Ellen Degeneres News

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.

Award-winning dance phenomenon, the Groovaloos, best known for their breakout performance on NBC's 'Superstars of Dance' and appearances on FOX's 'So You Think You Can Dance,' 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' and 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,' will bring their electric dance stage show, GROOVALOO, to the Times Union Center's Moran Theater on Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 7:30PM. Visit Groovaloo.com for a video preview.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, announced today the nominees for its 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards. By recognizing and honoring media for outstanding images of the LGBT community, the GLAAD Media Awards serve as a benchmark for the media industry and complement GLAAD's work to bring LGBT images and stories to Americans.

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.

Award-winning dance phenomenon, the Groovaloos, best known for their breakout performance on NBC's 'Superstars of Dance' and appearances on FOX's 'So You Think You Can Dance,' 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' and 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,' will bring their electric dance stage show, GROOVALOO, to Van Wezel on January 13th @ 8PM For ticket information please visit www.vanwezel.org .

Following the announcement yesterday that American Idol mastermind Simon Cowell would be leaving the show after nine seasons to bring The X Factor to Fox in early 2011, Tony-nominee and former Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis appeared on CBS' The Early show to weigh in on Idol's loss. See what the Rock of Ages star has to say about Simon's parting below!

Award-winning dance phenomenon, the Groovaloos, best known for their breakout performance on NBC's 'Superstars of Dance' and appearances on FOX's 'So You Think You Can Dance,' 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' and 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,' will bring their electric dance stage show, Groovaloo, to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.