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Country Music News: AP-AMPrep-Country
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r c AP-AMPrep-Country 03-26 1604
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``AMERICAN IDOL‘‘ - KRISTY LEE COOK WOWS THE JUDGES WITH HER PATRIOTIC
PERFORMANCE
HOLLYWOOD (AP) _ She‘s been part of the bottom three
vote-getters in the last three result shows, but last night it was
nothing but love from the ``American Idol‘‘ judges for Kristy Lee
Cook. They praised her performance of Lee Greenwood‘s ``God Bless
the USA.‘‘ The contestants had to pick songs from the year they
were born. Simon said it was Cook‘s ``best performance by a mile.‘‘
He also said it was the most clever song choice he‘d heard in
years. The judges also gushed over David Cook‘s rendition of
``Billy Jean.‘‘ Simon said it was ``amazing‘‘ and Randy said ``you
might be the one to win the whole lot.‘‘ Michael Johns and Syesha
Mercado also got props for their performance, as did Brooke White
despite messing up her song right off the bat. The judges liked
that she was able to recover from her mistake. Paula and Simon
cautioned Jason Castro to start taking the competition more
seriously. They say they‘re still looking for his wow factor. And
while the judges agree David Archuleta has golden pipes, Simon
panned his performance last night saying it was reminiscent of a
theme park performance. He also hated Archuleta‘s obscure song
choice, calling it a ``ghastly song.‘‘
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Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell tells Jason Castro he can do better. COURTESY: Fox
((mandatory on-air credit))
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``If I Were Your Woman,‘‘ performed by Syesha Mercado
``If I Were Your Woman,‘‘ performed by Syesha Mercado, during
broadcast. COURTESY: Fox ((mandatory on-air credit))
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Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson tells Chikezie he was underwhelmed by his
performance. COURTESY: Fox ((mandatory on-air credit))
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``Every Breath You Take,‘‘ performed by Brooke White
``Every Breath You Take,‘‘ performed by Brooke White. COURTESY:
Fox ((mandatory on-air credit))
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``We Are The Champions,‘‘ performed by Michael Johns
``We Are The Champions,‘‘ performed by Michael Johns. COURTESY:
Fox ((mandatory on-air credit))
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Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell tells David Archuleta his performance reminded him
of a theme park. COURTESY: Fox ((mandatory on-air credit))
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Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell tells Kristy Lee Cook her song choice of ``God
Bless the USA‘‘ was inspired. COURTESY: Fox ((mandatory on-air
credit))
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``Billie Jean,‘‘ performed by David Cook
``Billie Jean,‘‘ performed by David Cook. COURTESY: Fox
((mandatory on-air credit))
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``DANCING WITH THE STARS‘‘ - PRISCILLA PRESLEY SAFE FOR ANOTHER WEEK
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Priscilla Presley is safe to strut her stuff
another week on ``Dancing With The Stars.‘‘ She made the cut on
last night‘s double elimination show. Sent home was magician Penn
Jillette. Although, he didn‘t take his fate quietly. He threatened
to return next week and dance in the parking lot. Also given the
boot was tennis champ Monica Seles.
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Tom Bergeron
``Dancing with the Stars‘‘ host Tom Bergeron announces which
couple is first to be voted off. COURTESY: ABC ((mandatory on-air
credit))
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Penn Jillette
Penn Jillette jokes he‘s not ready to go home yet. COURTESY: ABC
((mandatory on-air credit))
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Tom Bergeron
``Dancing with the Stars‘‘ host Tom Bergeron gives the bad news
to the first female celeb of the season. COURTESY: ABC ((mandatory
on-air credit))
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Monica Seles
Former tennis champ Monica Seles says her professional partner
Jonathan Roberts and her experience on the show have changed her
life. COURTESY: ABC ((mandatory on-air credit))
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Excerpt of theme
Archive audio of ``Dancing With the Stars‘‘ theme.
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PRISCILLA PRESLEY SAYS SHE WAS THE VICTIM OF A FAKE PLASTIC SURGEON
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Priscilla Presley is confirming that she fell
victim to a phony plastic surgeon. Gossip Web sites were the first
to report the story. People magazine quotes Presley‘s rep as saying
Presley was one of many victims of the unqualified plastic surgeon
and that an investigation ``uncovered his misconduct,‘‘ which
ultimately lead to his imprisonment. The rep says Presley ``dealt
with this matter years ago and everything is well.‘‘
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RICKY SKAGGS ON LINEUP FOR NYC EARTH DAY CONCERT
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Ricky Skaggs will headline an Earth Day
concert in New York‘s Central Park next month. It‘s part of eight
simultaneous Earth Day festivals planned for April 20th. Free shows
will also be staged in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami
and San Francisco. The flagship show will be on the National Mall
in Washington. Organizers are hoping to get more people talking
about global warming. Los Lonely Boys will be the headline act in
Dallas. Junior Brown is on the same bill.
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Margie Szaroleta (zar-oh-LEH‘-tah)
Earth Day organizers plan on celebrating next month with
concerts across the nation. AP music correspondent Margie Szaroleta
has more. ((opens with music))
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``Heaven‘‘
``Heaven,‘‘ performed by Los Lonely Boys.
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KENNY CHESNEY WANTS TO GET THE NEXT GENERATION OF GEORGE STRAITS AND REBA
MCENTIRES CLOSER TO THEIR DREAMS
UNDATED (AP) _ Kenny Chesney wants to give local bands across
America a crack at being his opening act. It‘s part of his Big Star
Contest, where Chesney selects his opening acts in 34 markets.
Chesney says he remembers how hard it can be and just wants to get
the next generation of George Straits, Reba McEntires and Alabamas
``closer to the dream.‘‘ Chesney‘s stadium shows will feature a
battle of the bands the night before the actual concert. Arena and
auditorium concerts will have their Big Star Battle of the Bands a
couple of weeks out in a local club. Each winner in a market will
be assigned their own tour manager and be the Big Star for their
friends, family and hometown. Chesney‘s ``Poets and Pirates Tour‘‘
kicks off April 18th and 19th in Connecticut.
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DARRYL WORLEY AND WIFE ARE PARENTS OF A BABY GIRL
UNDATED (AP) _ Darryl Worley is a dad. His wife gave birth to
their daughter on Monday. They‘ve named her Savannah Gail. She
weighs 6 pounds, 6 ounces. A posting on Worley‘s Web site says
``Mom and baby are doing great.‘‘ Worley goes on to say, ``There
are no words to describe what has come into our lives. All I can
say is thank you Jesus.‘‘
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KEITH URBAN‘S GREATEST FAN CONTEST
UNDATED (AP) _ Keith Urban is on the hunt for his ultimate fan.
The grand prize winner gets a Flip Video Camera signed by Urban.
The contest is looking for people who‘ve been to multiple Urban
concerts, road-tripped to see him live or have a ``Keith Urban‘‘
themed room. People can upload their video to a YouTube channel for
the Greatest Fan contest for Keith Urban. The deadline for all
entries is April 1st.
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LUKE BRYAN PARTNERS WITH LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE AND JACK DANIELS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Luke Bryan calls it the perfect
partnership. He‘s landed a co-sponsorship with Longhorn Steakhouse
and Jack Daniels. In return for the partnership, Bryan will make 24
appearances at Longhorn Steakhouses across the country to meet and
sign autographs for the fans. Bryan says he‘s honored by the
pairings, adding it‘s perfect: ``great steaks, Tennessee whiskey,
and an old country boy like me.‘‘ Bryan‘s current single is
``Country Man.‘‘ This summer he will be part of some of Kenny
Chesney‘s ``Poets and Pirates‘‘ stadium dates.
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DOLLY PARTON WRAPS VIDEO FOR ``JESUS AND GRAVITY‘‘
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Dolly Parton recently finished shooting
a video for her new single, ``Jesus and Gravity,‘‘ which is set to
premiere in mid or late April. The video was shot in New York City
and Nashville.
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NASHVILLE BASED MANAGER DIES
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ The manager for such acts as The
Moffatts and comedian Cledus T. Judd has died. Miles Bell was 61.
He died last week in Nashville of kidney failure.
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INJURED TEJANO SINGER EMILIO NAVAIRA HAS A LONG RECOVERY AHEAD OF HIM
HOUSTON (AP) _ Even if he survives a horrific head injury
suffered in a bus crash, Grammy-winning Tejano singer Emilio
Navaira (nah-VYE‘-rah) faces a long recovery and an uncertain
future. Doctors in Houston describe his condition as stable.
However, doctors say they‘re still afraid ``something adverse could
happen.‘‘ Navaira was behind the wheel of his tour bus before dawn
Sunday when it slammed into an interchange barrier on a
Houston-area freeway, propelling him through the windshield. The
crash remains under investigation.
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TODAY‘S BIRTHDAYS:
Singer-actress Vicki Lawrence turns 59 today.
Singer Ronnie McDowell is 58 today.
Singer Dean Dillon turns 53.
Singer Charly McClain is 52.
Kenny Chesney turns 40 today.
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By Myra Lopez
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(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-03-26-08 0306EDT<