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☆ Mandisa Hundley, ‘American Idol’ Singer and Grammy Winner, Dies at 47
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Christine Hauser | More About Christine Hauser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mandisa Hundley, a gospel singer whose strong vocals were applauded on “American Idol” and who later won a Grammy Award for best contemporary Christian music album, was found dead at her home in Nashville on Thursday. The Media Collective, which represented Ms. Hundley, confirmed her death and said in a statement that the cause was not known. She was a fan favorite on “American Idol” in 2006, but became the fourth of the 12 finalists to be eliminated. As a soul singer, she spoke openly about her love of God, and her music resonated with fans. Ms. Hundley famously stood up to Simon Cowell, the “American Idol” judge, who has a reputation for being intimidating.

Persons: Mandisa Hundley, Idol ”, Hundley, ”, Simon Cowell, Cowell Organizations: Idol, Media Locations: Nashville, Chicago

☆ Beyoncé collaborator Willie Jones got his start on ‘X Factor.’ Now he’s featured on ‘Cowboy Carter’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Willie Jones first popped onto the music scene as a young contestant on the singing competition “X Factor” in 2012. He sang a rendition of Josh Turner’s “Your Man” for his audition, making it through to the live rounds before he was eliminated. Signed with Sony Music, he’s singing his own songs these days that blend the sounds of country music and R&B. He’s joins other emerging country music artists of color featured on “Cowboy Carter,” including Shaboozey, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts. And I just, I need to get through thisOr just get used to it‘Cause time heals everythingI don’t need anythingHallelujahI pray to herI pray to her

Persons: Willie Jones, Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, ”, Simon Cowell, Britney Spears, LA Reid, Demi Lovato, Josh Turner’s, Jones, he’s, He’s, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, “ Organizations: CNN, Sony Music, Block Party Locations: Shreveport , Louisiana, Clovis

☆ 'The Idea of You' soundtrack producer says he wasn't thinking about One Direction while writing music for August Moon
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

This was just 'great pop songs,' or what we thought were great pop songs." Advertisement"You'll see throughout the movie that he's writing 'Dance Before We Walk' and toying with the idea," Kotecha explains. I'm actually not just a manufactured boy band guy, I'm actually a musician and I want to be taken seriously.'" "For the boy band songs," Kotecha explained, "you don't sacrifice the melody for the lyric." "Nostalgia may be kicking in, but I also feel like it's time for another boy band," Kotecha said.

Persons: Hayes Campbell, Kotecha, —, Nicholas Galitzine, Anne Hathaway, Solène, Campbell, Savan, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Michael Showalter, Cathy Schulman, Robinne Lee, I've, Hayes, Carl Falk, Moon, Simon Cowell, Alisha Wetherill, I'm, Harry Styles, Jackson, what's, sister's, NSYNC Organizations: BI, Service, SXSW, Vogue, Amazon Prime Locations: Coachella, Pixar's

☆ X Factor's Simon Cowell said no one should work 5 days: 'it's just pointless'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Studies have shown that the four-day workweek can be beneficial. AdvertisementTV personality and multimillionaire Simon Cowell has gotten on board with the four-day workweek hype and given up working on Fridays because "it's just pointless," he said in an interview with British tabloid The Sun . The 64-year-old said that he used to be a workaholic and clocked in 20 hours of work a day running shows. There is evidence that a four-day workweek can be beneficial. They're seeking out alternatives such as the four-day workweek, working nine days every two weeks, or even opting for so-called "lazy girl jobs" that are low-effort roles with decent pay.

Persons: Simon Cowell, —, multimillionaire Simon Cowell, Cowell, It's, They're Organizations: Service, British

☆ At unicorn startup Carta, a culture of absolute fealty to an erratic and vindictive CEO, employees say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Both men remained valued employees at Carta, with the sales representative even getting promoted just weeks after the alleged "helicopter penis" incident, according to former employees. CEO Henry Ward cofounded Carta, originally called eShares, in 2012 as a service for startups to digitize their paper stock certificates. Today Carta helps startups track their investors, employees manage their equity awards, and venture capitalists administer their funds. The lawsuit says that 10 days after Rogers filed her complaint, Ward "began treating Ms. Rogers in an aggressive and demeaning manner during several meetings." Many of the employees who have spoken out publicly about Carta and Ward have found themselves embroiled in expensive legal battles.

Persons: Lisa Whittaker, Whittaker, Jerry Talton, David Kim, Andrea Lamari, Kim, Henry Ward, Andreessen Horowitz, Ward, Henry, Alex Kurland, Carta, Peter Thiel, Simon Cowell, Talton's, Suzanne Elovic, Elovic, Lamari, Jeff Perry, Perry, salespeople, JT Goodman, Goodman, Goodman didn't, Jeff Perrry, Allie Rogers, Rogers, Rodgers, Rachel Mayes, Ward doesn't, Mayes, Jeff, Jeff Perry countersued, Orrick Herrington, Sutcliffe, Kleiner Perkins, Ellen Pao, Amanda Sheets, Sheets, Pushback, Lindauer, Whitaker, Whittaker wasn't, Barbara Byrne, Byrne, Talton, Joe Osnoss, Osnoss, Heidi Johnson, Johnson Organizations: Carta, UBS, Gold Club, Lightspeed, California Civil Rights Department, Meritech, YouTube, Win, York Stock Exchange, San, San Francisco Superior, San Francisco Superior Court, Barclays, Lehman Brothers, Montana Human Rights Bureau Locations: San Francisco, Brazil, Silicon Valley, California, Palo, Iranian, Lindauer, Silver, Montana

☆ Simon Cowell sold his 6-bedroom London mansion for $19 million amid security fears that left him in 'total shock'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Simon Cowell sold his six-bedroom mansion in London amid fears for his family's safety. The 6-bedroom residence in Kensington was sold for £15 million (about $19 million). Cohort Capital, a real estate private equity firm, provided a £5.5 million ($7 million) loan to the buyer, whose new neighbors will include Ed Sheeran and David Beckham. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe garden of the property on Addison Crescent in Kensington, west London. Cohort Capital disputed reports that the asking price had been reduced by £30 million.

Persons: Simon Cowell, Ed Sheeran, David Beckham, Cowell, Lauren Silverman, Eric, we're, Matt Thame Organizations: Service, Capital, Guardian, Daily, Addison, Press Association, Sun, People Magazine Locations: London, Kensington, Wall, Silicon, Addison Crescent

☆ Mzansi Youth Choir: The South African group that brought Simon Cowell to tears eyes next stage of US singing competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Jackelyn Prager | Jackie Prager | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —On a stage more than 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) away from the small township of Soweto in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Mzansi Youth Choir was seeing their dreams come true before their eyes. Ever since, the choir has been back in South Africa preparing for the next step of their journey. “Coming to the US to perform on the world’s biggest stage, ‘America’s Got Talent,’ is a dream come true,” choir member Zoe Gulwa, 21, told CNN during a recent interview in Johannesburg. The Mzansi Youth Choir is family away from family,” said Mphahlwa. Trae Patton/NBC via Getty ImagesEyes on the prizeThe Mzansi Youth Choir has performed alongside musical talents including Shakira, Beyoncé and South African flutist Wouter Kellerman.

Persons: ‘, Zoe Gulwa, Jane “ Nightbirde ” Marczewski, Simon Cowell, “, ”, Nightbirde, ” Gulwa, would’ve, they’ll, Marina Zaaiman, Zaaiman, Jannie, Jannie Zaaiman, “ They’ve, Trae Patton, Shakira, Wouter Kellerman, America’s, ” “, Keneilwe Melato, It’s Organizations: CNN, NBC, Getty Locations: Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa

☆ Simon Cowell says the sexual assault of a former 'X Factor' contestant was 'horrific and heart-breaking'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Simon Cowell said the sexual assault of an "X Factor" contestant was "horrific" and "heartbreaking." Simon Cowell described the sexual assault of a former "X Factor" contestant as "horrific and heart-breaking" after she criticized the support provided by the show's producers. Spraggan, who performed her own songs in her audition for "The X Factor," pulled out of the show during production, citing illness. "The X Factor" has faced criticism from other former UK contestants over their treatment. The X Factor was produced by Thames [part of Freemantle] and Syco, who were primarily responsible for duty of care towards all of its programme contributors."

Persons: Simon Cowell, Lucy Spraggan, Spraggan, she'd, Rylan Clark, they'd, I'd, Tim Whitby, Spraggan wasn't, Cowell, Lucy, Katie Waissel, Simon Cowell's Organizations: Guardian, Morning, Fremantle, BBC News, ITV, Thames Locations: London, Fremantle

☆ Barack Obama on what 'the most successful people' do differently in their careers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Throughout his career, former President Barack Obama has had the chance to meet — and work with — some of the world's most successful people, from tech billionaires to Nobel Prize laureates. But if you are passionate about your job, and have a genuine interest in the work that you do, you'll set yourself up to have "an extraordinary career," Obama said. "You can't let your failures define you — you have to let your failures teach you," he said. No one's born being good at all things … you become good at things through hard work." Check out:'Focus on unsexy problems': 3 millennial freelancers on how to build a successful careerThis author spent 3 years interviewing over 100 workers—here's the No.

Persons: Barack Obama, Dan Roth, Obama, Bill Gates, who've, Michael Jordan, —, Simon Cowell

☆ What’s on TV This Week: ‘The Idol’ and ‘Dave’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Shivani Gonzalez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Entering its 18th season, the show that celebrates talents and strange party tricks of all kinds is back with its first round of auditions this week. This semi-autobiographical show about the rapper Dave Burd, a.k.a. Lil Dicky, is wrapping up its third season this week with Dave ending his quest to find love. Titanic has had countless retellings; from the 1997 film to many documentaries, there is not a lot left unknown or uncovered. Who was on the ship that sailed away?

☆ America's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell says this advice from his dad inspired his success
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

America's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell said his success was inspired by an early piece of advice from his father. America's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell may be notorious for providing unforgiving advice to wannabe superstars on his TV talent show. But the music mogul-turned-multimillionaire said he wouldn't be where he is today if it wasn't for some early guidance he received from his own father. Speaking at an event in London this week, the British entrepreneur recalled being 12 years old when his dad offered him the advice. "He said: Everyone has a sign on their head and it says 'make me feel important,'" the now-63-year-old recalled at Advertising Week Europe.

☆ A former X Factor contestant studied law so she could sue Simon Cowell's company after the show 'almost ruined my life,' report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A former X Factor contestant told the Sunday Times she plans to sue Simon Cowell's company. Waissel said she sought therapy for PTSD after X Factor, and that Syco failed in its duty of care. "There are so many of us who have been so trapped and it's not fair, there was a huge imbalance in power," Waissel told the newspaper. The X Factor made stars of contestants in both the US and UK, including One Direction, Little Mix, and Camila Cabello. Were you an X Factor contestant?

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Renowned talent scout Simon Cowell is back, but this time he is focused on the social media platform, TikTok. With the international “Got Talent" TV series, “American Idol” and many more projects already under his belt, Cowell is ready to help aspiring musicians on TikTok share their unique sounds with the world. Cowell is partnering with TikTok to give users access to new unnamed songs by famous producers through the service StemDrop, which launches through the TikTok app on Oct. 26. From his Malibu mansion, Cowell shared that his and Martin's mutual interest in a project outside of a conventional TV show came after TikTok sparked in popularity. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Phil Lavelle and Danielle Broadway; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kelly Clarkson reunites with ‘American Idol’ judges at Walk of Fame event
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Kelly Clarkson isn’t forgetting her roots. The singer and talk-show host was joined by her “American Idol” family at the unveiling of her Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Monday. Cowell praised Clarkson and all she’s accomplished since winning the singing competition in its inaugural season. “We were just talking about the moment when you sang ‘Respect,’ and we all looked at each other, and it was like, ‘Oh. He continued: “What was amazing from that moment was, is that you’re not messing around.

Witnessing Arab women flourish on the small screen, showcasing their talents and breaking through the presumption that they are oppressed is widely significant. That is not to say Arab women live in a utopia in the Middle East. The implication is that these Arab women have no depth to their character other than their attire. Just as common are images of Arab women living as concubines in harems waiting to please men. But the achievements of the past week should help to break down the stereotypes surrounding Arab women and inspire them to dream big.

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