Monthly ‘Idol’ Roundup: October 2017

The spookiest month of the year is wrapping up, but there was nothing scary about the news we got this month from some of our favorite American Idol contestants. From new music, shows and news of the ABC revival, there is a lot to be excited about, so let’s get right into talking about what tricks and treats they had in store for us…

New Music

Kelly Clarkson’s eighth studio album “Meaning of Life” is out October 27th, 2017 [credit: Atlantic Records]

This past week, Kelly Clarkson released her eighth studio album Meaning of Life. The album is the first to be released on Clarkson’s new label, Atlantic Records, and has been described by the 35-year-old herself as more true to the music she wants to make with it’s R&B and soul stylings. Clarkson also released a new Christmas single entitled “Christmas Eve,” which will compliment the tunes off her holiday hit record Wrapped In Red released back in 2013.

Fellow Idol-contestant-turned-judge-on-The-Voice Jennifer Hudson is featured on a Christmas song of her own called “How Great Thou Art” with acapella super-group Pentatonix. Hudson will also guest on the group’s television special entitled A Very Pentatonix Christmas which airs Monday Nov. 27 at 10 p.m. EST on NBC. An encore performance of the show will also air on Wednesday Dec. 6 at 8 p.m EST on NBC.

For those who didn’t catch Carrie Underwood‘s “Storyteller” tour, the singer is releasing a Live DVD of it on November 17th so fans can watch the show from Madison Square Garden again and again.

Clark Beckham’s new single “You Need” is out now [Credit: Quincy Jones Management]

Season 14 Runner-Up Clark Beckham announced this past month that he signed with music legend Quincy Jones’ label and released two singles: the soulful and true-to-form “I Need” and the uptempo jam “Must Be Hard Being You.” The official release date of Beckham’s album has yet to be announced, but the singer is currently on tour with rapper and pop singer Jon Bellion if you want to check him out!

Season 7 Runner-up David Archuleta has also been busy, playing shows all over the country and dropping his new album Postcards in the Sky this past month. If you’re a fan, be sure to check out the new album and try to catch one of his lives shows!

After starring in Smash and now CBS’s show Scorpion, Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee is back on the music scene with her new album I Fall In Love Too Easily, out Nov. 17. McPhee has already given fans a taste of the album’s jazz sound with the singles “Night and Day” and “Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man).” We can’t wait to hear what else she has in store for us!

Season 15 contestant’s have also been busy, with second and third place contestants La’Porsha Renae and Dalton Rapattoni releasing music videos for their respective singles “Already All Ready” and “Heaven” and fourth place hopeful MacKenzie Bourg  debuting his new single entitled “Lost and Found” which can be found on iTunes and Apple Music.

Newly minted Idol judge Luke Bryan also announced the release of his sixth studio album “What Makes You Country” set for Dec. 8. We can’t wait to hear those new tunes from him!

Appearances & Other News

Season 16’s host Ryan Seacrest and judges, Richie, Perry and Bryan, are picture [Credit: ABC]

Last month, the names of our three Idol judges were still just hushed murmurs in the rumor mill, but we now know that Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan will be joining Katy Perry on the judging panel next season and based on the pictures appearing on the official American Idol twitter, it seems the trio is already hitting it off as they tour the country for the the next round of Idol auditions.

Perry has even taken to holding Idol auditions at the shows for her Witness tour, so if you have Idol dreams and are planning on seeing the show, start picking your songs and get your voice warmed up!

For those who find success at the auditions, host Ryan Seacrest showed off the new Idol golden tickets that they will be received on his talk show with Kelly Ripa.

This month also saw Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips perform a cover of Sam Hunt’s hit “Body Like A Back Road” on the 2017 CMT Awards in honor of Hunt receiving the Ram Truck Song of the Year award. It’s great to hear Phillips branching out into other styles!

If you’re going to be in New York City over the holidays, Season 12 winner Candice Glover will be performing in a holiday special on Broadway with Josh Kaufman (winner of NBC’s The Voice) and Bianca Ryan (winner of NBC’s America’s Got Talent) from Nov. 17 to Dec. 30.

Are you excited to see the new trio of judges next season? Is there any new Idol music that you’ve got on high rotation? Let us know in the comments below!