When I first heard that Taylor Hicks was going to be in “Grease” I had a big “say whaaa??” look on my face. I know a lot of ex idols end up on Broadway, but I was for sure he was one I wouldn’t see there…wrong!! Today he made his debut in the show, taking on the role of Teen Angel, and you can tell from the pics he put his own signature dance moves into it, and I think he’s even playing his harmonica.

I’m also hearing rumors (key word being RUMOR) that Constantine Maroulis is headed for this show sometime next year AFTER his run in JCS, so maybe he’ll be taking over Taylor’s role? We’ll see!

Cue the Taymates.

 And becomes the second Idol winner to be let out of his contract.  J records just recently cut ties with Taylor after less than 2 years and only one album, even though he had a 3 album deal.  So much for second chances!  The label says “Taylor is going to record his next album on his own.  He is no longer on the J Records roster.” and Taylor says,  “I’ll also have the time now to create an album without the post-winning-’Idol’ constrictions.  I have time for the album to breathe artistically.”

I just LOVE that they take someone who plays unpopular music to begin with, forget to give him a single, skip out on making a music video and do little promotion and then complain even though he still manages to sell  700k!  And the average sales for a new artist is somewhere around 400k to begin with.

So watch out future Idol hopefuls….they might just set you up to fail from the get go.

Source 

…with his girl (the reporter from that infamous post we made a few months ago). He got skinny.

Source: JJB

ETA: Comments have been locked!  You people are seriously out of your minds… 

…and promoting his new book, “A Heart Full of Soul” in NYC.  Here’s an excerpt from the Publishers Weekly review of Taylor’s memoir, to give you an idea of what hte book is about:

Though his passion is for soul music, Hicks’s life reads more like a discordant country ballad: formative years were spent shoplifting Otis Redding music, fabricating report cards and distinguishing between the “teddy-bear drunks and mean drunks” in his family; later, he turned to blind ambition and dime-store mantras like “embrace my oddness” to keep himself singing to empty venues.

Behind-the-scenes Idol dirt is spare; Hicks discusses feelings of isolation while taping, the infamous purple jacket and the songs he chose to sing, but says little about relationships among other contestants, fans or judges. Still baffled by his sudden fame, Hicks has a charmingly humble, if not particularly dynamic, voice best summed up in his standard reply to people who stop to tell him he looks an awful lot like Taylor Hicks: “Yeah, you know, it’s funny, I get that all the time.”

I love how most folks think he’s basically fallen off the face of the earth; If I got $750k to “write” a book and a had a nearly sold out tour, I’d be pretty laying low too.

Source

Okay, I’m surprised that paparazzi actually has any interest in Taylor Hicks for a change, I guess his appearance on the idol finale last week has made a difference (and it sure is better than watching Katharine McPhee run out for coffee every five minutes). A couple days ago he was caught by photogs romping on the beach with what looks to be his new girlfriend. Now, the mystery woman has been identified as Caroline Lyders, a broadcast journalist for Channel 12 in Milwaukke. When asked about their relationship, she says, “Yes, Taylor and I are friends, and as a journalist I respect your asking. But beyond that I’d rather not comment on my personal life.” Um, from the looks of this picture…

…I’m guessing they’re more than just friends but that’s cool that she’s not all up in the media about it, unlike some people. Anyhoo, Taylor’s got a cd, a new girlfriend and book coming out later this month. Somone’s sitting pretty!

Source

Tons of pictures from tonight’s show for you guys!

Oh Carrie, you look like a big golden piece of cotton candy.

Taylor Hicks LIVES!!

Perfect, perfect, PERFECT pairing! So prophetic!

There you have it folks! The youngest winner. She’s only 17!

WOW, who thought he had such strength….

Check out this awesome article from someone in the media who actually GETS IT. I also hear that all the finalists knew the results early on because the producer let it slip to Stephanie, and that they were disappointed that it WASN’T a landslide victory.

Click KEEP READING for more pictures!

(more…)