LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -- Some very public names may be going private. CKX Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Sillerman said Thursday he and other executives have made a $1.3 billion bid to privatize the company, which controls the names, images and likenesses of the late music and movie icon Elvis Presley and the living boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
The former radio and concert mogul is getting a hand in the effort from Simon Fuller, chief executive of CKX (Charts) subsidiary 19 Entertainment Limited Inc., the British-based firm behind the "Pop Idol" television talent show and its hit U.S. spinoff, "American Idol."
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CNN's Richard Lui speaks with our resident American Idol experts about the big winner Jordin Sparks.
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Sillerman, the company's biggest shareholder, offered to enter into a complex series of transactions that would include a cash purchase of CKX's outstanding common stock at a price of $13.75 per share, which represents a 29 percent premium over the stock's closing price of $10.63.
Lewis vs. Sparks: The real competition begins
With 97.06 million shares outstanding, that would amount to about $1.33 billion. According to a statement, the company's directors have been actively considering the proposal and have scheduled a meeting for early Friday morning to consider the bid and hear the recommendation of a special committee of independent directors.
CKX -- which also operates Graceland, Presley's former home turned tourist attraction -- expects to make a "comprehensive announcement" following that meeting. Top of page
Friday, June 1, 2007
Paula Abdul says judging "Idol" is her purpose in life
NEW YORK (AP) — Paula Abdul says she didn't figure out her purpose in life until she became a judge on Fox network's "American Idol."
"I knew since I was a little girl that I had this profound way of touching people. My purpose is bringing out everybody's best and being that cheerleader to other people's success," the 44-year-old singer-dancer tells OK! magazine in its latest issue.
"Being a judge on 'American Idol' overshadows being a Grammy Award winner and selling millions of records," she says.
Abdul has been diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), a chronic neurological disorder that causes severe pain.
"I have four titanium plates in my neck. I've had 14 surgeries over the years. I had an operation the same evening as the first season finale of 'American Idol,'" she says. "It can come and go at any time, but I no longer have the intense nerve pain that is associated with RSD, thank God."
Abdul — who says she was hit by a drunk driver in 1987 and injured in an emergency plane landing in the early '90s — says she is treated with anti-inflammatory medications and has massage and acupuncture treatments for her pain.
"If I appear exhausted on television, it's because I am!"
she says. "I have a lot of sleepless nights because I'm in so much pain. I was taking far more medication on earlier seasons (of 'American Idol'), and nobody said anything. I try to say something and I stumble, and that's what people have picked up on. I'm not polished."
When asked how she responds to claims that her behavior during "Idol" is sometimes bizarre, Abdul replies:
"I'm sick of it. I've never been drunk. I don't do recreational drugs. It's defamation of character."
The choreographer and former Laker girl also says: "I'm a warrior. I'm not the best dancer, and I'm certainly not the best singer, but I am an entire package of a great performer."
"I knew since I was a little girl that I had this profound way of touching people. My purpose is bringing out everybody's best and being that cheerleader to other people's success," the 44-year-old singer-dancer tells OK! magazine in its latest issue.
"Being a judge on 'American Idol' overshadows being a Grammy Award winner and selling millions of records," she says.
Abdul has been diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), a chronic neurological disorder that causes severe pain.
"I have four titanium plates in my neck. I've had 14 surgeries over the years. I had an operation the same evening as the first season finale of 'American Idol,'" she says. "It can come and go at any time, but I no longer have the intense nerve pain that is associated with RSD, thank God."
Abdul — who says she was hit by a drunk driver in 1987 and injured in an emergency plane landing in the early '90s — says she is treated with anti-inflammatory medications and has massage and acupuncture treatments for her pain.
"If I appear exhausted on television, it's because I am!"
she says. "I have a lot of sleepless nights because I'm in so much pain. I was taking far more medication on earlier seasons (of 'American Idol'), and nobody said anything. I try to say something and I stumble, and that's what people have picked up on. I'm not polished."
When asked how she responds to claims that her behavior during "Idol" is sometimes bizarre, Abdul replies:
"I'm sick of it. I've never been drunk. I don't do recreational drugs. It's defamation of character."
The choreographer and former Laker girl also says: "I'm a warrior. I'm not the best dancer, and I'm certainly not the best singer, but I am an entire package of a great performer."
'American Idol' Champ Jordin Sparks Wants Chris Brown, Mario On Debut
The sixth season of "American Idol" is all over — save the Idols Live Tour — and while most of the world struggles to find a new reason to live (Tuesdays and Wednesdays feel so empty), newly crowned champ Jordin Sparks faces a struggle of a different sort: trying to stay sane.
"This is so intense. It's crazy," she laughed. "I haven't been home yet since I won. I was in L.A. and then New York, and now I'll finally get to go home and spend some time with my friends. I hope."
Such is life for the "Idol" princess. Since taking home the title last week (see "Sparks Flies: Jordin Takes 'American Idol' Crown" and "Jordin Marvels At 'American Idol' Win: 'My Heartbeat Was Pounding In My Ears' "), Sparks has been on a seemingly endless parade of interviews and promotional appearances. And it doesn't look like things will be slowing down anytime soon — quite the opposite, in fact. The show's summer tour kicks off Wednesday, and Sparks already has a deadline for her debut album. That means it's never too early to begin soliciting for collaborators, a list Sparks says includes a couple of crooners popular with the under-17 set.
"I'd love to do a duet with Mario or Chris Brown ... but let's see what happens," she said. "I have a lot of work ahead of me. I have a deadline [for my album] already. It should be out before Thanksgiving. And I'm going to be doing the tour and trying to find songs at the same time. And then after the tour, it's gonna be record, record, record, write, write, write."
And just what will Sparks' yet-untitled debut sound like? Well, according to her, a lot like ... pretty much everything.
"I can't really describe what I want it to sound like. I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll, a little bit pop, a little bit R&B," she said. "I listen to Nat King Cole and Patsy Cline and Bon Jovi and Heart and 'NSYNC and Britney and Christina and Justin Timberlake too. I want to mix it all together. I hope people like it. On the show, [you had to be] versatile. You had to do everything and twist it around and make it your own. So I'm used to being like that."
And while the pressure will undoubtedly be on Sparks to perform on par with former "Idol" champs, she said she's actually more worried about living up to another set of expectations: those of her young fans.
"The other day, I walked outside, and there were these two little girls out there, and they said, 'Jordin, you're my inspiration! I want to be like you!,' and it was so amazing," she said. "I get emotional about it, because I remember being a little girl and looking up to people. And now little girls are looking up to me, and I love it.
"Being a teenager is hard — I mean, you look at magazines, and it's in your face all the time — 'you've got to lose weight or change or you'll never make it' — and I want to change all that," she continued. "I want to break the mold and be somebody girls look up to. I'm not much of a partyer — I don't drink or anything like that — so I don't think you'll catch me out at all those types of things. I'm comfortable with who I am, and I don't want to change. I love being me. I was happy before 'Idol,' and I'll be happy after."
"This is so intense. It's crazy," she laughed. "I haven't been home yet since I won. I was in L.A. and then New York, and now I'll finally get to go home and spend some time with my friends. I hope."
Such is life for the "Idol" princess. Since taking home the title last week (see "Sparks Flies: Jordin Takes 'American Idol' Crown" and "Jordin Marvels At 'American Idol' Win: 'My Heartbeat Was Pounding In My Ears' "), Sparks has been on a seemingly endless parade of interviews and promotional appearances. And it doesn't look like things will be slowing down anytime soon — quite the opposite, in fact. The show's summer tour kicks off Wednesday, and Sparks already has a deadline for her debut album. That means it's never too early to begin soliciting for collaborators, a list Sparks says includes a couple of crooners popular with the under-17 set.
"I'd love to do a duet with Mario or Chris Brown ... but let's see what happens," she said. "I have a lot of work ahead of me. I have a deadline [for my album] already. It should be out before Thanksgiving. And I'm going to be doing the tour and trying to find songs at the same time. And then after the tour, it's gonna be record, record, record, write, write, write."
And just what will Sparks' yet-untitled debut sound like? Well, according to her, a lot like ... pretty much everything.
"I can't really describe what I want it to sound like. I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll, a little bit pop, a little bit R&B," she said. "I listen to Nat King Cole and Patsy Cline and Bon Jovi and Heart and 'NSYNC and Britney and Christina and Justin Timberlake too. I want to mix it all together. I hope people like it. On the show, [you had to be] versatile. You had to do everything and twist it around and make it your own. So I'm used to being like that."
And while the pressure will undoubtedly be on Sparks to perform on par with former "Idol" champs, she said she's actually more worried about living up to another set of expectations: those of her young fans.
"The other day, I walked outside, and there were these two little girls out there, and they said, 'Jordin, you're my inspiration! I want to be like you!,' and it was so amazing," she said. "I get emotional about it, because I remember being a little girl and looking up to people. And now little girls are looking up to me, and I love it.
"Being a teenager is hard — I mean, you look at magazines, and it's in your face all the time — 'you've got to lose weight or change or you'll never make it' — and I want to change all that," she continued. "I want to break the mold and be somebody girls look up to. I'm not much of a partyer — I don't drink or anything like that — so I don't think you'll catch me out at all those types of things. I'm comfortable with who I am, and I don't want to change. I love being me. I was happy before 'Idol,' and I'll be happy after."
American Idol: Jordin Sparks grab bag
With the finale of American Idol barely a week gone by, news about champion Jordin Sparks is still in demand. However, with the Idol participants preparing for the American Idol tour and with producers placing all the singers on a short leash, there aren't a whole lot of major newsworthy items floating about. Instead, there have been a number of mini-stories that have been making the rounds in the media over the past few days regarding Jordin Sparks. None are earth-shattering, and none are all that controversial.
Jordin Sparks isn't likely to cause much controversy in her career. She's a nice girl, a churchgoer, someone who isn't going to be found partying at LA hot spots in the wee hours of the night. But, she did do a number of interviews over the past week and the media has done their requisite digging, and these are a few of the things we learned:
Jordin Sparks Height
(Courtesy of Reality TV World)
Jordin is not ashamed of her figure, or height. She embraces it. Jordin was taller than most singers, including the guys and Ryan Seacrest, on this season of Idol. She speaks about the pressure to be a certain body type, but how she has since learned to be proud of who she is. She now shops at a Big and Tall store in Arizona, with whom she actually got a modeling offer for prior to Idol.
Jordin loves Sanjaya
(Courtesy of AP)
Jordin is a big fan of one Sanjaya Malakar, although her comments could be construed as back-handed. She says that it took a lot of courage for him to perform in the face of overwhelming criticism and to just be himself. She admires it. Well, she has to be diplomatic because she'll be touring with him for the next few months, but those are kind words nonetheless.
Jordin's vocal training past:
(Courtesy of Reality TV World)
There's been a slight bit of controversy the last few days over Jordin's singing history. On an internet question and answer, Jordin claims to have never had any formal vocal training. Well, according to her former vocal coach this is not the case, and that she gave Jordin personal, half hour lessons for an extended period of time. This may be true, but I wonder if a few months of private lessons constitutes vocal training. This is really a non-story.
So, that's pretty much the word on Jordin Sparks these days. I'm sure we'll hear more from her once the tour starts, and then later when she begins to put together her debut album.
Jordin Sparks isn't likely to cause much controversy in her career. She's a nice girl, a churchgoer, someone who isn't going to be found partying at LA hot spots in the wee hours of the night. But, she did do a number of interviews over the past week and the media has done their requisite digging, and these are a few of the things we learned:
Jordin Sparks Height
(Courtesy of Reality TV World)
Jordin is not ashamed of her figure, or height. She embraces it. Jordin was taller than most singers, including the guys and Ryan Seacrest, on this season of Idol. She speaks about the pressure to be a certain body type, but how she has since learned to be proud of who she is. She now shops at a Big and Tall store in Arizona, with whom she actually got a modeling offer for prior to Idol.
Jordin loves Sanjaya
(Courtesy of AP)
Jordin is a big fan of one Sanjaya Malakar, although her comments could be construed as back-handed. She says that it took a lot of courage for him to perform in the face of overwhelming criticism and to just be himself. She admires it. Well, she has to be diplomatic because she'll be touring with him for the next few months, but those are kind words nonetheless.
Jordin's vocal training past:
(Courtesy of Reality TV World)
There's been a slight bit of controversy the last few days over Jordin's singing history. On an internet question and answer, Jordin claims to have never had any formal vocal training. Well, according to her former vocal coach this is not the case, and that she gave Jordin personal, half hour lessons for an extended period of time. This may be true, but I wonder if a few months of private lessons constitutes vocal training. This is really a non-story.
So, that's pretty much the word on Jordin Sparks these days. I'm sure we'll hear more from her once the tour starts, and then later when she begins to put together her debut album.
American Idol Finalists To Join For Fireworks Show
“American Idol” fans are exuberant to learn that 2007 winner Jordin Sparks will be joined by finalists Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle on the live broadcast of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular which will air from New York on Wednesday, July 4 from 9 to 10 p.m. EST on NBC.
The show will be hosted by Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber of NBC’s Today.
Also appearing will be Martina McBride who will perform “Anyway”.
NBC says the fireworks display, the country’s largest, “will feature nearly 35,000 brilliant shells exploding over New York City set to a sweeping original medley performed by the New York Pops”. The network adds that more than a thousand pyrotechnic shells will be fired every minute.
The American Idol tour will begin two days later in Sunrise, Florida. 5-31-07
The show will be hosted by Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber of NBC’s Today.
Also appearing will be Martina McBride who will perform “Anyway”.
NBC says the fireworks display, the country’s largest, “will feature nearly 35,000 brilliant shells exploding over New York City set to a sweeping original medley performed by the New York Pops”. The network adds that more than a thousand pyrotechnic shells will be fired every minute.
The American Idol tour will begin two days later in Sunrise, Florida. 5-31-07
American Idol Finalist Bucky Covington Has Number One Video At CMT
Bucky Covington’s star continues to rise as this week the video for his debut single “A Different World” reaches the #1 spot atop CMT’s Top 20 Video Countdown. Also this week, the video returns to the top of CMT’s fan-voted online Pure Country playlist, where it debuted at #1 in March of this year.
The American Idol Season 5 finalist is fast establishing himself as country music’s hottest new artist, having sold in excess of 140,000 copies of his self-titled debut CD since its release last month. Bucky Covington debuted at #1 on Nielsen SoundScan’s Country Top 75 Chart on April 25th with not only 2007’s biggest unit debut from a new country artist, but also the best first week sales and highest Top 200 debut for any new male country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992.
Next week, Covington will guest on ABC-TV’s Good Morning America on June 7th when the program broadcasts from Nashville for the CMA Music Festival kickoff. Covington will join GMA Weather Anchor Sam Champion for a live report from the rooftop patio of Nashville’s Graham Central Station, overlooking the Festival’s concert venues. Covington will mark his first-ever appearance at the CMA Music Fest with two live performances: he will perform a full-band set from the Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park on June 7th, and on the 8th he will perform an acoustic set from the stage of LP Field, home of the nightly concerts.
After Music Fest, Covington hits the road for a summer of non-stop touring, including several shows opening for Sawyer Brown. SB frontman Mark Miller teamed up with Dale Oliver to produce his debut album, Bucky Covington.
The American Idol Season 5 finalist is fast establishing himself as country music’s hottest new artist, having sold in excess of 140,000 copies of his self-titled debut CD since its release last month. Bucky Covington debuted at #1 on Nielsen SoundScan’s Country Top 75 Chart on April 25th with not only 2007’s biggest unit debut from a new country artist, but also the best first week sales and highest Top 200 debut for any new male country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992.
Next week, Covington will guest on ABC-TV’s Good Morning America on June 7th when the program broadcasts from Nashville for the CMA Music Festival kickoff. Covington will join GMA Weather Anchor Sam Champion for a live report from the rooftop patio of Nashville’s Graham Central Station, overlooking the Festival’s concert venues. Covington will mark his first-ever appearance at the CMA Music Fest with two live performances: he will perform a full-band set from the Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park on June 7th, and on the 8th he will perform an acoustic set from the stage of LP Field, home of the nightly concerts.
After Music Fest, Covington hits the road for a summer of non-stop touring, including several shows opening for Sawyer Brown. SB frontman Mark Miller teamed up with Dale Oliver to produce his debut album, Bucky Covington.
New 'American Idol' champ Jordin Sparks comfortable in her own skin
"I'm really comfortable in my own skin," said Sparks in the June 1 issue of People. "I learned that I'm not ever going to be a size 2. I would look so weird as a size 2. Somebody would blow and I would fall right over. It just wouldn't be healthy."
Sparks wasn't always so sure about her appearance, as the Glendale, AZ-native was reportedly 5-feet, 10-inches and a size 12 by the time she reached junior high school. To mask her size, she said she tried everything from hunching to wearing oversized clothing.
"I stood out everywhere," Sparks told People. "I'd look at my friends who were just naturally tiny, and maybe they weren't even a size 2, but they were smaller than me and that was good enough. I was like, 'Oh, why can't I look like that?'"
While dieting may have seemed like the simple solution, Sparks said it just wasn't for her.
"I like food too much to do it," she told People. "I would try, like, 'Hey I'm going to diet and I'll be a size 8 by the end of the summer,' but it never worked out."
Frequently searching in vain to find cloths that both fit and flattered her figure, Sparks said she and her mom stumbled across a newly launched plus-size store called Torrid at a local mall.
"It was like angels - 'ahhhhhhhh!' - shining down on it because it's sizes 12 and up," explained Sparks to People. "They have clothes for girls who aren't an average size so they can totally feel cute and flirty and still keep up with the latest trends."
Prior to auditioning for Idol's sixth-season in Seattle, WA last summer, Sparks actually landed a modeling gig with Torrid.
"I think it really helped boost her self-esteem and made her realize she's beautiful as she is," Sparks' grandmother, Pam Weidmann, told People.
That confidence must have carried over to the Idol audition, as Sparks eventually became one of the sixth season's semifinalists. Once the show's stylists started making suggestions on what Sparks should don for each performance episode and results show, she said she began to be even more accepting of her body as is.
"I liked to wear sleeves because they would cover up my arms," she told People about how she dressed prior to Idol. "[When Idol stylists would make suggestions] I'd go, 'This dress is way too beautiful. If I add sleeves it will ruin it.' So I just got over it."
Still taller than most of her fellow Idol 6 finalists -- as well as the show's host, Ryan Seacrest -- Sparks newly found self confidence is evident to those who know her best.
"It was huge to see her confidence level grow... She's standing taller now," her mom Jodi told People.
Sparks wasn't always so sure about her appearance, as the Glendale, AZ-native was reportedly 5-feet, 10-inches and a size 12 by the time she reached junior high school. To mask her size, she said she tried everything from hunching to wearing oversized clothing.
"I stood out everywhere," Sparks told People. "I'd look at my friends who were just naturally tiny, and maybe they weren't even a size 2, but they were smaller than me and that was good enough. I was like, 'Oh, why can't I look like that?'"
While dieting may have seemed like the simple solution, Sparks said it just wasn't for her.
"I like food too much to do it," she told People. "I would try, like, 'Hey I'm going to diet and I'll be a size 8 by the end of the summer,' but it never worked out."
Frequently searching in vain to find cloths that both fit and flattered her figure, Sparks said she and her mom stumbled across a newly launched plus-size store called Torrid at a local mall.
"It was like angels - 'ahhhhhhhh!' - shining down on it because it's sizes 12 and up," explained Sparks to People. "They have clothes for girls who aren't an average size so they can totally feel cute and flirty and still keep up with the latest trends."
Prior to auditioning for Idol's sixth-season in Seattle, WA last summer, Sparks actually landed a modeling gig with Torrid.
"I think it really helped boost her self-esteem and made her realize she's beautiful as she is," Sparks' grandmother, Pam Weidmann, told People.
That confidence must have carried over to the Idol audition, as Sparks eventually became one of the sixth season's semifinalists. Once the show's stylists started making suggestions on what Sparks should don for each performance episode and results show, she said she began to be even more accepting of her body as is.
"I liked to wear sleeves because they would cover up my arms," she told People about how she dressed prior to Idol. "[When Idol stylists would make suggestions] I'd go, 'This dress is way too beautiful. If I add sleeves it will ruin it.' So I just got over it."
Still taller than most of her fellow Idol 6 finalists -- as well as the show's host, Ryan Seacrest -- Sparks newly found self confidence is evident to those who know her best.
"It was huge to see her confidence level grow... She's standing taller now," her mom Jodi told People.
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