Melinda's Blog

Happy New Everything!

2011-12-31T18:03:00.000-08:00

Have you ever hit a point in life where you felt like everything was changing all at the same time? I mean everything: career, relationships, health, personality traits...everything. Well, that's where I am right now! First of all, any one of these things changing is normally a little stressful for me, but all of them? At the same time? I have to admit, I was stressed. Even knowing that all of this was changing for the better, it can be overwhelming. So, I spent some time to myself...just being alone...praying, singing, maybe even crying a little bit (I am a woman, you know!). Then I saw this quote. I've seen it so many times and I know it by heart, but something clicked in me the other day when I saw it in front of me.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

I realized in that moment...change was awesome! Change is needed. Change is necessary. So now...I've never been as excited for a new year as I am right now. I am charged and ready to take the bull by the horns. So what, everything is changing? I got this! This is how it should be. What an opportunity to have everything change at the same time! Sure, there's more responsibility and a ton more work to be done, but I know I'm capable. Is it scary sometimes? Heck yes! Do I ever want to go hide somewhere? Sure! Will I? Never!

I'm writing this blog just in case you might be dealing with the same kind of change. I just wanted to let you know you can do this! It's okay to be scared sometimes, but don't let it paralyze you. Keep moving towards the change you want to see. Make it work for you. I believe in you.

A couple things that are helping me along the way

My new favorite Bible verse: Hebrews 13:5b (Amplified version)

For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold on you)! Assuredly not!

And a quote that came to me the other day while I was being quiet:

Don't mistake my meekness for weakness. I AM STRONG. Or my tears for wavering. I AM UNMOVABLE. Or my quietness for fear. I AM FEARLESS.

So...here's what I want you to do. Keep me posted right here on how your new year is going and how you're embracing change! I can't wait to hear your awesome stories! Love you guys so much and I couldn't be more grateful to have you in my life!

Happy New Year! Happy New You! Happy New Everything!

Love,
Melinda

Early Christmas!

2011-12-10T13:17:00.000-08:00

I really need your help! I can't believe I'm saying this, because I've never been the kind of person who feels comfortable asking for anything. However, if I'm gonna get this job done, it'll take all of us working together. So here's what I need...

For the next two weeks, I need you guys to help me promote the living daylights out of my new Christmas single "God Bless Us Everyone." I know you guys have already been helping me spread the word, but I would love to do an extra huge push for Christmas! I've never been more excited about a song I've released! Regie Hamm was the perfect person to write with, Tre' Corley was the perfect producer and you guys were the perfect muse for the video! There are hundreds of radio stations already playing the song and that makes me ultra excited too! So, how do we get even more? Here are a few ideas...

Call any of your local radio stations that are playing Christmas music and request the song...if you don't hear it, keep calling!

Tell everyone you know (and some you don't know) about the song!

Write a review on iTunes and Amazon about what you think of it!

Watch AND share the video! (I promise to post an extra special victory dance if we can get the views to at least 10,000)

If we can ramp it up over the next two weeks, we will not only be getting the word out there, but we will also be setting ourselves up for next year! We want to make this song a Christmas staple!

Whew! Ok...I did it! I asked for your help! Thanks so much for all you've already done and thanks in advance for your help in the next two weeks! You guys are the most amazing group of supporters and I totally consider you my early Christmas gift!

Love you all,

xoxo Melinda

It's Christmas Time...

2011-11-30T11:37:00.001-08:00

I. absolutely. love. Christmas.

These are a few of my favorite things:

Christmas lights and trees
Fireplaces
Nativity scenes

Warm spicy drinks

Rainbow candy canes
Christmas movies
Onesies
Giddy children
Santa's knee

The Rockettes

Snowfall

Sweet Potato pie
Christmas songs (Have you gotten your copy of "God Bless Us Everyone" yet?) ;-)
Family and friends that are like family
The spirit of giving

I have so many more, but I want you to finish the list for me. What do you love about Christmas?

One word...WONDERFUL!

2011-11-06T15:03:00.000-08:00

I really don't have words to describe how amazing last night was! Not only did I get to share a stage with some of my favorite legends, I got to do this while honoring the Queen of Soul, Dr. Aretha Franklin! (She also received an honorary doctorate) I owe a HUGE thank you to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for offering me this opportunity and for making a dream come true. Here are some pics of the night since I can't find any more words. Plus, you can click here for even more behind the scenes photos!

The incomparable Queen of Soul!!!

Chaka Khan, Dennis Edwards (of the Temptations) and Mrs. Ronald Isley

Drummer Extraordinaire, Bernard Purdie

Dennis Edwards and Ron Isley

The Attorney General was there!!! Mr. Eric Holder

The sweetest lady in the world, Ms. Cissy Houston

WHAT A NIGHT!!!!

Merry Christmas Early!!!

2011-10-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year, so I’m really excited to be able to say I have a brand new Christmas single coming out November 1st!

On top of that, it will be my first original released to date! Those of you that have come to my shows this year have probably heard me sing “Do What it Do.” Well, I got together with that same writer, Regie Hamm, and wrote “God Bless Us Everyone” for Christmas. This song includes all the things I love about the holiday season and it has the classic feel that makes it all warm and fuzzy. :-) In fact, you may recognize the title as the line spoken by Tiny Tim (the little boy in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol - NOT the ukelele player)!

You can hear it right now on my website, so click here!

I know you’re going to love this song as much as I do, so Merry Christmas early!

Love, Melinda

Summer School!

2011-08-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

Just in case you didn't know, I have a really soft spot in my heart for kids! I love them because they think outside of the box, they're able to see past limitations and they're not afraid to DREAM BIG! Whenever I team up with an organization, it is normally because I see them enabling kids to live out their dreams.

Take Malaria No More (MNM), for instance. Every 45 seconds, a child under the age of 5 dies of malaria. That statistic is staggering, but MNM is working hard to eliminate those deaths by the year 2015! That means that these children get the chance to live their dreams. As soon as I heard that I could help and that it was easy (a bed net only costs $10), I was on board!

So, this summer, I hooked up with a few more organizations that are enabling kids to reach their dreams.

***First, I went to San Francisco for the NCCEP Gear Up Conference. Their main goals are to help improve public education, increase students' academic achievement levels, and increase low-income students' access to higher education. I got to meet 75 students that are benefiting from this program.

And since they were there, I brought them up on stage to be my backup dancers for my last song! They were absolutely amazing!

Thank you NCCEP for having me...and thanks for all you're doing to help kids everywhere live out their dreams.

***Then I went to an organization right here in Nashville, TN! Goodwill Summer Youth Program for low income or disabled high school students helps to provide the tools necessary to enter the workforce. The students will go on field trips, meet with guest speakers and take part in interactive activities designed to help them prepare for the world of work. I got a chance to go hang with the kids in this summer's program and do a question and answer session with them. They asked some tough questions, but I had a great time!

And of course, I had to take a silly pic too! :-)

***After Goodwill, I headed to Atlanta for Usher's New Look Foundation! Usher (yes, the singer) has an amazing program training youth in leadership. The training is based on four pillars...talent, education, career and service. The service pillar is connected with President Clinton's 2009 Global Initiative to keep youth Powered By Service. That's where I came in. I went on behalf of Malaria No More to talk to the kids about how they could get involved in serving others. The panel I was on was awesome!

From left to right we have Tommy (our youth moderator - he was amazing), Martin (marketing director for MNM), Flaviana (Tanzanian model), Me, Osas (Miss Black USA), Scott Wolf (actor - Party of Five, V) and Admiral Ziemer (head of the President's Malaria Initiative).

We had a great time and it was awesome to see youth get inspired to lead their country by serving!

Overall, I've had the best "summer school" session ever! The best part about it is, even though I'm going to share my story about dreaming big and giving back, these kids have taught me something too! Seeing the world through their eyes is nothing short of inspiring. The more amazing kids I meet, the more I am encouraged to keep dreaming bigger!

Maybe next year, we can make a pact to all participate in "summer school". Are you in? ;-)

American Idols Live!!!

2011-07-31T14:23:00.000-07:00

I had such an amazing time at the AI concert last night! The entire show was wonderful! Mad props to all of the performers for killing that stage! (yes, I just said "mad props")

First of all, I went to the show with Mandisa and she is the best concert companion in the world! We had so much fun dancing, screaming and being in awe of each of the singers!

So...here's my quick rundown...

I was ultra excited to see the band! Most of them were the guys that played on my season's tour, so it was like a reunion. They sure did not disappoint! They were such a highlight of the show for me. It's so wonderful to have a slamming band behind you when you're singing your heart out! Took pics with some of my favorite buddies from the band...

This is my boy Aaron Spears!!! Love his drumming so much!!! Plus, he's such an amazing big brother!

This is my boy Tim Stewart, a.k.a. guitarist extraordinaire!!! All I can say is WOW!

The rest of the band (Dave, Andy and Brandon) was amazing too! LOVE THEM!

I don't have pics of these wonderful people, but...

Thia was amazing! Her tone was gorgeous and she handled that stage like a pro. Loved her.

Paul was mesmerizing! His stage presence is just amazing! He had the audience up and jamming with him and I was sad when he finished.

Lauren looks like a little country baby doll on that stage and that girl sang with all she had. It was great to hear her open up and just sing! Her voice is absolutely beautiful!

Scotty owned every bit of that stage! I loved seeing him in his element. He is a bonafide country star. Can't wait to see what's next for him.

James is a showman...plain and simple! Wow! He really had the audience in the palm of his hand and then proceeded to melt the paint of the walls with his amazing voice! Loved it sooooo much!

Pia...WOW! That voice is just phenomenal! Every time she opened her mouth is was flawless and beautiful! I'm in awe of her singing and can't wait to hear an entire album of hers. We did take a picture and she posted it right here... http://www.whosay.com/piatoscano/photos/51719 She is such a sweet girl too and am definitely a fan!

Stefano nailed his performances! He sang his heart out and it was pretty flawless! This boy can sing and he's a sweetie! (And pretty cute)

Jacob can just flat out sing! His energy on stage was infectious! Mandisa and I couldn't help but get up on our feet and cheer him on! He's amazing!

Naima KILLED that stage! She is such a great performer! She gave it all she had and it was spectacular to watch!

Haley, Haley, Haley! What can I say??? This girl's voice is absolutely phenomenal! I don't think it has any limits! She just effortlessly wowed the entire audience. Loved meeting her! She's got spunk. I have no doubt that she's gonna fight her way to the top no matter what! Love it!

This boy right here made my night!!!! You guys know I love me some Casey, but after seeing him perform live, I am a lifelong fan! His performance skill and his voice were so amazing! At one point, I had to just stand there and shake my head in awe! He is a true artist and on top of all of that, he's an amazing person! He gives the best hugs in the world and he's such a sweetheart! Can you tell I loved meeting him? :-) He's so awesome, he gets two pics. Hehehe...

So I had a great night! If they are coming to your city, definitely go to the show. You won't be disappointed! :-)

I just couldn't resist...

2011-07-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

... and I swear it wasn't my fault!

Independence Day!

2011-07-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

I had the best 4th of July EVER! Well...the best 3rd and 4th of July.
I decided that in celebration of my independence, I was gonna try some new things...

On the 3rd, I went to my friend's house/retreat to hang out, shoot some fireworks and (believe it or not) roast my 1st S'more. I was in Heaven!!!! First of all, look at this house! This was our view from the amazing deck and fire pit in back.

My friend, Lisa Harper, lit the most amazing home fireworks display I have ever seen...seriously! Check out the grand finale.

Then...I roasted my first marshmallow and made my first S'more! OMG...I have been missing out! It was absolutely amazing! It may have helped that we had the world's largest marshmallows, though.

This is my friend, Kyle Cooksey, showing me how it's done.

This is me showing you how it's done. Hehehe...

So that was the 3rd. The 4th was amazing as well. I went to 3 different celebrations just cause I have really awesome friends! :-)

*The first party was with my family away from home. I got to hang with my little niece on her first 4th of July, and I also got to eat some of the best homemade chocolate ice cream in the entire world. Is now a good time to mention that it had little chunks of dark chocolate in it?!?! Amazing!

*The second party was with 1/3 of the fabulous morning crew at 92.9FM. Not only did I get to meet an adorable 15 month old girl just adopted from China, but I also got to hear a 10 year old play the living daylights out of the piano. On top of all of that, I met two amazing authors of Young Adult Fiction. Those are my favorite books to read! Don't laugh...I totally count as a young adult! (Now reading Hourglass by Myra McEntire)

*The third party was at the home of some of my favorite people, The Cooksey's. Kyle and Laura are not only amazing people, but amazing hosts. We ate, we laughed, we even sang! I can honestly say, it was the first time I have ever ridden in the back of a truck 8 deep to go see fireworks. It was also the first time I have watched fireworks with a truck full of singers...yes, we sang America the Beautiful in 4 part harmony during the finale. However, my favorite part of the evening came when we all got together around the piano and started singing songs from back in the day. We covered Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Walter Hawkins...you name it!

I will now leave you with our benediction of the night.

You have to see this video from my last show!!!

2011-07-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

Had a great time at my Nashville show last weekend! Went out to dance with an audience member and got two for the price of one...LOL!!! : )

It's IDOL Finale week - Duh Duh Duh (Ominous music lead in)...

2011-05-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

It’s finale week! Someone is about to be crowned the tenth American Idol!

In the past, we have had amazing breakout performances in the Top 2 performance night. Some of my favorites include - Adam Lambert’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Fantasia’s “Summertime,” Katharine McPhee’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree,” Clay Aiken’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and the list continues. So...I was expecting a lot from tonight.

Well, we didn’t get a huge moment from either contestant, but they were both solid all the way through. I think we have a really even match up and I’m very curious to see who takes home the crown.

Here are my thoughts on tonight’s performances…

Click HERE to read Melinda's song by song critique on HitFix.com!

AI Top 3 - Now this brings back memories...

2011-05-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

I love Top 3 night! These three contestants really gave it their all to make it to the finale, and I truly think they each have a chance.

Once again, I have no idea who is in danger of getting voted off. My Twitter feed is saying Haley is definitely in, and my Facebook page is saying Lauren is definitely in. I agree with both, but we've had more than one shocking elimination already this season and Scotty also had a great night. Hmmm...

I do have a confession to make, though. For some reason, I was easily distracted while watching the show tonight. So, I have now watched each performance twice so that I could make sure to give you my true critiques. I thought you might enjoy hearing some of my distractions though, so I have included them as side notes.

Let me know what you think of the show, my thoughts and even my distractions. I love hearing what you have to say! :-)

***Side note: This is the week I got voted off, so be nice. Hahaha!

...To read Melinda's song by song critiques, visit HitFix.com!

Constructive criticism is a good thing!

2011-05-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

I promise that I started off watching Idol in a good mood tonight.

I was excited about the contestants getting to do two songs and show different sides of their craft. Then the show started and my mood changed. It wasn’t the fault of the contestants, though. It was the judging panel that literally made me rewind my television to make sure I was listening to the same song they were critiquing. I’m fully aware that the sound in the studio is different from what we hear on our television, but it’s hard for me to believe that it’s the complete opposite of what we’re hearing.

So...I decided to write what I wish the judges would have said. Don’t get me wrong; all of the contestants are very talented. I’m just thinking about how constructive criticism has helped me in the long run. Here we go...

Click HERE to visit HitFix.com and see Melinda's song by song comments and see if you agree!

Love me some Carole King!!

2011-04-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

Carole King is my hero!

When you can write songs so well that anyone sounds good singing them, you automatically achieve hero status.

Wow! This was an amazing night on Idol. At this point, it's anybody's game. I loved the feedback that Jimmy Iovine and Babyface gave the contestants this week. I think they are really taking time to bring out the artistry (as Kara DioGuardi would say) in each contestant.

So here are my thoughts about each contestant tonight. I've put them in order from most favorite to least favorite. I even critiqued the duets. Well...most of them. :-) Let me know if you agree...

*** To see Melinda's comments on the Top 6, visit HitFix.com and join her Idol Fantasy League while you're there!

IDOL Rock & Roll HOF Week: A departure from niceties...

2011-04-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

I. MISS. SIMON.

Maybe it’s because I’m in a very punchy mood tonight, but I thought the judges were way too nice. So, in honor of Simon, I have written a brutally honest review with the help of my closest girlfriends. Enter at your own risk.

Jacob Lusk “Man In The Mirror”

I totally respected him for choosing a song he believed in, however, I was a little distracted by all of the hip thrusting in the Saturday Night Fever suit. Why does the man in the mirror have to be dressed in all white? Very cool to have Saidah Garrett there, but not sure their pitch matched up that well. Also, I believe skipping is hazardous to your vibrato. Not even gonna discuss the booty bump with Ryan at the end of the show.

Haley Reinhart “Piece of My Heart”

Loved the L.A.M.B. top and leggings...so cute! (Now, I’m being Paula.) I blame the judges for this one. No one can ever be Janis Joplin. She looked uncomfortable at the prospect of even trying to take it on. The only time she settled in was the last third of the song when she quit trying to be Janis and was just Haley.

Casey Abrams “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”

Loved the arrangement with the upright bass, although, I wouldn’t call it “revolutionary”. (Esperanza Spalding, anyone?) You know I love Casey’s tone, but he does need to be careful about chewing the ends of his phrases. Loved the part at the end when he took it high and cascaded down. This was one of the only times I agreed with the judges tonight. I’ll be sitting next to Jennifer Lopez on the front row of his concert.

...To see the rest of Melinda's individual performance comments, visit her blog on HitFix.com!

(And while you're there, sign up to compete against her in her American Idol Fantasy League!)

Top 24 - Let's Break it Down...

2011-03-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

BOYS vs. GIRLS

The girls win! I actually didn’t see this one coming. I really thought the boys had it, but it looks like the girls learned a lot from watching the guys the night before. They were able to see how the staging worked, how the judges reacted and how the audience reacted before ever stepping foot on the stage. It’s definitely a perk, and they took full advantage of it.

So, since we have to do rankings to play in Fantasy Idol, I thought I would briefly tell you what I thought of each performance this week. Let me know if you agree or disagree. I will start by saying, this is the hugest and saddest elimination ever! I can’t believe I have to pick only a Top 5 (maybe 6 or 7) boys and girls to make it through. It just doesn’t seem right, but here we go...

...To read Melinda's thoughts on each contestant go to HitFix.com and make sure to join Melinda's Fantasy Idol League while you're there!!

Oh, say can you....

2011-02-07T16:04:00.000-08:00

I've seen all kind of comments today about Christina Aguilera's National Anthem last night at the Super Bowl. Some of them were forgiving, most of them were not. Some were people I knew, some weren't. After reading all these comments, I thought I would let you in on my perspective.

The National Anthem is my favorite and least favorite song to sing. :-)

I love honoring our country, backing my favorite team (Go Titans!), hearing the crowd singing along...it's all really exciting and I feel so amazing when I get asked to sing it!

However, the range on the song is nuts...so starting in the right key is very important. Plus, I almost always second guess myself on the lyrics...even though I've been singing it for years. The "what so proudly we hailed" and "o'er the ramparts we watched" lines are the ones that get jumbled in my head sometimes. I can be all the way to "the land of the free" and still be wondering if I did it right.

So...that being said, I have all the sympathy in the world for Christina Aguilera. We all know the girl can saaaang! She's so talented and I've heard her do awesome versions of the anthem. I was impressed that she and Leah Michelle sang live. But not only did Christina sing live, she did it acapella. Normally, singers at the Super Bowl have some huge orchestral accompaniment that gives them an extra boost, but she just laid it all out there. Yes, she mixed up the lyrics, but it happens! It's just sad that it had to happen in front of all of us.

My last week on Idol, I sang two songs chosen by the executive producers and the judges, and then I sang I song I had already sung on the show...I'm a Woman. That was the only song I actually knew and I royally jacked up the lyrics! I can't even tell you what I sang...just jumbled up syllables. I was horrified. I couldn't believe I did that on a song I knew well with 30 million people watching. I cried when I got back to my apartment...

Then I think of the fact that Christina did that in front of 111 million! And you know that she immediately knew everyone was going to be talking about her. So, let me be one of the people that says, these things happen and I'm more impressed that she powered through it and didn't even let it show on her face that she messed up. That is a true professional.

For those that talked about all the runs she did....ummm...she's Christina Aguilera...what exactly were you expecting? Yes, she probably added a few more in the end, but it is human nature to try to compensate for a mistake and end big. My close friends know that when I mess up on a song, the first thing I do is belt out a big 'ol note to try to make the audience forget that ever happened. LOL! ;-)

Anyway, I just needed to get that off my chest. Thanks for letting me do that!

Love y'all and would love to hear what you think!

Melinda

You asked...(Part 1)

2011-01-31T07:51:00.000-08:00

So here are my answers to your first 20 questions. I'll post the rest next week. I wasn't sure if you guys could come up with that many questions I have never been answered, but you surprised me! There are a couple that I have been asked before, but I decided to answer them anyway. :-)

Love how creative you guys are! This was fun!

Melinda

Who was the last person you texted? My friend Damien Horne...amazing singer! You should totally look him up.

Butter or margarine? Margarine for food, butter for baking.

Have you been to an opera? I sure have. Don Giovanni is my favorite! I’ve seen it 3 times.

What's your favorite Disney movie? Cinderella with Whitney Houston, Brandy, Victor Garber, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters and the gorgeous Paolo Montalban!

What is the most valuable lesson God has taught you? Loving everybody...even the ones I don’t like. :-)

Your 1st car was? A Geo Prizm (can’t remember the year) Her name was Pipi.

K-LOVE is asking people to pick a word for the year...what would your word be? Marathon! I love that my life/career has been a marathon instead of a sprint. I want to make sure I continue not to rush into anything.

If zombies were taking over the world, what would be your weapon of choice? A gun! I need to be as far away from them as possible!

What was the most significant thing about your elementary school years? That’s when I fell in love with Jesus and Motown!

Will you marry me???!!! Can you cook? :-) (PS-I said ask me something I've never been asked before)

Do you have a boyfriend? (don't know if you have been asked that but I’m curious) Not at the moment. I’m very happily single!

Would you ever compete on Dancing with the Stars if asked? I have no idea! I think it would be fun, but I also may be terrified!

Your top ten neo soul albums? Any 5 by Jill Scott, India.Arie’s 4 albums and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Do you cook things in uneven numbers? Haha! It depends...3 and 5 are very acceptable cooking numbers for me though.

If someone wanted to choreograph a dance to one of your songs, which song would you pick for them and why? Hmmm...I would love to see a couple dance to “Wonderful”

Would you ever perform in Las Vegas at a casino? Most casinos have a theater and I would love to perform there.

Do you think you will ever record a Gospel/Christian CD? It’s not in the works as of now.

What was your favorite cartoon or/and TV show as a kid? The Cosby Show!

What is your favorite song to perform? Depends on the audience...

I would love to sing with you one day, what song could we sing together? The only duets I know are “If I Ain’t Got You” and “You’re All I Need to Get By”

That's it for now...let me know what you think!

Happy Holidays! Come take a 'Sleigh Ride' with me...

2010-12-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Everyone!

This is my favorite time of year and the perfect time to let you know just how much you mean to me. Without you, I wouldn't be able to do what I love every single day. Thank you for taking this journey with me!

I just finished a Holiday tour with the Boston Pops (YAY!) and couldn't think of a more wonderful way to ring in the holiday, so here's a special video just for you... A little silly, a little sassy, and a lot of fun!

Love you!

Melinda

Me and my Momager!

2010-11-24T16:21:00.000-08:00

My Mommy and I just got back from a trip to Singapore where she served as my 'honorary' road manager. :-) Here's our video recap...

Have a Happy and Yummy Thanksgiving!!

Love ya!

Melinda

My Birthday Wish!

2010-10-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

You guys have to watch this!

2010-08-25T17:31:00.000-07:00

You guys have to watch this! Andrew is one of my absolute favorites and he's only 17!!!

Love!

Melinda

What NOT to do at your American Idol Audition

2010-07-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

People always ask me for tips when it comes to auditioning for American Idol. There is obviously no perfect strategy for making it on the show, but there are a few things that are sure to ruin your chances...

If you are auditioning, please promise me you WON'T do these things...

1. Blend in with the crowd! Make sure you don’t do anything that sets you apart from everyone else. Don’t have an original sense of style or anything...just blend.

2. Start at the boring part of the song and hope to make it to the best part before they cut you off. I mean, what sense would it make to start at the good part and show them what you can do immediately?

3. Pick a song that has a total of 5 notes in it. There’a absolutely no need to show them you have range...you can show that once you get to the live show.

4. Do your entire audition with your eyes closed. Really, is there any reason to connect with them? They’re just judges.

5. Act like you’re above it all. Seriously, you don’t need American Idol...they need YOU. It’s a wonder they survived that last 9 seasons without you.

***If you have any more to add, comment below. :-)

***Also, if you audition, let me know how it goes.

Love ya!

Melinda

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

My book, BEYOND ME, comes out tomorrow!

2010-05-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

Exciting news, Guys!

My new book, Beyond Me, is releasing tomorrow!

Beyond Me talks about the behind the scenes of IDOL, but much more than that, it contains life lessons I've learned along the way:

• Overcoming obstacles
• Making the best of a situation
• Facing your fears
• Dealing with criticism
• Giving Back

... And, much more!

It has things my Mom taught me growing up in a single-parent household and funny stories about my life.

I hope you all get a chance to read it. Beyond Me is my journey poured into a book in the hopes that the things I've been through can help someone else along their way.

And best of all, if you purchase it from my website, MelindaDoolittle.com, you'll be making a donation to Malaria No More!

Click HERE to read some excerpts!

Love you!

Melinda

20 MORE questions...

2010-03-08T10:16:00.001-08:00

As promised, here are some more answers. I'm loving hearing your reactions and answers to some of these...keep 'em coming. :-)

*How many songs/items in your iTunes library?!
I just cleaned it out, so only 25,30o songs and 111 Apps...I like Apps.

*What's your favorite rock band?!
Aerosmith!!!!!!!!

*What is your favorite weird smell?
I love the smell of brussel sprouts

*What’s on your playlists or ipod as of late?
I’m learning about some new but absolutely amazing artists lately.
Foy Vance
Martin Sexton
B. Reith
David Ryan Harris
Esperanza Spalding
Jamie Lidell
Sam & Ruby

*Which is your favorite: sunrise or sunset? and favorite place to watch your favorite?
Sunset is my favorite. I’m not really a morning person. :-)
I like to watch the sunset from hotel windows...weird, huh?

*OK, here's one sure to stump you... What famous mansion is known as the home of Adelecia Aklen and where is it located?
LOL! Belmont Mansion!!!!

*How many pairs of shoes do you have in you closet?
Right now, since I’m out of town, I only have about 15...mostly tennis shoes.

*If you could sing a duet with a singer from the past who is no longer alive, who would it be?
Michael Jackson!

*If you could help teens for the future with singing, how would you do that?
I would point them to Janet Kenyon’s ProVox Workout DVD/CD. It’s the best way to get your voice in shape. You can find it on my website homepage. Then I would say don't be afraid to Dream Big...Ephesians 3:20!

*What church do you go to now? Born Again Church when I am in town. On Sundays when I’m out of town, which is most of them, I watch Keith Moore’s Faith Life Church service from Branson, MO online.

*Is there anything in the back seat of your car right now that would embarrass you?
LOL! The embarrassing part is that I’m so particular about my car that there is absolutely NOTHING in the back or the front. It’s abnormally clean.

*Have you ever done any fishing or camping. Basically, are you into outdoorsy kinds of stuff?
I’ve never been fishing. I’ve been camping a couple times. I like to hike in nature and see all the pretty things and then stay in a nice enclosed environment. :-) Although, I have recently found something called luxury camping online and I think I’m up for that. Hehehe...

*As a church organist, I'd like to know if you ever sang in church, and what's your favorite hymn/classical piece?
I did and still do! My favorite hymn is ‘My Tribute’

*When will Melinda record an album from the Great American Songbook?!?!
I would love to do a live recording with an orchestra...we shall see.

*It’s the weekend, you don’t feel like going out or cooking so you call for delivery. What kinda food do you order?
Jet’s Pizza!

*Work is done.. you're at home and it's time to unwind. How do you accomplish that?
Reality TV

*What kind of toothpaste do you use?!?!
Crest Whitening Expressions

*Over or under?
UNDER!!!!!

*Milk or juice?
Juice

*Favorite classical song to sing?
Anything by Brahms..Wie Melodien Zieht Es Mir is gorgeous!!!!!

Alright, there you go! 40 things about me you didn't know. Tell me something about you.

20 Questions

2010-03-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

I had so many great questions...so even though I said I would only answer 10, I chose 20. I should have another 20 ready for you tomorrow too!
You asked the questions, I answered the best I could. I would love to hear some of your answers to these too. So please leave me a comment.

*Which do you do first, wash your face or brush your teeth?
Wash my face! I’m normally eating up until the last minute. :-)

*Why don't you like lettuce?
Lettuce just gets in the way of all the stuff I like...strawberries, candied walnuts, mandarin oranges, chicken, dressing...

*What famous musical from the past would you star in, if you could?
The WIZ

*What is something about you that the backups don't know?
Wow! That’s a hard one. Ummm...I love Viva paper towels, they’re my favorite, but I only like the plain white ones. The ones with decorations make me think they’re dirty. Yes, I’m weird.

*What life would you like to have when you get to be an old lady?
The same one I have now...doing what I love...singing, traveling and being a part of things that make a difference.

*Have you ever sung opera before?
I studied classically for my first two years of college at the University of Tulsa and loved it!!!

*Do you have any advice to give to people who want to make it in the music industry?
My first piece of advice would be to have realistic expectations. Know the industry that you’re getting into. Study about the business of it all. Also keep perfecting your craft. Never stop wanting to get better. Last, but not least, always keep a good attitude. When doors do open for you, your attitude can either keep them open or make them slam in your face.

*Are you glad you were on American Idol?!
Of course!

*Who are you rooting for in American Idol Season 9?
I love, love, love Didi Benami!!!!! I also am head over heels for Alex Lambert! :-)

*If you could have recorded a song by any other artist and have it be yours, what song would it be? (could be past or present)
Hmmm...there are a few...
1. Gabriel and the Vagabond - Foy Vance
2. It’s Not Over - Jonny Lang
3. Chasing Pavements - Adele

*What's your favorite country so far? And what makes you like them?
Zambia. My trip there was so life changing. It really showed me that inner joy is a choice not at all based on your circumstances. I needed that wake up call.

*What has God been teaching you since your time on American Idol?
Patience....with my career, with other people...patience. It’s been a hard but extrememly rewarding lesson.

*If you could bring back any TV show from your childhood what would it be and why?
The Cosby Show!!!! Best. Show. Ever.

*Best lesson you learned and still use from your time as the Belmont mascot?
Losing can still be fun! :-)

*If you weren’t a singer what else would you do?
I really want to be in the Secret Service and I would like my name to be Jacquelyn Bauer!

*If you could only sing one song, what song would it be and why?
It's Not Over (Jonny Lang)- what an amazing song!

*Who was your teen idol crush when you were a kid?
Michael Jackson, Tevin Campbell and Jordan Knight. Hehehe...

*What would your favorite meal be?
Baked chicken (dark meat), my mommy’s cabbage, candied yams, dressing, and some of Steve Crawford’s brotha rolls. Ooh! and sweet potato pie.

*Ooh, what is your natural hair regimen?!
I use Kerastase oleo-rain relax line for shampoo and conditioner
I use the Bumble and Bumble Curl line right after I wash my hair
Then I braid it 2x a week using Type 4 cream.

*What jobs did you have before becoming doing BGVs full time?
I was a temp for Randstad so I had lots of jobs. I worked at model homes, I was a receptionist for a while, but my favorite temp job was doing data entry at a Data Management Research...loved it!

So...jury...what are your thoughts??? :-)

Michael Jackson, the AMA's and why a horse has me seeing gray...

2009-12-02T16:17:00.000-08:00

I have so many things to talk to you guys about! So much has happened in the past month and I have SOOOOO been wanting to know what you thought about it. So, here we go...

I saw the Michael Jackson “This Is It” Documentary! This is going to be a really short review because I have no words...All I know to say is AMAZING! Michael has always been a genius and somehow they got it on tape! WOW!
*Have you seen it? What did you think? Do you have more words than I do?

I’ve become addicted to Zumba! Not sure what it is??? It’s the most wonderful Latin/hip-hop aerobics class that makes me happy! Not sure if I’ve shared this with you guys, but I have always wanted to be a dancer. So, this allows me to dance my heart out, plus...it’s an amazing workout! I think I might audition for So You Think You Can Dance next season. I’m kidding!!!!! (Kinda)
*Is now a good time to say Ellenore and Russell are amazing on that show?!

I had my ‘official’ New York debut at the amazing Feinstein’s! DUDE! What an honor!!! I seriously had the best time. It was my first time doing a full cabaret show and I don’t know how I could have had more fun. It might help that I’m a bit dramatic. :-) A HUGE thank you to all who came and all who sent well wishes. Please continue to support wonderful places like Feinstein’s...great room, great shows, great staff and even great food!
*Will you come next time I play there???

I watched the AMA’s. Hmmm....I had a hard time with it this year. I really respected the arists that just got up there and just sang their songs even though the theme of the show seemed to be HUGE production numbers. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the huge numbers. One of the artist that I think does both amazingly well is Beyonce'. I mean, she’s all over the place AND singing her tail off. Love it! However, she wasn’t performing on the AMA’s. :-) So, my favorites were Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston! Now Adam Lambert...I love what he said on Ellen. “That may not have been the best first (second) impression to give America.” Then he promptly followed that statement by singing his tail off. :-)
*I’m so curious to know what your thoughts are!!!

I also saw “The Blind Side”. If you haven’t seen it, please go! It’s such a heartwarming and powerful story. The best part is that it’s true. I’ve always been a huge fan of adoption and this movie solidified that for me! I don’t want to say too much more, just go see it. Speaking of adoption, some of you are asking what happened to the puppy I fell in love with in NY. Let me just say, I could not see paying all that for a dog when there are so many wonderful puppies waiting to be adopted. That’s my next goal and I’ll definitely keep you posted!
*Have you seen “The Blind Side”? Do you have an adoption story?

Last story: I went horseback riding because I absolutely love it and it is one of the few things that completely relaxes me. I rode the sweet, yet fearless horse named Homeboy. There, however, is one issue I have with horses. I have no fear of them, so I tend to always be standing in their way or behind them or something. I don’t normally notice until someone says something or the horse lets me know. To make a long story short, I’ll just say there was a treat situation and a horse ended up going up in the air and landing on my foot. No worries, nothing is broken. However, I am still recuperating. So, here is my disclaimer: If you see me in my gray (is it “gray” or “grey”?) UGG boots, it’s because those shoes are the only ones that don’t hurt right now. I’m so tired of wearing Gray (grey)! It’s already been 4 weeks, so I’m hoping this is over very soon. I do, however, change shoes for my shows (no pain, no gain), but my UGGs are never far... :-)

I think that pretty much fills you in on me, can’t wait to hear what you guys think on some of these!
Love you!!!
Me

The Atlanta Ronald McDonald House

2009-10-30T07:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the wonderful people at Coca Cola, I got a chance to be a part of the Hearts and Hands Gala in Atlanta benefiting the Ronald McDonald House. For those of you who don’t know what the Ronald McDonald House is all about, you’re gonna love it! The RMH is all about family. They help families address their problems regarding health care. Whether those problems involve how to stay near and support a hospitalized child, how to afford staying together in another city while a child is undergoing treatment, or even getting basic medical and dental care in an under-served community. To find out more about what they do and how you can help, visit http://rmhc.org/.

Saturday started with the most amazing visit to the brand new RMH in Atlanta. This is my 3rd visit to one of the houses in different cities and this one was spectacular! They really work so hard to keep the “home” atmosphere and still meet the needs of the children and their families. Now, I do have to admit, I was excited about going to the house for two reasons. First, I LOVE getting to hang with the families. They are such strong and amazing people. Secondly, Ryan Seacrest. Ryan was hosting the Gala that evening, so we were both going to visit the house that morning. He’s seriously one of my favorite people! That being said, the families totally outdid Ryan that day. I had so much fun meeting all of them. The children were so precious...and just as excited about Ryan as I was. :-) I met the most loving boy named Christopher, who had already experienced 24 brain surgeries. Then, I met my little friend David, who just had a liver transplant and had the cutest cheeks ever!

The underlying theme with all of the children and their families was their strength. They loved being with other families experiencing the same thing. It was awesome to see the strength they provided for each other. I can’t finish telling you about this visit without telling you about my new friend Forrest, though. I fell in love with this little boy the moment I saw him. I asked to hold him and I was hooked! He is 7 months, but the size of a 2 month old because he was born so prematurely. He is so loving and precious and I pretty much didn’t let him go for the whole visit. His mommy, Haven, was sweet enough to let him be my therapy for the day. :-)

Before we left, we got a tour of the gorgeous home and got to see firsthand what is offered to each family. It was so amazing! I was so excited to be a part of something so wonderful. It really hit home with me. I hope you can find out more about the houses in your area and see what you can do to help. I must mention that I also had a new friend with me during the tour. Her name is Aubrey! It really made it special for me to see the house through a sweet child’s eyes. She was the icing on the cake for me.
At the end of the day, we ended up at a beautiful Gala outside of the World of Coca Cola. If you haven’t visited that place, you really should. It’s amazing! Of course, Ryan was the perfect host and I had a blast singing. The fact that I had my manager and my background singers with me made it even more special! Thank you Kelley, Janet and Jaimee for making this such a wonderful experience and for being a part of making a difference in the lives of these children and their families.
***A special thank you to The Atlanta Ronald McDonald House, Coca Cola and Ryan Seacrest...and Forrest!

Enter at your own risk...

2009-10-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

This week has been full of hours of meetings/discussions that I'm sure you guys will be excited about once announced! However, they have caused my brain to become mush at night. I seriously have a hard time concentrating on anything. Case in point, I've been writing these first four sentences for about 20 minutes now. I've had 2 Capri Suns, some yummy almonds and I tried to watch Glee but I kept rewinding it because I would miss something even though I was staring at the screen. Has that ever happened to you? I mean seriously, I'm not even sure what I set out to actually write about in this blog. So, naturally, I've decided to ramble about random things. Which, in retrospect, is not really any different from any of my other blogs. So you should feel right at home. Here we go...

1st Question: What is the most random or embarrassing thing you've done to or in front of someone you look up to?
***My moment was when I met Quincy Jones! I was so excited and then the moment he was in front of me all I could do was cry. Not a cute cry...a scrunch your face up and streak your makeup cry. By the time I sorta got myself together, I was still too scared to talk to him about music, so I overheard him talking about food and commenced to have a full conversation with him on the many ways to enjoy sweet potatoes. I'm pretty much hoping he doesn't remember that.

2nd Question: If you could pick one day...just ONE...to do over again, what day would it be?
***My day would be the day this girl pulled my hair and knocked my books out of my hand in the hallway in the 7th grade. It made me so mad that I kicked her really hard and then I ran away! If I had to do it all over again...I wouldn't have run. Just kidding! I wouldn't have kicked her...so hard. Okay, seriously, I wouldn't have let her get to me that way. I'm not a fan of letting someone else determine your reaction. Then they win.

Last Question: If you could be any 3 characters from the movies or TV, who would you be?
***I would be...
Claire Huxtable (Cosby Show)- I must...MUST...marry Cliff. All non-Cliff types need not apply. :-)
Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)- I'm pretty sure I'm already as dramatic as she is, so it's really not that much of a stretch, but I absolutely LOVE her imagination!
Jack Bauer (24)- Yes, I do realize he's a man. However, he seems to know everything and I find that quite appealing. He also can find out any info about anyone, which completely feeds into my nosy nature. Lastly, he's stealth...who doesn't want to be stealth?!

Now, here's the deal! I've answered my random rambling questions...now it's YOUR turn! I'm so curious (that's a better word than nosy)!!
Ready.....................................Set.......................................Go!

Twitterverse

2009-10-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

I had a great birthday week of celebration and family! However, that means I'm just now catching up on everything that happened...very interesting! Here's what I gather:

Simon Cowell turned 50, Barbra Streisand broke records with her new #1 CD (on a side note: she also announced that she loves wearing elastic waistbands...love her!), Kourtney Kardashian is having a boy, Heidi Klum and Seal had a baby girl, Chicago lost the 2012 Olympic Bid (sad), President Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize (amazing), Suri Cruise had some ice cream, but most shocking? Miley Cyrus has left Twitter! What the world??? Let's discuss...

Obviously, Twitter has become one of the hugest phenomenons ever! But why? For me, it's because I'm incredibly nosy! :-) I want to know what my friends are doing, where they are and what they think about current events. Heck, I want to know what everybody is doing. A site like Twitter is perfect for me (don't even get me started on TweetDeck)!

So, my first instinct when I read about Miley leaving the site was "WHY?!?!" I really didn't get it. What could possibly be the problem? Then I read her explanation. I started to think about her life. Can you imagine EVERY aspect of your life being scrutinized and ridiculed? Everything she says and does is judged. That can't be fun. Then she joins this great new site, excited about letting people in on the real Miley and she still gets criticized. What do you do with that? Her biggest complaint was not having any privacy. I mean, she gets followed everywhere she goes and that just goes along with being her, so why would she want to add to that? So, while I totally think her reasoning is valid, I would love to offer another solution: Limit what you tweet about. People can only find out what you choose to divulge. There's no rule that says you have to tweet 20 times a day and it all needs to be ultra personal.

As a matter of fact, now would be a good time to talk about things that should be off limit for EVERYBODY on twitter (I promise I've seen all of these).

1. Bodily excretions
2. Your PMS schedule
3. Play by play of your bathroom visits
4. Your spouse's indiscretions
5. Your breakup fight with your significant other

I've always been a fan of the "tell some, keep some" rule. I try to apply it, even though I sometimes realize I share a little more than I planned. :-)
All this to say, even though I totally understand her point, I want Miley to come back. Maybe she could just do what I've seen some other Tweeters do and stick to lyrics. Who doesn't want to see...
"And a Britney song was on, and a Britney song was on, and a Britney song was on!"? :-)
She's just got to make it work for her. I know it's possible.
That's all I have to say about that.
Tweet on tweeters!

Melinda

PS - Does anyone ever sit forever trying to figure out how to tweet your message in 140 characters or less? Not saying it's hard for me or anything. I was just thinking someone else may have that struggle. :-)

***Let me know what your thought are on this topic. Also, give me some more Tweeting no-no's.

Random discoveries...

2009-09-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

So, sometimes I discover random things that I see as life changing...you may see as crazy, but to each his own, right?! Here we go!

1. Did you know that they now make gummy multi-vitamins for adults??? It has changed my life! You know how the normal multi-vitamins are so huge? They normally gag me, but now there is a solution! Yay! The key is to NOT eat the whole bottle in one day. They're so good! I have to hide the bottle from myself sometimes. Is there such a thing as too many vitamins in your system? :-)

2. Did you know that they make summer onesies?
***Onesie (1-z): pajamas or everyday wear (your choice) with feet in them and a great pocket up front to hold your cell phone.***
Well, most of them are this soft, velvety material that is perfect for the winter months, but there are also those that are like a thin thermal shirt...perfect for the warmer months! I writing this blog in my summer onesie right now (and yes, I do know that summer is now officially over). Woot! Check out pajamacity.com if you want your own.

3. In the midst of all of the "Real Housewives of Wherever" shows, there is a show about Househusbands. It's called "Househusband of Hollywood". I find this show very interesting. So, these are households where the wife is the main bread winner and the husbands are in charge of the house. I think it's kinda cool to see the guys step up to the challenge. It can be kinda touchy sometimes, but I think the show handles it well. It even takes the time to define "manly" words so that we ladies can better understand the gentlemen. I've personally learned an invaluable lesson about the importance of man caves.

4. Did you know that the guy that wrote, directed and starred in "In The Heights" on Broadway was the rapping psych patient on the season premiere of House? I was so excited because I absolutely LOVED "In The Heights" when I saw it and I thought he was pure genius. If you don't know about it, look up Lin-Manuel Miranda at www.intheheightsmusical.com.

5. The jury is in and an Afro is easier than a wig! :-) Don't get me wrong, I love my wigs and this is definitely not the end for them. I've just found something easy, fun and ME! I've always braided my hair under my wigs and kept it from any chemical or straighteners, so that I would know it was healthy. Truth be told, I was afraid of trying to manage it for a while there until I just decided to try it one day and I fell in love. So, now you get to see my natural hair. (I say that like it's an honor...hehehe)
***Note to self: Never be afraid to rock the real you! It's always easier than you think and it's so worth it in the long run :-)***

WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED LATELY???

DUDE!

2009-09-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

So, I wrote a post last night after I heard about Ellen DeGeneres being the new judge on American Idol. It went something like this... DUDE!! DUDE!! DUDE!! Ellen DeGeneres...the new AI judge! DUDE!! I love me some Paula, and...I adore me some Ellen too. DUDE!!! Thoughts???

Now, most people took that as pure excitement...I meant it as pure shock. I have no idea how it's going to work out. I hope, for the sake of such an amazing show like American Idol, that it works perfectly. No matter how much I miss Paula, I still want AI to continue to offer huge opportunities to dreamers for years to come.
***Let me say this first...Paula cannot be replaced. It can't and won't happen.***
So, what if we stopped thinking about Ellen as a replacement and we started seeing her as an addition to the show???

Here are my thoughts about Ellen...I absolutely love her! I think she's hilarious and caring and that's a great combination. My first time meeting Ellen was the night we did Idol Gives Back on Season 6. I seriously have never met a bigger celebrity fan of the show! She knew everything about all of us and actually took some time to give us some insight on how to deal with the wonderful AND the awful things that were being said about us on a daily basis. It was priceless to have someone like her take the time to prepare us for what was ahead.

I keep reading about people saying she has no musical background. This is my response to that...Ellen seems to love everything there is about music. It moves her, it makes her happy. She is also an avid fan of the show. This means that she perfectly represents most of the viewers of American Idol! These are the voices that ultimately make the decision of who stays and who goes on the show. These aren't always artists or skilled musicians. These are people that love the show and love music. So, why is that ok and Ellen is not? Just a question.

So...we wait and see how it turns out. At the end of the day, you get to agree or disagree as you always have. I, for one, am a fan of success, so I want to see it work out well for everyone involved. I know, I'm a sap. :-)

I'm excited that Ellen gets to be a part of her favorite show!
I'm excited that Paula has a whole world of opportunities opening up for her!
I'm excited that we get to see more people go for their dreams!
Yay!

ARE YOU READY?!?!?!

2009-09-08T18:34:00.000-07:00

So...Football season is on!!! This Thursday marks the season opener and what better way to open the season than to watch my Titans beat down the Steelers?!?!
If you can't tell by now, my favorite NFL team is the Tennessee Titans! I love them and I always will!

A little history for ya: I learned what I know about football by being the mascot at Union High School my senior year. I was on the sidelines for every game that year and I got hooked!
***In other news...I just got back from singing at my high school's opening game this season (WE WON!). Details very soon! :-)***

Since high school, I have been a huge fan of the game. I sometimes have weird reasons for picking which teams I like and don't like though.

Example 1: While in high school, my favorite color was forest green, so I liked the Packers, plus Brett Favre is cute. My favorite color is now black and I am NOT a Raiders fan, so that one's out.

Example 2: I once watched an interview with the Cowboys and they came across so cocky that I refused to be a fan. (After last season, this rule goes for the Steelers too!) Not that they didn't have reason to be. My second reason for not being a fan was that they were always beating teams I really liked. Emmitt Smith almost won me over when he was on Dancing With the Stars, but I attributed his sweet personality to the fact that he had gotten far away from him Cowboy ties. Hehehe...

Example 3: I love underdogs and Shayne Graham...therefore I like the Bengals. Have you guys seen the HBO show Hard Knocks: Training Camp? I think it's a brilliant show. It shows the training process of the Bengals after having a really rough season last year. I have been hooked. It's a crazy game and an even crazier training process. I will be riveted to their season just because I want to see these players turn things around. Plus OchoCinco is hilarious...a little bit off...but hilarious!

Example 4: The only truly normal reasons I have for loving a team...they're amazing and they represent home to me. That's my Titans!!! I'm so excited about our new roster and I can't wait to make it to the Super Bowl this season. It's on, y'all and I'm happy about it!

Now, that being said, I have a little wager for ya. On the Melinda's Backups site, there is a football pool for a good cause. Here's the deal...sign up for the football pool, make a small donation and not only do you get to TRY (notice I said TRY) to beat me in the pool, but you are also a part of creating a music scholarship to Belmont University for a deserving student. Now, IF (notice I said IF) you win, you will also get a call from me, but don't plan on winning. I plan on beating all of you this season. Please sign up because I want to have major bragging rights, so that means I need to beat a lot of people. So, who's in??? http://www.melindasbackups.com/football

*Try to get in by Thursday so you don't miss the 1st game. But if you're late, I think they may throw out the lowest week, so you just have to bring it in the coming weeks. :-)

Random facts...

2009-08-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

By now, you have figured out that I am a bit odd. I must say, I'm very content with being odd...especially since I keep finding out that more and more people share the same oddness. (Is that even a word?) First random fact - I just repeated the word "oddness" about 25 times out loud and now it really doesn't sound like a real word.
Anyway, I digress. So...after posting that clowns scare me and flying things scare me, I was quite intrigued to see that some of you were right with me. I couldn't help but think that we may have many more random facts in common. All that to say, you will either read this and agree on some things or read this and think I am the weirdest person ever. (Which is possibly true, but fun, huh?)

Here we go:

I count stairs. I have been known to get to the top of my stairs, realize I forgot to count, and go back down so that I can count the next time. I should also explain that I only count going up, not down. PS - I have 16 stairs.

My heat/air conditioning has to be set on an even number. The same goes for any volume control that uses numbers. I can, however, deal with it if the number ends in 5 because that perfectly splits the perfect 10's. I can also deal if it lands on my favorite number which is 47. Not really sure why my favorite number is odd, but whatever.

I love to bake sweet potato pies! However, I can only make 4 at a time. Trust me, I've tried to cut it in half, but it doesn't work. It never tastes the same. So, one Thanksgiving, I needed 5 pies...I made 8.

Drinking coffee at night keeps me awake, but cappuccino makes me sleepy.

And the last one for the day...
I LOVE PUZZLES! I even got a stow & go mat for my puzzles so I can travel with them and not mess them up. At night, it's what gets my mind off the day and relaxed enough to eventually fall asleep. Nightly ritual...puzzle, Momma Dora's (Kelley's mom) spice tea and the Sam & Ruby CD.
LOVE IT!!!!

Please tell me you relate to or at least understand one of these...please??? :-)
Also, share some of your randomness with me so I won't be alone. You know you have it!
Love you guys!
Me

My thoughts...

2009-08-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

Sooo....Paula Abdul. What in the world do I even say? Let me start with how incredibly sad I am. For me, each judge on the show had a specific, invaluable purpose.

Randy is the producer...he tells you about the pitchiness, the style, all the great stuff that any producer worth their salt is going to tell you at some point. So, thank God for Randy preparing us for that part.

Simon is the executive...he’s the bottom line. He tells you what will and won’t work. Sure, he’s blunt about it, but so are most executives. That’s why they’re good at what they do. In his heart of hearts, he wants the best for you. Seriously. :-)

But Paula...sweet Paula, is the heart...the artist...the mama...the one who understands what you’re going through and empathizes with you. The one who knows you may just need to hear ONE good thing...even if it’s that your makeup looks good. She’s also the one judge that comes to the rehearsals for the AI tour and still offers that encouragement and advice that you quickly realize you still need to hear after all the cameras have turned off.

I realize I am not mentioning Kara. That is only because I don’t have a personal experience with her. I’m sure she provides something new for the contestants now and they probably need her just as much as I needed the other three.

I don’t want to play the blame game, because I don’t know the whole story. I’m sure there’s much more info behind Paula’s departure than what’s being portrayed in the media. All I will say is that, no matter what happened, I’m upset! I want Paula! Booooooooo!!!!!!! The show won’t be the same without her. Whether you were her biggest fan or her biggest critic, you have to admit that she will be missed.

So...since I have the world’s craziest imagination, let’s imagine that in the midst of all this craziness, Paula has time to read this blog. Here’s what I want to say to her....

Mama Paula,

Thank you for being the heart of the show that changed my life. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for celebrating with me and crying with me. Thank you for being there. Thank you for standing up for me. Thank you for loving with everything you have and for genuinely caring. I know that no matter what happens, your talent and your heart will take you wherever you want to go. I will always be a fan of not only what you do, but who you are. I love you and I can’t wait to see what’s next for you.

Melinda

Remix EP Comes with FREE video!!

2009-07-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

My NEW Remix EP is now available on iTunes!

It has 6 versions of the single "It's Your Love"...a club version and radio version by 3 amazing remixers/DJs (Jason Nevins, Rizzo, and Smashmode)!

It's only $3.99 AND you get the video to the original version of "It's Your Love" for FREE!

You guys know how much I love to dance! Click here to get it NOW!

The Ultimate Battle - Me vs. The Backups!

2009-06-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

So...to be completely fair, I did get beaten by 2 backups, but one signed up to be a Backup only after he beat me! So, I'm still trying to figure out if he counts as beating me. Hehehe....
Love you guys and can't wait to beat you again!!! (Especially you Jena!!!)

FAQs #1

2009-06-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

Okay...here we go. I had no idea you guys would have so many great questions. I am going to try my best to get to all of them (not in this blog...that wouldn’t be nice to either one of us). I’ll start with the ones I hear the most and then work my way through the rest.

Do you have any suggestions for someone auditioning for the next season of American Idol? Do you camp out? What do I expect?
I’ll start by saying that because of the innovative nature of the show, things are always changing. So, I can only tell you from my experience. We did not camp out. We were able to register in the 2 days leading up to the audition and then able to line up on the day of the audition starting at 4:30AM. The order we auditioned in was determined by when we registered, not when we lined up the day of the audition.
You can expect a long, tiring but exciting day. I can’t even begin to explain what it’s like to be in a room of 16,000 excited and motivated singers. The energy is crazy. Everyone is practicing, meeting new people, calming nerves...you name it. It’s amazing.
My biggest suggestion is to make sure you pick a song you not only love and believe in, but one that shows what you’re working with. :-) Get to the good part first, because you only get a few seconds to get your voice heard. Lastly, look them in the eye and tell a story with your song so they have no choice but to listen. Show them what makes you different from the other 15,9999 people there. Truth be told, I was so nervous that I’m not sure if I did any of that, but I would have if I could have concentrated. :-)

When are you coming to (insert your city here)?
Believe you me, I absolutely LOVE being on the road and there is nothing I would like more than to hit every state and even overseas as much as humanly possible. We are working as we speak to book as many dates and we can so that I can get out there and see you guys and sing these songs that I love. I know there are those that are upset with me right now for not answering their personal messages asking about when I’m coming to their city. Please know my heart. I wish I could answer everyone individually but I get so many inquiries about this, that I just can’t possibly answer every one. That’s why I have this cool section on my website called TOUR. We post everything as it comes in, so please keep checking in. It’s the easiest way to get the info to all of you. Thanks for being patient with me.

When does your CD come out?
It’s out! It came out February 3rd this year. I’m so excited about it. It’s called Coming Back to You. It is my happy place. :-) It’s everything I love about music...motown, grit, gospel, jazz, live strings, live horns, live everything! If you don’t have a copy already, you can get a copy right here on my website and you will be donating to Malaria No More at the same time. If you would rather do it another way, that’s fine with me too! :-) If you buy it at Walmart, it has a bonus track on it, just so you know.

When are you going to do a gospel CD? (Normally followed with: we want to hear you sing for the Lord)
I have to start this by saying that my goal in life is to do everything for the Lord. He is the reason I am who I am, how I am and where I am. I am eternally grateful and I hope it shows in everything I do. That’s why I was so excited to record this CD. The best label in the world, HiFi Recordings, gave me the freedom to be me with the music we chose for it. In the end, we came up with a CD that describes me in every detail! I am a romantic at heart, and I believe love is the greatest gift ever (The Best of Everything, Wonderful, I’ll Never Stop, Wonder Why). Of course, I do know that love can still be baffling (If I’m Not in Love). I also ADORE encouraging people around me and letting them know that God always has their back. He never forgets His children! It is one of my very favorite things to do (I Will Be and We Will Find a Way). Also, I think there really is something to be said about remembering where we came from and how we got to where we are now (Fundamental Things). I know that everyday is not always the best day (Walkin’ Blues) and if you know me well, you know I have my sassy moments because of that (Dust my Broom). And finally, I believe down to my core that I would not be here without the love of God, my family and friends and you (It’s Your Love)!!!
I hope that sheds some light on this question. Bottom line is...a Christian is who I am and singing is what I do. So, I am a firm believer that they go hand in hand. I’m just going to keep doing music that speaks my heart.

Who was you favorite contestant/judge on this last season of AI? (Normally followed with what do think of the new judge?)
My favorite contestant was Allison, hands down! She still is. I think she’s fabulous and to be her age and hold her own with the likes of Cyndi Lauper solidified that one for me. That doesn’t take away from the rest of the contestants. They were amazing this season! Overall, I really enjoyed the whole season. I’m still getting used to our girl, Kara. I am in awe of her for taking on such a huge undertaking...fitting into an already well oiled machine. I think next season will be even better and easier for her because we will continue to get used to her and she will fit in even better. I’m really excited to see what happens next season.

So...that’s a start. I’ll answer more very soon. Promise! Thanks for being interested in getting to know more. I love you guys.
Me

LLS and Titans Heaven!

2009-05-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

I promised you details, so here you go...

Two nights ago, I spent the evening at an event for LLS - The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. (www/lls.org) I have to say, it was one of the most touching and amazing events I have attended. There were 12 candidates that had been nominated for Man/Woman of the year and these people were soooo inspiring. They had each spent 10 weeks raising funds and awareness to help find a cure. They had an unreal amount of dedication to their cause and it was great to see their efforts rewarded. All of this was in honor of the boy and girl of the year...Markeise Stroud and Palmer Richardson. The campaign of each candidate helped not only these two children, but millions of others in their fight against leukemia and other blood cancers. I really urge you to find out more about LLS. It's an amazing organization.

So, you may be wondering what made this night my own personal Tennessee Titans heaven. (You may not, but I'm gonna tell you anyway)
For those that don't know, I am a HUGE Titans fan!!! I think they are the best team ever and I think football is the best game ever. So, I'm a little bit of an obsessed fan, but I think it's a healthy obsession. Right?
Anyway, my favorite player is Cortland Finnegan. Don't get me wrong, I also love Bironas, Young, Collins, Hentrich, Kearse...you get the point. But it's safe to say that Mr. Finnegan is my favorite. That being said, when I got the invitation for the LLS event, it came from the Titans own Susan Reinfeldt. Yes, that would be the wife of our fearless general manager, Mike Reinfeldt. She is my new hero of the week. She not only invited me to the event, but she also sat me at Cortland's table!

Hehehe!!!!!! So, not only was I at his table, but I got to sit by the brains behind his amazing organization Ark31. (www.ark31.org) Her name is Lacey Owens and she is divine. She is also Cortland's better half. For those of you that are unhappy about hearing that Finnegan has a girlfriend, don't be! She's beautiful, intelligent and has the hugest heart. She made me excited about getting more involved in the community and we had a blast all evening.

Seriously, I had the best time at the LLS event and I can't wait until next year. I can't tell you what I got in the silent auction, but it's going to blow your mind! Well, maybe not, but I'm excited! I get it next week and you better believe you will hear all about it. Thanks to Susan, Bob Hyde, Cortland, Lacey and the entire LLS staff (plus my girls Lauren and Emily...the best candidates in the world!) for making this such an amazing night to be a part of. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Oh! I almost forgot!!!!!

Adam and Kris...Kris and Adam...this is THE longest blog. Sorry!!!

2009-05-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight was wonderful, exciting and completely confusing.

I am in LA attending the wonderful finale events that tend to make me smile even when I'm not feeling well. (Boo!)
Of course, I was pumped to catch up with all my Idol friends last night and then attend the show tonight.
More details on all of that when I get home...although I do need to mention that when I walked in and got to hug Renee and Agent Pierce from 24, I almost forgot how I felt and just wanted to scream at the top of my lungs!!!!! Jesus really loves me for setting that up!

So, as I download Ruben Studdard's new CD and Lakisha Jones' new CD...BOTH came out TODAY (Buy them, buy them, buy them)...I will fill you in on what I thought about tonight's show.

Now, I've been doing press all day and I've been saying I think Kris is going to take it all the way. Although, I am head over heels for Adam's voice...DUDE! It's awesome. That being said...after watching tonight's show in the beautiful Nokia Theater...I have absolutely NO idea who's taking this crown home. I really feel like tonight evened the playing field for both of them...all thanks to that last song!

First Round totally went to Kris for me, but that was after pulling a Kara and not being able to close my mouth for the entire Adam performance of Mad World. Both performances were golden, but Kris put a little extra feeling in his that just blew me away,

Second Round went to Adam. I was totally with Simon on that act. Although I loved Kris' song, Adam just completely owned his. It was breathtaking...seriously!

Third Round...Ummm....nobody. That's all I'm saying about that one. Well, maybe I'll mention one thing. One of my best friends, Kelley, mentioned that maybe this was more of a Danny Gokey song and I agree. Danny could have sung the living daylights out of that. Yep, I said it. See, I really do like Danny...promise!

So...that means that in true "America's Next Top Model" form, we have to look back at all their previous pictures, I mean performances, to see who comes out on top. The key to my notes...Adam performances on top, Kris on bottom, stars by the one I think was best that night. Keep in mind that this is just my opinion and I have been wrong before...not often...but once or twice. :-)

***Black or White - Adam
Remember the Time - Kris

Ring of Fire - Adam
***To Make You Feel My Love - Kris

***Tracks of My Tears - Adam
How Sweet It Is - Kris

Play That Funky Music - Adam
***Ain't No Sunshine - Kris

***Mad World - Adam
All She Wants to do is Dance - Kris

Born to be Wild - Adam
***Falling Slowly - Kris

***If I Can't Have You - Adam
***She Works Hard for the Money - Kris
~Seriously, this was a tie for me

Feeling Good - Adam
***The Way You Look Tonight - Kris

***Slow Ride - Adam/Allison
Renegade - Kris/Danny

***Whole Lotta Love - Adam
Come Together - Kris

***One - Adam
Apologize - Kris

Cryin' - Adam
***Heartless - Kris

So that's 7 for Adam and 6 for Kris. Okay, so I did all that and it's still too close to call. Somebody help me! Who wins??? Although Adam is the most flawless singer ever on AI, Kris shows so much heart in each of his songs. Too hard...must sleep on this one...This SOOOO reminds me of Reuben and Clay. Wow! Awesome end to an amazing season.

PS - I just looked and ALL my blogs are long...MY BAD! Hehehe...

4 Words...

2009-05-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

THE. BEST. TOP. THREE. EVER!!!!

Today was a crazy busy day that ended with getting the chance to do an amazingly fun show at the 11th Annual Grammy Block Party here in Nashville. The Grammy foundation has this event every year (ok...duh! it's annual...sorry for stating the obvious). I never imagined that I would be performing though. It was so cool to be on that stage with my saaanging girls...Janet, Amy and Kelley. What an honor! What a night! What an experience!

However, I missed watching Idol when it came on, so I had to come home and watch it later. Amy already had plans, but Janet and Kelley watched with me, so you will get all of our opinions today. We pretty much agreed though. :-)

So...here go my thoughts for the best top 3 night in Idol history in my opinion. (I didn't clear that one with K&J)

Dance Little Sister
Ummm...still kinda trying to figure out exactly why Paula chose this particular song. Don't get me wrong, Paula is my girl and I love how much she believes in the contestants, but...
My heart kinda went out to Danny because this song required him to kind of go back to his yelling ways, and then there was that very interesting scat solo in the middle. I loved his energy though and I'm so impressed with his ability to give that song all he had even though it was a weird choice.

Apologize
Before I proceed with this one, I have a quick question. Why didn't they do the "judges choice" episode during the Top 4 since there are now 4 judges? Just wondering...
I thought this song was great. I thought Kris sounded great once he got into the song and I was extremely happy for him. That is, until the judges completely confused me. I thought the main purpose of the judges choosing a song was for them to choose something that fit the contestant perfectly. I understand wanting Kris to change it up to fit his style, but what if he felt that song already matched him without changing it? We all know he is fully capable of making a song his own. This song just happened to be Kris ready, I thought. Even Randy said he should do an album just like it. I know I'm rambling, but I'm still a bit confused. Anyway...I really liked it. Oh! And that ending was gorgeous!

One
DUDE!!!!! That's skill. That's artistry. That's perfection! I mean, I actually jumped to my feet for the majority of the performance and didn't sit down until the commercial came on. That was a great choice by Simon and an even greater performance by Adam. Coming from the best vocal coach in the world (Janet Kenyon)...she was so impressed with his ability to start off tender, ten blow us away and end up going right back to that amazing tender sound. That's really hard to do and he nailed it. Also, I'm not sure how anyone can call him scary when he has the best attitude. The fact that he credited the song's lyrics for why it was so beautiful speaks volumes. He never takes full credit. Amazing!

Carrie in Africa! What a touching segment. For anyone wanting to know more about helping to eradicate malaria and provide bed nets, please either visit malaria no more from my homepage or go directly to their site malarianomore.org. This organization is very dear to my heart. Also, if you haven't purchased my CD yet, you can get it here on the website and a portion of the proceeds will go to malaria no more also. It doesn't matter how you do it, just get involved! :-)

You Are So Beautiful
Gorgeous!!! I loved this version of this song. It seriously was like a worship song and I thought it was amazing. I was so excited to hear Danny just sing and leave it all out on the stage. As partial as I am to the original version of this song, it was great to hear another take on it. Danny seriously nailed it and I really thought he secured a position in the finale until...

Heartless
Was anyone else nervous when they heard his song choice? I was, but I was quickly shut up as soon as Kris started singing and playing that guitar. It was phenomenal!!! What else can I say??? I think it was soooooo perfect! Janet wished the band would come in, but Kelley and I agreed it was perfect just the way he did it. I really think he deserves that finale spot for his beautiful voice, his innovativeness and his cute black shirt. Hehehe...

Cryin'
First of all, if you don't know me, Aerosmith is one of my very favorite bands. I think Steven Tyler is out of this world and I am such a fan. That being said, Adam is now my hero...not just for knocking that song out of the park, but for also giving Steven Tyler credit for being brilliant. Adam is a very gracious contestant and I was also blown away by how he credited Kris and Danny for being wonderful at what they do too. This was an amazing Top 3 and he didn't take that for granted.

So...all in all...this was an amazing night. I wish we could have heard them do 3 songs just because they were that good. This will be a hard week, but I'm going to go with Adam and Kris in the finale. I'm not counting Danny out because I thought he was awesome. I'm just saying what I think for now. The coolest part about this Top 3 is that I could hear every single one of their CDs in my head tonight. I will buy all 3 immediately and I'm sure I will love them all. Can you tell I loved tonight???

What did you think? Who in the world is going home? Who makes the finale???

Last question...Are you as excited as I am to hear Jordin do her new single on the results show??? Battlefield is such an awesome song. If you haven't downloaded it, you have to go get it. You're gonna love it!

Love ya'll!!!

Details on the best day EVER!!!

2009-05-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

So...after watching an amazing episode of "Lie To Me", I settled in to my Boston hotel to watch American Idol with my girl Kelley. Obviously, I was upset about the results, but we will get to that later...

First things first...PERFORMANCES!!!
I'll go backwards. Chris Daughtry was great. I have mad respect for that guy. He is such a great artist. What a writer, what a voice, what an great attitude. So, can you tell I like him???
Now, on to Gwen Stefani. I have two words for you...push-ups! (Or is that just one word? I feel like Kara) While it may not have been my favorite No Doubt performance, the girl did work out in the middle of the song and then continue to sing. That's talent right there.
On to my girl, Paula Abdul. I'm so happy for her. She owned that performance. She was all over that stage dancing like she was Allison's age (Allison. One single tear just dropped). It had to be the most nerve racking thing in the world to perform on that stage after you've judged everyone else, so I am officially impressed and so glad to say I know her. Plus, she looked gorgeous!

Now to the results...I am soooo happy for Kris! I think he's wonderful and I'm happy to see him in the top 3. I just was sad for my girl. She is such a phenomenal talent. People keep asking me why I don't say anything about her pronunciation and all that. Well, first of all, I think it works for her tone perfectly. And secondly, I have such a hard time singing my words and trying to cover up my lisp that I will never fault anyone for the way they sing a word. Needless to say, I love that girl and I was so disappointed last night. I took a short time to mourn and then it happened...

I woke up early this morning to do the FOX morning show in Boston. For the record, I'm not a morning person and I REALLY cannot hide my lisp before 10am, but I digress...
I went to talk about my record ("Coming Back To You" in stores and online now!) and about receiving an Exceptional Woman Award tomorrow, but little did I know the visit would change my life! (Yes, I'm aware that I'm dramatic)
The station was asking me whether I wanted to sing my 2nd song before or after a satellite interview they were about to do. Then, when they heard me lament over Allison's departure, they told me that the interview was with her and they would love for me to join them. DUDE! I screamed and then promptly dropped my mic and went straight over to talk to her. Now, I was SO excited to be seeing her and telling her how much I loved her, that I don't remember much...but I do know that I was able to tell her how awesome it is afterwards and how many great things I knew would come her way. Oh! and how much fun she would have on the tour.

***Trust me, as soon as we get a copy of the segment, it will be posted on my website!!!***

So now, I am out of mourning and just excited for the many opportunities that will come her way. She is destined for greatness and I will be buying the record, going to the concerts, in the fan club and on the street team! :-)

Top 4 Rock Week...

2009-05-05T22:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it is 1:30am EST and yes, I am blogging.
You see, I am in NYC and I had a show and a dinner tonight and then I came back to my hotel...and because of the wonders of the Slingbox, I was able to watch American Idol from my DVR at home in Nashville. That is the coolest thing EVER in the entire world!!! (A special thanks to the family who made this possible)
All this to say...I have so much to say about AI tonight (this morning), I just had to blog. Twitter and Facebook couldn't handle my thoughts for the night.
Here we go!

1. Adam
This was obviously going to be a good week for him. I would have been extremely shocked if he had a bad night. What I love about Adam is that he is pretty consistently flawless. I am in awe of his voice. Whether you like him or not, you almost have to admit that his voice can do some pretty amazing things!

2. Allison
It's no secret that she is my favorite. She has THE most creative instincts for any singer her age. That being said...even though she nailed her performance vocally, this was not my favorite of her song choices. Sadly I say this and cannot think of an alternative at the moment (maybe because I'm almost asleep). She still came in an incredibly strong 2nd for me tonight.

*Kris and Danny duet
This was interesting...I am unable to critique this well though because I spent most of the duet being upset for these two guys. We all know that rock music can be pretty hard on the voice, so why make them sing their duet before they sing their solos??? Why couldn't Adam and Allison do theirs at this point? On top of that, why not spread the "rock" love and split up Adam and Allison to make the duet playing field a little more even? So, not only do they have to scream their voices raw, but they are at a distinct disadvantage as a duo. Ok...I'm finished with this one...sorry for rambling.

3. Kris
I love this song! It is one of my favorite Beatle songs. This, however, was not one of my favorite Kris nights. Don't get me wrong, I still think he's a cutie and a great singer, but realy the only think "rock" about this was the band. I am all for making the song your own, but I am also all for taking full advantage of working with Slash and finding that inner rocker somewhere. Maybe it was because he was flustered from having just done a duet and then running to change clothes during the commercial break and being ready to blow your own song out of the water. Dang it...I'm supposed to stop talking about that one.

4. Danny
Ummm....what do I say? I feel Danny's pain (See Latin week Season 6). Everyone is allowed to do a song that is not necessarily them. It totally happens and I have all the sympathy in the world for him. However, that last note did kinda freak me out...mainly because it sounded like it hurt...a lot! Here's hoping he's okay and that singing the duet before that performance did not mess him up. (I know, I know)

* Adam and Allison (My top 2)
Awesome!!!! The best part of this was that Allison easily held her own with Adam and didn't even break a sweat. That's my girl! I loved every second of it and was almost able to get past my frustration with the whole duet thing. I still feel that they had a real advantage, but it was almost worth it to see the awesome-ness that occurred!

THE WRAP UP:
So, if I'm going by performance alone, I'm thinking they actually went in the perfect order tonight. Adam, Allison, Kris then Danny. However, I think Kris might be in trouble because I'm pretty sure Danny's fans have made the rally of their lives (They are some awesome fans...but they have nothing on the Backups). All I have to say is Allison better not go home. Enough said!

I seriously need to know what you guys think....I'm so curious about this show!!!
Love you bunches and hope to hear from you soon, (Nighty night!)
Me

Hey Backups - You Rock!!

2009-04-22T04:25:00.000-07:00

(The Backups will be participating in the Country Music Marathon on Saturday, April 25th to raise money for Malaria No More... They have raised over $10,000 so far!!!)

Hmmm....

2009-03-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

This week on American Idol...

Jasmine and Jorge went home. I knew it was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

I wish we could have seen Jasmine do more things like she did in her audition and Hollywood week. She has such an amazing voice and yes, I cried when she cried last night. Maybe it was because I was there watching the show and realizing that I have never liked results night. (*Details on why I was there in a minute)

Jorge has the most gorgeous Latin voice that I just think didn't translate with the viewers. Sitting in front of him, hearing him sing his song and hearing the smoothness and the gorgeous tone made me melt.

My biggest tears of the night came when the group number happened. No, I don't cry on every Michael Jackson song. :-)
It was just amazing to watch Scott break it down on some choreography last night. He was genuinely happy to be doing it, which made me really happy, which made me cry because I'm a girl and that's what we do.
PS Kudos to Alexis Grace for having his back during commercial breaks and everything. What a sweetheart!

So...a really quick take on Tuesday night...

Lil - I really like her voice. This week was not my favorite, but I really like her voice.
Scott - I love when he's at the piano! Such a joy to listen to and watch!
Danny - His tone is wonderful! I was not, however, quite as excited as the judges. He's a cutie though.
Michael - He surprised me this week. He gave it everything he had. Nice job.
Kris - I like his sound. I heard last night that he also plays the piano, so I would love to see that too!
Allison - Yep! Still my favorite!!! Once she figures out what her voice can do, everybody's in trouble.
Anoop - Not my favorite performance, but I love his attitude. I'm ready to hear him do a ballad.
Megan - I disagree with the judges. I loved her quirkiness and her tone! Now, the "Caw, Caw" at the end...hmmm...
Adam - He belongs on stage. He owned it. I still go back and forth, but I can't deny that he is definitely supposed to be there.
Matt - Ummm....OMG! His voice is just gorgeous!!! What in the world?! Loved him!
Alexis - I liked her more than the judges did. I think she just got excited and I totally get that. :-)

*So...why I was at the show. I was with Gina, Phil and Chikezie doing some press for this tour we're about to go on. It's going to be great! The rehearsals are really going well. I get to sing songs from the record, songs from Idol, some duets and some things with the whole group. I'm really excited to be hanging with my friends and having a good time. We can't wait to see you, so let me know if you're coming out.

Love you guys!!!
Me

Top 13?!?!

2009-03-05T22:20:00.000-08:00

Ummm....what the world? Last I heard, thirteen wasn't the best number in the world but I am convinced that American Idol can do anything they want and it will be golden. It's their world...we just happen to be living in it. ;-)
My only concern is how all of this will play out. Does that mean that two people will go home one week? That's a hard one to swallow. That happened with Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson during season 6 (my personal favorite...hehehe) and it was painful!

Ok, enough of that. Let's get on to what I think about the finalists.

1. Adam Lambert
Dude can sing! However, I'm with Simon on this one. Sometimes I love him, sometimes I'm not as excited. (I know...that's more like how Paula would have said it instead of Simon, but you get the point)

2. Alexis Grace
Hmmm...I loved her audition so much! I haven't connected with her as much since then, but I think it might be fun to watch her come into her own during the show.

3. Allison Iraheta
My favorite!!!! I mean...I don't even have the right words! She is so amazing and she is so not allowed to sing like THAT and just be 16. She doesn't even know it yet either. I'm in awe!

4. Anoop Desai
Yay! Anybody who sings My Prerogative on American Idol deserves to be on the show! Enough said.

5. Danny Gokey
He has a pretty voice. However, I am not on the same bandwagon as alot of people. I'm don't think he's just automatically going to win. He's got some pretty stiff competition.

6. Jasmine Murray
What a cutie! She has a beautiful voice. I don't know if you've seen her singing Home when she was 11 years old, but if she does anything like that, it should take her far...very far. Thanks for showing me that video Cindy Loo Hoo!

7. Jorge Nunez
I love him! People shouldn't be allowed to be that precious!!! Plus, he has such a beautiful voice...it's like butter! Then, when he started crying and speaking in Spanish, I was done!

8. Kris Allen
I wasn't sure about his song choice, but when he got to the middle and end of Man in the Mirror, I screamed! He did a great job putting himself into the song.

9. Lil Rounds
I'm so glad she sang a Mary J. Blige song instead of a Whitney song. I thought she might struggle a little after her Hollywood Week performance, but she blew it out of the water! She showed me! (I love being proven wrong on something like that)

10. Matt Giraud
I loved his performance of Georgia and his Jackson 5 song! I'll be honest, the Coldplay song kinda freaked me out. :-) He totally redeemed himself though. I hope he can keep his style no matter what the "theme week" is.

11. Megan Joy
In my book, the jury was out on her until she did the wildcard round. She nailed it! I can honestly say I've never seen dancing like that before, but I quite enjoy her quirkiness. Plus, she looks like she might be clumsy like me, so I really like her!

12. Michael Sarver
I'm gonna have to pull a Paula on this one. He's so sweet. I love his story. That little chin dimple is intoxicating. He did his thing. He stayed true to himself. Plus, his wife is gorgeous. Yep.

13. Scott MacIntyre
He's got a beautiful voice. I can't wait to see him more in his element...at the piano. He won my heart when he gave Ryan the high 5. Too cute! Plus, he was throwing down on his choreography. I did feel bad when the Top 9 went down to hug the wildcard winners and just left him at his seat. Not fair!

So if you made it to the end, you were either bored or you're just as addicted to this show as I am.
Now I want to know what you think. Let me know...

Love you!
Melinda

On the BORDERS Tour...

2009-03-05T12:34:00.000-08:00

It has been a crazy couple of weeks!! I've been out on the road promoting the album and last week I visited BORDERS stores in the Northeast - 8 stores in 8 cities in 8 days!! Thanks to everyone who came out in support and a special thanks to everyone at BORDERS who made each visit so much fun!!

Here's a glimpse of what my week was like...

DEBUT MUSIC VIDEO

2009-02-19T19:25:00.000-08:00

Check out my first REAL video... Watch it now:

Eeeeeeeekkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

That's all I have to say! Hehehe...

First Week...

2009-02-06T13:49:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll! First of all I need to say a huge thank you for making this a wonderful release week for me. Your excitement and well wishes have been priceless. I owe you big time for being so wonderful to me. It has been quite a full week and we are just getting started! I am having loads of sleepy fun. Hehehe...

So, a little recap so far...

I got to meet Flava Flav while I was doing an appearance on Good Day New York! It was so exciting. He was one of the sweetest guys. So it was the best way to start off my release day. By the way, Kelley made sure she got a picture with Flav too...which is so out of character for her and happens to be the cutest thing ever!

Then I met up with some guys on Sirius Radio. They have a show called OutQ with Larry and Keith and I don't know when I've had so much fun on the radio! I think I pretty much laughed the entire time. Not really sure if I said anything during the interview because they were so hilarious!!! Oh! Anthony Federov (AI Season 4) was also there, so I got to talk to him for awhile. He's such a sweetie and I love his voice!

I also got to go and be a part of a live web show called Strategy Room on Foxnews.com. I was on a panel there and sat next to none other than RuPaul! May I just say that he is a beautiful man! He was so nice to me...even though we disagreed on whether Heath Ledger deserved an Academy Award nod for the Dark Knight. (I think he did!)

Then my daddy came in town to hang out with us during the Associated Press interview and then take Kelley and I to my favorite spot for apple pie...McCormick and Schmicks!!!! Grandma's upside down apple pie people! My release day was almost complete...

We ended the night with a live video chat watching the first night of Hollywood week on Idol. I will have to say...there is nothing like getting to see what 80 people are thinking as it is happening. Sorry I couldn't keep up with everyone and answer all the questions but we will definitely have to do it again!

So...that was Tuesday! Whew...

On Wednesday, I spent the morning doing a very fun Satellite Tour...thanks Scott! That means I got to sit in a chair and talk to all kinds of cool people both on the radio and on tv. It was really cool to talk to all different cities while I was sitting in one spot.

Then I got to hang with the guys at Newsweek.com. I love how they thing outside of the box with their interviews. Fun for me!
After that, we jumped on the 6 1/2 hour flight to LA and went straight into band rehearsal when we landed. So cool! The band in phenomenal. Can't wait for you to hear them. Your first chance is Wednesday on Ellen! Have I ever mentioned I love Ellen?!?! I am so flippin' excited about going on her show...dream come true!!!

Then yesterday, I got to go do Grammy radio! I got to talk to so many fun DJs and even meet some people I love...Smokey Robinson (oh my gosh!), Eva LaRue from CSI:Miami (I love her...and her 2 gorgeous sisters) and the Jabbawockeez!!!! I love them! Then Kelley thought she saw Blair Underwood, but it turned out to be Wayne Brady. (She's gonna kill me for telling you guys that) He was really cool...I think he may have challenged me to a game of air hockey. I can take him! :-)

And today I got to hang out with two of my favorite TV friends, Kimberly Caldwell and Justin Guarini on TV Guide Idol Wap. It's going to air tonight and all weekend long so check your local listings.

So for those who asked what I was up to...that's a little taste. Sorry it's so long. :-)

By the way...I love you guys and I know that none of this would be possible without your help. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart!
Me

Mohegan Sun Show (+ a Dancing With the Stars Surprise)

2009-02-04T12:20:00.001-08:00

Live Video Chat with Melinda Doolittle - February 3rd @ 8 p.m. EST Don't miss this!!

2009-02-02T20:15:00.001-08:00

Want to watch American Idol with Melinda? She's inviting you to join her on Tuesday, February 3rd @ 8 p.m.! This is a chat you won't want to miss! LIVE VIA VIDEO (bandwidth availability permitting - she's going to be in a hotel so you never know how good the internet connection will be)

MELINDA will be chatting with you live so don't miss this opportunity!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd's OFFICIAL MELINDA DOOLITTLE VIDEO CHAT IS BEING HOSTED BY MOGULUS.com!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE ON TUESDAY NIGHT! THE CHAT WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY @ 8 p.m. EASTERN STANDARD TIME ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd: http://www.mogulus.com/melindadoolittle

YOU'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING AMERICAN IDOL WITH AN AMERICAN IDOL - SOOOO... COMMERCIALS ARE WHEN YOU'LL GET TO TALK THE MOST!

MAKE SURE YOU WISH MELINDA A HAPPY CD RELEASE DAY!

One week...

2009-01-27T16:58:00.000-08:00

Aaaaaaauuuuuuuuggggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm releasing a record in exactly one week! How cool is that?!?!?!

Foxy Mama!

2009-01-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

Fox is my hero!!! First 24, then American Idol and on Monday House is back!!! So, I've been in NYC for most of the shows, but between fox.com and the fact that my hotel has tvs on the elliptical machines, I have seen everything but the first hour of AI in Kansas City. The fact that my flight was cancelled also gave me a little time to catch up. :-) You gotta look for the positive in every situation.

So....here's what I think....24 is back in full effect. Jack Bauer is still my #1! I love him and I am very glad to see Chloe back too. I'm also quite impressed with the female president. She's a firecracker! In case you haven't seen it yet, I won't give anything away, but I will say that 24 did not disappoint...it is still one of the best shows ever and I am so looking forward to this season. A big shout out to fox.com!

American Idol is also back and I am already enjoying the heck out of this season! I'm loving the way they are doing the audition part. Plus, they are being extra clever with the song choices for their montages. Sometimes those make me more excited or weepy than the actual audition. A big shout out to the production staff! My favorites so far...remember I missed the first hour of Kansas City are... (I'm not good with last names, by the way)

Phoenix

Alex!!!!!

Arianna

DeAnna

Simon

Kansas City

Anoop!!!!!!

Danny!!!!!!

Asa!!!!!

Lil Rounds!!!!!!

Honorable Mention

Cactus Boy

Elijah "low voice" Scarlett

Michael Nicewonder (he was the sweetest guy...I had a hard time with that one)

I want to know what you think. Are you loving this new season as much as I am? Are you still too enthralled with the Twlight books to even know that new seasons have started? Are you a Fox lover also? Now don't get me wrong, I also love CBS for Ellen and CSI:Miami...Horatio, Callie and Eric are my favorites. I love ABC for so many different reasons...the list could go on and on...I just happen to have a soft spot in my heart for Fox. Wonder why that is? :-)

*****On a wonderful side note...I just shot a video getting ready for the release of my record!!!! I am mega excited about it and I am having a blast gearing up for February 3rd!!! We will keep you posted on appearances and shows and all the wonderful things that come along with releasing a record. Can't wait to see you guys out there!!!

Love you,

Tell me what you think of the title track of my album - COMING BACK TO YOU! Download Now For FREE!

2009-01-10T18:18:00.001-08:00

Wanted to give all of the friends @ MySpace some FREE MUSIC. You can download the title track of my album "COMING BACK TO YOU" now for free. Go to http://www.melindadoolittle.com/ and get it now!

Make sure you leave some comments telling me what you think!

Very excited to give this to you for free and hear what you think!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T14:45:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to say Happy New Year to everyone. I am so grateful for you all and all you did to make 2008 amazing. I look forward to jumping right into 2009 because I know I have so many wonderful people on this journey with me. I want to say thank you for being a part of my family and for supporting me like none other. I love you guys and I want this to be the best year yet for each of you...so my prayer for you this year is that you will be blessed beyond what you can even imagine and that even your most outrageous dreams begin to come true. Oh! And my mommy says Happy New Year and she loves you all...she called in the middle of me writing this. Well, I’m looking forward to the record releasing in February and then being able to get out and see all of you when we come near you to do shows. I know you’re going to love this awesome band and singers we are taking with us! I do! Can’t wait to see you...I love you!
Me

PS A special thank you to the Backups and the Street Team for all you've done and for the awesome Christmas gifts!!! I love you guys!

Final Christmas Tour Video - A Big Thank You!!!

2008-12-26T09:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas Video

2008-12-24T18:50:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll!
My mommy and I just posted a Christmas video for you! We love you and thank you for all you have done to make this an amazing year! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

You Give Me Flowers, I Give You Videos

2008-12-17T16:52:00.000-08:00

Hey! So I've been on this awesome Christmas Tour with my friend Michael W. Smith and we have had a blast. One of the highlights for me was that, in every city, the Backups sent us beautiful flowers and/or yummy treats.

So, Kelley and I were looking for a way to say thank you and we decided videos were the best way to go. Then the videos started to get a life of their own. Seriously, they have become what everybody on the tour looks forward to...thank you Backups!!!

Here are all of the videos so far:

melindadoolittle.com!!!

2008-12-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Omigosh! I can't believe it! I have a website!!! Like, a true, honest to goodness melindadoolittle.com website! This is the coolest thing ever!!!!!!!

Okay, so now that you think I'm crazy (which is ever so slightly true)...I'll tell you why I'm so excited...

First of all, this means that everything is REALLY happening...my record has a release date, the single does too...AND I get to include you guys on the journey. Secondly, this makes it ultra easy for me to get alot of cool info to you. My hope for this site is that we can use it to get to know each other better. I can show you my own personal pics, videos and adventures. I can also keep you updated with what's happening on the road and we can even chat when we want to! Then, I get to hear from you too. I want to know what you liked and even didn't like about songs, shows, etc.

So...pretty much, I now have my own house that I can invite you to. Welcome, to my living room...have a seat, kick your shoes off (only if you're wearing socks...hehehe) and let's talk!

My New Blog!

2008-11-18T13:05:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll! Just wanted to let you know how crazy excited I am about what's coming up!

I have an actual release date for the record, Coming Back to You, and it is February 3rd!!!! I can't believe this is really happening. It's been the coolest and craziest thing to watch how this has all come together and I can't wait for you guys to hear the whole thing.

Also, along with the record comes some other really cool stuff...my official website will be launched at the end of this month AND if you want to get updates on the record, tour dates or anything else fun and exciting, please text "Melinda" to 66937 and you will know the info when I do. :-)...

Thank you guys for your patience and support as we dive into all of this. I couldn't do any of this without you! (Not really sure why I used a swimming term when I'm scared of water, but you get the point!)

Also, let me know what you think of the new single, It's Your Love!

I love you all and keep dreaming big!

Melinda