Latest news with #singingcompetition
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘American Idol' Runner-Up John Foster's Mother Reveals Unknown Facts About His Journey – And the Sacrifice His Sister Made
'American Idol' Runner-Up John Foster's Mother Reveals Unknown Facts About His Journey – And the Sacrifice His Sister Made originally appeared on Parade. John Foster, who finished as the runner-up for American Idol 2025, might not have made it to Hollywood Week without a little push on the part of Carrie Underwood to get her fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie to vote him through. And she was right to do so, considering how far he went in the competition. But what wasn't revealed on American Idol but was shared by John's mother, Amanda Benoit, during an emotional chat on the Unfiltered with Kevinpodcast, is that John had virtually auditioned for Idol back in 2021 during the COVID pandemic. 'He didn't make it past the open call that first time,' she recalled. 'But I'll never forget how excited I was. I left work early that day. We had everything set up, and my heart was pounding. I just had so much faith in him—even when he didn't quite believe in himself yet.' 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 John got a pass that first time around, but he didn't let that discourage him. He auditioned a second time the following year and made the producers cut, but was eliminated before going in front of the judges. According to Amanda, in those early auditions, John may not have had the confidence he needed, which changed when his local shows began selling out. Finally, in 2024, John was invited back once again and the rest, as they say, is history, with John charting with his original song 'Tell That Angel I Love Her,' which he wrote as a tribute to his late best friend Maggie Dunn, who was killed by a drunk driver on New Year's Eve 2022. Related: 'I think Maggie knew his potential before John Foster even did,' Amanda told Kevin. 'She believed in him and pushed him to go after this dream. She was his person. After she died, music became his therapy.' Amanda added that John carried Maggie with him for that performance. 'Every word of that song—she was there,' she said. Related: Also, always there for John was his sister, Elizabeth, who postponed her wedding in order to be in the Idol audience each week, cheering him on once the live shows began. 'She's been his number one cheerleader besides me,' Amanda continued. 'They're just two and a half years apart and incredibly close. She's like a second mom sometimes—always in his corner, telling him, 'You can do this.'' Next, 'American Idol' Runner-Up John Foster's Mother Reveals Unknown Facts About His Journey – And the Sacrifice His Sister Made first appeared on Parade on Jul 28, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Liam Payne sings with fans in new clip from 'Building the Band' prior to his death
Liam Payne's final major onscreen appearance in Netflix's "Building the Band" has aired. Payne served as a guest judge on the reality singing competition prior to his death in October last year. The former One Direction member tragically died at the age of 31 on Oct. 16, 2024, after falling from the third floor of his hotel in Argentina. His body was found in the hotel's inner courtyard, where he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to state police. While filming the reality competition show, Payne joined the audience between performances, singing and dancing along to the One Direction song "What Makes You Beautiful," according a video posted by Netflix on Tuesday to tease his appearance in the episodes. The clip captures that moment, showing the crowd singing along as the song plays during what appears to be production breaks. Payne is then seen standing up from his seat at the judge's panel, walking to the crowd, and singing offstage before high-fiving everyone and returning to the stage. Netflix also included a tribute at the beginning of the clip, which read, "In loving memory of Liam Payne." Liam Payne's girlfriend talks grief after his death, final days in Argentina and more Hosted by AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys, the show follows six bands as they work to perfect their sound and performances, with one band ultimately winning a $500,000 prize. The first set of episodes premiered in early July, and the final three episodes, including the finale, are now available to stream. Payne makes his first appearance in episode 7 of the show. Nicole Scherzinger mentors the bands and Kelly Rowland serves as a guest judge alongside Payne in the episode. The series also opens with a dedication to Payne and his family, with McLean paying tribute to the late singer in the first episode. "When we came together to film 'Building the Band,' we never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne," McLean says. "Liam is a guest judge in later episodes, and through his presence, we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. It's through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family." Season 1 of "Building the Band" is now available to stream on Netflix.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nicole Scherzinger Opens Up About Working With Liam Payne on ‘Building the Band': ‘This Was His Happy Place'
'I love doing things that break all the rules,' says Nicole Scherzinger with a smile during a sit-down interview with Billboard at Netflix's New York City office. 'It doesn't get any more real than having a band put themselves together without any record execs or labels telling them what they have to do, what they have to look like. That doesn't work anymore. That's the old formula.' Scherzinger is talking about Building the Band, a new singing competition that premieres on Netflix Wednesday (July 9) and finds her serving as a mentor and judge. An engrossing, potent cocktail of Love Is Blind and The X Factor, Building the Band tracks young singers from across the globe as they form their own groups without ever having met in real life: Contestants can hear each other's auditions and talk on the phone, but the first time they see each other is during their debut performance as a band. 'It was solely based off of music compatibility and chemistry and connection. Sight unseen,' says Scherzinger, who calls the show a 'social experiment' that worked out 'better than we could have imagined.' More from Billboard 'Building the Band' Pays Tribute to Liam Payne in Premiere Episode, Dedicates Series to His Family Hilltop Hoods Announce 2026 Australian Arena Tour Ahead of New Album Release Royel Otis Announce 2025 Arena Shows Across Australia With Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean playing host, Kelly Rowland and Liam Payne (filming completed prior to his tragic death last October) joined Scherzinger as guest judges, providing direction and feedback to six bands vying for the win. Scherzinger, who one month ago won the best actress in a musical Tony Award for her stunning work in Broadway's Sunset Blvd., is particularly qualified for a show like this. She's judged several singing competitions (The Sing-Off, The X Factor, The Masked Singer) and done the band thing, too – three times, in fact, as she points out to me: she led the Pussycat Dolls to massive success (four top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100); sang in the TV show-formed band Eden's Crush, who won Popstars USA in 2001 and notched one Hot 100 top 10 hit; and spent time in the rock band Days of the New (that one I was admittedly not aware of until she quizzed me). Beyond her own solo and group successes, Scherzinger also changed pop music history: She was the driving force behind putting Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson together as a group on The X Factor UK in 2010. In short: She knows a thing or two about raw talent and what will connect with a wider audience. Beyond resumes and vocal abilities, there's an ineffable quality she looks for in groups. '[You need] that natural chemistry. It just has to work organically because that's the only thing that's gonna move you, that's the only thing that's gonna make you care – give you the electric volts, I call them,' she says. 'There's too much stuff out there today – it's gotta be something amazing that knocks you out the park.' Fifteen years ago, Scherzinger felt those electric volts when One Direction formed. Despite the gut-wrenching loss of Payne, there's a palpable love and gratitude in her voice as she reflects on watching Payne pay it forward on Building the Band. 'I thought it was so beautiful to see the journey, to see Liam come full circle. Especially my relationship with him, having helped form the band One Direction and then see him have such wildly, phenomenal global success with One Direction and with his solo career … [to see him] mentor these bands, it was really beautiful,' Scherzinger shares. 'I saw the joy it brought to Liam. I felt that this was his happy place. Like myself, AJ and Kelly, we've lived this. We've learned it. To be able to bestow any inspiration and knowledge and wisdom and experience on any of these contestants and these bands, it brought us all joy. Particularly Liam. I felt this really inspired him and this was his happy place. This was his happy place because Liam was such a beautiful heart, and he loved to give back. He loved to help.' In his role on Building the Band, Payne is comfortable, friendly and naturally funny. 'He's with us in spirit,' Scherzinger says. 'I know how proud he was of this show and I know the joy that he got from doing this show. I feel like we are honoring him with this show, and that is such a beautiful thing. I'm so excited for people to see him in his highest light, giving back.' Building the Band is also a bit of a full circle moment for Scherzinger, who spent time in a reality show-based band before graduating to massive success with the Pussycat Dolls, one of the most commercially successful girl groups of all time. Looking back on 20 years since the band's debut album, PCD, Scherzinger offers some advice she might give to a younger version of herself: 'Be your authentic self and lead with your heart – and be sure you carry your balls with you.' Advising budding artists on Building the Band also made Scherzinger think about how the industry has changed for women and girl groups. 'When I was thinking of the Pussycat Dolls — and I'm so proud of the Pussycat Dolls — I'm thinking about, 'What would the Pussycat Dolls look like today?' The Pussycat Dolls would look like Lizzo; like Demi Lovato; like Billie Eilish. It's unconventional. It's not what you would think. For me, that's so important. Ten years ago, 20 years ago, being sexy was about being sexy for someone else. Now being sexy is about feeling sexy in your own skin, feeling strong about owning, embracing and loving and accepting yourself. It's called evolution. It's called times are a'changin'. It's about inclusivity. It's about accepting yourself and not trying to conform and be put in a box.' That inclusivity and artist-first focus fueled Scherzinger's approach to mentoring singers on this show. 'I want to see the best in people. How can I bring out the best in you, as a human and as an artist? Find the strengths and focus on the strengths. How can we encourage, how can we empower? And that's what we should do for anyone,' she concludes. 'Not only in Building the Band, but in life.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kelly Rowland Posts Behind-the-Scenes Snap from Her Role as a Coach on 'The Voice UK'
Kelly Rowland will appear as a coach on the upcoming season of The Voice UK Filming for season 14 of the British singing competition series is underway, but a premiere date is not currently known The Destiny's Child alum has previously appeared on several singing competition showsKelly Rowland is buzzing about her latest gig. On Monday, June 30, the 'Motivation' singer, 44, shared footage of herself on set as season 14 of The Voice UK's filming is underway. 'New gig, who dis…' she wrote over an Instagram Stories video of her walking past a row of empty coaches' chairs as crew members talked amongst themselves in the background. At the bottom of the clip, she tagged the long-running singing competition series. The Voice UK announced season 14's celebrity coaches at the start of the month in a June 3 social media post. 'Kelly… can you handle this? 😏,' the caption began, making a clever play at Destiny's Child's 2001 hit single, 'Bootylicious.' The post continued, 'Meet the Coaches newest recruit when The Voice UK returns ✌️.' Rowland's photo appeared in the announcement, along with a shot of Tom Jones, and Tom Fletcher & Danny Jones, also known as British pop stars McFly. All appeared in an Instagram Reels post that the Mea Culpa actress posted to her Instagram Stories on Monday. 'Have you heard the news?' was written over the video, which channeled a Mean Girls inspired whisper to the tune of Missy Elliott's 'Pass That Dutch' — the song famously associated with viewers learning all the juicy details about The Plastics. In the video Rowland shared, the McFlys whispered to each other, making surprised faces before sharing the news with a stunned Jones, who then told before he passed the information along to the 'Dilemma' star. The clip ended with her making a funny face before she smiled and walked off. The Voice UK isn't Rowland's first go at lending her expertise to a British singing competition — she also had a hand in putting Little Mix together on The X Factor UK. 'I just remember seeing all the ladies, and I don't know if it's because of my DC days and just feeling what that chemistry would feel like, but I knew what they felt like in my soul, and I felt like I knew what they would look like altogether and I went off my instincts, to be honest,' Rowland said in a November 2022 interview. Rowland has also appeared on The X Factor US, The X Factor UK Interactive, and The Voice AU. Additionally, Rowland will serve as a guest judge on Netflix's upcoming music competition series Building the Band. Contestants will have to come together to be bandmates without ever seeing one another. Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean will serve as the host while Tony winner and former Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger will serve as mentor and judge. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The series was filmed before Liam Payne's death in October at the age of 31, and he will appear posthumously as a judge. Prior to Payne's death, Rowland told PEOPLE he was "absolutely hilarious" during their time working on the show. "I didn't know how funny he was, so I'm getting to know him, and he is so cool," she said in August 2024. Building the Band premieres on Netflix on July 9. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Liam Payne Compares ‘Building the Band' Process to His One Direction Days in Netflix Trailer
Netflix dropped the trailer for singing competition 'Building the Band' on Tuesday, complete with a look at some of Liam Payne's notes for the contestants. 'I need to feel a connection between you guys,' the late One Direction singer says in the clip. 'How these bands are put together is not normal — we weren't put together that way.' Payne will be a guest judge on 'Building the Band' next month alongside Kelly Rowland, lead judge/mentor Nicole Scherzinger and host AJ McLean. The series will combine elements of 'Love Is Blind' and 'Making the Band' in order to give 50 singers the chance to craft their ideal musical groups … all without seeing each other face-to-face. Six groups will then battle it out onstage to see who wins. The participants would be smart to listen to Payne's advice, as he famously got his start when 'The X Factor' put him in 1D with Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik in 2010. It's worth noting that the late singer's family 'has reviewed the series and is supportive of his inclusion,' Netflix previously shared. Payne filmed the show prior to his death in October 2024. He was 31. ''Building the Band' brings together talented singers for a truly unique competition show where building the perfect band is all about chemistry. The singers are in complete control as they seek to form their very own bands in individual 'booths' without ever seeing each other. All they have to go on is musical compatibility, connection, chemistry and merit,' per show's the logline. 'What will happen when the bands finally meet, and looks, choreography and style come into play? With incredible performances, compelling drama and one big goal — to find the next great music band — the stage is set for an unforgettable experience.' Executive producers include Cat Lawson, Alison Holloway, Katrina Morrison, Clara Elliot and Simon Crossley, while Remarkable Entertainment and Banijay UK produced. The first four episodes of 'Building the Band' drop July 9 on Netflix, followed by two more batches of episodes the following two Wednesdays. The post Liam Payne Compares 'Building the Band' Process to His One Direction Days in Netflix Trailer appeared first on TheWrap.
