There was something unintentionally sad about Kellie Pickler’s appearance. A couple weeks ago, they got comments from Hugh Hefner about the death of his friend and protégée, Anna Nicole Smith and I felt like strangling the guy or at least like putting saltpeter in his fifty gallon Viagra vats.
He might have pulled her from behind the Burger King counter to celebrity, but he had so clearly done nothing to help her defend herself from all Playboy-induced celebrity might bring with it. For the guy who should have known better than anyone to be going, “So sad, such a tragedy,” was a bit like Charles Manson sending Roman Polanski a condolence card after he breaks up with a girlfriend.
This was not the charming, if occasionally irritating, nineteen-year-old who outlasted several better singers with comic timing, perkiness, and a kind of Girl from the Trailer Park Next door charm. This wasn’t even Girls Next Door, the TV show, charm. This was like she’d suddenly acquired all the creepiness of one of the Girls Next Door’s mothers. You know, the ones who visit that show from time to time and manage to witness their daughters living with the closest thing American culture has to a vampire just for the sake of fame, money, and their own reality show.
The look was part Eva Gabor (I guess Green Acres makes some sense), part Dolly Parton (I won’t comment on which two parts), but the new Kellie Pickler was like a punch in the stomach. If this is what American Idol does to more of these wide-eyed young singers in just a year, I need to wash the TV with lye afterwards. It made me feel even more guilty for enjoying the show and promoting it. How do you go from 20 to 40 in just twelve months without vampires being involved?
Compounding all this, she was singing a sad song that she’d co-written about her mother not being in her life. Looking like that, pointing to her shoes, doing yet another sushi joke which gets fewer laughs each time, Kellie Pickler made me want to cry for all the wrong reasons. Idol had made so much about the sadness of her back story, but who’s helping this young lady now? Last year, I was thinking she could be June Carter. Now I’m worried that she’ll be Idol’s version of Anna Nicole.
Of course, it could just be a bad stylist. Speaking of which, at this point in the show would you want to be known as Melinda Doolittle’s stylist? Her look is about the only thing that makes her not already being a star plausible.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Kellie is still Kellie
Since this was the first day Kellie has had this hairstyle and makeup, yes she was the victim of a bad hair and makeup person(s), possibly Idol's people again. It sure wasn't her regular stylist back home. Whoever it was should be fired and forced to eat calamari for 1 year. It was just for 1 day though so by now she's back to the old Kellie.
You also said she outlasted several better singers, well, where are their albums? Kellie was one of the best singers and the best country singer last season. Her gold album Small Town Girl is great and she's the best selling new solo country artist of 2006.
2 - Huh?
Sorry, but you just blew this WAY OUT OF PROPORTION, Chancelucky. :)
Kellie is still the same Kellie.
Her CD is phenomenal. I think it's easily the best out of the ones to come out of Season 6 so far.
This might not have been her best night ever, but if you've followed her on The View, Jay Leno, and countless other appearances on radio, etc., like I have, you would know that she's doing just fine. :)
I appreciate that you like her enough to be concerned, but the truth is that Kellie is doing OK!
3 - Judy
Was that really Kellie? I'm hoping this was a case of a bad, bad stylist. I liked Kellie on AI 5, although her country dumb girl routine got a little old. She was a co-host on the View a while ago and did a great job - kept the dumb girl routine in check - and looked like normal Kellie - cute and perky. I downloaded a few of her songs and love them. Loved the mention of Elliott. here's some current info on him - sorry, couldn't figure out where else to put it. CD drops on 3/20. Has a song on itunes called "Movin' On" that's doing pretty well. His single "Wait for You" was premiered this week on Ryan's radio show - you can find it on Elliott's my space page along with some other tunes from his CD. also a preview of his new video on Ryan's radio homepage. check out his new look!!
4 - Dave
Can we have the review without all the liberal commentary, I'm a student of politics but AI is my guilty pleasure where I don't have to think about the state of the world. Trust me, I spend plenty of my other time thinking about it. Other than that, I enjoyed the review, however the politics were distracting and unnecessary.
5 - Noel
I so agree with what u said about stephanie edwards.... if this was any other year she would have won hands down... she is a fantastic singer... but the only problem is there are 4 more fantastic singers this time... Let's see how far she goes, am expecting as far as LaToya did... This competition is the girls competition.. the guys might as well go home.
6 - chancelucky
First, music and singing in particular will always be a matter of personal taste to an extent. Gold records have some relationship to how good a singer is, but often they're more a function of how well someone is marketed. I would say that Kellie was not necessarily a strong singer technically and still isn't. That shouldn't keep anyone from liking the way she sings better than someone who has more range, control, etc.
I hope I'm wrong about Kellie Pickler. I do hope she's fine...She comes off nice enough on television. I think my biggest worry was what looked to be breast implants, a nose job, and quite possibly a butt implant...on someone that age whose body seemed perfectly attractive if not more attractive before. Obviously I don't know if she did these things, but Ryan's comment strongly suggested at least a boob job. I would say, she came off as reasonably happy and there were no issues a la Paula with incoherence, etc.
So yeah, she's not Anna Nicole Smith at this point, but it more than crossed my mind. My wife's pointed out that Jennifer Hudson doesn't necessarily look much like Jennifer Hudson once did either fwiw. I've even commented myself on the Clay makeover. I'm personally not sure when makeovers become self-mutilation. There was enough there, that I wanted to talk about it.
re: the political commentary, I'm afraid it's the way I write. THere are a lot of really good Idol reviewers who aren't me, some here, who don't mix social commentary with reality tv talk. Dave White who covered the show last year for the Advocate is very funny. Some of the recappers at Fans of Reality TV.com are quite good and they get their reviews out within minutes of it ending sometimes.
I have felt that Idol itself has slipped in some political content on its own this year. I understand that Phil Stacy, among others, maybe be playing a role in boosting "morale", but in WW2 it was pretty standard a la Ted Williams to give up your entertainment/sports career to serve your country, not the other way around. I don't expect AI to be the Smothers Brothers, but I expect some balance with this stuff. I seem to be the only person who's picking up on it. It's quite possible because no one else thinks it's a big deal ore even real.
I hope Elliott does well with his new CD.
It was actually my wife who said that about Stephanie Edwards. I think she's quite good, but what do I know. Last year at this time, I thought Lisa Tucker had a pretty good chance to win.
In any case, thanks to all who read and commented. I'm glad that there are people who disagree with me. It's part of what makes following the show fun.
7 - kelliesmusic
Thank Kellie you got something to write about, even if it makes this blog sound like tabloid trash. I'm sure you can write something useful if you are willing to put a little bit of effort on it. How about global warming for example, or exporting US jobs. Malice, now that's ugly.
8 - Christa
Some reviews are funny and quick-witted, this one is rude and mean-spirited. Of course the show does lack this season, maybe this will be the new trend.
9 - chancelucky
I apprreciate your both taking the time to read and comment.
10 - goE
I like Kellie and really hope she is blessed enough to find the country set with stability and strong enough to resist the others.
As for her guest spot on Idol and the "look", it was truly dreadful. I know I'm dating myself, but when she walked out, my first thought was of Vicki Lawrence on the (very) old Carol Burnett show. Somehow I don't think that was the look she was going for and I do hope it goes away.
11 - Kaonashi
Kelliesmusic- That's funny for you to tell chancelucky and me to write about something else more "important" considering you run a Kellie Pickler fan blog.
12 - chancelucky
I did think Vicki Lawrence as well a little bit, but it might have been more Mama's Family.
Kaonishi,
I think part of being a fan is that you never want anyone to say anything negative about your favorite. It's part of the fun of the show.
I should mention that there actually was a global warming reference in this post, I think he/she just happened to miss it. I've also included comments on outsourcing at least once when I covered the show last year.
I've enjoyed interacting with people from all the different fan bases. The Elliott fans tend to be interesting because they're often like Elliott or the way Elliott comes off, gentle, positive, have a bit of a sesne of humor. The McPheever folk often had something of a crush on her (male and female interestingly enough). The Bucky fans were very soft spoken, didn't say a lot, but just rooted the guy on.
Basically, the fans often seem to become fans because they there's some sort of connection to their own personality that they identify with. By far the most passionate ones though seem to be Clay Aiken fans.
I certainly understand Kellie Pickler fans being mad at me this week. I'm honestly just uncomfortable seeing a young lady who has a body 99% of young women would want, make these kind of invasive changes to what God blessed her with. I had a student many years ago who became an Elvis impersonator. He had a fan who gave him the money to get his face changed to look more like Elvis(was in an article in the newspaper so I'm not breaking any confidences). Nice fellow, nice enough looking guy to begin with, but it worried me when I read about it.
A generation ago tatoos were a line you couldn't cross if you weren't in the navy or in a motorcycle gang or Maori. Maybe we're headed there with cosmetic surgery. Again, I don't really know if Kellie did have surgery.
13 - db
this one's a winner!!!
march 20 y'all!
<3 u elliott.
14 - Taratova
Ok, Kelly did look older...oh well.. Broaden her audience to the older crowd.. who knows why..
Now look at Elliott.. Fantastic singer , should have come in first, his voice phenomenal... yet shallow America said he was NOT a favorite because of how he looked.. I loved him as he was. I saw something very special with Elliott. His heart, his humbleness and his enormous talent..
Kelly is also looking for acceptance and it just didn't come off with that new look. Maybe she is trying too hard.. plus everyone and their sister is seeing Anna Nicole on the tube. Maybe the stylists are all trying for the Anna Nicole look.
Let's face it.. half America is so shallow you better look good no matter how talented you are today.. Years ago, talent came through and people were not as shallow. That is why good unique voices were everywhere. Now it is marketing the look and the talent is second .
15 - chancelucky
This year, it's looked like the show is working hard to say "it's all about the singing". I have no idea if it'll work that way in the voting though.
16 - Sherry
I really liked Kellie on AI, she was very cute and had a sweet story. I also purchased her album and like it a lot.
I, too, was a little surprised and disappointed to see her "new look" last week on AI. I think a lot of her charm is her sweetness and innocence, which of course is not what her look was last week.
I've seen articles and pics of her in Country Weekly and she looks like her old self. I'm hoping last weeks appearance is an anomaly and she goes back to the original Kellie that so many enjoyed.
17 - kelliesmusic
Kaonashi and chancelucky, I've read both of your feedback and that's fine. Technically, kelliesmusic is not a blog. It's a news site. Okay, I can be bias coming from Kellie's fan base. But my point is, people can choose to make constructive criticisms. You don't have to be Simon Cowell. It doesn't hurt to be nice. If you have nothing nice to say about somebody then write about something else. It makes the world a lot better. All these negative comments online is the main reason why Yahoo has closed down the discussion boards. People even come up with a name for that, trolls. What do people gain from "attacking" someone? It's rude. And I don't think any of you would want anyone demeaning your looks. Anyway, just try to be nice ... to people. It's not that hard. And chancelucky, it's good to know you wrote articles about important things. That's commendable. Make a difference, in a good way.
18 - kelliesmusic
Just one last note. Her getup on American Idol was just one style. Her stylist may come up with a different style in future appearances. Taratova is right. America is so obsessed with cosmetic perfection and youthfulness, and it's just sad. And we claim to be enlightened and very spiritual people? It doesn't make any sense.
19 - Lea
Kellie looked terrible on AI. As soon as she came out, u knew she had a b$$$ job. It was so obvious. I was so disappointed.
20 - chancelucky
Lea,
It was the first thing I noticed as well.
Kelliesmusic,
I suggest that you write your own review of the show, Kellie Pickler, etc. You do realize you're not following your own advice?
Reviews and public relations are different. In one, you always stress the positive and minimize the negative. In the other, you share your opinions, both positive and negative. If I wwere Kellie Pickler's publicist or running a page for her fans, I'd certainly stick to the positive. I'm not though.
21 - kelliesmusic.com
chancelucky, your comments and suggestions are noted. Thanks.
22 - Victor
The writer of this article is more clueless than the kiddies that run around the AI boards. I hate people who haven't followed Kellie's post AI success and also fail to digest the rational thought that she has been testing out many different looks since the finale. This article is a joke and the comparsions to ANS are a disgrace. I suggest you get out of last season and follow her career now. The nonsense you typed up just proves you have NO knowledge of what Kellie's been up to the last year nor the postive feedback she has received from people who matter.
I don't know how many seasons of AI we have to see to know by now it's not just a singing contest first and foremost. This is a business and only fools still beleive the best singers with ZERO commerical appeal should advance over lesser ones who have the whole package and are much more marketable.
Paris, Lisa, Mandisa, Ace, Bucky, and whoever else you wanna claim deserved it more had a snowballs chance in hell of being bigger than Kellie Pickler. American idol didn't sign them like they did Kellie to a record deal for a reason. She was gonna have more success in music/tv and you knew it than and you should know it now. Kellie's album is selling well and there is a TV show in the works.
She will be the 2nd biggest star from AI5 when it's all said and done. The facts are NOBODY cares in the long run that she fell flat on themes from the stone ages cause motown, jazz, and the standards are not current today anyway. She was great at what she did and that's all that matters and her sound is current.
Chris and Kellie are in high selling genres and you knew exactly what they were from Day one. The others from the Top 12 were all outdated or not sure what style they were best suited for and it still shows. This is why Simon picked them as his Final 2 from the get go cause he knew they would sell and not be a flash in the pan. Thus far the winner/runner up are major letdowns and sinking faster by the week. The hype machine can't even save them. The current pace being set they will be the worst two 1st/2nd place finishers in terms of sales in AI history.
23 - Taratova
Good music will never be outdated. I believe the success of American Idol is so huge because they do sing great OLD songs.. If they sang todays music it would be a flop. I believe we are all craving good music..
I prefer music to have a melody and a beat that does not drag. Some songs today ,their lyrics are all over the place and so redundant that they bore me to death. Then that drag one note style of today is the pits.. As far as old style goes ,it is the best music we ever had!!
24 - chancelucky
Victor,
thanks for taking the time to read and comment. To be honest, I'm one of the people who follows the show for entertainment. I've never bought an AI artist's CD, paid to go to a concert, etc. Yes, what I wrote is based solely on what I saw on the show. Honestly, I'd be very happy to be wrong about Kellie Pickler.
The way I see it, all those from last year who've made CD's are way better off than they were 16 months ago. Who knows how the market sorts stuff out. Kellie's music isn't particularly "new" either, but she does seem to be selling well. Anna Nicole was also one o fthe three or four most successful Playmates ever in her post centerfold career. Success wasn't the issue for her, being dead at 39 was the sad thing.
Taratova,
Last year, they did sing a song written in the last 5 years. I remember that Taylor (I think it was him) cheated and came off the best, everyone else bombed. I even wrote a post about the decline of popular music as a result.
25 - Dory
Kellie was great! Regarding a bxxb job, maybe she was wearing a push-up! She's written some great songs! I'm not a country music fan, but I bought her CD and would buy another when she cuts the second one. Yes, good question: why do they use the "old" songs on Idol? Because of the melodies that show off the singers' range! Nix the monotone one-note "songs?".