• First CD album from 'American Idol' winner Kelly Clarkson debuts at #1

  April 23, 2003
  According to the Associated Press, Thankful, the first full-length CD from Kelly Clarkson, winner of the first American Idol competition during the summer of 2002, debuted at #1 this week in music industry sales figures. Kelly Clarkson's CD sold just under 300,000 copies in its first week, easily outdistancing the higher-profile "reunion" CD from 1980s superstar group Fleetwood Mac, which sold less than 75% of Clarkson's total and had to settle for third place in its debut.

• 'American Idol 2' grand finale to air on Tuesday May 20th & Wednesday May 21st

  April 21, 2003
  FOX has announced that second season of "American Idol" will conclude with a two-part live grand finale Tuesday, May 20 (8:00-9:00 PM ET Live/PT Tape Delayed) and Wednesday, May 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET Live/PT Tape Delayed) on FOX. Tuesday evening's show will feature the final competition performances between the two finalists. Wednesday's final episode will reveal the results of America's votes and the next American Idol. The two-night concert spectacular will be broadcast from the Universal Amphitheatre in Hollywood, CA.

• 'American Idol' Gay Idol Journal - "The Billy Joel Hits Edition"

  April 18, 2003
  Larry Johnson, a comedy writer currently working for Disney TV, has posted the latest installment of his weekly 'American Idol' Gay Idol Journal diva rant, an exclusive to the RealityTVWorld American Idol message boards.

• 'American Idol' Gay Idol Journal - "The Billboard #1 Hits Edition"

  April 10, 2003
  Larry Johnson, a comedy writer currently working for Disney TV, has posted the latest installment of his weekly 'American Idol' Gay Idol Journal diva rant, an exclusive to the RealityTVWorld American Idol message boards.

• Former 'American Idol' winner Kelly Clarkson to release first CD album on April 15

  April 9, 2003
  Billboard reports that former American Idol wiinner Kelly Clarkson will finally have her debut CD released on April 15. Entitled Thankful, the RCA release will hit the stores along with a new single with a surprising co-author.

• Kelly Clarkson/Justin Guarini 'American Idol' movie pushed back to June 13 release

  April 9, 2003
  Two Idols at the same time proved to be one too many for Fox. As the hugely successful American Idol 2 approaches its May conclusion, the New York Post reports that Fox has pushed back the release date of the American Idol movie, starring Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, the winner and runner-up in the first American Idol contest, and entitled simply From Justin to Kelly.

• Coca-Cola launches 'American Idol' SIMON Malls mall tour across America, announces 21 locations and dates

  April 7, 2003
  Coca-Cola has announced that it will take its high-profile sponsorship of "American Idol" on the road this spring, with a mall tour featuring performers from the show.

• 'American Idol' Gay Idol Journal - "The Disco Edition"

  April 4, 2003
  Larry Johnson, a comedy writer currently working for Disney TV, has posted the latest installment of his weekly 'American Idol' Gay Idol Journal diva rant, an exclusive to the RealityTVWorld American Idol message boards.

• Coming soon: 'American Idol' video game

  April 3, 2003
  The runaway popularity of Fox's American Idol series has led a British company to turn it into ... a video game? Reuters reports that Codemasters will release versions of American Idol and its British inspiration, Pop Idol, this fall for the PC and the Sony PlayStation 2.

• 'American Idol' finalist Corey Clark disqualified and booted; replacement uncertain

  April 1, 2003
  The Associated Press reports that Corey Clark, one of the nine remaining finalists on American Idol, has been dismissed from further participation in the show for failure to disclose his pending battery charges, effective immediately. No decision has yet been been made about how to handle the show's episodes this week in the wake of his departure.

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