Kree Harrison is the runner-up on season 12, which ended with tons of celebrity performances and a tribute to departing judge Randy Jackson.
By Adam Graham
Nicki Minaj tells Mariah Carey to ‘clean them ears out’ and guest judge Harry Connick Jr shuts down Randy Jackson.
By Adam Graham
By Sowmya Krishnamurthy
The “American Idol” finals on Wednesday night (April 24) got a hip-hop twist when singer Candice Glover performed her own version of Drake’s “Find Your Love.” Candice, who met Drake last year and told him she would eventually be on the singing competition, gave the love song a down-tempo makeover with piano accompaniment.
Despite Candice‘s attempts, the judges were not feeling her remix and felt that it aged her too much. Randy Jackson criticized Candice for being too much of a so-called “church singer.” Drake’s friend and YMCMB colleague Nicki Minaj said she would ask Drake’s feedback to share during the next show but then asked Candice who her audience was. Only Mariah Carey seemed to like it. “You can sing everything… This was risky but you still did it,” she said.
Fans on Twitter were more supportive. “Loving Candice‘s version of Find Your Love. Who would have thought of singing Drake’s Find Your Love on American Idol? Love her musicality!,” said one. Another threw in, “This girl singing Find Your Love by Drake on American Idol is killin it right nowww.”
Drake himself did not tweet about the performance.
Off-stage, American Idol is having its own drama. This week it was reported that Mariah Carey might be replaced by Jennifer Lopez as a judge…again. According to the Hollywood Reporter, AI producers are so desperate for better ratings than this season has brought in that they are considering J. Lo. They claimed that unnamed “knowledgeable” sources say Carey’s team responded with the threat of legal action, but producers are still thinking of inviting J. Lo back for the show’s May finale.
By Carolyn Amurao
When Nicki Minaj opens her mouth on “American Idol,” it’s unpredictable what she will say. Since her start on the show, the judge has made mention of new born babies, waffles and syrup, and even having contestants’ children. On last night’s episode (March 20), Fox even had to censor part of her comments.
Yesterday’s show had the top 9 performing songs by the Beatles, and “Idol” frontrunner Angie Miller wowed the judges with her rendition of “Yesterday.” While praising Miller, Nicki said, “What I thought was really, really—I don’t know if I can say this word, maybe they’re gonna bleep it.” They did, but it looked like all she said was “bossy” as she referred to Miller’s impressive vocal range.
Nicki said something mute-worthy again after Devin Velez’s performance of “The Long and Winding Road,” this time without warning.
“First of all I want to shout out the background vocals,” the judge said. “I want to shout out the [bleep]—the pianist.” It seemed like she first said “penis,” which is an honest mistake in terms of pronunciation. But could it be that Queen Barbz was messing around on purpose? “Can’t bleep that ha, ha, ha, ha Fox!” she said. Except they already did.
As Nicki misbehaved on the panel, fellow judge Randy Jackson threw his hands in the air in bewilderment while Mariah Carey sighed in disapproval. Behind the scenes, “Idol” producers are probably ready for anything when it comes to Ms. Minaj. Last week she was late to the live performance show for the first time in “Idol” history. What a trouble maker.
By Carolyn Amurao
When you’re Nicki Minaj and you show up late to work, pretty much everyone is going to notice. On last night’s “American Idol” episode, the judge was absent from her seat when the live taping of the top 10 contestants began.
“We are coming to you live and on time from Hollywood,” announced Ryan Seacrest, who also wasted no time in pointing out the missing Minaj. “Three of your four judges who have made it here tonight. Say hi to Keith Urban, Randy Jackson and Mariah Carey.” Ryan then went to sit in Nicki’s seat between Keith and Randy, explaining that, “she’s seven minutes out and there’s some congestion on the 405, so she should be here momentarily.”
“I thought it was the 101,” Randy joked.
Last night the top 10 contestants paid tribute to previous “Idol” winners by singing songs the winners had performed during or post their time on the show. First to hit the stage was Curtis Finch Jr. who sang “I Believe” by Fantasia Barrino (winner of Season 3), at which time Queen Barbz was still nowhere to be seen. And while we don’t know the exact reason why she was late, we know that whatever troubles she was having also prevented her from getting glammed up like she usually does. Wearing a black zip-up sweatshirt with the hood up (a far cry from her typically pretty, embellished outfits) and oversized sunglasses, Minaj filled her spot on the judging panel in time for the night’s second performance by Janelle Arthur.
Later in the show, Minaj continued to stir things up with yet another one of her ridiculous comments. After Kree Harrison’s performance (a contestant whom Nicki has called her “wife”) she said: “Sometimes when I wake up everyday…if I’m not working I’ll eat waffles, like, buttermilk waffles, and then I’ll have to have Aunt Jemima buttermilk syrup on it. I’ll toast it—but then I never burn it—I’ll put in the microwave and then warm it up a little bit, and that’s what that performance felt like to me.”
Um, what? She explains further: “It was smooth, it was delicious, it was just fun. I would enjoy it if I was by myself at home watching TV, just in front of the couch eating waffles.”
In response to her nonsensical critique, Ryan insinuated that maybe there’s something besides waffles that’s making her talk crazy. “What’s in the cup? Was there anything in the cup, Keith?” he asked. “I thought you checked.” Ryan also suggested heading to Nicki’s for breakfast. Count us in.
