American Idol

Season 7 American Idol winner David Cook

DAVID COOK DEBUT RELEASE SET
He may be having The Time of His Life, but there’s no question David Cook is ready for his first full-length release. The latest singer to be crowned American Idol, Cook is set to release his debut album November 18 on 19 Recordings/RCA Records. The first single, Light On, will be available on iTunes beginning Sept. 30.

Light On was co-written by Chris Cornell, lead singer/songwriter for megabands Soundgarden and Audioslave, and Brian Howes, a well-known producer and songwriter. Keep up with the latest David Cook news at his now-live Web site, www.davidcookofficial.com.

CHRIS DAUGHTRY TURNS BACK TO TV
Season 5 American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry may be leaving his reality days in the past, but he’s certainly not done with television appearances. It recently was announced Daughtry would appear as a guest star on an upcoming episode of CSI: NY.

The 28-year-old is expected to first appear in the show’s 100th episode as a character named Machiavelli Taylor, according to reports. With Katharine McPhee taking on the big screen recently in House Bunny — not to mention an Oscar winner and dozens of Broadway gigs among other past finalists — Idol no longer can be seen only as a chance to become the next big pop star.

NEW ‘IDOL’ JUDGE IS ‘PRETTY HONEST’
Judge No. 4, Kara DioGuardi, has been spending some time in the judging chair at Season 8 auditions in New York, Jacksonville, Louisville and San Francisco. The newest judge to join the Idol panel talked to the New York Post about her new job and finding her spot on judges row.

“I just know I’m getting my groove, loosening up and forgetting about the big elephant in the room,” she told the Post. “The first few cities I was like, ‘Oh my God, the camera is on me’, it was a little strange. … But I’m starting to let my true self come out. You forget about the camera and start being you. And that’s been fun for me.”

In the end, DioGuardi said she has been trying to be “pretty honest” in her opinions and comments to Season 8 hopefuls.