‘American Idol’ notes: Macon auditions, Simon Cowell, Adam Lambert, Kelly Clarkson, Katharine McPhee

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Originally posted Friday, August 16, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

The “American Idol” bus tour arrives in Macon on August 23 for contestants for season 18 and season 3 for ABC. It will be at the Macon City Auditorium.

You must be a legal U.S. resident and between 15 and 28 years old to audition.

Note: the judges and Ryan Seacrest will not be there. These are the opening rounds and most everyone will be quickly eliminated. Have at least two songs ready to go because the initial producer might ask you to do something else. And feel free to bring instruments.

Two years ago, “Idol” came to Piedmont Park and last year, they held a last-second open call at Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 06: (L-R) Singer Adam Lambert, guitarist Brian May, and drummer Roger Taylor of Queen + Adam Lambert perform at Madison Square Garden on August 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Credit: Mike Coppola

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Credit: Mike Coppola

Adam Lambert, who is coming to State Farm Arena in six days with Queen, has released info about his upcoming "Velvet Side A" EP featuring six songs.

Side B will come out later.

“Superpower” is coming out September 4. In recent months, he has released “Feel Something,” “New Eyes” and “Comin’ in Hot.”

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Kelly Clarkson's talk show is three weeks away. She provided a tour of her studio on Instagram.

“I have a show,” she said, pointing to the purple neon sign lit up with the title and joking, “They ran out of everyone [else] to ask. … Hope I don’t suck!”

In Atlanta, she will be on at 2 a.m. on WSB-TV, not exactly prime time.

In many markets, she will be on before “Ellen.” Thus, this promo:

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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: Simon Cowell attends "America's Got Talent" Season 14 Live Show at Dolby Theatre on August 13, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Credit: Frazer Harrison

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Credit: Frazer Harrison

During a red carpet "America's Got Talent," Simon Cowell was asked about Ryan Seacrest possibly leaving "American Idol." He gave a not surprising answer posted by Us magazine: "I have no idea. I haven't seen the show in so many years, I honestly couldn't tell you."

He has also lost 20 pounds and looks healthier since going vegan.

He told Access Hollywood that "You feel better. My memory's better, I feel better, so I didn't find it difficult. I can still drink beer, so I'm happy."

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Tamyra Gray arrives at the "American Idol" farewell season finale at the Dolby Theatre on Thursday, April 7, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP)

Credit: John Salangsang

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Credit: John Salangsang


Season 1's Tamyra Gray will join the North American tour of the Tony-winning revival of "Once on This Island." It hits 25 cities (not Atlanta) from October through June of next year.

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BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MAY 19: Katharine McPhee (L) and David Foster arrive at the American Icon Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 19, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Credit: Kevin Winter

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Credit: Kevin Winter

Katharine McPhee is unapologetic about the 34-year age difference with her hubby David Foster.

According to Page Six of the New York Post, McPhee performed on an LGBTQ cruise to Provincetown, Mass., and Foster joined her onstage. "I don't know if you noticed or not, but there's a bit of an age difference between the two of us," he told the crowd. "But on this cruise, nobody gives a s***." At one show, McPhee added a "Go f*** yourself."  a source said.

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David Cook recently sang for a couple who met on "Bachelor in Paradise" and got hitched. He covered "Ever the Same" by Rob Thomas. (He was also at City Winery Atlanta August 7.)

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 14:  (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Caleb Lee Hutchinson attends the 52nd annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 14, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee.  (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Credit: Jason Kempin

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Credit: Jason Kempin

Dallas GA resident and season 16 runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson will be performing at Athens' Georgia Theatre August 30. Tickets are $10-12 for the show, which begins at 8:30 p.m.

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Jasmine Trias, season 3 third place finisher, is still performing in the Phillipines. Here she is covering "A Moment Like This" with KZ Tandingan.

Fifteen years later, the now 32-year-old singer still wearing that flower in her head.

Chart update

Carrie Underwood “Southbound” 10-8, Mediabase country chart

Scotty McCreery “In Between” 43-30, country

Maddie Poppe “Made You Miss” 25-28, Hot AC

Fantasia “Enough” 2-2, Urban AC

Danny Gokey “Haven’t Seen It Yet” 2-3, Christian AC (peaked at No. 1)