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Country Music News: AP-AMPrep-Country
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``AMERICAN IDOL‘‘
HOLLYWOOD (AP) _ It‘s the end of the road for Chikezie
(chih-KEE‘-zee) on ``American Idol.‘‘ He was voted off the show
last night. Judge Simon Cowell said Chikezie chose the wrong song
Tuesday -- Luther Vandross‘ ``Only For One Night.‘‘ He said it was
boring. Also, in the bottom three were Jason Castro and Syesha
Mercado. Meantime, Carly Smithson cleared up a rumor last night.
She says it‘s a paunch not a bump. She shot down gossip that she‘s
pregnant. She said the rumor actually threw her off her game during
her performance Tuesday. She says she was wearing ``a bunch of
Spanx‘‘ trying to look thinner. Spanx are body shaping
undergarments. The remaining finalists are Kristy Lee Cook, David
Cook, David Archuleta (ar-choo-LET‘-uh), Jason Castro, Brooke
White, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay (RAY‘-mee-el mah-LOO‘-by),
Carly Smithson and Syesha Mercado.
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Sound:
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Carly Smithson
``American Idol‘‘ contestant Carly Smithson tries to shoot down
a rumor. COURTESY: Fox ((mandatory on-air credit))
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Simon Cowell
``American Idol‘‘ Simon Cowell tells Chikezie (chik-EE‘-zee) why
he got into trouble. COURTESY: Fox ((mandatory on-air credit))
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Ryan Seacrest
``American Idol‘‘ host Ryan Seacrest announces who will be going
home. COURTESY: Fox ((mandatory on-air credit))
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Excerpt of Chikezie (chik-EE‘-zee)
Archive audio of Chikezie‘s (chik-EE‘-zeez) farewell performance
on ``American Idol.‘‘ COURTESY: Fox ((mandatory on-air credit))
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SARA EVANS‘ FIANCE POPPED THE QUESTION IN A NYC PARK
UNDATED (AP) _ Sara Evans‘ fiance reportedly popped the question
to the singer a few weeks ago in New York City. Paul Finebaum, a
friend of Jay Barker, tells People magazine Barker proposed in a
little park where they had their first date. Barker hosts a morning
radio show in Birmingham. Finebaum says the couple‘s love is awe
inspiring. He says the pair are like ``two 15-year-olds in love for
the first time.‘‘ Finebaum adds, ``This isn‘t a good thing, this is
a great thing. It‘s an out-of-this-world thing!‘‘
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KENNY CHESNEY, RASCAL FLATTS TO PERFORM ON ‘TODAY‘ SHOW CONCERT SERIES
NEW YORK (AP) _ Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Sheryl Crow and
Miley Cyrus will rock the ``Today‘‘ show plaza this summer as part
of its annual concert series. Chesney will take the stage June
13th. Rascal Flatts is set to perform July 11th.
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TRACE ADKINS MAKES THE TV ROUNDS
UNDATED (AP) _ It‘s gonna be hard to miss Trace Adkins today.
He‘ll be all over the airwaves, ahead of tonight‘s finale of NBC‘s
``Celebrity Apprentice.‘‘ Adkins will join his ``Celebrity
Apprentice‘‘ competitor Piers Morgan and Donald Trump for an
appearance on NBC‘s ``Today‘‘ show. They‘ll preview the final
episode. Next up, Adkins and Morgan will stop by ``Live with Regis
and Kelly.‘‘ Adkins will make a solo stop on Fox News ``America‘s
Pulse with E.D. Hill.‘‘ During tonight‘s two-hour live finale,
Trump will crown the first ever ``Celebrity Apprentice.‘‘ The
winner gets a $250,000 check for charity. Also, Adkins will perform
his latest hit single, ``You‘re Gonna Miss This‘‘ during the live
show.
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MINDY MCCREADY IS BACK IN THE STUDIO AND MAYBE ON THE TV
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Looks like Mindy McCready is getting her
life back on track, after serving jail time for a probation
violation. In a posting on her MySpace page, McCready says she‘s
working on recording a new record and a reality TV show called
``Mending Mindy.‘‘ She also says her baby boy Zander is ``doing
great.‘‘ McCready was released from jail last December. She was
sentenced last September after violating probation from a 2004 drug
arrest.
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WILLIE NELSON JOINS OVER 22,000 PETITION SIGNERS IN PUSHING FOR DAIRY FARM
REFORM
UNDATED (AP) _ Willie Nelson says as a cowboy, he must stand up
for cows. Nelson has joined a campaign by the Animal Legal Defense
Fund, working for better living conditions for calves raised to
produce milk for dairy products. The campaign is targeting a
California ranch, which it says employs cruel, intensive
confinement practices. Nelson has joined more than 22-thousand
people in signing a petition urging Land O‘Lakes and Challenge
Dairy, two major corporations that use milk from calves raised at
the California facility, to severe ties with the ranch. People can
sign the petition at FreeBabyMendes.com.
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BUCKY COVINGTON HEADED BACK TO AMERICAN IDOL
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Bucky Covington will pop up on ``American
Idol‘‘ next week. He recently filmed a piece in Nashville that‘s
scheduled to air on Wednesday‘s show -- the same show Dolly Parton
is slated to appear on. Parton will serve as a mentor to the
finalists. She‘ll also take the stage herself to perform live.
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by Myra Lopez
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-03-27-08 0305EDT<