By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Tuesday April 28, 2015
The power rankings haven't changed much lately, but somehow I have to keep Rayvon in it:
1. Clark Beckham. Last week, he took some chances that worked okay but it was not his best performances. Still, he did nothing to hurt his chances of winning. (1)
2. Nick Fradiani. He is doing a wonderful job picking songs that work for him. He's improving and may give Clark a run for his money in the finals. (3)
3. Jax. Brilliant "White Flag" after a sloppy "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" showed her versatility. She and Nick I think will be battling for that second spot. It's close. (2)
4. Tyanna Jones. I used to think she could win this but not anymore. She's good but she is too young to know exactly what she wants to be as an artist and that will ultimately cost her. (4)
5. Rayvon Owen. He keeps knocking people off. Could he do that with Tyanna? I am less than impressed with his artistic ability, not his vocals. The fact he is still here is surprising to me. (6)
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Clay Aiken - whose Esquire docuseries "The Runner Up" ends Tuesday night - spent an hour talking to Howard Stern Monday morning and escaped unscathed.
Aiken talked about his background growing up, "Idol," his finances (he's doing just fine), his political run and his love life (or lack thereof).
He said he grew up without a lot of friends. He said he was made fun of for being a nerd but can't recall homophobic slurs.
Aiken said he wasn't sure he was gay until he joined "Idol." He didn't come out to his mom until two years later.
He said Rosie O'Donnell encouraged Aiken to run. And after seeing a lesbian couple with special needs kids, he felt like he needed to change the political scene in North Carolina.
He didn't hold back about his Republican opponent Renee Ellmers, who beat him soundly last November.
"She's a bitch," he said. "She's an idiot."
He said he's willing to run again but not right now. "Within the next decade, I will again," he said.
"I'm not as dumb as people think I am," he added.
He hasn't dated anyone for 18 months. "The campaign was my priority," he said. He now splits time between New York and Raleigh. He isn't interested in Grinder. "I'm not as much of a whore as people think I am," he said.
He splits custody with his son, who spends time with him in the summer and goes to school on West Coast.
They also spent a lot of time over a pseudo-controversy I had forgotten about: when he was guesting on "Regis & Kelly" and he put his hand over her mouth to shut her up and she said, "I don't know where that hand was!" Aiken thinks that may have hurt his chances of getting a talk show.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Colton Dixon from season 11 has joined the first ever Fish Fest June 6 at Gwinnett Arena headlined by Third Day. Tickets here, prices ranging from $10.47 to $75. This is sponsored by Fish 104.7.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery will be performing at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Gainesville July 17 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $43.50 to the public, $41.50 for members.
The address:
1911 Sweetbay Drive
Gainesville, GA 30501
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