David Cook News

After two very successful audition dates in Boston and Atlanta, 'American Idol' made its way to the Windy City. With the largest attendances as yet, 'Idol' came to Chicago with high expectations. 5-time Grammy winner Shania Twain served as guest judge for the 12,000 hopefuls and Chicago looked to be a promising stop on the long road to Hollywood.

AMERICAN IDOL hopeful Mike Davis may have the most interesting day job of any other contestant on the show: he is an actor on a speedboat. As he tells during his Golden Ticket interview, Davis is part of the 'Codzilla' speedboat experience, a tourism attraction with a theatrical flair.

Contestant Ashley Rodriguez who was singled out by judge Simon Cowell for having the 'it' factor, talks about the time she sang in front of Smokey Robertson at the Berkeley Commencement Concert. See video of Ashley's Golden Ticket interview below, as well as her audition from the show.

AMERICAN IDOL's Amanda Shectman who is a seasoned musical theatre performer and trained opera singer recalls the daunting task of having to perform an Italian aria at the mere age of 7 years old. Watch the video of her interview with AMERICAN IDOL below.

North Carolina native Noel Reese, now proud owner of an AMERICAN IDOL Golden Ticket, recalls in this interview her early start in the arts, as an admittedly nervous 7-year old, performing songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'The King and I' and 'The Sound of Music'.

AMERICAN IDOL hopeful Liz Rooney is an Army girl and 911 Dispatcher. Her roots in music came at an early age, starring as 'Simba' in a school production of THE LION KING when she was just 10 years old. See her Golden Ticket interview below.

AMERICAN IDOL's Golden Ticket Interviews features 19-year-old student Carmen Turner who hails from Baxley, Georgia. In the interview piece, Turner speaks about her own idol, Kelly Clarkson, and her role as Dance Captain for her high school's show choir. Turner auditioned for AMERICAN IDOL with a friend, both hopeful to make it past the first audition, but it was Turner who eventually wowed the judges and landed a Golden Ticket.

Day two of the hit reality TV show 'American Idol' continued tonight, moving the audition phase to Atlanta, Georgia, with guest judge Mary J. Blige. Atlanta proved rather comparable to last night's Boston auditions for the less-than-stellar singers, but, for a city that has featured the likes of Fantasia Barrino and Jennifer Hudson (both who held their initial audition in Atlanta), seemed to lack some of the more extraordinary performers. Although there were several good singers in the mix, the more colorful performances stole the show.

Another season of the hit reality TV show 'American Idol' kicked off its ninth season last night, bringing the familiar faces of Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, and Kara DioGuardio as America's favorite judging panel back to the silver screen. The show that has brought talent such as Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken takes talent from across the country and lets America choose who will be the next 'Idol.' Now in its ninth season, 'American Idol' has been one of the biggest reality TV show hits of the decade and has taken the country by storm.

Radar Online has posted the scoop that Kristin Chenoweth (soon to return to Broadway in PROMISES, PROMISES) and Christina Applegate (last seen in SWEET CHARITY) will be featured on Carrie Underwood's upcoming TV special, singing a 1960's medley.

NBC Universal has announced that 9 To 5 composer Dolly Parton will take part Carrie Underwood's star-studded holiday, tentatively entitled 'Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Special,' airing on FOX at 8PM EST on December 7. Adam Shankman, director the film version of Hairspray, is co-executive producing and directing the special.

Radar Online has posted the scoop that Kristin Chenoweth (soon to return to Broadway in PROMISES, PROMISES) and Christina Applegate (last seen in SWEET CHARITY) will be featured on Carrie Underwood's upcoming TV special, singing a 1960's medley.

FOX is giving viewers an extra dose of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE on Monday, October 26 at 8:00/7:00c.

NBC Universal has announced that 9 To 5 composer Dolly Parton will take part Carrie Underwood's star-studded holiday, tentatively entitled 'Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Special,' airing on FOX at 8PM EST on December 7. Adam Shankman, director the film version of Hairspray, is co-executive producing and directing the special.

The fifth season of the summer hit SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE came to a spectacular conclusion last night, August 6th, as Jeanine Mason was named the champion on the two-hour season finale broadcast live from the renowned Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Mason, 18, a Contemporary dancer from Pinecrest, FL received the most votes out of the record-breaking 21.6 million votes cast. Additionally, she danced off with the cash prize of $250,000, the title of America's Favorite Dancer and a cover feature in the November issue of Dance Spirit Magazine.