Taylor Hicks performed new single on Idol... In an ironic twist, Taylor Hicks rocked Idol with country music! Country theme week was not his strongest showing during the 2006 American Idol competition, but he avoided the bottom three and continued on to win the title in Season Five!

As Taylor sang his new single release, Seven Mile Breakdown, from The Distance, Wednesday night, he proved that Taylor Hicks can, in fact, do country! He wowed a new Idol audience that responded with a standing ovation, including its most famous judge and Taylor critic, Simon Cowell. All was water under the bridge as Taylor beamed and Simon smiled and applauded the stellar performance of the American Idol gone country!

The rowdy, bluesy country rock sound was written by Taylor and friend and former band mate, Wynn Christian. Backup includes some fine slide guitar work by Doyle Bramhall II. "Seven Mile Breakdown” is the second single released by Taylor from The Distance, out now on his own record label, Modern Whomp Records. It is already getting radio play in contests like the one from Memphis where fans called in to vote for Seven Mile Breakdown or a competing song. It won the first night, but fell to Martina McBride on the second.

It's a wrap on second music video...
No word yet on a release date for the images captured in a new music video for Seven Mile Breakdown by Portland, OR videographer, Spence Nicholson. The film director has tweeted that video wrapped up last Monday.
The latest from the phone in the cone...
Good news: "Tweeples I'm in the cone in costa mesa..I feel safe from swine flu in here.” You can follow the cone confabs at http://www.twitter.com/TaylorRHicks

Teen Angel spends "cool time" in Costa Mesa...
"Teen Angel makes a surprising and novel entrance – I won't divulge the secret, but I will say that Hicks seems to be having a cool time with it. (Yes, that was a hint.) Hicks reportedly helped design his outfit, a midnight blue Elvis number studded with rhinestones, and he added a few horn lines to Teen Angel's sole number, "Beauty School Dropout." While he's no natural in a musical-comedy role (this is his first foray into Broadway), Hicks appears to be enjoying himself thoroughly, and it's his undeniable charisma as much as the gaudy trappings of the number that brings the house down."(Paul Hodgins-The Orange County Register)

"Grease" continues its two week run at Orance County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, CA April 28 – May 10. Grease Tour Schedule

Taylor tees off in Regions Golf Classic...
Sports Illustrated calls it the Number One Event on the Champions Tour. Taylor started his golfing here as a caddy and now returns as a celebrity player in the 2009 Regions at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Ross Bride Resort and Spa in Hoover, Al on May 13 - May 17, 2009. Tour players are joined by celebrities including Nick Saban, Bart Starr, Jeff Fisher, Taylor Hicks, Phil Niekro and Vince Gill.

THIS WEEK'S MUST SEE VIDEO
                          screencap by san from Gypsee's capture
No contest here! Taylor's appearance on AI was captured by Gypsee and it is on the media board. Also, the interview afterwards with Simon and Randy sitting with Taylor giving him advice about going country is priceless.
Taylor on American Idol

~~screen cap upper left by Gypsee from Taylor's AI appearance_please do not repost.