Originally posted Friday, June 14, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

Former Snellvillian Diana DeGarmo and her husband Ace Young will go on the road next year to star in a national production of the 2013 Broadway hit "First Date."

The play follows Aaron (Young) and Casey (DeGarmo) as their blind date unfolds in real time.

The couple bonded during a Broadway production of “Hair” in 2010 and their common experience on “Idol.” (She was runner up season three; he finished seventh season five.)

Young, now 38, proposed to now 31-year-old Dearmo during the 2012 season 11 finale of “American Idol.”

They have been together ever since.

More details here.

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"American Idol" contestant Alejandro Aranda gave one of the best auditions ever, according to the judges.
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"Idol" runner-up Alejandro Aranda has set up tour dates since there is no "Idol" tour.

  • July 8 – Washington, D.C. at DC9
  • July 9 – Brooklyn, NY at Baby's All Right
  • July 10 –Boston, MA at Sonia's Nightclub
  • July 11 – Chicago, Il at Subterranean
  • July 13 – San Francisco, CA at Swedish American Hall

He is also performing a free concert in Nashville July 3 at Ascend Amphitheater to coincide with a Gold Cup semifinal soccer match that evening.

Also, the top 10 will perform July 20 for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Mentor Bobby Bones will be there, too.

And "Idol" winner Laine Hardy will perform on the annual  PBS special "A Capitol Fourth." Suwanee's Angelica Hale of "AGT" fame will sing as well.

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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10:  Deanna Daughtry (L) and recording artist Chris Daughtry attend Amazon's Golden Globe Awards Celebration at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.  (Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Amazon Studios)

Credit: Rachel Murray

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Credit: Rachel Murray

Chris Daughtry's wife Deanna of 18 years has come out as bisexual and she allowed him to use her poem to write a song about it. It's called "As You Are." Read about it in People.

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Tyler Butler-Figueroa, 11, made a splash on "America's Got Talent" this past week with his violin rendition of Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger."

He was bullied in North Carolina by ignorant classmates after being diagnosed with leukemia. Some kids thought cancer was contagious. He ended up being drawn to the violin.

Tyler ultimately won a Golden Buzzer straight to the live shows from the man who helped Clarkson win "Idol" 17 years ago: Simon Cowell.

Kelly, of course, loved it, too:

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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07:  Singer Blake Lewis attends FOX's "American Idol" Finale For The Farewell Season at Dolby Theatre on April 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California.  (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez

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Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez

A CW non-competition talent show featuring many alums of past talent shows called "The Big Stage" is airing on Friday nights at 9 p.m. Blake Lewis, runner up from season six, will perform on my birthday, June 21. Others scheduled to perform: season five third place finisher Elliott Yamin June 28, season 6's 12th place finisher Brandon Rogers and previously mentioned DeGarmo on June 14.

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And I totally missed a concert at Venkman's in Atlanta, which happened June 13, featuring top 4 finisher Cade Foehner from "American Idol" season 16.

ajc.com
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Chart update

Danny Gokey, Christian AC #4 “Haven’t Seen It Yet”

Kelly Clarkson, Hot AC #13 “Broken & Beautiful”

Maddie Poppe, Hot AC #27 “Made You Miss”

Fantasia, Urban AC #15 “Enough”

Carrie Underwood, Country #26 “Southbound”

Carrie’s newest video for “Southbound”: