Posts Tagged ‘Justin Guarini’

VIDEO: American Idols Go To Disney World

February 17th, 2009

All seven American Idols descend on Disney’s Hollywood Studios for The American Idol Experience opening held Thursday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

It’s the first time the winning superstars have ever been together!

It’s certainly a cause for celebration: Carrie Underwood and David Cook duet on Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way during the show, which features a handful of real-life competitors vying for the prized ticket. “Carrie looks amazing and I’m just stoked to be here,” David says. Watch OK!’s exclusive video!


 
What advice would Carrie give wannabe contestants?

“Do whatever you love,” the All-American Girl singer says. “Sometimes the judges may tell you you shouldn’t do it for living, but if that’s what you love, you shouldn’t give it up. So no matter what happens, if you get the magic ticket, the fast-track ticket, use it — even if you don’t, still sing.

One thing Carrie won’t be trying? Her hockey-playing boyfriend Mike Fisher’s sport. (He swings for the Ottawa Senators.) “I can’t play hockey at all,” she laughs. “I can’t even fake.”  

Kelly Clarkson — who tells me her slim physique can be attributed to wearing black and not white — gives the attraction her stamp of approval.

“This is pretty cool,” the My Life Would Suck Without You singer says, turning her attention away from Michael Johns. “It’s the first time we’ve actually all been together, so it’s like a family reunion.”

Jordin Sparks can’t believe her eyes. “It’s really creepy how close to the show the attraction actually is,” she says. “It’s got the lights and the fog and the music and the judges. It’s really, really weird, but it was a lot of fun.”

What’s something the No Air singer has lost? Her love for Chris Brown, who likely ended his career by messing up OK! darling Rihanna. “It’s pretty much gone now,” she tells me.

Meanwhile, Paula Abdul has one regret tonight. “I just wish they would all sing,” she says. “It would’ve been fun to hear it.” She adds, “There’s a lot of déjà vu going on. I got a kick out of watching the success of the Idols.”

What tunes would Phil Stacey suggest picking for this attraction?

“You should definitely choose a Celine Dion song or a Whitney Houston song,” he says. “No, I’m kidding. You should do Disney songs. You should get up there and do Can You Feel The Love Tonight or A Whole New World. You’re at Disney World! You’re only going to get the opportunity to do that once.”

Although Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Simon Cowell send regrets, the sizeable Idol turnout also includes a giggly David Archuleta, purple-haired Diana DeGarmo, newlywed Ruben Studdard, tan-and-fit Taylor Hicks, talkative Bo Bice, friendly Ryan Seacrest, jovial Justin Guarini, shy Fantasia Barrino, Idol alum-turned-Rascal Flatts songwriter Chris Schleich, tattooed Carly Smithson, Aussie Michael Johns, chatty Ace Young, dreadlocked Jason Castro, Southern gentleman Josh Gracin, zany Sanjaya, slimmed-down Mandisa and mom LaKisha Jones.  

Woo-hoo! David Cook, David Archuleta, Fantasia, Sanjaya and Jason take a spin on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster during the afterparty held on Sunset Boulevard. No lines, no waiting!

As Kat DeLuna’s Whine Up plays, Idols enjoy blue martinis, chicken, steak, garlic mashed potatoes, sushi and the signature American Idol dessert.  

Disney certainly treats its Idols well: Ace (and girlfriend Allison Fischer) “hit every ride in about seven hours, and then hit the rides we liked again.” Phil took his five-year-old daughter Chloe on Space Mountain. “It’s intense, and she actually tried it,” he says. “It was frightening for me, but she wasn’t crying at all. She loved it.” LaKisha’s five-year-old daughter Brionne would ride Space Mountain the following day. “She can’t wait to get on it. She’s a little daredevil.”

Still, some might call singing in front of hundreds of people in The American Idol Experience daring.

“I think anybody who gets a chance should absolutely do it,” David Cook says.

Bonus: I worked at Disney Hollywood Studios as part of the Walt Disney College Program, so this is quite a homecoming! I could be found sweeping Sunset Boulevard, the street on which this party is held. It is incredible – and the uniforms are still the same.

Ashlee, Pete, More Celebrate Romance

February 13th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff

Couples everywhere are creating their love stories this Valentine’s Day.

It’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t together, but Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz and wife Ashlee Simpson weren’t always parents to their two-month-old son Bronx. In fact, three years ago, he confessed his crush to me.  

“I think Ashlee Simpson’s pretty awesome,” Pete confessed to me in November 2005. “We talk sometimes but I don’t think she knows too much about me. I think she’s cute and she’s nice and the couple of times we talked she made me laugh a bunch.”

To get ready for Valentine’s Day, Ashlee will put on her signature outfit. “For a woman, it’s very important to have a nice, beautiful, simple dress,” she tells me.

Meanwhile, Christina Aguilera will break out the red lipstick. What does she appreciate about her hubby’s grooming habits? “I like a little laidback scruffiness sometimes, but the put-together vibe is good,” Max’s mom says. “He has good hygiene, that’s for sure.”

What is Brooke Shields one Valentine request? Godiva chocolate. “When you have small children, basically all you need is chocolate,” she says.

Carmen Electra makes her love life hot with fiancé Rob Patterson. “We keep it fun, keep it light, full of surprises. I guess that’s why to me it’s been fun to have a stripper pole.”

Ugly Betty’s Ana Ortiz stays close to her hubby through iChat when she can’t be around.

What’s the secret to a happy marriage?

“Communication,” Tom Cruise says of life with wife Katie Holmes. “I’m lucky to communicate with her. With any relationship, you have to keep creating it and it’s fun.”

Clive Owen says, “To keep on working toward it, I think.”

Cindy Crawford agrees. “Work,” the former supermodel tells me.  “You can’t take the other person for granted. It’s hard. Living with anybody, being in a relationship with anybody, you have to be committed to working at it and not taking that person for granted.”

As for Jennifer Hudson’s high school crush? “Probably one of my teachers,” she chuckles.

How can a guy impress Ciara? “Just having fun with the person – dinner, movies, whatever. It’s all about having fun. If I walk out of my date having fun, I feel good.”

Single ladies will certainly appreciate the gestures of Gone Country bachelor Richard Grieco, who likes to take his girls to Paris. “We were supposed to be there for six days, but we ended up being there for three weeks,” he tells me.

Martina McBride appreciates the romantic gestures her hubby does. “We went out for dinner and when we came home, the place we like to sit outside was filled with candles and he got some love poems and we sat around and read to each other and had some wine.”

Indeed, food is the way to win over many celebs.

Both Sarah Wynter and The City’s Olivia Palermo have a special dish: chicken! “I’m good at cooking chicken,” Sarah chuckles.

Gone Country’s Justin Guarini is playing it simple with his fiancé Reina Capodici. “I’m cool with getting on the couch, cuddling up, watching a good movie and cooking a great meal together, getting a nice bottle of wine and eating it.”

What’s his divine dish?

“Oysters are always fantastic,” he tells me. “And then, it’s the Valentine’s food and Valentine’s spirit. But really, I think if you can get a nice hearty red wine and a flank steak – a skirt steak, maybe – and some vegetables and maybe some nice garlic mashed potatoes, that’s good too. It’s nothing openly fancy, but stimulating in a bunch of different ways.”

Katie Lee Joel also shares her passion for food with hubby Billy Joel. “Food is what brought us together. We love to go out to eat, and we love to cook at home. We’re always trying something new. He loves my peach cobbler, and he loves meat loaf. Those are his two favorites.”

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

How Stars Spend Super Bowl Sunday

February 1st, 2009

Celebrities love the Super Bowl.

Inkheart star Brendan Fraser tells me he can’t get enough “buffalo wings and suds” while Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively calls out “nachos and hot dogs” as her favorite indulgences during the big game.

This will be Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel’s first Super Bowl. Will he watch? “I guess I will, if you want me to,” he tells me. What will he eat? “I love my popcorn, and a good hot dog,” he tells me. “A big, fat, juicy hot dog because I’m a slumdog. Oh, that was bad.”

How will Mr. and Mrs. Howard Stern spend the big day?

“I will get out my Terrible Towel, and that’s something a Pittsburgher would know,” Beth Ostrosky Stern tells me. “It’s a Pittsburgh thing. It’s towel that has the Pittsburgh Steelers on it. In 1981, we were all waving our Terrible Towels. Howard and I will be watching it up on the big TV, and I’ll probably make turkey chili.”

America’s Next Top Model judge Nigel Barker won’t be tuning in to watch the big game. “I don’t watch the Super Bowl,” he tells me. “I’m an Englishman. I’m a soccer fan.”

However, Gone Country star Justin Guarini will be watching. “My favorite Super Bowl snack is either a Philly cheese steak, if I can get my hands on one, or a nice Philly pretzel with mustard – French’s mustard,” the season one American Idol runner-up tells me. “It’s a little piece of home because I travel so much. I’ll take every little piece of home I can get.”

Fellow Gone Country star Richard Grieco will order pizza. “It came from it was easy to do back when we were kids, and it’s always been my favorite since then.”

What are his Super Bowl traditions?

“Well, I usually go for one thing, but if I don’t go, I usually watch it by myself because I don’t want any outside interference when I’m concentrating on the game,” Richard says.

Of course, Super Bowl Sunday is a big day for the former 21 Jump Street star. “I watch football every Thursday night, every Saturday, every Sunday, every Monday night. Then I watch NFL Network when I go to sleep, or ESPN when I go to sleep.”

Their Gone Country costar Taylor Dayne adds, “I’ll lay out a table and make sure we have some beer in the house. There’s been everything from nachos to tons and tons.”

Ciara says, “I look forward to inviting some friends and just sitting down and watching the game.”

Does Saturday Night Live star – and Bride Wars writer – Casey Wilson have any traditions?

“Oh man, I don’t. Yeah, sadly. It sounds like a dumb girl – yeah, I don’t know anything about football. But the truth of that matter is I don’t.”

Keyshia Cole seconds that thought. “I am not into football. Usually I might take my dogs Lyric, Lola and Gizmo to get groomed  … or maybe clean up.”

Cassie is more traditional. “I’m usually at home with my family eating junk food,” she tells me.

Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday, everyone!

Justin Guarini’s ‘Idol’ Dish

January 22nd, 2009

Justin Guarini is getting ready to make his Nashville debut on CMT’s Gone Country 3, which debuts Saturday at 8/7c.

The American Idol alum — who placed second to Kelly Clarkson in 2001 – will compete against Taylor Dayne, Mickey Dolenz, Richard Grieco, Sheila E., George Clinton and Tara Conner to release a single to country radio.

He got a helping hand when he met up with Diana DeGarmo, who starred with Maureen McCormick in the original Gone Country, in judge John Rich’s bar. What advice did she give him?

“I think if you can get through American Idol, you can get through anything,” the star, 30, who is planning a summer wedding, tells me. “Really. I think we both knew that.”

Although he had a great experience on Gone Country, don’t expect to catch Justin on Dancing With The Stars, even though fellow Idol Kellie Pickler has expressed interest.

“They wouldn’t let me because they don’t let Idols do Dancing With The Stars because they go up against one and other,” he tells me. “There’s an unspoken rule – at least publicly probably — about not allowing any Idols to go on.”

Ouch, that’s a heartbreaker for Miss Pickler.

While we’re at it, Justin is out to quash more dreams.  

“I think 2010 may be the last season of American Idol, so they may be doing a reunion show,” he tells me. “I believe 2010 is the last season of American Idol.”

Hurry up, hopefuls! Time is of the essence.

When Justin gets together with fellow Idols like Kelly, Carrie Underwood, David Cook, David Archuleta, Jordin Sparks, Chris Daughtry, Kellie and Clay Aiken, it’s easy to feel the love.

“You can’t help but to have a special bond because you’ve gone through something so insane together. It’s like a really cool, select club. You get to see what you experience was like compared to other people’s experiences.”

How has the show changed over the years?

“They can’t help but to grow, without a doubt, but  … it has completely expanded. It has gone to a small, postage-sized stamp stage with basically CD tracks to now a huge, revolving monolithic structure that has an orchestra and a band and all kinds of crazy explosions and lights and things going on. The production value has improved astronomically.”

 What’s his prized possession from his Idol days?

“I kept all my outfits – all those wacky things that I wore. Those are pretty much my prized possessions. I’ve got so much memorabilia – I’ve got the demo CDs that we cut at Capitol Records, I’ve got so much stuff. I plan to dedicate a room to it at some point once I can get to it.”   

He adds, “I had a pair of jeans that had splotches of paint on it – artistically done, of course. That was one of my favorite outfits. There were outfits that made me cringe, of course. There was one that was like a couch from the seventies. It was some strange couch from the seventies that I got. But I think it’s fun to look back at, and say ‘my God, I wore that?’”   

Gone Country 3 premieres Saturday at 8/7c on CMT.

Justin Guarini Grows Up

November 7th, 2008

Justin Guarini is back in the spotlight for CMT’s Gone Country 3, which is taping now in Nashville.

Following in the footsteps of Maureen McCormick, Diana DeGarmo and *NSYNC’s Chris Kirkpatrick, the American Idol season one runner-up will compete for a chance to record a country single.

Things have certainly changed for Justin since he first appeared on the show that made Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken famous.

He turned 30 last week, and got engaged to Reina Capodici, 26, in September. Although the pair began dating in 2007, their love story actually dates back to childhood.

“We’ve grown up together,” he tells me. “She was a friend before she was my lover, and then she became my best friend. Our families go way back. Her mother was my English teacher in junior high.”

How did he know she was “the one” for him?

“There’s a compatibility and an understanding. It takes a lot of understanding to be able to be with someone who is working in the industry. Still, she’s amazing.”

Justin tells me he likes to pamper her with candlelight backrubs. Ooh!

They are planning a June wedding.

Up Close With Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe

October 11th, 2008

Leonardo DiCaprio is the center of attention at the NRDC-sponsored Body Of Lies premiere, which takes place at Frederick P. Rose Theater in NYC.

The heartthrob leans down to chat with me about what he’d do if he weren’t in showbiz (environmental scientist!), and entertains my question about whether he’ll settle down or remain an eternal bachelor. “We’ll see,” he winks. Nice! I like him.

The thriller, which is in theaters now, places Leo in the role of a CIA operative. While Blood Diamond raised the profile of diamonds worldwide, what does he hope this flick will do?

“I think it’s important to look at what the war in Iraq and the war on terror is doing to our relationships worldwide,” Leo says. “In terms of what we’ve accomplished, we give a realistic, stark view of what the United States’ relationships are worldwide.”

Russell Crowe first worked with Leo in 1995’s Quick And The Dead. How has he changed now that they are back in action on this film?

“There’s a wonderful process of maturation that’s happened with Leo,” Russell tells me. “He knew what he liked. It’s cool to see that he’s growing up and he’s had an incredible career, but who he is as a person hasn’t been altered. I’ve seen his intellect mature over time in the way that he can explain his feelings and elucidate how he sees the world. A lot has changed in that regard, but then nothing has changed at the same time.”

Did Leo try to convert him to his environmental ways? “He doesn’t have to convert me at all,” Russell says.

What was life like while filming in Morocco? “There’s lines on the road, but they’re purely optional,” he says. Whoa!  

Director Ridley Scott calls Russell “one of the best dads I’ve witnessed,” and shares his thoughts on his Assassination of Jesse James star Brad Pitt as a father of six. “Good luck to him,” he tells me.

Hey! It’s Aubrey O’Day, who greets me with a hug and a kiss. I see her nearly every night! “It’s been a minute,” she tells me. Aubrey admits she’s seen Leo around but she’s never met him, and that she “definitely” had a crush on him when she was younger.  “He’s undeniably gorgeous,” she gushes.

Oh look, it’s American Idol season one runner-up Justin Guarini standing a few spots away from me on the red carpet.  He’s reporting for The TV Guide Channel. “That’s one of the many hats that I wear,” he tells me. “I’ve really been fortunate over the past six years to consistently work in entertainment.”

Body of Lies is in theaters now.

Pick up the OK! on newsstands now for more on Leonardo DiCaprio. Jamie Lynn Spears/“Casey Breaks His Silence … ‘I’m No Cheater’” is the cover line.

More Idol Classics

February 28th, 2008

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Where Are They Now: Justin Guarini

February 22nd, 2008

Before Sanjaya, Justin Guarini had the locks that people couldn’t stop talking about. The runner-up in the first season of American Idol may have lost to Kelly Clarkson, but he won the heart of millions—and has showm an impressive longevity in the industry.

 

This Georgia native currently resides in Los Angeles, where he’s and is working on his fifth feature film, Mafioso II. Though it wasn’t his best line of work, who can forget Justin along with Kelly’s first movie attempt in From Justin to Kelly!

American Idol: Career Boost or Curse?

January 14th, 2008 / Author: cwillett

Tonight on Fox, American Idol is back for its eagerly awaited seventh season and after looking back at the contestants who have been able to turn a spot on the show into superstardom — and those who have yet to parlay their brief TV fame into a platinum fortune — OK! wondered: Is winning American Idol a career-maker or career-breaker?

SEASON ONE:

In the inaugural round of the hit show, America selected bubbly Texan Kelly Clarkson as their American Idol, and they appear to have picked a winner. Her second album, Breakaway, went multiplatinum in 2004, earning her two Grammy Awards. And to date, Kelly has sold over 18 million albums worldwide. Perhaps the only shadowy spot on her post-Idol run was the ill-conceived film musical, From Justin to Kelly, co-starring that season’s runner-up, the poofy-haired Justin Guarini (who all but vanished from the spotlight.)
Verdict: She’s a star, but she needs to remember where she came from — and to not make From Justin to Kelly 2.

SEASON TWO:

It was the guys’ time to shine on Idol, as voters picked soulful Teddy bear Ruben Studdard over unlikely pop star Clay Aiken. However, despite Ruben’s initial success — his 2003 album, Soulful, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album charts and his 2004 gospel album performed well — recent years haven’t been as kind to Ruben. His third album, The Return, was released in 2006 to disappointing sales. And in 2007, Ruben was dropped from his record label, J Records.
Verdict: Could use a little Idol injection in his record sales.

 

SEASON THREE:

This season’s winner Fantasia Barrino has certainly done well for herself. Nominated for a total of seven Grammy Awards for her albums Free Yourself and Fantasia. In 2007, she made her Broadway debut, starring as Celie in The Color Purple and received a Theater World Award. However, Fantasia’s accomplishments have been overshadowed by those of fellow finalist Jennifer Hudson, who not only managed to score a role opposite Beyoncé in the big-screen hit Dreamgirls, but who also won a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar for her efforts.

Verdict: She’s got to forget about Broadway and get herself one of those Oscars before it’s "Fantasia who?"

 

SEASON FOUR:

Carrie Underwood is probably Idol’s biggest success story to date. She’s the first AI winner to sweep up honors at all three major Music Award Shows in the same awards show season, including the Grammys, American Music Awards and Billboard Awards. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was certified platinum six times over. Her second album, Carnival Ride, was released in 2007 and so far has sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone. She has sold over 13 million albums to date worldwide in the last two years.
Verdict: She’s the golden standard for all Idol finalists to follow.

 

SEASON FIVE:

From his first audition in front of Randy, Paula and Simon, Taylor Hicks was the grey-haired dark horse of American Idol. However, AI’s most unlikely champ was also its most disappointing artist. Though his debut single, Do I Make You Proud, debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his self-titled album was certified platinum, the singer was not able to live up to expectations and parted ways with Arista Records in January 2008. A similar fate befell runner-up Katherine McPhee, who was recently given the boot by RCA.

 

Meanwhile, Chris Daughtry, who came in fourth in season five, sold more than three million copies of his debut album. He is the most successful AI contestant in history who never made it to the finals.

Verdict: Sorry Taylor, but it looks like Daughtry is the real American Idol.

 

SEASON SIX:

It’s a little too early to judge the success of season six champ Jordin Sparks. Her single "Tattoo" reached the top ten, and tied with Carrie Underwood’s "Before He Cheats" for the highest charting single from an Idol winner’s debut album. Time will only tell if she’ll turn her Idol win into a viable recording career.
Verdict: Still out.

 

 

 

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