Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Kelly Clarkson to perform before the Super Bowl; Madonna to put on halftime show
Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert (AP file)
Oklahoma country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert will perform as part of the Super Bowl pregame festivities Feb. 5 in Indianapolis. The Tishomingo residents will sing “America the Beautiful” before the big game at Lucas Oil Stadium, according to the Associated Press.
“American Idol” Kelly Clarkson will perform the National Anthem during the pregame. The Super Bowl is historically the biggest television event of the year.
Shelton is a celebrity judge on “The Voice,” the hit singing competition on NBC, which is broadcasting the Super Bowl this year.
The hotly anticipated second season of “The Voice” premieres on a special night and time at approximately 9 to 10 p.m. Feb. 5 following Super Bowl XLVI on NBC. The reality TV show will then settle into its regular time slot of 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays (8-10 p.m. ET) beginning Feb. 6.
Lambert and Clarkson will serve as celebrity advisers for Shelton’s team on “The Voice” during the second season.
The NFL announced in December that Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Madonna will perform at halftime of the league’s title game.
-BAM
Video: Blake Shelton invites Miranda Lambert and Kelly Clarkson as his advisers on “The Voice” Season 2
Oklahoma country music and reality TV star Blake Shelton has tapped his wife and fellow country singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert and “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson to serve as advisers on the upcoming second season of “The Voice,” NBC announced today.
Miranda Lambert (AP file)
Multi-platinum singer-songwriters Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds,” Jewel, Alanis Morissette, Ne-Yo, Lionel Richie and Robin Thicke also will lend their knowledge and skills as advisers to six separate artists on Teams Adam (Levine), Cee Lo (Green) and Christina (Aguilera), respectively, during the “battle rounds” phase of competition on the upcoming season.
“The Voice” premieres on a special night and time at approximately 9 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, following Super Bowl XLVI on NBC before settling into its regular time slot of 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays (8-10 p.m. ET) beginning Feb. 6.
The adviser and team pairings are as follows:
Team Blake: Kelly Clarkson (@Kelly_Clarkson) and Miranda Lambert (@Miranda_Lambert)
Team Adam: Alanis Morissette (@morissette) and Robin Thicke (@robinthicke)
Team Cee Lo: Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds (@KennyEdmonds) and Ne-Yo (@NeYoCompound)
Team Christina: Jewel (@jeweljk) and Lionel Richie (@LionelRichie)
In this video, the advisers talk about why they wanted to be on “The Voice.”
Kelly Clarkson (AP file)
The announcement was made today by Paul Telegdy, President, Late Night and Alternative Programming, NBC.
“These renowned musicians will bring their unique and recognizable musical styles to the teams,” said Telegdy in the announcement. “They are well-respected singers whose invaluable experience will be a tremendous asset to Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton’s artists.”
The battle rounds will pit two artists from each team against each other to sing a duet. At the end of each battle round performance, the artists’ respective coach will decide who among their team will move on to the live shows, and who will be eliminated from the competition.
Aguilera (@TheRealXtina), Green (@CeeLoGreen), Levine (@adamlevine) and Shelton (@blakeshelton) each recruited two music industry giants as advisers to help mentor and prepare six separate artists on their respective teams of 12 for the battle rounds. The artists will receive personal one-on-one training with their coach and adviser as they break down their song selection and stage performance. Each artist also will join their coach and adviser for an intimate conversation whereby they will have the opportunity to ask questions of the superstars before them.
Last season, each team only had one adviser, and Shelton chose fellow Oklahoma country star Reba McEntire. But Lambert performed on the Season 1 finale of “The Voice” with Dia Frampton, the finalist for Team Blake.
“The Voice” returns with the strongest vocalists from across the country invited to compete in the blockbuster vocal competition show’s second season. Celebrity musician coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton return along with Carson Daly as host. Christina Milian joins as Social Media Correspondent.
The show’s innovative format features three stages of competition: the first begins with the blind audition, then the competition enters into a battle phase, and finally, the live performance shows.
During the blind auditions, the decisions from the musician coaches are based solely on voice and not on looks. The coaches hear the artists perform, but they don’t get to see them — thanks to rotating chairs. If a coach is impressed by the artist’s voice, he/she pushes a button to select the artist for his/her team. At this point, the coach’s chair will swivel so that he/she can face the artist he/she has selected.
Once the teams are set, the battle is on. Coaches will dedicate themselves to developing their singers, giving them advice, and sharing the secrets of their success. During the battle rounds the coaches will pit two of their own team members against each other to sing the same song together in front of a studio audience.
After the vocal face-off, the coach must choose which of his/her singers will advance.
At the end of the battle episodes, only the strongest members of each coach’s roster remain and proceed to the live stage shows.
In this final performance phase of the competition, the top artists from each team will compete against each other during a live broadcast. The television audience will vote to save their favorite talent, leaving the coach to decide live who they want to save and who will not move on. In the end, each coach will have one star artist left ready to compete against the other teams’ finalists to be named “The Voice” – the winner will receive the grand prize of a recording contract.
Read more about the Season 2 advisers after the break.
13 Days of Oklahoma Music: David Cook greets “This Loud Morning”
We’re in the final days of 2011, and that means I’m winding down my “13 Days of Oklahoma Music,” a video series looking back at musical milestones reached by recording artists with state ties in the year almost past.
“American Idol” Season 7 winner David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, released his second post-”Idol” album, “This Loud Morning,” in June on 19 Recordings/RCA Records. He returned to Tulsa when he brought his tour in support of the new record to Cain’s Ballroom in October.
“This Loud Morning” marked Cook’s first new album since November 2008, when he released his self-titled major-label debut six months after winning on “Idol.” “David Cook” went platinum.
Executive produced by Matt Serletic (Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty, Collective Soul), “This Loud Morning” features tracks written and co-written by Cook along with many acclaimed songwriters including, Tulsa native Ryan Tedder, David Hodges, Johnny Rzeznik, Kevin Griffin and Marti Frederiksen.
Earlier this month, Cook talked about his second album, touring and his onstage persona in an interview with ABC’s “What’s the Buzz”:
-BAM
Video: Aranda featured on “Static on Tour,” opening for Staind Saturday at Diamond Ballroom
My excellent colleagues George Lang and Kyle Roberts feature Oklahoma City-based band Aranda in their latest episode of “Static on Tour,” shot at the famed Round Barn in Arcadia.
Along with playing acoustic version of three songs, the Aranda brothers talk about their forthcoming album, “Stop the World,” due in January; their lifelong musical collaboration; and the benefits of having “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson record two of their songs.
I’ve posted the first of the three videos in this “Static” episode here. To view the rest, click here.
Aranda will open for Staind at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S Eastern Ave. For more information, go to www.diamondballroom.net.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Kelly Clarkson covers Carrie Underwood on VH1′s “Unplugged”
In this Wednesday Video Spotlight, check out Kelly Clarkson performing fellow “American Idol” winner and Checotah native Carrie Underwood’s heartbroken ballad “I Know You Won’t” on “VH1 Unplugged.”
Clarkson also performed several songs from her new album “Stronger” on the show.
-BAM
Video: David Cook releases “Fade Into Me” video, talks about life on the road
“American Idol” Season 7 winner David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, has released the music video for “Fade Into Me,” the second single from his sophomore album “This Loud Morning.”
Cook, 28, also gave The Hollywood Reporter an all-access pass and sat down for an interview during his recent tour stop in Pomona, Calif. Check out the interview here:
- BAM
“American Idol” David Cook returning to Tulsa for Oct. 13 Cain’s Ballroom show; tickets on sale at 10 a.m. today
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
“American Idol” David Cook returning to Tulsa for Cain’s Ballroom show
The Season 7 “Idol” champ will bring his co-headlining tour with Gavin DeGraw to the historic venue on Oct. 13, with tickets going on sale Friday morning.
“American Idol” winner David Cook is planning to return to Tulsa next month during his fall co-headlining tour with Gavin DeGraw.
The platinum-selling musicians announced this week that they will embark on a national tour kicking off Oct. 9 at Penn State University. The U.S. tour, with opening act Carolina Liar, will wrap on Nov. 10 in Athens, Ga. The trek will make an Oct. 13 stop at historic Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa.
Tickets in select markets, including Tulsa, will go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. Friday. Tickets to the Cain’s show will be $34 in advance or $40 the day of the show. For tickets and information, go to www.cainsballroom.com.
Cook, who lived in Tulsa and was a mainstay of its local music scene before successfully auditioning for “Idol,” is touring in support of his sophomore album, “This Loud Morning” (19 Recordings / RCA Records), which came out June 28. The deceptively catchy first single “The Last Goodbye,” along with its witty music video, was met with largely positive buzz, and the album’s second single, the sensual ballad “Fade Into Me,” will be released to coincide with the tour.
After winning the “Idol” Season 7 title, Cook went on to sell more than 1 million copies of his self-titled debut album and set out on a yearlong nationwide tour in support of his multiple hit singles. Released in November 2008, “David Cook” (19 Recordings / RCA Records) entered the Billboard charts at No. 3 and the digital album charts at No. 1, marking the best debut from an “American Idol” winner since 2006. Collectively the songs from “David Cook” have sold more than 2 million tracks and ringtones combined. Cook’s coronation single, “The Time of My Life” was certified platinum and is not only the biggest single debut but the highest selling coronation single in the show’s history.
DeGraw will be performing new material off his highly anticipated fourth album “Sweeter,” due out Tuesday on RCA Records. The soulful single, “Not Over You” debuted as the most added track on the Hot AC format.
DeGraw first broke through with the 2003 release of his debut album, “Chariot,” which sold more than 1 million copies, earned platinum certification and yielded three hit singles: “I Don’t Want To Be,” “Follow Through” and the title track, “Chariot.”
DeGraw’s self-titled second album debuted at No. 1 on the digital sales chart and at No. 7 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart in 2008, earning DeGraw his first top 10 album. It spawned the hit singles “In Love with a Girl,” and the gold-certified “We Belong Together.” In 2009, DeGraw released “Free” as a gift to his die-hard fans clamoring for recorded versions of his live favorites.
DeGraw recently toured with Maroon 5 and Train and has performed and is scheduled to perform on numerous TV shows in support of his new album, including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Live with Regis and Kelly,” “The Today Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
For more information on the tour, go to www.davidcookofficial.com and www.gavindegraw.com.
In concert
David Cook and Gavin DeGraw
With: Carolina Liar.
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: On sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Prices are $34 in advance or $40 the day of the show.
Information: www.cainsballroom.com.
-BAM
“American Idol” runner-up Lauren Alaina records Carrie Underwood song “Eighteen Inches” for debut album “Wildflower”
Carrie Underwood and Lauren Alaina perform together on "American Idol."
“American Idol” runner-up Lauren Alaina has recorded a ballad co-written by 2005 “Idol” winner and Checotah native Carrie Underwood for her debut album “Wildflower,” due out Oct. 11. I’ve received my advance copy of the album and plan to review it closer to its release date, which comes a week after Season 10 “Idol” winner Scotty McCreery drops his debut, “Clear as Day.”
Underwood, Kelley Lovelace and Ashley Gorley wrote “Eighteen Inches,” a bittersweet story song about a pair of teenage lovebirds who run away to California to make a new life but struggle mightily to make ends meet. The chorus pretty much sums up the concept of this pretty song:
“When you’re young and in love/You might do some things that don’t seem all that smart/’Cause there ain’t no greater distance/than the 18 inches from your head to your heart.”
Alaina told USA Today that “Eighteen Inches” reminds her of a good friend.
“She got married when she was 17, and she had a baby. And they moved here, to Nashville. Her husband’s is going to college and has a full-time job, and she stays at home with the baby, and she doesn’t know anyone here. She moved here to support him. That’s, like, the story of that song,” she told USA Today.
Underwood isn’t the only songwriter with Oklahoma ties represented on Alaina’s first album, according to USA Today. Zac Maloy, former frontman of Oklahoma City band The Nixon, co-wrote the uplifting ballad “The Middle” with Rachel Proctor and David Hodges.
Alaina penned the toe-tapper “Funny Thing About Love” with well-known Nashville songsmiths Luke Laird and Brett James. James grew up in Oklahoma City and Cordell.
-BAM
David Cook announces co-headlining tour with Gavin DeGraw, including Oct. 13 Tulsa show
David Cook
“American Idol” winner David Cook is planning to return to Tulsa next month during his fall co-headlining tour with Gavin DeGraw.
The platinum-selling musicians announced today that they will embark on a national tour kicking off Oct. 9 at Penn State University. The U.S. tour, with opening act Carolina Liar, will wrap on Nov. 10 in Athens, Ga. The trek will make an Oct. 13 stop at historic Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa.
Tickets in select markets, including Tulsa, will go on sale beginning Sept. 16. Tickets to the Cain’s show will be $34 in advance or $40 the day of the show. For tickets and information, go to www.cainsballroom.com.
Cook, who lived in Tulsa and was a mainstay of its local music scene before successfully auditioning for “Idol,” is touring in support of his sophomore album, “This Loud Morning” (19 Recordings / RCA Records), which came out June 28. The first single “The Last Goodbye” was met by rave reviews, and the album’s second single, “Fade Into Me,” will be released to coincide with the tour. To read my review of “This Loud Morning,” click here.
After winning the “Idol” crown in season 7, Cook went on to sell more than 1 million copies of his self-titled debut album and set out on a yearlong nationwide tour in support of his multiple hit singles. Released in November 2008, “David Cook” (19 Recordings / RCA Records) entered the Billboard charts at No. 3 and the digital album charts at #No. 1, marking the best debut from an “American Idol” winner since 2006. Collectively the songs from “David Cook” have sold more than 2 million tracks and ringtones combined. Cook’s coronation single, “The Time of My Life” was certified platinum and is not only the biggest single debut but the highest selling coronation single in the show’s history.
DeGraw will be performing new material off his highly anticipated fourth album “Sweeter,” out Sept. 20 on RCA Records. Entertainment Weekly describes the first single “Not Over You,” which debuted most added at the Hot AC format, as “a soulful majestic ballad” and People Magazine declares the “hot single” as his “welcome return” to the airwaves.
DeGraw first broke through with the 2003 release of his debut album, “Chariot,” which sold more than 1 million copies, earned platinum certification and yielded three hit singles: “I Don’t Want To Be,” “Follow Through” and the title-track, “Chariot.” DeGraw’s self-titled second album debuted at No. 1 on the digital sales chart and at No. 7 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart in 2008, earning DeGraw his first Top 10 album. It spawned the hit singles “In Love With A Girl,” and the gold-certified “We Belong Together.” In 2009, DeGraw released “Free” as a gift to his die-hard fans clamoring for recorded versions of his live favorites. DeGraw recently toured with Maroon 5 and Train, wrapping with that tour at the end of August. He has performed and is scheduled to perform on numerous TV shows in support of his new album, including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Live with Regis and Kelly,” “The Today Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
For more information on the tour, go to www.davidcookofficial.com and www.gavindegraw.com.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Pistol Annies release their debut album “Hell on Heels”
Back in April, Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert introduced her new girl group Pistol Annies in appropriately splashy fashion: During the nationally televised concert special “Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country.”
Just four months later, the fiercely feisty singer-songwriter trio – Lambert, Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe – has already released its first album. “Hell on Heels” dropped Tuesday and takes its name from the Annies’ smoldering introductory single.
Earlier this summer, I got the chance to ask Lambert – who already is busy with her solo career, with her hotly anticipated fourth album “Four the Record” due out in November – what inspired her to take on the side project. Last week, I also got to chat with Presley about trio, and she said the Annies have developed a strong friendship since Monroe helped the other two singer-songwriters connect two years ago.
“We hung out and we were writing songs within 20 minutes of hanging out and just have built this awesome friendship over the past two years and made this awesome record,” Presley said of the trio’s first meeting, which followed a middle-of-the-night phone call she fielded from Monroe, who was in the midst of a girls’ weekend/songwriting session with Lambert and wanted desperately for the Oklahoma transplant to hear her pal Presley’s music.
While the Texas-born and bred Lambert has emerged as a bona fide superstar in the past couple of years, Presley said they operate on equally footing in the Annies, splitting vocals and songwriting credits based solely on the music.
“When we’re writing a song, whoever has the melody, it kind of just happens on its own. We don’t force it. If Ashley sounds pretty singing the melody, great. On ‘Bad Example,’ that was Ashley singing the melody, and there’s the line that says ‘With my “honk if your horny” sticker on the back,’ and she was like, ‘I just don’t know if I want to say that.’ And I was like, ‘Hell, I’ll say it. Let me sing that line,’” Presley said with a laugh.
Since April, Lambert has added a Pistol Annies set to her tour dates, including her CMA Music Festival show and “Good Morning America” performance, but the trio would love to do a full-fledged Annies tour.
“We’re not really talking about it yet, but we have a few surprises planned for December,” Presley said. “That’s definitely one of our goals, we want to do a Pistol Annies show. We want fans to see what our thing is just when we are by ourselves. They get like a glimpse of it in Miranda’s show when we come out, but we want to steal the stage at some point.”
It seems that the Annies might be starting a girl-trio trend: “American Idol” and Texas native Kelly Clarkson has started her own all-girl trio Already Famous with fellow singers Jill Pickering and Kate Rapier.
Already Famous was in Norman in late July to record its debut album at Blackwatch Studios, which posted a short and sweet note about the project on its official Facebook page.
And Clarkson and her cohorts tweeted that, yes, they are following in the high-heeled footsteps of their country sisters: “I love the Pistol Annies! We have a very different sound but I do love theirs! I can’t wait for their album!”
“My biggest thing is I just want to get our music out there, and if people love it and feel like they want to join in, that’s awesome and we welcome that,” Presley said. “I had heard something about that, and I’m excited to hear what they did. … Maybe we can all do a show together.”
Read more of my interview with Presley – featuring a few of Lambert’s thoughts on the Pistol Annies – on Friday here at BAM’s Blog, on NewsOK and in the Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
-BAM
