Photo: Getty Images
> Forget what you might have heard -- spunky country queen Dolly Parton is not dead. Over the weekend news of the singer's death spread through Tennessee and panicked fans flooded Channel 10 and Dollywood spokeperson Pete Owen's office with phone calls trying to find out exactly what had happened to their cherished Backwoods Barbie. According to WBIR.com, Owen says he believes the report that Dolly had died from congestive heart failure may have started Friday night when an announcement was made at a high school football game. He also says that when he spoke with Parton on Saturday she decided against whipping up a press release that stated she was still alive and kicking. Because she knew there was really no point! Thankfully, with a heart as big and a body as artfully composed of inorganic material as hers is, Dolly isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
> Drew Lachey -- a member of the ever-expanding group of "ex-boy band-ers who did Dancing With the Stars" (and in his case won!) -- will host the 17th annual Broadway on Broadway event on September 14. The free, outdoor concert which celebrates the upcoming theater season will be held in Times Square and will include performances from the stars of A Tale of Two Cities, Billy Elliott, 13, Avenue Q, Chicago, The Little Mermaid, Grease, Gypsy, Hairspray, In the Heights, Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, The Phantom of the Opera, Spring Awakening, [title of show], Wicked, Young Frankenstein and Monty Python's Spamalot. Approximately 50,000 fans are expected to show up for the musical extravaganza. No stranger to the Great White Way, Lachey made his Broadway debut in Rent and currently stars in Spamalot, the musical that will see Clay Aiken rejoin its ranks next month. Two B-list recording stars on the same stage? We're there as long as we see as much hair pulling and bitch slapping as we're already fantasizing about.
> Speaking of B-list recording stars, when American Idol returns in January for its eighth season Randy Jackson, Paula Addul, and Simon Cowell will be sharing the judging duties with Kara DioGuardi. "DioGuardi is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America's most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show," the reality karaoke competition's creator Simon Fuller told Us Weekly. The Grammy-nominated songwriter has written tunes for Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Pink, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. American Idol executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz claims the show was always intended to have four judges. "We've seen from our international series that having a fourth judge creates a dynamic that benefits both the contestants and the viewers," she explained. Sounds like damage control to us. Everyone knows that for the last few seasons the show has really only had two judges, since Paula can barely be counted on for more than an occasional bout of blubbering or a semi-sloshed compliment on the contestants' wardrobe. But we're not complaining -- the woman is good TV at its wonderfully worst.
-- NOAH MICHELSON
Comments