Simon Cowell News

Day 4 of 'American Idol' kicked off in Orlando tonight with guest judge and Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth. Many remember Chenoweth's show-stealing, Tony-winning performance in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and her triumphant star turn when she originated the role of Glinda (or Galinda) in Wicked, which earned her a Tony Award nomination. Chenoweth most recently starred in the ABC series Pushing Daisies, for which she just won the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She'll next be seen back on Broadway in the revival of Promises, Promises. Although Chenoweth was only available for half the episode (one day in Orlando), her presence was welcome to 'Idol' and Broadway fans alike.

American Idol has returned for its much-anticipated ninth season - Simon Cowell's last. So far, the show has held auditions in Boston, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Last night's two-hour season premiere of the ninth season of American Idol still garnered masterful ratings, despite recent shakeups and changes. With Paula Abdul's departure and Simon Cowell's very recent announcement that he, too, is leaving the show, American Idol still was the most watched show of the night with 29.9 million viewers.

Just confirmed at a Television Critics Association Press Tour is what many have been speculating for weeks: Simon Cowell will depart American Idol after this season and launch The X Factor on Fox for an early 2011 broadcast.

American Idol has returned for its much-anticipated ninth season - Simon Cowell's last. So far, the show has held auditions in Boston, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Kristin Chenoweth just can't stop moving! Straight off her stint as the host of the Critic's Choice Awards, this perky actress is now taking an active roll in Oscar Mayer's Good Mood Mission.

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.

Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment today announced the creation of a new long-term global venture to focus on the production and exploitation of music, television, film and digital content.

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.

Despite the recent announcement that Simon Cowell would be spending his last season in the judges seat on this season's American Idol, and a noticeably absent Paula Abdul, the program came out of the box on top, being the #1 rated program for it's premiere on Tuesday, January 12. The night with 29.9 million viewers.

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.

Simon Cowell has declared that contestant Ashley Rodriguez may have that 'it' factor that producers look for in their stars.

Last night's two-hour season premiere of the ninth season of American Idol still garnered masterful ratings, despite recent shakeups and changes. With Paula Abdul's departure and Simon Cowell's very recent announcement that he, too, is leaving the show, American Idol still was the most watched show of the night with 29.9 million viewers.

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.

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!