WASHINGTON (AP) – It’s the ladies’ turn for Hollywood Week for “American Idol.” Last week the guys competed. Contestants Maddie Assel (uh-SEL’) says she’s looking forward to it and dreading it. She says Hollywood Week is known for testing limits and she predicts she’ll lose her voice. However, she says the people she’ll meet will be “life-changing.”
NEW YORK (AP) — This year’s Grammy ratings were good — but down from last year. The Nielsen figures show more than 28 million people watched the awards show Sunday night on CBS.
That’s the second-largest audience for the Grammys since 1993. But it’s way down from last year, when just under 40 million people tuned in for the awards.
Last year’s Grammys came just after Whitney Houston’s death. The awards were dominated by Adele that year, who won six Grammys.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Justin Timberlake was busy Sunday night. After performing at the Grammy Awards, Timberlake did a 90-minute set at the Hollywood Palladium. Timberlake did familiar hits as well as new material from his upcoming album. Like at the Grammys, Jay-Z joined in for “Suit & Tie.” Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, Neil Patrick Harris, Timbaland and Lance Bass were in the crowd for the after-Grammy show. Timberlake’s new album, “The 20/20 Experience” is out March 19.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gotye says Kimbra is what made “Somebody That I Used To Know” come together. He says he searched for six months before finding Kimbra as his guest vocalist.
The song won Record of the Year at the Grammys. Kimbra says what she loved about the song was that it was raw emotion with no beating around the bush. Gotye says he sometimes feels self-conscious about the attention that song got.
He says it’s a song about confusion and negativity but some have turned it into an anthem. “Somebody That I Used To Know” also won the Grammy for pop/duo performance, and Gotye won the alternative album Grammy.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fun. weren’t sure they won the song of the year Grammy for “We Are Young.” Guitarist Jack Antonoff says they heard “we are” and still figured it was Taylor Swift for “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”
Fun. also won best new artist. Singer Nate Ruess says they’re trying to play it cool but he knows they’ll end up in each other’s rooms pinching each other, wondering if it all really happened.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Fun. weren’t sure they won the song of the year Grammy for “We Are Young.” Guitarist Jack Antonoff says they heard “we are” and still figured it was Taylor Swift for “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Fun. also won best new artist. Singer Nate Ruess says they’re trying to play it cool but he knows they’ll end up in each other’s rooms pinching each other, wondering if it all really happened.
Mumford and Sons didn’t think they’d win the Album of the Year Grammy. Marcus Mumford says The Black Keys had been winning all day so he figured it was going to continue. Mumford and Sons’ “Babel” (beat out The Black Keys’ “El Camino.” The Black Keys won Grammys for rock performance, rock song and rock album, and singer Dan Auerbach won producer of the year.
Gotye says Kimbra is what made “Somebody That I Used To Know” come together. He says he searched for six months before finding Kimbra as his guest vocalist. The song won Record of the Year at the Grammys. Kimbra says what she loved about the song was that it was raw emotion with no beating around the bush. Gotye says he sometimes feels self-conscious about the attention that song got. He says it’s a song about confusion and negativity but some have turned it into an anthem. “Somebody That I Used To Know” also won the Grammy for pop/duo performance, and Gotye won the alternative album Grammy.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — There’s no clear favorite for Sunday’s Grammys. Six artists lead the nominations: Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, fun., Jay-Z, Mumford and Sons, Frank Ocean and Kanye West.
The Black Keys, fun., Mumford and Sons, Ocean and Jack White are up for album of the year. Fun. are also nominated for record and song of the year and best new artist.
If they sweep the four big categories, they’d be only the second artist to do that, after Christopher Cross.
NEW YORK (AP) – Justin Bieber has achieved a milestone with his latest album, “Believe Acoustic.” It’s the first time an artist has hit number one on the Billboard album chart five times before the age of 19.
“Believe Acoustic” sold 211,000 copies its first week out, putting it on top of the list. Bieber is also one of only nine acts who have had a number-one album in four consecutive years.
NEW YORK (AP) — Carly Rae Jepsen’s idea of the Grammys was putting on her pajamas, making popcorn and deciding whose dress she liked the best.
Now she’s the one who has to pick out a dress. Jepsen is up for song of the year and best pop vocal performance for “Call Me Maybe.” Jepsen says when she recorded that song, her “little, mini secret goal” was to get it in the top 10 at iTunes.
Instead it sold more than 6.7 million tracks in the U.S. alone.
HOLLYWOOD (AP) – What contestants have said is the toughest week on “American Idol” starts tonight. It’s Hollywood Week.
For the first time, guys will compete against guys and girls will be up against girls. Guys are up first tonight and tomorrow. The girls will compete in the two episodes airing next week.
By the end of the episode airing on Valentine’s Day, 20 guys and 20 girls will move on to the semi-final round.
