
Paula Abdul has demanded $20 million from American Idol bosses to remain on the judging panel of the hit FOX singing competition, according to RadarOnline.com.
The 47 year old is in negotiations with TV executives to resume her place alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi on the series for the 2010 season, but has reached an impasse with the series’ producers, who have reportedly countered Paula’s demands with an offer of $10 million.
A source close to Abdul claims that she is upset that Idol host Ryan Seacrest signed a deal worth $45 million, making him the highest paid TV presenter in history.
The “Straight Up” singer’s $5 million-a-year contract expires next month; last weekend, her manager told The Los Angeles Times, “It does not appear that she’s going to be back” — a statement seen by some as a negotiating tactic.
A movement to “Kepp Paula” on American Idol is sweeping through social networking websites like Twitter.com.

American Idol’s Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest hope co-starPaula Abdul will return to the television talent competition, despite a recent public statement from her manager declaring it “unlikely” that the quirky showbiz vet will take her place at the judge’s table when the show kicks off its ninth season on FOX next January. Read the rest of this entry »

Are Paula’s Idol days done?
Paula Abdul may not return to American Idol for a ninth season, the star’s new manager claimed in a new interview with The Los Angeles Times. Read the rest of this entry »

Openly-gay American Idol Adam Lambert was targeted by anti-gay demonstrators outside an American Idol concert in San Jose, California on Sunday. Read the rest of this entry »

American Idol champion Kris Allen has been forced to pull out of a scheduled appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien this Wednesday following the death of his grandmother.
“I know I was supposed to do conan on wed, but there was a death in my family,” Kris announced on his Twitter Monday.
The Arkansas native, who is currently hitting arenas across the country as part of the 2009 Idols Live Tour, will be replaced by Idol runner-up Allison Iraheta.
Allison “is filling in,” Kris Tweeted. “And by filling in I mean [Allison] is gonna rock Conan’s face off on Wednesday.”

Ryan Seacrest is Fox’s $45 Million Man, thanks to a new contract which is believed to be the most lucrative ever for a reality host.
The American Idol host has closed a major new three-year deal with CKX, parent of Idol producer 19 Entertainment, worth $15 million per year, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
“I’m truly appreciative of being part of a show that has had such an enormous impact on popular culture across all ages,” Ryan said in a statement released Monday. “I look forward to expanding the relationship with Simon Fuller and Bob Sillerman who share the same visionary approach to entertainment media that I strive for with every project.”

Kara DioGuardi is a newlywed!
American Idol’s newest sharp-tongued critic married general contractor Mike McCuddy in a sunny afternoon ceremony at United Methodist Church in Prospect Harbor, Maine on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Grammy-nomited producer-singer-songwriter walked down the aisle in a strapless, mermaid-style Vera Wang confection in the company of nearly 30 friends and family members, InTouch Weekly reports.
“They are absolutely in love with each other,” says Pastor Scott Nurse, Sr., who married the couple. “When I told him he could kiss the bride, everybody cheered. It was a very close, small family-type service.”
Kara’s fellow American Idol judges were absent from yesterday’s ceremony.

Don’t look now, Oprah, but Simon’s gaining on you…..
Simon Cowell, who reportedly made $36 million for judging television’s hit singing competition, American Idol, has been offered between $100 million and $144 million per year by co-producers FOX and 19 Entertainment to stay with the show when his contract expires next May, according to London’s The Guardian.

Vampy glam rocker Adam Lambert is a total “Twihard,” a pal of the American Idol glam rocker blabs in the June 29 issue of Star.
Adam’s friends say the trendsetting entertainer is a huge fan of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga film franchise.
“Adam owns multiple copies of the Twilight DVD. He keeps one at home, one with his laptop, and one at his parents’ house.”
And when he’s not watching the fangtastic vampire epic, he’s reenacting it.
Star writes: Adam and his boyfriend Drake LaBry, were overheard reciting lines from the film to each other while vacationing at the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara.

Danny Gokey is hanging up his mic and lacing up his dancing shoes.
The spectacled second runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol — whose dance moves were critically-panned by the Idol judges — will join the cast on the upcoming ninth season of the ABC ballroom reality show Dancing With The Stars, The National Enquirer has learned. Read the rest of this entry »