.

What did you think of Tuesday night's performances? Who killed it? Who fell flat? Who should go home? Write in your comments below!

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

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Siobhan Magnus Wins The Judges Back With 'Any Man Of Mine'

27 Apr 2010 22:13:00 EDT

'Guess who's back? Siobhan!' Kara DioGuardi says after the Shania Twain Week performance.
By Katie Byrne

Country Week is always a wild card on "American Idol," either forcing some creativity from contestants working out of their comfort zones or burying them alive. Since Siobhan Magnus is a bit of a wild card herself, she had no problem tackling Shania Twain Week and making it work for her big voice and oddball sensibility.

Magnus chose "Any Man of Mine," keeping a pretty traditional country arrangement but speeding it up a notch. Twain, who opened up her songbook for the week and acted as mentor, warned Magnus that the song is "all about attitude. You've got to put some attitude in those lyrics."

Siobhan stayed true to Shania's vocals for most of the song — until the end, of course. For the grand finale, she let huge notes fly (including one of her trademark screeches) and unleashed some hair-metal-worthy guitars to match.

The judges have given Magnus a hard time in the past for either coloring inside the lines or going way overboard. What did they think of this go-round?

"I loved it," Randy Jackson said, kicking off the positive reviews and complimenting her "punk/country" look.

"Way to pull the Shania Twain into the station," Ellen DeGeneres said, continuing her choo-choo Twain joke from her first critique.

"Guess who's back? Siobhan!" Kara DioGuardi enthused.

Even Simon Cowell was into it, with one exception: "The screaming at the end may have gone a little bit ... it was almost like you were giving birth up there."

What did you think of Siobhan's performance? Did she get Shania's "attitude" right? Let us know in the comments!

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

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'American Idol' Shania Twain Week: What Should The Top Six Sing?

27 Apr 2010 17:01:00 EDT

We pore through Shania's country/pop catalog to find suggestions for the finalists.
By Eric Ditzian

Season nine's "American Idol" theme weeks have veered from the Rolling Stones to John Lennon and Paul McCartney to Elvis Presley to ... Shania Twain?

Yes, Tuesday's (April 27) show has poured its annual country-music week through the funnel of Twain's songbook. Is this the weirdest theme in this history of the show? That's a question we're asking in a poll over on MTV's Newsroom blog. At this point, what we can say for sure is that, for better or worse, Crystal Bowersox and her band of merry "Idol"-ers will dig into Twain's catalog. How familiar were they with her discography? We confess we had to go back into the vaults to catch up with Twain's career since her 1993 self-titled debut album.

What we found was a mix of familiar hits and oodles of '90s country tracks that have not exactly stood the test of time. The task for the top six will be to contemporize these tunes and hope Simon Cowell doesn't slap them with his dreaded "old-fashioned" or "karaoke" labels. The pitfalls are many. And we must remember that country week is typically thought of as the show's great equalizer, with front-runners stumbling and back-of-the-packers soaring. Last year, Adam Lambert misfired during Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" ("Absolute indulgent rubbish," Cowell said), while Anoop Desai's "Always on My Mind" had the Brit judge declaring, "Zero to hero!"

Who will be this season's countrified hero and zero? Here are our picks to keep the "Idol" kids going strong.

Crystal Bowersox
MamaSox scored a live-show home run back in March with Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee," a cover that began softly and built to an almost country/rock denouement. She should hearken back to that performance with a slowed-down take on "No One Needs to Know," ditching the original's adult-contempo rockabilly heart and concentrating on a simple, acoustic intro that gives way to a soul-infused, full-band jam. As with so many songs on Tuesday, it's going to be all about the arrangement.

Lee Dewyze
With his passionate take on "The Boxer," the 24-year-old is coming off his strongest performance of the season. What was the key? Tempo. Dewyze would be wise to once again keep things ... sloooow. Twain's "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!" has got some inherent swinging energy, and if the guitar-toting Dewyze opts for a stripped-down arrangement that makes ample way for his growly vocals, he could have another winner on his hands.

Siobhan Magnus
Out of all the "Idol" hopefuls, we fear Siobhan might have the most trouble with a country-driven theme. Because while we've seen her try on many different personas this season, country crooner is one that just doesn't seem to fit. What has worked well for Siobhan in the past is keeping things slow — see the first section of her "Paint It Black" — and cascading her energy through a dark, teen-angst filter. She should take "Forever and for Always" and its vaguely '80s-pop feel for a leisurely stroll on the "Idol" stage.

Casey James
James has struggled recently when trying to go the straight-up rock route. Last week, during Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop," he sounded like a poor man's Huey Lewis. Listen to what we — and Kara DioGuardi — have been telling you for weeks and go acoustic, just like you did during John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" or Bryan Adams' "Heaven." And you know what? Take a risk at the same time. We suggest a super stripped-down (and smoldering!) cover of "You're Still the One." Seriously.

Michael Lynche
This is the week we're hoping Big Mike decides he's an R&B artist and not a soft indie rocker. In a weird way, we can totally see the hulking guy doing a solid R&B reworking of "From This Moment On." Close your eyes and just listen to Twain's version and you'll see what we're talking about.

Aaron Kelly
Oh, the many hazards for 16-year-old Kelly on this Week o' Shania! Our gut instinct is to enumerate all the songs the kid simply must avoid on Tuesday night. But jeez, we're not sure it matters. As many brushes with the bottom three as he's had this season, Kelly manages to stick around the competition. Is this the week his luck runs out? And will the song he sings have any bearing whatsoever on his fate? Somehow, we doubt it. In that case, let's have some fun. Twain's bizarre 2007 brush with club music would be ... amazing! Everybody say it together: "Ka-Ching!"

What do you want the top six to sing for Shania Twain Week? Let us know in the comments!

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

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Shania Twain Gets Reality Show On Oprah Winfrey Network

08 Apr 2010 12:39:00 EDT

'Why Not? With Shania Twain' to air on OWN, which launches in 2011.
By Jocelyn Vena

Earlier this year, Shania Twain impressed us with her turn as a guest judge on "American Idol." And it looks like the country singer will be making use of her talent in front of the camera by starring in her own TV show.

Twain will star in "Why Not? With Shania Twain," an hourlong series on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. The network lists the show as one of the first original programs to premiere when OWN launches in January 2011. "The show will follow [Twain] as she begins her climb back to the top, a personal journey filled with risk, revelations and unexpected adventures," a press release said.

Twain's return to the spotlight comes after some time away following her divorce from record producer Mutt Lange in 2008. At the time, the singer released a statement on her Web site about the split, saying, "I need some time to heal this broken heart but make no mistake; I will be back and hopefully stronger than ever."

She last released an album, Up!, in 2002. And, while she has no immediate plans to release new music, she has said on her Web site that she is writing material. "I'm writing you from the Caribbean where I'm warming up after a cold stretch in Canada during the holidays," she wrote in a blog post in February. "The sunny weather gets me into writing mode. Many of the songs from The Woman in Me and Come on Over were written in the tropics, so it's a good place for me to be creative. ... My cousin Kenny and I kicked a few songs around as we tried to remember how they went. The jamming is pretty rough, but real, and thought you would appreciate the authenticity of it, even if it is poor, home quality."

Would you check out Shania Twain's TV show? Or, would you rather she release new music? Tell us in the comments!

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'American Idol' Guest Judges: We Grade Katy Perry, Joe Jonas And More

28 Jan 2010 17:27:00 EST

Could any of the fill-ins replace Simon, or should they never be asked back? Our 'Idol' expert takes a closer look.
By Jim Cantiello

With Paula Abdul moving on to bigger and better things (TBD), "American Idol" had a gaping hole to fill during their season-nine audition process. As a solution, producers put their Rolodexes to good use and called up some celeb pals to sit in during the tryouts.

Everyone from Broadway vet Kristin Chenoweth to heartthrob Joe Jonas answered the call. But how did the various Rent-A-Judges stack up against one another? Which ones floundered and which ones made the grade?

It's time to rate the "American Idol" guest judges!

Katy Perry: A+
Katy was filter-free, and we loved her for it. When she didn't like the contestants, she told them so. And when she noticed Kara DioGuardi judging contestants based on their depressing life situations instead of their singing ability, Katy called her out on national television: "This is not a Lifetime movie, sweetheart." Truer words have never been spoken. Actually, that's false. "Katy Perry should replace Simon next season." There. Now truer words have never been spoken.

Mary J. Blige: A-
Mary had the audacity to laugh in contestants' faces and disagree with the other judges. While we wouldn't want her to replace Paula indefinitely, her diva attitude helped give the Atlanta auditions a neat "what-will-she-do-next" edge. If only she looked like she wanted to be there. On second thought, that made her appearance even more compelling.

Neil Patrick Harris: A-
Neil Patrick Harris had a winning mix of Paula's kindhearted sensitivity and Simon's razor-sharp wit. (Our fave NPH quip was this response to a dominatrix who revealed she was on "Barney and Friends" as a child: "I knew I recognized you!") In fact, Neil may have been too similar to Simon. How else to explain the tension between the two judges? Extra points to NPH for not flinching when he was on the receiving end of the Cowell Scowl!

Shania Twain: B+
Shania has been out of the spotlight these past few years, but once we got over the "why is she there?" factor, we appreciated Ms. Twain's voice of compassion, which now had a vaguely Midwestern accent! (Perhaps an ode to Chicago, the city she was critiquing?) Plus, Shania provided an instant-classic "Idol" audition moment when she told Asian stud-muffin John Park that he had a "nice bottom end." Hello!

Kristin Chenoweth: C+
We had high hopes for the pint-size Broadway superstar (who you may remember from "Pushing Daisies" and "Glee"). Alas, Kristin only hung around for half the Orlando auditions and her girly sensibilities encouraged DioGuardi to be even more annoying than usual.

Victoria Beckham: C-
Posh Spice seems like a very nice robot, but wow, Suri Cruise could have provided more in-depth critiques of the auditioning hopefuls in Boston. (Victoria will be back Tuesday for the Denver episode. Perhaps she'll redeem herself? We think "zig-a-zig-NOT.")

Avril Lavigne: D+
The Canadian "punk" rocker was awkward, fidgety and obviously more invested in her devil hoodie than the singers in front of her. The one "insight" Avril brought to the table was that successful musicians can't be married with children. What?!

Joe Jonas: F
If he didn't put any effort into his "Idol" appearance, we're not going to put any effort into reviewing it. No wonder producers kept the day-two segments of Dallas noticeably brief.

Who did you think were the best and worst guest judges? Did you miss Paula? And who would you put on a short list for Simon's replacement, if anyone? Leave a comment below.

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

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'American Idol' Guest Judge Shania Twain: Where Has She Been?

19 Jan 2010 21:25:00 EST

The singer makes her first television appearance in nearly two years on Tuesday.
By Jocelyn Vena

Shania Twain sat at the judges' table Tuesday night (January 19) to help Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell pick the best talent in Chicago for "American Idol." She joins a long list of celebrity panelists, including Victoria Beckham and Mary J. Blige, as well as upcoming guests Katy Perry, Joe Jonas and Neil Patrick Harris.




	Shania Twain In Photos

Her guest spot on the show marks her first high-profile public appearance in more than a year. Her last album, 2002's Up!, spawned a few smaller hits in the title track and "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" She also toured in support of the album and launched two perfumes, Shania by Stetson and Shania Starlight.

During that time off she divorced Mutt Lange, officially ending their marriage in 2008. At the time, the singer released a statement on her Web site about the split, saying, "I need some time to heal this broken heart but make no mistake; I will be back and hopefully stronger than ever."

The five-time Grammy winner first broke on the scene in mid-'90s with radio hits like "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" She hit the big time with her 1997 release, Come on Over, containing such megahits as "You're Still the One," "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" and "That Don't Impress Me Much."

Now with eight years of distance between her last release and her appearance on "American Idol," fans are wondering when the country-crossover queen plans to return to the studio. As of January 2009, a rep for the singer said that she had no immediate plans to release new music.

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