Fantasia Barrino Bashes Gay Marriage, Pot Legalization

Fantasia ‘American Idol‘ alum Fantasia Barrino has gotten herself into one hell of a hot mess. And she’s now doing all she can to dig herself out of this self-created PR hell.

It all started when the 28-year-old singer posted a photo of herself on Instagram with a caption denouncing gay marriage and the legality of marijuana in Colorado and Washington.

“KIDS, THE GOVERNMENT THE church House… Everybody Trying!!!!!!! Its a lot that going on that the Bible speaks about we should Not be doing. Weed legal in some places, Gay Marriage Legal BUT YET IM JUDGED!!! I’m not doing Nothing for you… My Life!!!!” Continue reading

Fantasia Barrino Gives Birth To Son, Dallas Xavier

Fantasia Barrino is a new mother!

The former American Idol champ gave birth to a son named Dallas Xavier Barrino Tuesday in North Carolina. Xavier weighed 7 lbs., 9 oz. and is 21 inches long.

“I feel so blessed that my son Dallas Xavier was born healthy, and is a wonderful new addition to our family,” the 27-year old told People. “I thank all my fans for their well wishes and continued support.”

And The Winner Of The Top Earning American Idol Star Is….

Forbes has released its annual list of the top earning American Idol stars for the past year, and the list will surprise you.

Of course, Carrie Underwood tops the list — but the shocker is that my fave Glambert comes in at number 2, above Kelly Clarkson.

In fact, Kelly Clarkson gets beat out by even Jordin Sparks and Fantasia Barrino… Then again, this list only covers May 2010-May 2011.

What you will notice missing from the list are the last three winners of the show, Lee DeWyze, Kris Allen and Scott McCreery, although, granted, McCreery obviously gets a pass since he just won the Idol crown.

Here are the top 10 earners:
1. Carrie Underwood – $20 million

2. (tie) Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry – $6 million. Lambert’s first album, For Your Entertainment, sold 821,000 copies domestically and was certified gold or platinum in six other countries. He also had a 116-date Glam Nation Tour which proved a rare success in 2010′s troubled concert industry.
4. Fantasia Barrino – $4 million–Fantasia’s reality show Fantasia For Real, was VH1′s biggest hit of 2010, and her comeback album Back To Me, was her highest-charting album to date.
5. Jordin Sparks – $3 million
6. Kelly Clarkson – $2.5 million
7. Jennifer Hudson – $2 million
8. Kellie Pickler – $1.8 million
9. Clay Aiken – $1.5 million
10. (tie) Katharine McPhee, David Archuleta, David Cook – $1 million. McPhee made the list due to her upcoming NBC series Smash and a new label deal with Columbia Records in conjunction with that show. 

Grammy Winners! Complete List of the 2011 Awards Recipients.

Album of the Year: The Suburbs, Arcade Fire

Record of the Year: “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum

Rap Album: Recovery, Eminem
New Artist: Esperanza Spalding

Song of the Year: “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
Country Album: Lady Antebellum, Need You Now
Pop Vocal Album: Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster
Rock Album: Muse, The Resistance
POP:
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Train, “Hey, Soul Sister (Live)”

Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Michael Bublé, Crazy Love
Female Pop Vocal Performance: Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance,” The Fame Monster
Male Pop Vocal Performance: Bruno Mars, “Just The Way You Are,” Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Pop Collaboration With Vocals: “Imagine,” Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare, The Imagine Project
Pop Instrumental Performance: “Nessun Dorma,” Jeff Beck, Emotion & Commotion
Pop Instrumental Album: Take Your Pick, Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto


R&B:
Female R&B Vocal Performance: Fantasia, “Bittersweet,” Back to Me
Male R&B Vocal Performance: Usher, “There Goes My Baby,” Raymond V Raymond
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Sade, “Soldier of Love,” Soldier of Love
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: John Legend & The Roots, “Hang On In There,” Wake Up!
R&B Song: John Legend & The Roots, “Shine,” Wake Up!
R&B Album: Wake Up!, John Legend & The Roots
Contemporary R&B Album: Raymond V Raymond, Usher

RAP:
Rap Song: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind,” The Blueprint 3
Rap/Sung Collaboration: Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind,” The Blueprint 3
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz, “On to the Next One,” The Blueprint 3
Rap Solo Performance: Eminem, “Not Afraid,” Recovery
Urban/Alternative Performance: “F*** You,” Cee Lo Green

ROCK:
Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Paul McCartney, “Helter Skelter,” Good Evening New York City
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: The Black Keys, “Tighten Up,” Brothers
Rock Song: “Angry World,” Neil Young, Le Noise
Hard Rock Performance: New Fang, “Them Crooked Vultures,” Them Crooked Vultures
Metal Performance: “El Dorado,” Iron Maiden, The Final Frontier
Rock Instrumental Performance: Jeff Beck, “Hammerhead,” Emotion & Commotion
Rock Album: Muse, The Resistance

COUNTRY:
Female Country Vocal Performance: Miranda Lambert, ” The House That Built Me,” Revolution
Male Country Vocal Performance: Keith Urban, “‘Til Summer Comes Around”
Country Song: “Need You Now,” Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum) (Need You Now)
Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
Country Instrumental Performance: Marty Stuart, “Hummingbyrd” (Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions)
New Age Album: Miho: Journey to the Mountain, Paul Winter Consort
Contemporary Jazz Album: The Stanley Clarke Band, The Stanley Clarke Band
Jazz Vocal Album: Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee, Dee Dee Bridgewater

LATIN:
Latin Pop Album: Paraiso Express, Alejandro Sanz
Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album: El Existential, Grupo Fantasma
Tropical Latin Album: Viva La Tradición, Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Tejano Album: Recuerdos, Little Joe & La Familia
Norteño Album: Classic, Intocable
Banda Album: Enamórate De Mí, El Güero Y Su Banda Centenario

JAZZ:
Contemporary Jazz Album: The Stanley Clarke Band, The Stanley Clarke Band
Jazz Vocal Album: Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee, Dee Dee Bridgewater
Improvised Jazz Solo: “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Herbie Hancock (The Imagine Project)
Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: Moody 4B, James Moody
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Live at Jazz Standard, Mingus Big Band
Latin Jazz Album: Chucho’s Steps, Chucho Valdés and the Afro-Cuban Messengers

GOSPEL:
Gospel Performance: “Grace,” BeBe & CeCe Winans, Still
Gospel Song: “It’s What I Do,” Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway), The Gospel According to Jazz Chapter III
Rock or Rap Gospel Album: Hello Hurricane, Switchfoot
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: Love God. Love People, Israel Houghton
Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album: The Reason, Diamond Rio
Traditional Gospel Album: Downtown Church, Patty Griffin
Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: Still, BeBe & CeCe Winans

DANCE:
Dance Recording: “Only Girl (in the World),” Rihanna
Electronic/Dance Album: La Roux, La Roux

TRADITIONAL/ALTERNATIVE/WORLD:

Alternative Music Album: Brothers, The Black Keys
Americana Album: You Are Not Alone, Mavis Staples
Bluegrass Album: Mountain Soul II, Patty Loveless
Traditional Blues Album: Joined At The Hip, Pinetop Perkins & Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith
Contemporary Blues Album: Living Proof, Buddy Guy
Traditional Folk Album: Genuine Negro Jig, Carolina Chocolate Drops
Contemporary Folk Album: God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise, Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs
Hawaiian Music Album: Huana Ke Aloha, Tia Carrere
Native American Music Album: 2010 Gathering Of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit’s Dance, Various Artists
Zydeco or Cajun Music Album: Zydeco Junkie, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
Reggae Album: Before The Dawn, Buju Banton
Traditional World Music Album: Ali And Toumani, Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté
Contemporary World Music Album: Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks, Béla Fleck
New Age Album: Miho: Journey to the Mountain, Paul Winter Consort

VISUAL MEDIA:
Short Form Music Video: “Bad Romance,” Lady Gaga
Long Form Music Video: “When You’re Strange,” The Doors
Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books and Storytelling): The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook)
Musical Show Album: American Idiot (Featuring Green Day)
Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Crazy Heart (Various Artists)
Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Toy Story 3, Randy Newman, composer
Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: “The Weary Kind” (From Crazy Heart), Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett, songwriters
Instrumental Composition: “The Path Among the Trees,” Billy Childs, composer (Billy Childs Ensemble), Autumn: In Moving Pictures Jazz—Chamber Music Vol. 2
Instrumental Arrangement: “Carlos,” Vince Mendoza, arranger (John Scofield, Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest), 54

CLASSICAL:

Engineered Album, Classical: Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina, Giancarlo Guerrero &Nashville Symphony Orchestra
Producer of the Year: David Frost
Classical Album: Verdi: Requiem, Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus
Orchestral Performance: Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina, Nashville Symphony
Opera Recording:Saariaho: L’Amour De Loin, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Choral Performance: Verdi: Requiem, Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus
Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (With Orchestra): Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24, Mitsuko Uchida (The Cleveland Orchestra)
Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra): Paul Jacobs, Messiaen: Livre Du Saint-Sacrement
Chamber Music Performance: Ligeti: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2, Parker Quartet
Small Ensemble Performance: Dinastia Borja, Jordi Savall, conductor; Hespèrion XXI & La Capella Reial De Catalunya
Classical Vocal Performance: Sacrificium, Cecilia Bartoli (Giovanni Antonini; Il Giardino Armonico)
Classical Contemporary Composition: Michael Daugherty: Deus Ex Machina, Michael Daugherty (Giancarlo Guerrero), Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony
Classical Crossover Album: Christopher Tin: Calling All Dawns
Surround Sound Album: Britten’s Orchestra, Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony

CHILDREN:

Musical Album for Children: Tomorrow’s Children, Pete Seeger with the Rivertown Kids and Friends
Spoken Word Album for Children: Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies, Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton

OTHER:
Comedy Album: Lewis Black, Stark Raving Black
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): “Baba Yetu,” Christopher Tin, Soweto Gospel Choir & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Calling All Dawns
Recording Package: Brothers, The Black Keys
Boxed or Special Limited-Edition Package: Under Great White Northern Lights (Limited Edition Box Set), The White Stripes
Album Notes: Keep An Eye On The Sky, Big Star
Historical Album: The Beatles (The Original Studio Recordings), The Beatles
Engineered Album, Nonclassical: Battle Studies, John Mayer
Producer of the Year, Nonclassical: Danger Mouse
Remixed Recording, Nonclassical: “Revolver” (David Guetta’s One Love Club Remix), Madonna

First Time EVER! “American Idol” To Release Greatest Hits CD For 10th Anniversary

Ten Years Of American Idol Artists – The Hits Compilation Album To Be Released On March 15, 2011

19 Recordings/RCA Records Announce American Idol 10th Anniversary – The Hits Compilation Album To Be Released On March 15, 2011


For the first time ever, the superstar recording artists from the past 10 years of television’s #1 show American Idol will have their signature songs featured on one compilation. American Idol 10th Anniversary – The Hits will be released on March 15, 2011 with mega-hit singles from the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Adam Lambert, Fantasia, David Cook and more.

Pre-order your copy from Amazon

American Idol 10th Anniversary – The Hits spotlights some of Idol’s most successful contestants like Kelly Clarkson’s #1 Billboard Pop 100 hit “Since U Been Gone,” Carrie Underwood’s Grammy award-winning “Before He Cheats” and rock super group Daughtry’s #1 ballad “Home.” Other tracks include season 6 winner Jordin Sparks’ collaboration with R&B’s Chris Brown on “No Air,” heartthrob David Cook’s platinum single “Light On” and Fantasia’s #1 Hot R&B/Hip Hop song “When I See U.” The compilation also highlights Ruben Studdard’s soulful single “Superstar,” Taylor Hicks’ esteemed performance of “Takin’ It To The Streets” and Broadway star Clay Aiken’s 2003 hit “Invisible.” Adam Lambert soars on this years Grammy-nominated “Whataya Want From Me” while current American Idol Lee DeWyze closes out the album with his chart-climbing single “Sweet Serendipity.”

Since its debut in 2002, American Idol, created by Simon Fuller, has become one of the most popular shows in the history of American television. Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and global superstar Jennifer Lopez help kick off a second decade of Idol as new judges this season. Together they join twenty-year music industry veteran Randy Jackson and media mastermind Ryan Seacrest for the 10th anniversary season. Throughout the show, contestants will face new and exciting challenges as they compete to become the next American Idol. 


American Idol – 10th Anniversary – The Hits – Volume 1

1. Kelly Clarkson – “Since U Been Gone”

2. Ruben Studdard – “Superstar”

3. Clay Aiken – “Invisible”

4. Fantasia – “When I See U”

5. Carrie Underwood – “Before He Cheats”

6. Taylor Hicks – “Takin’ It To The Streets”

7. Daughtry – “Home”

8. Jordin Sparks (duet with Chris Brown) – “No Air”

9. David Cook – “Light On”

10. Kris Allen – “Live Like We’re Dying”

11. Adam Lambert – “Whataya Want From Me”

12. Lee DeWyze – “Sweet Serendipity”


American Idol: “Welcome Home” Interview Video W/All Past Winners

VIDEO CLIP OF THE DAY.

The 10th season of American Idol starts January and promises a whole lot of changes and a hope for a bright future.

But before the future is upon us, Idol is taking us back for a nostalgic look at its past glory.

THE VIDEO BELOW IS A MUST SEE for any Idol fan of the past 9 years. It has interviews with all past 9 winners: Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze, in a documentary called, “Welcome Home.”

Watch it here: