Its hard to believe when we first met Jim Verraros, he was only 19 years old. The Season 1 finalist is celebrating his 27^th birthday today! Many people remember Jim as the contestant who was fluent in American Sign Language because both of his parents are deaf.

Jim performed on the first ever semifinals show and advanced to the Top 10 with his performance of When I Fall in Love by Nat King Cole. Although Jim was eliminated during the Top 10s Motown Week, he went on to have a successful career in music. In 2004, he released an album entitled Unsaid and Understood. The indie-CD won an Out Music Award for Outstanding New Recording Debut Male in June of 2004. On April 26, 2005, Jim released his mainstream debut album, Rollercoaster. The album garnered a Tp 20 Billboard Dance Hit with You Turn It On. The song Youre Getting Crazy was also a breakout hit.

This past year has been an exciting one for Jim, who got married on September 6, 2009 in his home state of Illinois.

Happy Birthday, Jim!

View photos of Jim on the groundbreaking season of American Idol.

Season 7s rocker girl, Carly Smithson, and her band, We Are The Fallen, announced their upcoming tour this week. They will be touring with rock group HIM across the United States and Canada, but their tour will kick off in London on 3/23/2010. Tickets are now on sale for most of the shows. This was a big week for We Are The Fallen; the band released their debut single, Bury Me Alive, this past Tuesday.

Here is We Are The Fallens tour schedule:

3/23 Kings College London, GB
3/26 Theatre of the Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
3/27 Sonar Baltimore, MD
3/28 House of Blues Boston Boston, MA
3/30 Metropolis Montreal, QC, CA
3/31 Sound Academy Toronto, Ontario, CA
4/1 House Of Blues Cleveland Cleveland, OH
4/2 Clutch Cargos Pontiac, MI
4/3 Bogarts Cincinatti, OH
4/6 The Orbit Room Grand Rapids, MI
4/7 The Pageant St. Louis, MO
4/9 House of Blues Chicago Chicago, IL
4/10 The Rave Bar Milwaukee, WI
4/13 MacEwan Hall Calgary, AB, CA
4/14 Edmonton Event Centre Edmonton, AB, CA
4/16 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC, CA
4/17 Showbox SoDo Seattle, WA
4/18 Roseland Theatre Portland, OR
4/20 Regency Theatre San Francisco, CA
4/21 House of Blues Anaheim Anaheim, CA
4/22 House of Blues San Diego San Diego, CA
4/23 The Wiltern Los Angeles, CA
4/24 House of Blues Mandalay Las Vegas, NV
4/27 Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO
4/29 House of Blues Dallas, TX
4/30 House of Blues Houston, TX
5/2 House of Blues Orlando, FL
5/3 Center Stage Atlanta, GA
5/4 House of Blues Myrtle Beach, SC
5/6 Irving Plaza New York, NY

AmericanIdol.com caught ... read more

Season 4s Top 12 finalist, Lindsey Cardinale, celebrates her 25^th birthday today. Only 19 years old when the Ponchatoula, Louisiana native auditioned for American Idol, Lindsey showed her smoky vocals singing songs like I Dont Want to Miss a Thing and Knock on Wood. Since her time on American Idol, Lindsey has pursued music, going down the country music route. She released two singles, Drive and Nothin Like a Dream and continues to perform shows around the southern part of the U.S. In fact, Lindsey will be celebrating her birthday in New Mexico today and tomorrow by playing two shows in Red River, and next Saturday she will play a gig in her hometown of Ponchatoula.

"The whole 'American Idol' experience absolutely made me stronger," Lindsey wrote on her MySpace page. "I knew something great was going to come out of it, and now, two years later, I have so many opportunities on my plate. I would never have had that chance had I not decided to go to that first audition. I learned a lot on that show, not only about professionalism, but I also learned that this business isn't always a walk in the park; it's hard work and long days."

Happy Birthday, Lindsey!

View photos of Lindsey and the rest of the Season 4 gang performing on American Idol.

The Road to Hollywood was filled with some very memorable performances and wonderful song choices from the seven hometown audition cities. Here is a list of the songs the contestants sang, as well as the songs that American Idol inserted to set the mood.

Title: Pants on the Ground
Artist Version: Original
Contestant: LARRY PLATT

Title: Cry Baby
Artist Version: Janis Joplin
Contestant: JESSICA FURNEY

Title: Footprints In The Sand
Artist Version: Leona Lewis
Contestant: JESSICA FURNEY

Title: Oops I Did It Again
Artist Version: Britney Spears
Contestant: AMANDA SCHECHTMAN

Title: Good Morning Heartache
Artist Version: Diana Ross
Contestant: AMANDA SCHECHTMAN

Title: Aint No Sunshine
Artist Version: Bill Withers
Contestant: LEE DEWYZE

Title: Piece of My Heart
Artist Version: Janis Joplin
Contestant: <... read more

Season 4's American Idol and five-time Grammy award winner Carrie Underwood has landed a supporting role in her first studio movie Soul Surfer. The inspirational film is based on the autobiography of 19-year-old champion surfer Bethany Hamilton, who, for over six years, has defied all odds to compete and win professional championships after losing her arm in a shark attack at age thirteen. Carrie will play Sarah Hill, a church youth leader. Filming is to take place in February. She showed off her acting chops during Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special last December.

The film also stars Academy Award winner Helen Hunt as Bethanys mother Cheri, Golden Globe nominee Dennis Quaid as Bethanys father Tom, and Young Artist Award winner AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany Hamilton. The cast also includes Lorraine Nicholson (as Alana Blanchard) and Kevin Sorbo (as Holt Blanchard).

Carrie has been extremely busy lately. She collected her fifth Grammy award last Sunday and performed in a Michael Jackson tribute. This Sunday, Carrie will sing the National Anthem at footballs biggest event of the year.

From small-town farm girl to superstar, Carrie has made quite the transformation. Check out her evolving style in our transformation gallery.

In Denver, Colorado we met the good, the bad, and the bikini clad. Contestants chose some great songs, from some classic hits, to Carrie Underwood, to a lot of John Mayer selections. Here are all of the song choices that contestants chose, as well as the tracks that American Idol inserted into the background.

Title: Everytime You Turn Around
Artist Version: Daughtry
Contestant: n/a

Title: Unstoppable
Artist Version: Foxy Shazam
Contestant: n/a

Title: Tempted
Artist Version: Squeeze
Contestant: MARK LABRIOLA II

Title: Feeling A Moment
Artist Version: Feeder
Contestant: n/a

Title: Jailhouse Rock
Artist Version: Elvis
Contestant: MARIO GALVAN

Title: Hate Everyone
Artist Version: Say Anything
Contestant: n/a

Title: The Way I Am
Artist Version: Ingrid Michaelson
Contestant: KIMBERLY KERBOW

Title: Winner
Artist Version: Swingfly
Contestant: n/a

Title: Rise
Artist Version: Gabrielle
<... read more

The excitement has been building, and the moment America has been waiting for is almost here! Ellen DeGeneres joins judges Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest to help winnow down the American Idol contestants during the Hollywood Round beginning Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 8/7c on FOX.

During the Hollywood Round beginning next week, hopefuls from around the nation will endure an intense rehearsal schedule and pressure-packed auditions as they vie for a coveted spot among the Top 24. Contestants will be put to the test during solo performances and group numbers Tuesday, Feb. 9 8/7c, Wednesday, Feb. 10 9/8c and Tuesday, Feb. 16 8/7c as the judges decide who will make it through and who will go home. Finally, on Wednesday, Feb. 17 9/8c, this seasons Top 24 semifinalists will be revealed.

The following week, it will be solely up to America to decide who will garner a spot in the Top 12. On Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 8/7c, the Top 12 female semifinalists take the American Idol stage for the first time to perform LIVE for the judges and for the nation. On this seasons first night of voting, the contestants will sing their hearts out in hopes of winning Americas vote and surviving another week in the competition. Tune ... read more

American Idol Carrie Underwood took home her 5^th Grammy last night at the 52^nd Annual Grammy Awards. She earned the trophy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for I Told You So featuring Randy Travis. In addition to taking home a coveted award, Carrie performed Earth Song with Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Celine Dion, and Smokey Robinson as a tribute to Michael Jackson at last nights award show. Read more about the performance, here.

Now a five-time Grammy Award winner, Carrie is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the 2009 Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, and three-time CMA and ACM Female Vocalist winner. She has amassed more than 11 million in U.S. album sales since her debut CD in 2005, more than any other American Idol winner. Along the way, she has consistently broken new ground and became the first country artist in history to achieve eleven consecutive #1 singles.Carries North American 2010 headline tour, Play On Tour, will launch in March.

This Sunday, Carrie will sing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIV. Find out more about this huge honor.

Congratulations, Carrie Underwood!

During Season 8s Grand Ole Opry week results show, Carrie and Randy Travis performed I Told You So on the American Idol stage. View photosread more