‘American Idol’ Daily: Idol Nation invades the American Music Awards

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The steady takeover of the music industry by ‘American Idol’ was on full display Sunday night at the American Music Awards. ‘Idol’ alums may not have taken home every last trophy, but Idol Nation has become the largest caucus to be reckoned with in any music conclave. Out on the red carpet was David Cook entertaining the fans, and presenter David Archuleta worked the rope line. Inside Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry and Jordin Sparks all awaited their respective envelopes, with Carrie taking home the Favorite Country Album prize, and Daughtry sweeping up the Favorite Pop/Rock Group. (Our colleague Stephanie Lysaght thought David A. was shortchanged on his rightful stage time.)

What struck me however is how diverse the ‘Idol’ octopus’ tentacles are. What do the above performers have in common? Other than that they could vaguely be called middle-American pop, not too much genre-wise. ‘Idol’-music, once a clear identifiable genre itself, now seems to have become more of a movement with a common ethos sweeping across the genres.

Check out video of all the ‘Idol’ moments at the infallible resource mjsbigblog.

And for the rest of the day’s ‘Idol’ news, keep reading ...

• Season 6’s Navy veteran Phil Stacey has been awarded about the highest honor an Idol can receive -- he will serve as grand marshal of Music City USA’s Christmas parade. Stacey will guide the ‘Christmas Memories’-themed parade through downtown Nashville on Dec. 5.

• Speaking of parades, if you think David Archuleta didn’t get enough screen time in the American Music Awards, then there’s plenty more available when David rides through Manhattan with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. On his MySpace blog, The Chosen One also revealed that the next single from his debut album will be ‘A Little Too Not Over You.’ David writes in his inimitable and humble-to-the-point-of-madness style: ‘That’s CRAZY! I can’t believe a song I helped ... create lol ... is going to be released! There are just a lot of things I’ve been really excited about lately.’

• The Duende from Down Under, Michael Johns, has just completed his mall tour of the Philippines. (Lots of videos available here.) mjsbigblog also reports that Michael’s Christmas single will be out on Dec. 9.

• Despite teetering-on-the-edge-of-the-abyss times for the American auto industry, and despite a study questioning the effectiveness of its ads, Ford Motor Co. has announced it will be returning as a flagship sponsor of ‘American Idol’ this year. According to Broadcasting and Cable magazine, ‘Ford last year spent nearly $78 million on its ‘American Idol’ sponsorship (including commercials), and has spent some $328.5 million over the seven seasons of ‘Idol,’ according to data from TNS Media Intelligence.’

• ‘American Idol’ prepares ye for the way of the Lord: As many fans of the archetypal Season 4 predicted, tragic early departee Anwar Robinson will be Jesus. On the Syracuse stage. Robinson will appear as the Lord and savior in a production of ‘Godspell’ opening Dec. 28 at the Archbold Theatre.

• In a hopeful sign that America is finally getting its priorities straight, a report on civic literacy by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute said 49% of Americans earn a ‘F’ grade when it comes to basic knowledge of its civic institutions. ‘Even more startling,’ the study’s authors wrote, ‘is the fact that over twice as many people know Paula Abdul was a judge on ‘American Idol’ than know that the phrase ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people’ comes from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.’ Fifty-six percent correctly identified judge Abdul’s current shingle compared with 21% who identified the line from the Gettysburg Address. Which leaves for Idol Nation this terrifying statistic -- after seven seasons, and untold volumes of ink spilled chronicling every twist and turn in America’s ruling form of entertainment, 44% of our countrymen still do not know who Paula Abdul is! It’s enough to make an ‘Idol’ watcher want to throw in the towel completely!

But there’s always Season 8 ... in 53 days!

-- Richard Rushfield