Steven Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith has issued an update on the new album that is set to be released by the group.

Tyler indicated that he has been collaborating with Joe Perry, guitar player for the group, on recording several new songs. In addition, the group announced that it had recently played together at Marti Frederiksen’s Monrovia, California recording studio.

Tyler stated, “I sent Joe a bunch of songs and he sent me a bunch of licks, we’ve e-mailed back and forth with each other. All I need is a few good licks. That’s the way ‘Walk This Way’ was written, one of Joe Perry’s licks and I grabbed the ball and ran with it. And that’s all it takes sometimes.”

Tyler indicated that the band has been going through a rough patch over the past few years. In fact, Aerosmith nearly broke up before an intervention was held and Tyler went into rehab and left the group.

In an interview with Billboard, Tyler said, “Sometimes other people try to keep us apart, so it’s a little difficult. I’m with different management. They’re with different management, they’ve got their lawyers. I’ve got my lawyers. When we get together in a room, magic happens. Things get settled. It’s just hard right now, but who knows what this summer will bring.”

In addition, Tyler also verified that Aerosmith will be playing on American Idol this season.

He stated, “We’re playing the last show of the season. It was always my intention, always, to get Aerosmith on the show. I mean, Joe’s done it, I’m ready for it.”

American Idols Live!, to keep with tradition, is taking to the road this summer to showcase the television show’s 10th season Top 11 finalists.

The arena tour of North America will kick off in Salt Lake City, UT on July 6, before working its across North America and visiting an addition 42 markets. The outing will wrap up on September 10 in Rochester, NY.

On May 13, tickets for the tour will be going on sale via Ticketmaster.

American Idols Live! will feature the Top 11 finalists from this season, including eliminated singers Thia Megia, Stefano Lagone, Pia Toscano, Paul McDonald and Naima Adedapo. Currently, there are still six musicians in the running to win the “American Idol” title: Casey Abrams, Haley Reinhart, Jacob Lusk, James Durbin, Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery.

Katy Perry, armed with her new single “E.T”, graced the ‘American Idol’ stage Thursday night, but the Queen Alien wasn’t alone, Kanye West escorted her throughout the performance.

Donned in a tight bodysuit lit with pink lights, a cape guarding her back and a crown to complete the extraterrestrial get up, Perry performed her new single from her chart topping and top selling release, “Teenage Dream”. Accompanied by six alien-looking back up dancers, she made her grand entrance via a cage shaped like a throne.

And just as when the audience thought Perry’s performance was a solo act, Kanye West, clad in a fur accented leather get up, appeared while rapping simultaneously with the song’s video playing in the background. West and Perry played along each other’s strengths on stage, finishing off the performance with the female pop star running her soft fingers on the rapper’s cheek as she sat back on her throne while the stage gradually dimmed, except for her pink-lit costume wrapping up the special number with just the right amount of drama and spectacle.

This is not the first time for both singers to appear in the hit talent show. Perry showed up last season looking a lot like Elvis Presley while performing “Waking Up in Vegas”. West on the other hand appeared in season 8 and performed “Heartless”, the same song that Kris Allen, that season’s winner, covered which eventually became a hit as well for the ‘Idol’ alum.

One of country music’s biggest names today, the dynamic duo Sugarland, just made its ‘American Idol’ debut on Thursday night. They performed their current single out of their chart topping “Incredible Machine” release, “Stuck Like Glue”, and to say that the performance brought the house down, could be an understatement.

‘Idol’ audiences definitely loved the duo, they were moving to the beat of the song, swaying and bobbing their heads and arms here and there, clapping their hands to every beat and even singing along to the lyrics: “wo-oh, wo-oh, stuck like glue…”. Certainly the audience didn’t mind the twang in Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush’s diction; after all, they might be a little fed up with finalist Scott McCreery, as the show’s “resident” country performer, week after week.

I must say, this song ain’t just a catchy one, it can really stick to your head like glue. And it is also the perfect stress and tension reliever for the night since it was a results night episode for the show, where one finalist gets the boot.

If you can’t get enough of Sugarland, or Jennifer Nettles, you can see her onstage again, this time in tandem with Rihanna as the two perform the latter’s new single, “California King Bed” for the ACM Awards on April 3. The event will be aired by CBS on the same day, at 8 PM.

The rumors that “American Idol” would be allowing fans to vote online are coming true as the show debuts its Internet-based voting program next week.

After the show ends on the evening of Tuesday, March 1, fans will have the opportunity to go to americanidol.com and cast their votes for their favorite performers. They will be required to log onto the “American Idol” voting system using their Facebook information. They must also be eligible to vote for “Idol”. Everyone is allowed to vote a maximum of 50 votes over the Internet after each show has ended. Certainly, this number is not going to be subjected to hackers or any other fraudulent tactics.
Simon Fuller, executive producer and creator of “Idol” stated, “We have been wanting to do online voting for several years, and now Facebook has offered us a secure solution and we are ready to go. The show has always involved a high level of engagement with its viewers through texting and phone voting, and it’s great to expand on this tradition.”

The National Basketball Association was under this same impression before Yao Ming was repeatedly voted in as a starter for the All-Star game.

Fans need not be concerned if they do not have an Internet connection. They can still cast their votes over the phone and through texting, with no limits (a charge will be incurred for texting).

“American Idol” started introduction the best 24 semifinalists on Wednesday, February 23, and will finish announcing them on Thursday, February 24. The semifinals will be held next week when the 12 male singers will sing on Tuesday and the 12 female singers will sing on Wednesday. Thursday’s 2-hour show will be highlighted by the announcement of the finalists for the competition.

Casey James, “American Idol” alum, is joining Sugarland on the road.

The season 9 fan favorite whose debut album will be released this spring by BNA Records, is opening for the country superstars on eight March dates in mainly secondary markets to help him get his legs wet for arena shows.

In a statement that was released to Idol Worship James said, I am very excited.  I think this will be an incredible opportunity for me to play for people who love great music.  I’m so anxious to get out there so I share my new music with all the fans.

Currently James is working on songs in a studio in Nashville for his debut album.  Shortly after he was eliminated from “Idol” he relocated from Texas to Music City.  He finished in third place on “American Idol” where he was well loved for his good looks, easy going nature and blues guitar chops.

In 2010 Sugarland’s tour was one of the most highest grossing outings for the year.  This year they are poised to sell out again.  Tickets for their show at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, Indiana sold over in just a few minutes.

With only months before the new season of ‘American Idol’ kicks in, executives of the long-running singing competition are faced with a huge task of finding a suitable replacement for the show’s brute and heartless judge Simon Cowell, who bid adieu last season to hold judging duties on the American franchise of ‘The X Factor’, which will premiere under the same roof where ‘Idol’ resides for ten years now, Fox network.

The search has already created a silent competition between the two talent shows as Cowell is also seeking people from the music biz , from artists to producers and to record execs, to fill the judging void – or voids – for his new show. As for ‘Idol’, several names have been afloat since the snarky Brit announced his departure.

Famed rocker Chris Isaak has met with Fox execs twice, which heightened more speculations about his possible future role on the show. And with his name seemingly attached as one of the show’s prospects, it also illuminates another concern for the network as the popular talent show looks to its tenth year, the gradual but significant decline of its ratings season after season.

Although Isaak is a recognizable name and face in both music and television, with appearances in ‘Smallville’, ‘Cold Case’ and ‘Eastwick’ and even his own cable show, the ‘Chris Isaak Show’ on Showtime, ‘Idol’ needs a new judge who shares the same level of notoriety – or at least half of it – with Simon Cowell. And while Harry Connick Jr.’s name came up, two other names have surfaced who are closer alternatives in terms of matching Simon’s frankness and spice as a judge – Bret Michaels and Donald Trump. In fact, Michaels was up for the job, even telling Joy Behar in an HLN interview that he “would love to do it” and would definitely “bring it to the table”, whatever “it” meant, we’re sure it’s close to what Simon had always brought to the judges’ table. Despite his shout-out to ‘Idol’ execs and a guest appearance last season, it looks like he won’t be getting a callback. Trump, on the other hand, subtly expressed his interest in holding judging duties for the show, a very familiar task for The Donald since he does the same for his hugely popular NBC reality show, ‘The Apprentice’, where he also sits in as a producer.

The rivalry between ‘Idol’ and ‘X-Factor’ does and will not only involve eyeing the same people to star as judges for both shows, nor will it only be about the shows’ similar nature or the fact that both will be aired by the same network, the rivalry will also add fuel to the ongoing fiery tension between Simon Cowell and American Idol’s other Simon, executive producer Simon Fuller. So while the headhunting circus for both shows seems to be far from over, the days leading to the 2011-2012 TV season will surely be interesting and highly anticipated by every boob tube addict.

The departure of Kara DioGuardi from “American Idol” has been made official by Fox.  Meanwhile the rumor mill over Jennifer Lopez arriving as a judge continues to heat up.  DioGuardi was an “American Idol” judge during the show’s eight as well as ninth season.

DioGuardi said in a statement that Fox issued, I feel it’s the best time for leaving “Idol” right now.  I am looking forward to new challenges.

Show executives offered no reason for the departure of DioGuardi.

Simon Fuller, executive producer and “Idol” creator provided a cryptic quote that suggested the relationship wasn’t completely over.  Fuller said I will miss her being on the show, however I am looking forward to work in music with her for many years.

TMZ.com meanwhile, is reporting that a Lopez deal should wrap up in the days following Labor Day weekend.

Although officially Fox is saying “no comment,” an inside music source has confirmed that the flamboyant singer from Aerosmith late last week finalized negotiations and officially is signed to be one of the judges on “American Idol’s” 10th season.  Wow now there is someone whose makeup is wackier than Paula Abdul’s.

Then there’s the other glitzy woman rumored for a judge’s position.

The diva demands of Jennifer Lopez haven’t put her totally from the running for a spot on the judge’s panel.  However, supposedly she is asking more than $20 million in addition to her own styling, makeup and hair team as well as a dressing room compound.  This doesn’t exactly align with what Fox was thinking.  Particularly since thy are still talking with other big celebrity names.

Probably Tyler could get away with just about anything because he really hasn’t caused a fuss.   However so far what he has asked for mostly is that when he hits television this fall that he look real good.

Like having a top notch makeup and wardrobe team available at all times.  However, trust me, he isn’t being all J.Lo about this.  That’s a very good thing.  Like we’ve been saying ever since Paul left, Idol desperately need s to have someone to bring the crazy makeup and fashion.

What about bringing just the crazy?

That will need to be provided by the next judge, whoever that is.  Any suggestions?  At Fox it’s crunch time right now, so speak up.

When we say Jessica Simpson should be given another thought we are not being at all sarcastic.  It would be Chicken of the Sea meeting music.  Totally awesome.

Ellen DeGeneres just quit American Idol.

DeGeneres is the second judge to leave the Fox talent show, just a couple of months following Simon Cowell’s departure after holding on to the judging post for nine seasons since the show’s conception. As for DeGeneres, her judging stint in “A.I” last season was her first, and now, her last as well.

Based on a statement by the daytime talk show host that was released by the network, she has informed the show’s execs of her plans to bid adieu months ago before the season finale in May, but decided that she “would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next.” Based on her statement, it seems that the judging vacancies have already been completely filled.

DeGeneres is known to have a passion for discovering and giving ample exposure to raw and new talent as what she always does in her NBC daytime talk show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”. In “Idol” however, not only is she tasked into tapping onto new talent, she is also required to criticize and while her form of critique is always positive and most of the time funny, she says that “it was hard for me (her) to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings.”

“It’s not the right fit for me,” Ellen adds.

Meanwhile, rumors have swirled that the show’s fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, has been axed as the creators try to go back to the original three-judge format as the show enters its 10th season.

And although “Idol” producers or even Fox execs would not confirm or deny the reports, “A.I” creators and executives are scheduled to appear at the Television Critics Association (TCA) forum on August 2 in which they are expected to reveal future show plans, among which is who will be occupying the empty seats next to Randy Jackson on the next season of the show.

Among the names that have surfaced as replacements for Cowell and DeGeneres are Aerosmith front man Steve Tyler and Jennifer Lopez.