• 'American Idol' finalist Josh Gracin recalled to Marine duty, leaves live tour

  July 2, 2003
  If music is in Joshua Gracin's future, Uncle Sam wants to reclaim his present. E! Online reports that Gracin, 22, the fourth-place finisher on Fox's American Idol this spring despite being on active duty in the U.S. Marines, has been recalled to his unit and will have to leave the upcoming live tour of Idol finalists.

• 'Idol' finalists Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard keep 1-2 slots on Billboard chart

  June 26, 2003
  Another week, another 1-2 finish. According to Billboard magazine, the two finalists from this spring's American Idol on Fox, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, continue to hold the top 2 slots on both the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 Singles and Billboard/Nielsen SoundScan Hot 100 Single Sales charts. Clay's "This Is The Night" b/w "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on RCA Records holds on to the top spot and also holds #27 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Ruben's "Flying Without Wings" b/w "Superstar" on J Records (RCA's sister label) remains second and is #30 on the Adult Contemporary chart, while the song "Superstar" holds down #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart and #15 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

• 'American Idol 2' live tour outselling 'Idol 1' tour

  June 24, 2003
  According to Billboard, the tour featuring the stars of the second season of Fox's American Idol is outselling the tour that followed the first season. The tour featuring most of the Idol 2 finalists, including Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard (who currently have the top 2 singles in the U.S.), has completely sold out 23 of its 41 venues, and another 10 are close to sell-out level. By contrast, the tour following the first Idol, which featured Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, sold out just 10 of its 30 venues, with just 10 more over 70% capacity.

• 'American Idol' finalists Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard grab top 2 spots on Billboard

  June 19, 2003
  Yesterday, we wondered how the new singles from 'American Idol' finalists Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard would chart with a full week of sales data. Today we know.

• 'American Idol' dominates U.S. singles sales charts

  June 18, 2003
  The American Idol phenomenon marches on. According to the Nielsen SoundScan singles charts, which are based on actual record sales in the U.S., three singles from Idol were in the top 20 for the week ending June 12. In first place, as it had been for at least the previous two weeks, was "God Bless the U.S.A." by the Idol second-season finalists. In sixth place was the Idol finalists' other single, "What the World Needs Now Is Love." Both of these singles appear on All-Time Classic American Love Songs, the compilation album featuring all the Idol finalists.

• 'American Idol' Ruben Studdard to appear in 'Scooby-Doo 2' movie

  June 17, 2003
  TV Guide reports that "American Idol" champ Ruben Studdard has agreed to make a singing cameo in "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed," which is currently shooting in Vancouver.

• Analysis: 'American Idol' winner Ruben Studdard may have real grievance over '205' jerseys

  June 12, 2003
  Does American Idol winner Ruben Studdard have a legitimate grievance with 205 Flava, the company that provided the "205 jerseys" that Ruben wore during the filming of Idol? Further research on our part indicates that the answer is: maybe so.

• 'American Idol' winner Ruben Studdard nixes '205' jerseys, seeks more cash

  June 11, 2003
  Anyone with the illusion that American Idol winner Ruben Studdard valued anything other than cold, hard cash had better skip this article.

• 'American Idol' competition moves to record stores, as three CDs released today

  June 10, 2003
  The wait is over; let the real competition begin. Today, three of the last four American Idol finalists released CDs. Idol 2 winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken released CD singles, which were discussed here, and Idol 1 runner-up Justin Guarini released his first full-length album, cleverly entitled Justin Guarini.

• 'American Idol' Judges' Chairs to be Auctioned

  June 9, 2003
  The American Idol publicity machine cranks on. The Washington Post reports that Idol is going to donate the chairs used by the three judges -- Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell, each autographed by the respective judge -- to various charity auctions.

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