American Idol producers announced yesterday that they have decided to lower the minimum age for contestants from 16 to 15.
If in the past nine years they want 16 year olds to start auditioning, they now admit 15 year olds.
“A lot of young, talented people are now seeking careers and representation before they turn 16,” said executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz.
Justin Bieber was spotted catching a flight at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (June 21) .
JB looked to be in good spirits as he made his way through the terminal and went into the security checkpoint.
Last night, Justin was one of the big winners; International Video of the Year by a Canadian, UR Fave Video, and UR Fave New Artist. at the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto at MuchMusic World Headquarters.
Justin Bieber would be nowhere without his mother, Pattie Mallette: She posted the now-infamous videos of him on YouTube, relocated to Atlanta with him so he could launch his recording career and keeps him grounded with chores and a curfew.
But in honor of Father’s Day, it’s time to pay tribute to the man behind the boy: Jeremy Bieber.
Though Justin was raised by his mom in Stratford, Ontario, his father, Jeremy Bieber has always been a part of his life. “I have a great relationship with my dad,” JB told Seventeen. “When I was younger, he taught me how to play some songs on the guitar, like ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ by Bob Dylan.”
While Mallette, 36, turned Justin on to Boyz II Men, Jeremy, 37, exposed him to harder-rocking groups – and has since helped him with an important rite of passage.
“He’s the one who got me into classic rock and then turned me on to stuff like Guns N’ Roses and Metallica,” Justin told the magazine. “He taught me how to drive too. He’s cool.”
So what else is there to know about the man who calls himself Lord Bieber on Twitter?
Jeremy lives in Canada, where he is married and has two younger children, Jazmyn and Jaxon. According to his Tweets, he thinks Dumb and Dumber “has to be the greatest movie of all time” and will “never get sick of” Seinfeld.
Meanwhile, on a personal Web site he created seven years ago, Jeremy revealed he reads The Sword of Truth fantasy novels and loves to play the card game Spades. But that’s not all: “I love the outdoors. I follow and play a variety of sports. I love camping and boating, but most of all, I love to travel.”
Justin Bieber was spotted touching down in Toronto, Canada on Saturday (June 19) for the Much Music Video Awards.
Looking sporty in his Adidas tracksuit, JB waved to his fans as he trekked through the Pearson International Airport.
Bieber has also announced plans to join Cameron Diaz, Robert Redford, Kathy Griffin and Sting for a Gulf Aid Telethon.
Airing on Monday night (June 21) at 8PM EDT, all of the big name star will be sitting down with Larry King for interviews and taking viewers calls and donations at the phone banks.
Are the Jonas Brothers getting too old for the entertainment industry? Research at the Disney Channel, uncovered by The Daily Beast, says that Nick, Joe, and Kevin are taking a hit in album sales and ratings for their Disney show, “JONAS.”
Billboard editor Ann Donahue says: “I think it’s something of a changing of the guard in terms of a teen pop crush, Justin Bieber is definitely the next new thing and is overshadowing the Jonas Brothers.”
The Disney research says that 8 and 9 year old girls still love the Jonas Brothers, but 9 and 10 year old girls are embarrassed to talk about them.
While Bieber might have Usher (and Twitter) behind him, the JoBros have the Disney marketing machine on their side. When the newly revamped version of their show – now called “JONAS LA” hits screens on June 20, Disney execs hope that the Jonas Brothers will become cool again.
Hmm. Don’t hold your breath, Mickey Mouse. “The Jonas Brothers aren’t ‘in’ as much anymore,” one young girl told Disney.
Another said, “I became less of a fan when ‘Twilight’ came out, and now I’m more into Taylor Lautner.”
Music video by Justin Bieber ft. Usher performing Somebody To Love Remix.