• 'American Idol 3' announces first audition dates and locations

  July 15, 2003
  The next edition of FOX's "American Idol" might be coming to a city near you. Auditions for the third edition of the popular FOX series "American Idol" are set to start Tuesday, August 5 in Los Angeles and continue to Houston, Atlanta, and New York. Participants will vie for a spot on "American Idol" and a chance at the title and a major recording contract.

• Kelly Clarkson to perform on August 6th '2003 Teen Choice Awards'

  July 10, 2003
  FOX has announced that in a classic cross-promotion move, "chart-topping recording artist and four-time Teen Choice Awards nominee" (oh, and "American Idol" winner too) Kelly Clarkson is set to perform at the "2003 Teen Choice Awards" on Wednesday, Aug. 6 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles will play host to the special, celebrating the hottest teen icons in film, television, music and sports.

• Simon Cowell commits to judging 'American Idol' until 2006

  July 8, 2003
  At the end of the finale of Fox's American Idol in May, acid-tongued judge Simon Cowell discussed his possible departure from the show. Was it merely a negotiating ploy, or was he really burning out from the demands of Idol, its British version Pop Idol, and his new CBS show Cupid? Now we know -- it was merely a negotiating ploy.

• 'American Idol' finalists Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard have CDs delayed until September

  July 3, 2003
  MTV reports that the upcoming full-length CDs from American Idol winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken, both of which were scheduled to be released on August 19, have been delayed until September and will now be released at least a week apart.

• Clay Aiken falls from top spot on Billboard chart but remains top-selling single

  July 3, 2003
  The vague standards for the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart have finally caught up to American Idol finalist Clay Aiken. According to Billboard, Clay's CD single, "This Is The Night" b/w "Bridge Over Troubled Water" fell from first to third on the Hot 100 Singles this week, with Beyonce Knowles's "Crazy In Love" (which is not available as a CD single) taking over at #1. Clay's single retains the top spot on the Billboard/Nielsen SoundScan Hot 100 Singles Sales chart for the third week in a row, however.

• '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.

• Justin Guarini cited for "unsafe boat operation" while hanging out with Kelly Clarkson and friends

  July 1, 2003
  The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Justin Guarini, runner-up in the original "American Idol" series, was ticketed by Grand Prairie police Saturday afternoon after witnesses said he almost ran over a young girl with a personal watercraft at a local lake. According to the report, Justin, along with "Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson and a half dozen or so of their friends, had been taking turns riding the watercraft for most of the day when police cited Justin for "unsafe boat operation" after the early evening incident. The offense is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and a maximum 180 days in jail.

• 'American Idol' movie 'From Justin to Kelly' ends as bonafide flop

  July 1, 2003
  The final verdict is in, and it's not positive for the future acting careers of original American Idol finalists Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini. Their Fox movie From Justin to Kelly, which flopped on its opening weekend, has now become one of the year's biggest cinematic failures. The Associated Press reports that the second-weekend box-office totals for J2K place it merely 16th for the week, with a total box office of just $625,429 despite showing on 1969 screens.

• '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.

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