CARRIE UNDERWOOD IN TORONTO FOR "BLOWN AWAY"

Carrie Underwood in Toronto - May 2012

Arriving Tuesday night from Nashville with Hockey Star Husband Mike Fisher, Country-Pop Queen Carrie Underwood arrived for the Canadian leg of her Promo Tour for latest Disc, Blown Away. The Album already has spent two weeks at number on the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart.

Remaining low-key, opting for underground entrances and exits in and out of her Hotel, the former American Idol Season Four Winner in her two days in Toronto has appeared at most major Outlets, doing a number of pre-taped and live-to-air Interviews. Appearances have included visits to CTV's Canada AM, The Marilyn Denis Show and eTalk, YTV's The Zone, CBC's Q Radio, Global Television's Entertainment Tonight Canada, CHFI 98.1, CHUM 104.5 and more.

In addition to Work, Underwood has Quality Time with Family on her Agenda during her stay before her scheduled Performance on this weekend's Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. Last night, Husband Fisher was spotted enjoying the New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays Game at Rogers Centre, while the Singer spent a quiet night-in relaxing after a long day.

I caught-up with Underwood leaving the Bell Media Building earlier today buried two rows back in her Suburban, signing a few Autographs for Fans who waited all morning for her patiently. The frenzy was sparked as the window of her Vehicle was rolled down. "Can you take a Picture with a little Carrie Underwood Fan?", one Mom asked while urging her young Daughter forward - which wasn't happening. Unfortunately, I had no luck getting my copy of Some Hearts signed after Autographs got curtailed quickly with complaints of the situation becoming too aggressive on the part of others.

In the meantime, check out Underwood's latest Single, Good Girl which already has peaked at number 21 on the Canadian Hot 100:

TONY BENNETT - DUETS II REVIEW

Tony Bennett - Duets II

Mr. Tony Bennett's Epic Opus 2011, aka Duets II brings together some of the most unlikely collaborations - a true testament to the Crooner's influence on so many of the Vocalists who have sold out Arenas and won Grammys after him. At 85 years of age, Bennett recently became the oldest living Artist to have achieved the distinction of debuting atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart and he did it with some help from his Friends. Some really famous and talented Friends.

Jam-packed with 17 Classics, Duets II isn't necessarily about breaking new ground or necessarily about High Art. It's about celebrating an Icon and how Bennett's Voice and Music have inspired others and also connecting a new Audience who grew-up not having had Jazz Music on their radars. The phrasing, the range, the stylization - there is only one Tony Bennett and this Collection pays tribute to that front and center.

There are some fabulous moments on the Disc like the fun and flirtatious The Lady is a Tramp (ft. Lady Gaga), One for my Baby (ft. John Mayer), a perfect reunion in Blue Velvet (ft. k.d. lang), Don't Get Around Much Anymore (ft. Michael Bublé) ...obviously, Yesterday I Heard the Rain (ft. Alejandro Sanz) and perhaps a true showcase that he's (and she's) definitely still got it, How Do You Keep the Music Playing (ft. Aretha Franklin).

TONY BENNETT TO RELEASE "DUETS II" FEATURING AMY WINEHOUSE, LADY GAGA, MARIAH CAREY & MORE

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

With 100 Albums released, 15 Grammy Awards including the coveted Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, legendary Crooner Tony Bennett is showing no signs of stopping. In fact, Bennett turns 85 years-old today and to celebrate this important milestone, he releases Duets II, a follow-up to 2006's Duets which was his best-selling Album ever.

What you need to know is the roster of talent he gathered for this Disc including several of my favourites. Lady Gaga. Mariah Carey. Aretha Franklin. Sheryl Crow. Andrea Bocelli. Josh Groban. Michael Bublé. John Mayer. Queen Latifah. AMY WINEHOUSE. Yes, you read correctly. The Disc features one of Winehouse's final recordings before her untimely passing.

Duets II is in stores September 20, 2011 via Sony Music Canada and the complete Track List is as follows:

KELLY CLARKSON ON "AMERICAN IDOL - WELCOME HOME SPECIAL"

Kelly Clarkson

"Kelly Clarkson, Burleson, Texas.".  Okay, I'll admit I teared up a little watching these American Idol - Welcome Home Special clips on YouTube featuring previous season's Winners.  The Cameras follow each  Singer as they re-visit their Hometowns, describing for us what it was like auditioning for the show and how it has changed their lives ever since.

My favourite Idol, Kelly Clarkson recalls stepping into the Audition Room, not realizing the competition was a Television Show, being surprised to see Paula Abdul as a Judge. "I knew Randy (Jackson) because I was a huge Mariah Carey fan and I used to be that Nerd who reads all the Liner Notes.... so I was flipping out a little bit more about Randy", Clarkson remembers.  "I think that's what so attractive about American Idol is that we're very the 'people the next door' - the American Dream - it gives people a sense of hope that they can do it too.". 

The Singer just completed work on her fifth studio album although some changes in personnel at RCA/Jive Records, run by Barry Weiss, likely will delay original plans to release the Disc early 2011.  Another interesting thing is that RCA (formerly part of BMG) will no longer be signing Idol contestants as a new deal has been inked between the show and Universal Music Group's A&M/Geffen/Interscope Records. The new season of American Idol, the first without Simon Cowell, premieres January 19, 2011 on FOX.

 

Watch all four Clips below.  Grab a Tissue. 

KELLY CLARKSON IS BILLBOARD MAGAZINE'S TOP AMERICAN IDOL

According to Billboard Magazine, Kelly Clarkson is the Top American Idol of all time. Billboard ranked 24 idol finalists and ranked them by Album Sales, Radio Play and Single Sales and overall, it was Clarkson who edged out country star Carrie Underwood for top honours.  The latter has sold 900k more albums than Clarkson. Chris Daughtry placed a distant third.

My question is this - why aren't Concert Ticket Sales also factored in also as this would be a more comprehensive measure to overall success? How about industry award wins also? With that being said, I do love Clarkson, but I have a feeling that Underwood would overall have the upper hand.

Billboard's Top 24 American Idols are ranked as follows:

1. Kelly Clarkson

2. Carrie Underwood

3. Chris Daughtry

4. Jordin Sparks

5. David Cook

6. Clay Aiken