Multiple Grammy Award-nominated RnB star Brian McKnight announces full band tour of Australia

Brian McKnight is bringing his full band to Australia. Source: Supplied

 

 

The Daily Telegraph reports

He has written songs for some of the world's biggest artists, now Brian McKnight is heading to Australia to give us a taste of some of his work.

The R&B icon and Grammy award-nominated artist is heading to Sydney in March alongside his full band to wow audiences with his urban show.

"Last time I came by myself, this time I have my whole band and my crew and we will be able to give you the full Brian McKnight experience," McKnight told Confidential.

"It will be a lot more dynamic."

The singer, songwriter and producer has worked with some of music's biggest names including

Mariah Carey, P. Diddy, Justin Timberlake, Nelly and Australia's very own Guy Sebastian.

"Guy is one of the most talented people I have ever met," he said.

"Everyone can sing in a studio but he can sing just as well sitting right next to you.

"I love working with really talented people and he is right at the top of that list. "

American Idol bombs in US, but Ten claims they're happy with local result

The big salaries paid to this year's Idol judges don't look like they've paid off in the season debut. Picture: AP Source: AP

The Daily Telegraph reports

Throwing millions of dollars of cash at hosts Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and Keith Urban hasn't paid off for American Idol producers with the show recording its lowest ratings for a debut episode ever.

Audiences for the season premiere were down 19 per cent on last year's launch episode, which was the previous lowest-ever ratings.

Mariah Carey was paid a rumoured $17 million for her second year on the show, while Nicki Minaj reportedly landed $12 million and Keith Urban, $4 million.

The same episode also premiered on Aussie TV screens last night five hours after it aired in the US to an audience of 539,000, with Ten fast-tracking it to screens before the official ratings period begins.

A Ten spokesperson told Mumbrella that they were happy with the result.

“We’re pleased with how it has started, pleased enough to move it to an earlier timeslot.”

But Emma Ashton, editor of reality TV blog, Reality Ravings, doesn't agree.

"Network Ten would slightly disappointed about the ratings for the start of American Idol considering it is the first big name show to start this year," Ashton told news.com.au.

"They would be hoping Keith Urban who gained a massive following this year on The Voice would lure viewers in."

Editor of TVTonight.com.au, David Knox says the show is no match for The Voice.

"It's not exactly a spectacular start, even accounting for the tough competition for the tennis," he told news.com.au.

"There will be some initial curiosity surrounding Keith Urban but after that it will need to survive on its own terms. It may help Ten's struggling Fridays and lift in its closing stages but this is no contest for The Voice."

Ten had taken out multiple full-page advertisements and heavily promoted the program before its debut.

Seven News was the most watched program for the night with 1.19m, Nine News second (1.14m) Today Tonight third and (1.01m) A Current Affair fourth (960k).

930,000 tuned in to watch the Australian Open tennis coverage on Seven.

American Idol has been largely on a downward trend since 2009 due to fatigue with the concept, an abundance of television talent shows such as The Voice and America's Got Talent.

Some have suggested that the much-publicised sniping between hosts Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj has been a turn off.

Mariah finishes tour on high note

Mariah Carey has finished her Australian tour. Source: AP

The Daily Telegraph reports

After a bumpy tour opener on the Gold Coast last week, Mariah Carey managed to cap her mini- Australian tour on a high when her final show in Melbourne received improved reviews.

The 42-year-old diva, whose opening show was hampered by technical difficulties, appeared to make an extra effort on Saturday night, performing songs not previously included in her two prior shows and making attempts to endear herself to the 15,000-strong crowd - at one point claiming she had taken a liking to VB.

"I figured I had a little Vegemite last time (I was here), so I'd have a splash," she told the crowd while holding up a can of Victoria's famed brew. "I love Melbourne and it's about time I came back."

Carey also showed her generous side, providing VIP fantasy packages for staff from her hotel, the Park Hyatt.

She added a song Fly Like A Bird, which she didn't sing on the Gold Coast or in Sydney, and again introduced the audience to her 18-month-old twins Monroe and Moroccan.

It followed varying reviews for her previous two shows, when critics called her first tour in 17 years everything from "spectacular" to "shallow". Despite what appeared to be an attempt to make amends for the lacklustre response, fans still took to Facebook and Twitter following Saturday night's closer in Melbourne, with many citing the limited set list.

"8 songs ... unbelievable. Between my wife and I we paid over 60 dollars a song. Not impressed, really disappointed. Expected so much more," wrote concert goer Joe Alessi.

Another wrote: "Disappointing evening. She sang beautifully but I have never seen an artist leave the stage so many times."

But another added: "I was at Melb and Sydney shows and thought they were both amazing in their own way."

Pop diva Mariah Carey touches down for new year

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

The Daily Telegraph reports

Singer Mariah Carey arrived in the country at the weekend ahead of her first Australian tour in 15 years and will spend New Year's Eve with her family.

Confidential hears the pop diva, her rapper husband Nick Cannon and the couple's 18-month-old twins Moroccan and Monroe (or Roc and Roe as she calls them) will see in 2013 aboard a luxury yacht on the Great Barrier Reef.

The foursome touched down on the Gold Coast on Friday night via private jet and boarded the boat on Saturday morning, according to our Queensland sources.

Getting the best of both worlds, the couple and their children spent Christmas in snowy US ski capital, Aspen, in Colorado.

It's understood they will sail around the reef before heading to the Gold Coast tomorrow for Carey's first show at Jupiters Casino with Cannon as the support artist with a DJ set.

The family will then head to Sydney for a concert on January 3, before wrapping things up in Melbourne on January 5.

While the shows are highly anticipated, there are plenty of disappointed fans who have been waiting to see the Hero singer since her Butterfly tour in 1998.

The first two gigs sold out in four minutes, but there are a small number of tickets available for the Melbourne show.

News of the tour came as a surprise because Carey has not released new music since 2010, when her second Christmas album came out.

She is one of the most successful female entertainers of all time, selling a staggering 200 million records and the 43-year-old has promised her fans an unforgettable show.

"It is really hard to make sure I see all of my fans around the world," she said.

"It has been a case of waiting for the right time to make the trip."

Nicki Minaj describes Keith Urban as 'perfect' and calming

 

Singer Nicki Minaj. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Kathy McCabe, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Nicki Minaj has proclaimed fellow American Idol judge Keith Urban as "perfect".

The controversial hip-pop princess who clashed with the Queen of Divas, Mariah Carey, said Urban had proven to be "the calm in the midst of the storm".

"He's very handsome and he's very sweet and he is very respectful to his wife," Minaj said. "And yes, he is calming."

Minaj, who brings her Pink Friday Reloaded tour to the Sydney Entertainment Centre on November 30, said she had been surprised by her clash with Carey.

"To be honest, I thought we would have lots of laughs."