Scotty McCreery Wins American Idol 2011 Crown - Video

We’ve seen some of the best go home.

We’ve met two new judges this season.

We’ve learned we don’t miss Simon after all.

And now we know the winner of American Idol 2011 season 10.

17-Year-old country crooner Scotty McCreery took home the gold tonight and is the new American Idol 2011 winner.

Even after last night’s last minute scare, 30 minutes before going live, that Lauren Alaina had lost her voice and Haley Reinhart would be his new competitor.

Scotty made his hometown of Garner North Carolina proud by winning the tenth season’s top prize after a record breaking 122 million votes put him over the top. 

“Scotty had what it took to go the distance and everybody in Garner is very proud of him. The entire town went into shock when we heard that Scotty had won.”

Scotty beat out 17-year-old country singer Lauren Alaina, and emerged as a frontrunner after the eliminations of Jacob Lusk, Haley Reinhart, James Durbin, Stefano Langone, Casey Abrams, Paul McDonald, and Pia Toscano.



So what prize does the winner of American Idol get?

The winner receives a record deal with a major recording label for up to six albums. All previous winners have reportedly earned at least $1 million in their first year after being named winner. Several have gone on to become superstars.

In addition, the top ten finalists go on the road with the “American Idol Summer Tour” kicking off this June and making each contestant a nice six-figure income.

This season of American Idol was a vast improvement over prior seasons. The ousting of bad guy Simon Cowell and the addition of Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez ignited a fresh fire under the show.

Not that this season was without problems and drama.

Related: Was Idol’s James Durbin Arrested?

Things got a bit rocky when Pia Toscano was voted off before smooth operator Stefano Langone. Fans revolted and started a grass roots effort to have her reinstated - but ultimately failed in their attempt.

Fans were ecstatic when Pia announced she had signed a record deal only two days after being voted off the show.

Related: The Pia Toscano and Stefano Langone Drama

And fans cheered when alt-rock sensation Casey Abrams was welcomed back after the judges used their one “save” of the season.

However, some viewers felt that the addition of famous record producer Jimmy Iovine may have led some Idols astray by giving bad advice or pushing them towards a particular song.

Jacob Lusk for example, criticized Iovine for giving him bad advice that Jacob felt ultimately cost him his chance at winning. 

Related: AI’s Jacob Lusk Arrested in L.A. – Mug Shot

And Chris Medina lashed out at producers when he was not invited to the finale live show. He felt that the show really played up his sad story about his fiancée, who suffered a debilitating brain injury, and then dumped him after he was eliminated.

Related: Chris Medina not invited to Idol Finale?

But all-in-all it was a great season. We really believe the changing of the guard propelled American Idol back to what it was in the early days.
And we congratulate Scotty for going the distance and bringing home the win.

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American Idol’s Chris Medina Not Invited to Finale Show – Shame on A.I.

Remember Chris Medina from American Idol?

Sure you do.

He was the Milwaukee contestant who told the sad story about his Fiancee Juliana Ramos being in a car accident, suffering life threatening brain injuries, and now confined to a wheelchair.

The story brought Jennifer Lopez to tears. Chris made it through the elimination rounds and made it into the top 40 before he was sent home.

Early on, American Idol seemed to focus on Medina and Juliana's story like a laser beam, even going as far as having Juliana come into the audition room to meet the judges.

It really is a tragic story and the producers at Idol really played it up – some say for the ratings. But how far are they willing to go to show the love now?

Not very far.

Chris says he has not heard from Idol since he was eliminated, and that he has not been asked to be in the audience during the finale show like many of the other contestants.

He does say that the opportunity to share his story has helped get the word out about his fiancee and the incredible medical bills that are mounting.

Since his exit from A.I he has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Live with Regis and Kelly, Good Morning America, and On-Air with Ryan Seacrest.

In fact, the day after he was eliminated he released a single on iTunes called “What are words” that has sold over 75,000 copies to date. The song is about his relationship with Juliana and the emotions that erupt with these types of brain injuries.

Even though the producers of American Idol seem to be missing in action, host Ryan Seacrest has done something for the young couple.

In a radio interview with Chris, Ryan announced $35,000 worth of donations for his Juliana’s medical bills. It brought the singer to tears and is really a touching video – it even had actor Topher Grace entering the studio early to say he would match the donation for a total of $70,000.

Watch Ryan Seacrest Radio interview with Chris Medina


Medina’s latest video for his single “What are words” is very touching and we can see why he made it into the American Idol top 40. He really does have a great voice.

Watch Chris Medina Music Video “What are words”


Hopefully, American Idol will get wind of all the press about this and offer Chris and Juliana a front row seat next week during the final show of the season.

So, was American Idol just using Chris Medina for ratings?

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Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony to Divorce

Rumors are flying that Jennifer Lopez is about to give Marc Anthony his walking papers and will file for divorce very soon. Why? Well, she already got what she wanted: two babies. And you have to admit that ever since Jennifer Lopez has been with Marc Anthony, her career has been consistently greeting the crapper.

And of course, we all know that when the going gets tough, the celebrities call in their PR people to take care of everything, and Jennifer Lopez is no different. This will make divorce number 3 for Jennifer Lopez.. and counting.

Jennifer Lopez was spotted at a movie premiere without her wedding ring on, and you know she didn't just "forget it." When a celebrity doesn't wear their wedding ring, it is a calculated move, so yeah, Jennifer Lopez is hoping that this divorce will revive what's left of her career.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez Vital Stats
Birth Name: Jennifer Lynn Lopez
Birth Date: July 24, 1970
Birth Place: Bronx, New York
Height: 5’6”
Romantic Link: Marc Anthony

Jennifer Lopez Interesting Facts
Jennifer Lopez took singing and dancing lessons from age 5.

Jennifer Lopez is the first singer to have a music album (J.Lo) and a movie (The Wedding Planer) hit No. 1 in the same week.


Jennifer Lopez Biography
Born on July 24, 1970, and raised in Bronx, New York, with her sisters Leslie and Lynda, Jennifer Lopez knew she was destined for fame at an early age.

With the encouragement of her schoolteacher mother Guadalupe and her computer operator father David, Jennifer set off on her path to stardom when she was only 7 years old. Off to a good start, Jennifer and her dance school classmates went on a tour of New York.

Jennifer Lopez in In Living Color

By the time she was 16, Jennifer got a bit part in the film My Little Girl, which starred Mary Stuart Masterson.

When Jennifer was 19, she heard about a dance scholarship being offered in Manhattan and decided to drop out of Baruch College after only one semester, and began taking full-time dance courses, working in a legal office and dancing in nightclubs in Manhattan in the evenings.

Jennifer’s first dance gigs included rap videos, and she even landed a spot as a dancer at the American Music Awards. But it wasn’t until after she was rejected twice that Jennifer was accepted as a “Fly Girl” dancer on the hit comedy skit show In Living Color.

Jennifer Lopez dances for Janet Jackson

After a couple of seasons with In Living Color, Jennifer landed a role as one of Janet Jackson’s dancers and even appeared in the video “That’s The Way Love Goes” in 1993.

But while Jennifer was contracted to go on tour with Janet and her crew, she asked if she could be let off of her contractual obligations so that she could pursue a career in acting. Janet’s people took no issue with it and Jennifer was off and running to pursue her dream.

After a few TV gigs, none of which were long-lived, Jennifer finally got her big movie role when she starred opposite Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson in 1995’s Money Train.

While Jennifer’s role was a significant one, most people did not take notice of the Puerto Rican beauty, nor did they when she landed a part opposite Robin Williams in 1996’s Jack. It wasn’t until she played a famous singer that the public would take notice of Miss Lopez.

Jennifer Lopez becomes Selena

In 1997, Jennifer played slain Tejano singer Selena, in the movie of the same name, and Jennifer Lopez finally became a household name. That same year, Jennifer also starred in Anaconda, U Turn and Blood and Wine, but those film roles paled in comparison.

It was also in 1997, that Jennifer married waiter and model Ojani Noa; the two divorced only eight months later.

In 1998, Jennifer had begun dating Diddy and starred opposite George Clooney in the very sexy film, Out of Sight; the film was praised by critics and audiences alike, and it became clear that Jennifer was becoming box office gold.

Lopez releases On the 6

But acting would not be the only talent that Jennifer possessed; by 1999, Lopez released her debut album, On the 6, and it wasn’t long before it hit triple-platinum status.

In 2000, Jennifer opted to star in a darker film called The Cell, in which her character would go into a comatose state in order to get into the mind of a serial killer. The movie would not be well-received by audiences, but critics praised the creativity of the film.

Lopez is the Wedding Planner

In 2001, after a highly publicized break up from Diddy, Jennifer Lopez made history when she was the first ever Hollywood star to have a film and album debut at No. 1 in the same week. Her movie, The Wedding Planner, with costar Matthew McConnaughey, was tops at the box office, and her sophomore album J.Lo, was at the top of the Billboard charts.

Although her next film that year, Angel Eyes, would not do as well, Jennifer’s album was certified four times platinum and the nickname J.Lo would become a mainstay.

Lopez becomes Bennifer

Only seven months after her break up from Diddy, Jennifer married backup dancer Cris Judd in September 2001. Her second marriage ended after only 10 months.

In 2002, while Jennifer was busy releasing Maid in Manhattan, she met and began dating her Gigli co-star, Ben Affleck, and the two would adopt the name Bennifer, and become the most talked about celebrity couple in the media.

Jennifer released her fourth album, This Is Me… Then, which was certified two times platinum and her first hit single, “Jenny From the Block,” featured a slick-haired Ben Affleck.

By November of that year, the two had become engaged, but their wedding would never come to fruition and they broke up by January 2004. By that time, Gigli had come and gone (it was released in 2003), and was panned by critics and the four people who opted to see it.

Lopez marries Marc Anthony

By June 2004, Jennifer was married to singer Marc Anthony, and began shying away from the media spotlight.

In 2005, Jennifer released her fifth album, Rebirth, without much fanfare, although it was certified platinum. That same year, Jennifer also starred in Monster-in-Law, alongside Jane Fonda, and An Unfinished Life with Robert Redford.

Jennifer Lopez in Bordertown

By the time 2006 rolled around, Jennifer had all but faded from the spotlight. She took on a less big-budget role in the film El Cantante, in which she stars alongside her husband and is credited as producer, and remained low-key, appearing with her husband wherever she went.

In 2007, starred in Bordertown with Robert Redford, and Bridge and Tunnel, and released her first all-Spanish album, Como Ama Una Mujer, perhaps due to the influence of her husband.

After sales of her Spanish album tanked, Lopez released Brave also in 2007, and headlined a tour with her husband. And although the couple denies that they are are pregnant with their first child, Lopez’s baby bump is growing by the day.

Resource:
IMDb.com - Jennifer Lopez