Rising Star premieres TONIGHT on ABC at 9/8/7 pm — we will be live blogging the premiere, and you’ll be able to vote in real time using the show’s official app. Please note: live voting is only available to viewers in the Eastern and Mountain time zones. SORRY! Click to download the voting app to your smartphone.
If Rising Star isn’t your thing — NBC is counterprogramming with a new audition episode of America’s Got Talent airing at 9/8c. We’ll have a discussion post and will share highlight videos from that broadcast as well; additional commentary will follow from the team.
Jennifer Lopez joins Aussie X Factor as a guest judge — Jennifer Lopez will appear as a guest judge for three episodes of The X Factor Australia, beginning with the series’ upcoming run in July. She’ll participate during the “home visits” portion, when mentors meet with contestants for focused coaching. The main judging panel returns with Redfoo, Dannii Minogue, Ronan Keating and Natalie Bassingthwaighte, and Lopez’s guest stint adds international star power to the season. – Read more at the News Daily AU
Christina Grimmie hits the road with The Voice tour — Christina Grimmie, currently performing on The Voice tour, says she has “a lot of big things coming up.” She’s hopeful to release a single soon and has been meeting many industry contacts while on the road. Grimmie described the period as an exciting time full of new opportunities. – Read more at Burlington County Times
Christina with a representative from Island Records
Grimmie shared a photo on social media a few weeks ago with a rep from Island Records, captioning it playfully: “Hangin w the maaaan from Island Records yooooo!”
Josh Groban: more than a host on Rising Star — Executive producer Nicolle Yaron told Zap2it that the show sought a host who would be deeply involved with contestants, not just a familiar face on stage. Josh Groban was chosen for his warmth, humor and vocal expertise. In addition to hosting duties, Groban will serve as a mentor and advocate for performers — someone who can coach their vocal choices and defend them when necessary. Groban himself has said he didn’t want to be “just a talking head”; he wants to work directly with singers to help them bring out what makes their performances special before they face the show’s imposing interactive wall. – Read more at Zap2it
Jennifer Hudson to perform at Chicago Pride Fest — Jennifer Hudson will take the stage at Chicago’s Pride Fest, where she plans to showcase mostly new material from her upcoming album. Hudson said she’s assembled a playlist for the set and is excited about sharing new songs with the audience, though she’ll include a few familiar tracks as well. The performance is positioned as a preview of her new sound and a chance for fans to hear fresh music live. – Read more at Chicago Pride
From The Voice to Firefly: Caroline Glaser on life after the show — Caroline Glaser described how her life shifted dramatically after appearing on The Voice. At the time she was attending the University of Kansas in Lawrence and unsure of her path; competing on the show changed everything. Since then she’s been busy with music, writing and touring, and she’s preparing to release a six-song EP that she hopes listeners will enjoy. Her story highlights the momentum that can follow reality-show exposure when artists keep working and evolving. – Read more at Milford Beacon
These items reflect the latest in televised talent programming, concert previews and artist development. Whether you’re tuning in for Rising Star’s interactive format, checking out a new episode of America’s Got Talent, or following artists like Christina Grimmie, Jennifer Hudson and Caroline Glaser as they release new music and tour, there’s a steady stream of music and entertainment news this week to keep fans engaged.