….. Shania Twain is “loving” being a guest judge on American Idol during this weeks Chicago auditions! According to sources, the Canadian country singer “is having the best time” helping fill the empty seat of ex-judge Paula Abdul.

Twain joined regular judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuard for the shows 9th Season Chicago audition process. 

Other celebrity guest judges rumored to appear this season include Katy Perry and former Spice Girl Victoria “Posh” Beckham.

        Paula Abdul leaving American Idol?? Well, Abdul told David Letterman the other night on his late-night show that she was “not sure” if she would be back for the new season of Idol!? “I love my job, I do, I feel that I’ve had a really wonderful journey with the show.”… Paula is in the middle of new contract negotiations!! and the upcoming season’s auditions start in Boston on June 14th, 2009!…American Idol needs Paula!

She would be sadly missed and I don’t think the show would be the same without her!…

(Mandisa Singing “True Beauty” on American Idol Extra)

         Former ninth-place American Idol finalist Mandisa from Season 5 has apparently dropped 65lbs, crediting her weight loss to faith, exercise and eating well… good for her! losing weight isn’t easy!…

I am NOT dieting! I have simply changed the way I eat.. for good! I have a personal trainer and workout about 5 days a week. I have had to change the way I think about food and change the way I handle temptation,” she wrote. “For me, that has meant A LOT of prayer and meditating on God’s word. That is the only way I have been able to resist the temptation to give in to every desire that I have. You’d be surprised by how much the Bible has to say about food and temptation. It has been a lifeline for me. That is why I can say from my heart that. Now God is teaching me that I need to turn to Him to find comfort.”

Mandisa’s first Christian album “True Beauty” was recently nominated for a 2008 Grammy under the category of “Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album”. Her sophomore album “Reality” drops on March 24th, 2009…

I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday, my heart and prayers go out to her family.” Abdul said in a statement…

Rumors are flying that it was a planned suicide… do you think the judges will get it now? stop being so freakin harsh!…

       Okay, so Clay Aiken is gunna be a daddy?? let’s get the story straight… there was no sex involved!! The woman is producer David Foster’s sister!!!!!!… ya that’s right! Aiken, 29, impregnated Jaymes Foster through artificial inseminated and she is due in August!…

Well I’m happy for him… I think he will make a great dad but it definitely seals the deal on that age old question that we all ready know that answer too…

      …and the WINNER ISSSSSSS “DAVID”!!! Wow ’cause that took a lot of brain power! The countdown is on!! David Archuleta, 17, (left) and David Cook, 25, (right) will hit the mics tonight for American Idol Season 7 Finals!

Personally I think Archuleta has a great voice and a huge amount of potential but he’s just not there yet… Cook’s polished and is gunna win it!… I wonder if Mr.Archuleta is still banned from the set???

SiMoN iS sExY…

           American Idol 7’s “Top 24” seem way more exciting these days!! Already there’s major controversy brewing around one of the contestants. Do you happen to remember tattooed Irish singer Carly Smithson? yes, the one who apparently auditioned in 2004 but ended up not competing because she couldn’t get an American VISA in time for the show! Well, her demons from the past are starting to catch up with her! In the early 2000’s Smithson had a professional record deal with MCA under her maiden name Carly Hennessey. Apparently MCA spent millions to promote the album, which turned out to be a complete flop!

        American Idol’s producer Nigel Lythgoe responded by saying the following…

Carly has been around and, you know, has come to us. She’s had a recording contract in the past. She came to us a couple years ago. We thought she was terrific then. She did a Prince song and had really sent chills down us. And then we lost her, because of getting a VISA, and she’s overturned that now. I think she stands a very good chance this year. She’s already quite known by the public, which always helps a little bit, and she’s got a lot of talent, so we’ll see how she does.”

“This is a thing that comes up for some reason every year, and this year, ‘oh, they’re all professionals.’ Well, Kelly Clarkson had a contract, you know. From year one, all we say is that you have got to be out of contract now, but every year there’s been somebody that’s got a professional contract or even had an album out. So, no it doesn’t worry us in the slightest.”

          I guess the question is where people care or not?! Is it fair to the other contestants to have a professional competing with them? Do you think we honestly believe in second chances??? perhaps the other finalists will have an advantage on her due to the fact that we’ll expect more from Smithson!

         This is for all you American Idol buffs!!!… I can’t wait! I think there’s some pretty amazing talent this year… The top 24 singers are as followed…

Top 12 Girls:
Joanne Borgella
Kristy Lee Cook
Amy Davis
Asia’H Epperson
Alexandrea Lushington
Ramiele Malubay
Kady Malloy
Syesha Mercado
Amanda Overmyer
Carly Smithson
Alaina Whitaker
Brooke White

and…

Top 12 Boys:
David Archuleta
Colton Berry
Robbie Carrico
Jason Castro
David Cook
David Hernandez
Chikezie Eze
Garrett Haley
Michael Johns
Luke Menard
Danny Noriega
Jason Yeager

   Check out americanidol.com for individual contestant info…

Congratulations!!

           Singer Katharine McPhee, 23, married producer Nick Cokas, 42, on Saturday in Beverly Hills in a late afternoon ceremony at a Presbyterian Church… The ex-American Idol star dazzled in a strapless ivory Manuel Mota gown and Neil Lane jewels… Other past Idol contestants Kellie Pickler and Mandisa were among the 305 wedding guests…