I just read a report that Nigel is leaving American Idol to focus on SYTYCD and a new venture with Simon Fuller. Here’s a quote from Nigel:

Due to the huge success of ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ my summer will be taken up by travels to South Africa, Australia and Canada to work on local versions of the show. I will step back from my day-to-day producing work on ‘American Idol’ and will be devoting my time to a new venture with Simon Fuller. I have very much enjoyed my personal and professional relationship with Simon. He is without doubt, a man of vision, and I look forward to partnering with him on new and exciting challenges in all forms of entertainment.

I wonder what Nigel’s new venture with Simon Fuller is. The trips around the world to see various dancing would be an amazing experience.

Here’s a list of the featured music for the trios done on HSM Get in the Picture episode 6. Here’s a list of all the featured music on hsm get in the picture.

Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson

Great Escape – Boys Like Girls

– Original Music Video
Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield

– Original Music Video

The Nashville Star Finale was quite the event. Highlighted of course by some great music. This list of Nashville Star music highlights some of the greatest country music around. Below you’ll find links to download all the songs from the finale of Nashville Star.

GABE performed:
“Celebrity” by Brad Paisley

– Original Brad Paisley Music Video
“Gone Country” by Alan Jackson

SHAWN performed:
“Gunpowder and Lead” by Miranda Lambert

– Original Miranda Lambert Music Video
“How Do You Like Me Now?” by Toby Keith

– Original Toby Keith Music Video

MELISSA performed:
“My Wish” by Rascal Flatts

“Something More” by Sugarland

– Original Sugarland Music Video

Melissa Lawson performed her new single “What If It All Goes Right”

A few people have been asking me who is going to be on the ABDC tour. We don’t know all the details (probably because they’re still figuring them out), but we do know that the winners of ABDC Season 1 — “JabbaWockeeZ” and BreakSk8 are both committed to the tour.

Tickets still aren’t on sale for a couple weeks, but here’s the link to ABDC on ticketmaster where most of the tickets should be found. If you miss them on ticketmaster you can check for ABDC tour tickets on eBay. eBay already has some interesting ABDC tour t-shirts.

Should be interesting to see what other crews get added to the tour.

Tonight I had to catch up on 2 episodes of High School Musica: Get in the Picture, because a few friends dropped by last night unexpectedly and so I had to be social instead of enjoying my picture show.

Oh well, it was kind of fun to see the last 2 episodes together. Thank goodness for ABC streaming High School Musical: Get in the Picture free online. I love free streaming TV online.

I’m sad to say that 2 of the girls got sent home tonight: Briana Vega from Winter Springs, FL and Christie Brooke from Ka’a'awa, HI. I was really sad to see my Hawaiian neighbor Christie go, but to be honest she deserved to go home. She was way over the top and I’m sure she’ll see that when she sees the video too. I do have to give Christie a little slack since the wardrobe people did NOTHING for her. That outfit she had was horrible for her. Briana was my little home schooled girl that I loved to watch. I’d be more sad, but I’m not sure who you’d send home before her. I guess it’s just time for her to go.

Now that we’re a good way into the show, here’s my personal evaluation

Anthony Acito – I thought that he had problems with the mic on this last performance, but maybe it was his voice. Either way his personality is killer, but singing not so much. I’m glad they at least kept him around a little longer so he can bring a smile to our face for a few more weeks, but we all know he’s going home sooner or later.
James Wolpert – I think James might be a surprise just waiting to happen. If he can find a performance that will just make him shine, don’t be surprised if he makes it longer than we all expect. However, I still don’t see him winning it all.
Isaiah Smith – Not sure what to say about Isaiah. He’s been fine, but never WOW’d me and I don’t expect him to anytime soon. Average on all accounts is not good for reality tv I guess.
Ether Saure – Incredible story line with incredible voice. Absolutely reserved. My guess is that he’ll never fully come out, but I hope he stays around for a while so we can watch him try.
Stan Carrizosa – Might as well keep him around so we can all relive the high school days of flirting with girls. Since his voice isn’t a knock it out of the park voice I think he better try to charm the judges with his looks. Probably won’t work.
TJ Wilkins – I really love this kid. I’m not sure what it is about him, but there’s something sincere and unique. Decent voice and decent presence. He’s just so tall and lurpy that sometimes it doesn’t quite fit the scene. Tonight I realized the real problem. He is pigeon foot. Add that to his height and sometimes it doesn’t look too High School Musical.
Bailey Purvis – It feels like I should hate this girl, but instead she takes me on this roller coaster of loving her and hating her. Sometimes she does some stuff which blows me away and then the next thing you know she’s annoying the crap out of me.
Tierney Chamberlain – I was really surprised she was voted as the best of all. I did enjoy her reading the names and her kind way of doing it. I’m not completely sold on her, but I don’t have anything I really don’t like about her either.
Christina Brown – I’ve loved Christina’s voice since she first auditioned. I’m not sure it’s a High School Musical voice, but it is something wonderful. I hope she sticks around for a while so we can hear her sing.
Shayna Goldstein – Interesting that Shayna was at the end of my list. She’s quickly become my personal favorite. Well mature beyond her years. Seemingly sincere. Called out the playa (Stan). What’s not to like about this girl. Stan did well to describe her as uniquely hot.

Ok, what’s your take? Did I miss something? I think the prize at the end is a little bit weak, but the show has been quite good. Sending them to Kmart to sing was a great idea.

This is a little bit personal for me, because Melissa Lawson is from Arlington, TX which I still consider a major part of me since I lived there for 7 years during my growing up years. No, I don’t think I knew Melissa Lawson, but that doesn’t change anything.

It also doesn’t change how wonderful of a singer Melissa Lawson is. She has an amazingly powerful voice that just kicks BUTT!! I’d say it rivals who I consider to sing the largest most powerful voice in country music, Martina McBride. Wouldn’t it be cool if they had a powerful voice show down.

All in all, there’s no doubt that Melissa Lawson deserved it and will make a great star. Gabe Garcia will probably do good things also. I bet Shawn Mayer will end up being a song writer in Nashville. She definitely had the best song writing of any. Should be fun to watch.

I was going to post a link to be able to purchase Melissa Lawson’s new single that she sung at the end of the show, but iTunes doesn’t seem to have it up yet. Once they have it up, I’ll post the song here. What do you bet we hear Melissa Lawson on the radio tomorrow too.

Melissa Lawson’s new single “What If It All Goes Right”

Also, make sure you go and check Melissa, Gabe and Shawn on the Nashville Star tour.