Wednesday Video Spotlight: Carrie Underwood talks about her beauty routines during Allure magazine photo shoot in Oklahoma City
Checotah native Carrie Underwood appears on the cover of the February issue of Allure, and the magazine has posted online this behind-the-scenes video of the photo shoot in which the country music superstar shares her beauty tips.
The 2005 “American Idol” was photographed for the magazine during her Oklahoma City tour stop back in October. To read my review of her OKC concert at Chesapeake Energy Arena, click here.
She is featured wearing Gucci, Calvin Klein and Burberry, which she calls “three of my favorites.” She also declares herself a “makeup junkie” who likes to do her own makeup and hair because it’s relaxing to her.
“I feel like my look has definitely evolved since I’ve been in the spotlight like I have. And I know more now the things that I like and the things that I don’t like. And I feel like I’ve had more practice at doing my hair, doing my makeup, picking out my clothes. I know what look I want to achieve,” she said.
She also said it may be “blasphemous in country music” but she prefers high heels to cowboy boots but her “big hair down” over up-dos.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Trailer for Carrie Underwood’s “Two Black Cadillacs” music video; full video premiering Jan. 23
Checotah native Carrie Underwood’s latest music video, “Two Black Cadillacs,” will make its broadcast and online debut on “Entertainment Tonight” and VEVO on Wednesday, Jan. 23. Check out the trailer posted above.
Immediately following ET’s “Two Black Cadillacs” premiere feature, the music video may be viewed on VEVO.com, VEVO mobile apps as well as ET Online. “Entertainment Tonight” will reveal exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the set of Underwood’s video shoot, according to a news release.
Carrie Underwood (AP file)
Directed by P.R. Brown and produced by Steve Lamar for Lamar Brothers, the dramatic thriller “Two Black Cadillacs” was filmed in the Nashville area. The single is already an airplay hit as it races up country charts, and is currently No. 11 on Country Aircheck and No. 13 on Billboard. “Two Black Cadillacs” was written by Underwood, Josh Kear and Hillary Lindsey, and is the third release from the superstar’s platinum-selling “Blown Away” album.
“Blown Away” made history last spring by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart, making the 2005 “American Idol” winner only the second country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of their first four albums debut at No. 1. “Blown Away” also debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, making her only the second country artist in history to have three consecutive albums debut at No. 1.
Since releasing her debut, “Some Hearts,” in 2005, the 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville recording artist has sold more than 15 million albums with “Some Hearts,” 2007’s “Carnival Ride,” 2009’s “Play On,” and 2012′s “Blown Away,” making her the best-selling American Idol in the U.S. She’s accumulated 16 No. 1 singles, seven of which she co-wrote, and became the first country artist in history and the only “American Idol” winner ever to achieve 10 No. 1 singles from their first two albums. She is a five-time Grammy winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry.
-BAM
Oklahoma City to star in “American Idol” Season 12, premiering tonight on Fox
Host Ryan Seacrest arrives for the “American Idol” auditions at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 20 , 2012. Photo By David McDaniel/The Oklahoman Archives
The “American Idol” Season 12 cast is, from left, Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, Ryan Seacrest, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban.
The 12th season of “American Idol” premieres at 7 tonight on Fox, and Oklahoma City’s thriving downtown and Boathouse District will be featured for an audience of millions on the new season.
In July, the show held auditions in the city for the first time, and an estimated 10,000 hopefuls came to audition at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, reports my wonderful colleague Heather Warlick. Ryan Seacrest and the production crew of “Idol” narrowed the thousands to hundreds.
Season 12′s “Idol” judges came to the city for the Nov. 8 and 9 callbacks. Randy Jackson and new judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban were filmed judging Oklahoma talent in the Ann Lacy Event Center at the Devon Boathouse, Heather reports.
“The boathouse is wonderful isn’t it? It’s terrific,” said Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of “American Idol” told Heather in a media conference call. “Some very, very good talent, which we were pleased with. Oklahoma City was nothing how I imagined it.”
As previously reported, Jackson made an appearance at Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood’s Oct. 25 concert at Chesapeake Energy Arena to surprise “Idol” hopeful Danielle Castleman,18, of Sellersburg, Ind., with a chance to audition on the spot for the show as part of the new “Nominate an Idol” option. Castleman was due to return to OKC in November for her callback.
This week’s episodes of “Idol” will primarily focus on auditions in New York and Chicago. The show will continue on Wednesdays and Thursdays through Jan. 31 featuring auditions in Oklahoma City, Charlotte, Long Beach, New Orleans, and San Antonio.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Jan. 15, 2013: See the musical “Jekyll & Hyde” at the Civic Center Music Hall
Today’s featured event:
See “American Idol” finalist and Tony nominee Constantine Maroulis and Grammy-nominated Canadian R&B superstar Deborah Cox in the national touring production of the musical “Jekyll & Hyde” at 7:30 tonight at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker.
Performances continue at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday.
“I think a lot of people have come to know me from television, but I grew up as an actor and I’ve been blessed to tackle some great (musical theater) roles,” Maroulis told The Oklahoman‘s Rick Rogers in a recent interview. “I feel like everything I’ve done has led to this moment.”
To read more of Rick’s interview with Maroulis, click here.
For more information, go to www.celebrityattractions.com or www.okcciviccenter.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood among 2013 People’s Choice Awards nominees
Blake Shelton
Carrie Underwood (AP)
Nominees for the 2013 People’s Choice Awards were announced t0day at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills by country superstar Jason Aldean, Anthony Anderson (“Guys with Kids”), Sophia Bush (“Partners”), Jason O’Mara (“Vegas”), Monica Potter (“Parenthood”) and Casey Wilson (“Happy Endings”), along with People’s Choice Awards host Kaley Cuoco (“The Big Bang Theory”) and Executive Producer Mark Burnett.
Prior to today’s announcement, fans cast more than 93 million votes to pick new categories and determine the nominees for the annual awards show that celebrates fan favorites in movies, music and television.
Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton, who lives in Tishomingo, is nominated for Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Country Artist. The reality show “The Voice,” which features Shelton as a celebrity coach, is nominated for Favorite Competition TV Show.
Checotah native and fellow country star Carrie Underwood also is nominated for Favorite Country Artist as well as Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Album for “Blown Away.”
Justin Bieber is the top individual People’s Choice Awards nominee with five music nods, including Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Pop Artist, Favorite Album, Favorite Music Video and Favorite Music Fan Following.
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine also comes out on top with a combined six nods in both music and television categories, for his work with Maroon 5 (Favorite Band, Favorite Song, Favorite Album, Favorite Music Video) and “The Voice” (Favorite Celebrity Judge, Favorite Competition TV Show).
Channing Tatum leads the men in acting nominations with four individual nods (Favorite Male Actor, Favorite Comedic Actor, Favorite Dramatic Actor and Favorite On-Screen Chemistry), and Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence go head-to-head in each of their three categories (Favorite Movie Actress, Favorite Face of Heroism and Favorite On-Screen Chemistry).
Voting begins today for all 48 categories and will end on Dec. 14. Winners will be revealed during the live broadcast of the 2013 People’s Choice Awards from the Nokia Theater L.A. Live on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 on the CBS Television Network.
How to Vote for the 2013 People’s Choice Awards:
Website – PeoplesChoice.com houses the main voting platform
Facebook – Facebook.com/PeoplesChoice features a custom application where fans can personalize their voting experience and share their votes with friends.
Twitter – Fans can cast official votes for the People’s Choice Awards by tweeting a specific series of hashtags based on the nominee’s name and category. To see a complete list of hashtags created for each nominee, go to PeoplesChoice.com/pca/vote.
Mobile – Fans can vote in all categories on the People’s Choice Awards mobile site, and via the official voting application for Android and iOS devices. The free app is available for download from the Android Market and the Mac App Store.
As the official retail partner of the People’s Choice Awards, Walgreens will present two categories, Favorite New TV Comedy and Favorite New TV Drama, which will remain open for voting through the night of the show on PeoplesChoice.com. All new network shows are eligible. The top five vote-getters in each category will be named official nominees on Dec. 14.
Additional categories that will remain open for voting through the night of the show are Favorite Movie Fan Following, Favorite Music Fan Following and Favorite TV Fan Following, three new categories that celebrate pop culture mega-fans and their devotion to certain films, musicians and TV shows.
The 2013 People’s Choice Awards also will see the addition of Favorite Face of Heroism, presented by Puffs, and the return of Favorite Movie Icon. The winner of the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Movie Icon will receive a one-of-a-kind custom award created by Waterford, the official designer and house of crystal that produces the People’s Choice Awards trophies.
See the full list of nominees after the break.
“Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas,” featuring Miranda Lambert, Reba and Kelly Clarkson, airing Dec. 3 on NBC
“Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas” will air on Monday, Dec. 3 on NBC. (NBC photo)
Oklahoma country music superstar Blake Shelton (NBC’s “The Voice”) will host his first Christmas special, “Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas,” a star-studded event airing from 9 to 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3.
The Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year and reigning CMA and Academy of Country Music Male Vocalist of the Year will be joined by his Grammy Award-winning guest stars Miranda Lambert, his wife and fellow Tishomingo resident; Reba McEntire, a fellow Oklahoma native; and Kelly Clarkson, his “American Idol” pal, on songs including “Let It Snow,” “There’s a New Kid in Town,” “Oklahoma Christmas” and “Home.”
The special also will feature a very special duet with Shelton’s mother, Dorothy Shackleford, with whom he co-wrote the song “Time for Me to Come Home,” as well as a number of comedy bits featuring special guests Christina Aguilera (NBC’s “The Voice”), Larry the Cable Guy and Jay Leno (host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”).
“I love Christmas music,” said Shelton in a news release. “I listen to it year-round. I had always wanted to do a Christmas album so getting to do ‘Cheers, It’s Christmas’ was exciting for me, and then to have NBC let me do a special around the CD, well, I still can’t believe it. I am so proud of the performances on the show, the skits are hilarious and the icing on the cake was having the opportunity to perform with my mom, a song we co-wrote together. Christmas has always been about family to me so having my mom and Miranda there — that made it Christmas.”
The Ada native is one of the “most versatile of contemporary country singers,” according to The New York Times. CMA Entertainer of the Year, reigning ACM and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, and with seven consecutive No. 1 singles — four of which are off his 2012 Grammy-nominated album, “Red River Blue” – Shelton is the voice of country music. “Red River Blue” debuted at No. 1 on Soundscan’s Top Current Albums chart and Soundscan Top Country Albums chart, with the Associated Press calling the album “the best album of his career.”
Shelton’s infectious multi-week No. 1 hit “Honey Bee” holds the record for the fastest-selling digital platinum single for a male country solo artist. The single held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country chart for four weeks in a row with more than 40 million in audience. No country artist has held this record in almost seven years. Shelton now has 11 No. 1 hits and has not had a single peak outside the top 10 since 2007. What country fans have long known, the rest of the world learned with “The Voice,” the NBC blockbuster from which Blake has emerged as “the breakout star,” according to The New York Times.
“Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas” is produced by Irwin Entertainment. John Irwin and Narvel Blackstock are executive producers.
Read more about the special guests for the show after the break.
Photo gallery: Carrie Underwood and Hunter Hayes in concert at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena
Carrie Underwood performs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. Photos by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
Country music superstar Carrie Underwood, who hails from Checotah, and her opening act Hunter Hayes, a precociously talented 21-year-old singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist originally from Louisiana, brought Underwood’s “Blown Away Tour” to Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena Thursday night.
To read my review of the entertaining spectacle, click here. The Oklahoman‘s Garett Fisbeck also was on hand and got some excellent photos of the show:
Hunter Hayes performs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. Photos by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
Concert review: Carrie Underwood flies high in Oklahoma City concert
Carrie Underwood performs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
To read more about “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson’s surprise appearance at Carrie Underwood’s Oklahoma City concert, click here.
Carrie Underwood made a bold move in dubbing her third headlining trek “The Blown Away Tour.”
Whether she was throwing a tropical party complete with enormous beach balls, flowery leis and neon-hued confetti or getting caught up in an impressive simulation of a twister, Underwood made sure her show lived up to the hype: Her Oklahoma City fans were indeed “Blown Away” Thursday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The Checotah native glided above the crowd on a floating stage for several songs, invited “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson to conduct a surprise audition during her set, and performed in the midst of half a dozen massive, ever-changing screens, but her huge, clear voice maintained its rightful place as the main attraction throughout the show. Costume changes, light shows and other trappings of her stage spectacle were no competition for those powerful pipes; only her enthusiasm for her home state came close to matching them.
“We were in Texas last night, and I swear when we passed into Oklahoma — we passed that state line — I woke up. I knew I was home,” Underwood told her adoring fans, who filled about three-quarters of the available seats in the arena.
“It’s such an honor to be in my home state playing for my people.”
Although it was surprising that she didn’t sell out the Oklahoma venue, the audience — ranging from little girls in their mamas’ laps to white-haired senior citizens — kept the volume and enthusiasm levels sky-high all night. Strutting around the stage in a series of exotic gowns and sassy ensembles, the Northeastern State University alumnus certainly seemed at home, smiling beatifically as she led thousands of admirers in sing-alongs to her familiar choruses, waving back at the youngsters in the multitude who caught her eye and easily charming the crowd with her down-home demeanor.
Like the music video for the title track of her platinum-selling 2012 album “Blown Away,” the concert paid visual homage to “The Wizard of Oz,” and the show opened with a Technicolor big-screen kaleidoscope that complemented her boisterous new hit “Good Girl.”
Underwood, 29, kept the energy high and attitude feisty with her tuneful kiss-off “Undo It,” and she maintained the vocal power but shifted to a more thoughtful mood with her emotional anthem “Wasted” and her cover of the Randy Travis ballad “I Told You So.” In keeping with her custom of mixing in a classic rock cover, she threw down on her roof-raising rendition of Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion.”
Throughout the show, she shifted between cuts from her new album — the vivid story song “Two Black Cadillacs,” the uproarious “Cupid’s Got a Shotgun” and the toe-tapping “Leave Love Alone,” which she turned into a duet with her precociously talented opening act Hunter Hayes — and her older hits — “Cowboy Casanova,” “Last Name,” “Temporary Home,” “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Before He Cheats” and “Remind Me,” which she belted with a video version of Brad Paisley.
The “American Idol” Season 4 winner left one of her familiar favorites to a Season 12 hopeful. Midway through the set, Underwood surprised the fans by introducing Jackson, one of the judges who worked with her on the reality TV show. He in turn shocked concertgoer Danielle Castleman, 18, of Sellersburg, Ind., by inviting her to take the stage.
As part of the TV singing contest’s new “Nominate an Idol” option, the teenager was given the chance to try out for the show right there, and Jackson picked the tune: Underwood’s “All-American Girl.”
“I bet she’s not nervous at all,” quipped Underwood, who grinned broadly as Castleman began an impressive rendition of the upbeat anthem.
The fans clapped along, until the hopeful nailed the soaring chorus, then they burst into approving cheers.
“That was awesome,” Underwood said. “I gotta go. She can finish the show.”
Jackson added, “I think you’ve got what it takes to come and sing in front of me and my co-judges” and presented her with an “Idol” contestant number.
Castleman will return to Oklahoma City for the November “Idol” auditions.
“Now back to your regularly scheduled concert,” Underwood joked after kissing Jackson goodbye.
After the runaway success of the flying pickup truck featured in her “Play On Tour,” the itinerary naturally included another opportunity to soar among the fans. What first seemed to be a rustic corral transformed into a floating stage that was cleverly devised to give the illusion that it was borne aloft by color-shifting hot air balloons. Dressed in short denim shorts and a leather vest trimmed with floor-length fringe, Underwood glided above the arena floor crooned “Get out of This Town.” She and two guitar players stayed airborne for a good long while, delighting the spectators in the cheaper seats with “Nobody Ever Told You,” “Crazy Dreams,” “Do You Think About Me” and, most appropriately, “Thank God for Hometowns.”
“I think it’s about time we threw a little party in here,” Underwood declared as the platform began to slowly drift back toward the main stage.
Tossing flowery leis into the crowd below, she breezed into her tropical groove “One Way Ticket” while giant beach balls began bounding through the audience and a quick shower of colorful confetti rained down.
It was nothing compared to the stormy climax Underwood had in store. For her encore, she emerged sitting on a quaint daybed against the backdrop of an old-fashioned farmhouse to belt “I Know You Won’t.” She rose up, resplendent in an indigo gown, to launch into her dramatic new chart-topper “Blown Away.” With a wind machine tossing her long golden locks, she blasted through the story song as a replication of a tornado swirled theatrical smoke and confetti behind her.
When it was over, Underwood smiled, casually finger-combed her hair and bid her home-state fans adieu — until she returns for a Nov. 21 show at Tulsa’s BOK Center.
“Thank you so much,” she shouted in farewell. “God bless you. God bless Oklahoma.”
— BAM
Randy Jackson auditions “American Idol” hopeful during Carrie Underwood’s Oklahoma City concert
Carrie Underwood performs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
Carrie Underwood reunited with “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson and shared the spotlight with an “Idol” hopeful Thursday night during her home-state performance at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
“You all know how I got my start. I was but a college girl and didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. So I decided to audition for ‘American Idol,’” Underwood said, thanking the raucous Oklahoma City crowd for its support during her victorious 2005 run on the reality TV show.
Randy Jackson
The Checotah native then surprised the audience by introducing Jackson, who was welcomed to the stage with earsplitting screams. Although Underwood blithely declared he “happened to be passing through,” he was actually conducting an audition as part of the show’s new “Nominate an Idol” option.
“Nominate an Idol” allows family and friends to secretly submit an online form and video of their candidate singing a cappella. Chosen candidates are surprised on location by a film crew and given the chance to advance to the next round of auditions.
When Jackson called Danielle Castleman,18, of Sellersburg, Ind., to the stage, she was floored.
“I was nominated by a friend to be on the show and ‘American Idol’ contacted my family to set up a surprise to get me flown out for the event,” Castleman said in an interview via Twitter after the concert.
“I was completely surprised and knew nothing about it until Randy Jackson called my name out.”
Danielle Castleman
Castleman’s family led her to believe that the trip to Underwood’s Oklahoma City concert was actually a surprise for one of her mother’s friends.
“I thought this whole trip was for her and I was just along for the ride,” Castleman said.
Instead, the teenager ended up singing the superstar’s smash “All-American Girl” on stage as Underwood, Jackson and thousands of fans looked on and listened intently.
“I bet she’s not nervous at all,” quipped Underwood, who grinned broadly as Castleman began an impressive rendition of the upbeat anthem.
The fans clapped along, until the hopeful nailed the soaring chorus, then they burst into approving cheers.
“That was awesome,” Underwood said. “I gotta go. She can finish the show.”
Jackson added, “I think you’ve got what it takes to come and sing in front of me and my co-judges” and presented her with an “Idol” contestant number.
Castleman said she will return to Oklahoma City for the November “Idol” auditions.
In the meantime, she got to meet backstage the singer Jackson called “the greatest ‘American Idol’ to date.”
“Thank God even crazy dreams come true.” Castleman posted on Twitter (@DCass17), quoting the lyrics of Underwood’s song “Crazy Dreams.” “Thank you for this opportunity!”
-BAM
“American Idol” and “The Voice” shake up judging panels
The cast for "American Idol" Season 12 includes judges, from left, Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, host Ryan Seacrest, judges Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban. (Michael Becker/Fox)
The judging merry-go-round on TV’s top singing competition seems to finally be slowing down.
EW.com unveiled this week the first official portrait, posted above, of the Season 12 judging panel of “American Idol.” Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Mariah Carey are coming in to replace Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, who left at the end of Season 11. Randy Jackson will return to the show.
Shakira (AP file)
Usher (AP file)
“The Voice,” which began its third season next week, will have two new celebrity coaches sitting in its big red chairs in Season 4, according to People.com.
Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green will take next season off and be replaced by Usher and Shakira. Adam Levine and Oklahoma country music superstar Blake Shelton are staying with the show, at least through next season.
Both Aguilera and Green will take a hiatus from “The Voice” to work on other projects: She will be touring to promote her new album, “Lotus,” while he’ll be working on new music and a scripted comedy about his life.
Last month, executive producer Mark Burnett indicated such as swap might happen on the panel, telling the Associated Press that because the coaches have busy music careers, substitutes may be needed in future. But the original four coaches will have “chairs for life,” he said.
“We are thrilled to welcome Usher and Shakira to The Voice,” Robert Greenblatt, the chairman of NBC Entertainment, said in statement today. “Doing two back-to-back cycles of this show requires a tremendous amount of time and we are happy to accommodate the commitments made by Christina and Cee Lo.”
Both Green and Aguilera said they plan to return to “The Voice” eventually.
“By pursuing my first passion of music during the break, I am also able to come back and offer even more to my team on The Voice in the future,” Aguilera said in a statement.
“I will return for season five and will be watching season four,” said Green.
Last week, rival show “The X Factor” began its second season with two new judges – Britney Spears and Demi Lovato – joining original judges Simon Cowell, who is also the show’s creator, and music executive L.A. Reid.
-BAM
