DeGarmo on "Howard Stern," Daughtry on "Oprah," Cook on "SNL" -- No Idle Idols

Simon Fuller, the creator of the reality competition "American Idol," has got to be ecstatic. Everywhere he turns, just like anyone else, there is an "American Idol" alumnus or two popping up, giving an interview, singing, being photographed, appearing seemingly everywhere.

For instance, Diana DeGarmo, the runner-up to Fantasia Barino in Season 3, was on Howard Stern's talk show Monday, November 3. According to Newsday, she was on promoting TNA, an element of WWE, the wrestling federation. DeGarmo was pressured by the eclectic group of guests (two Bunny Ranch hookers, Howard Stern's regulars, and Natalie Maines, who is lead singer for the Dixie Chicks) to go out with Eric Lynch (a.k.a. Eric the Midget), a call-in regular of the show - and admitted Diana DeGarmo fan -- who made his first appearance. DeGarmo said, "We'll see."

And we'll see Chris Daughtry, the fourth place finisher in Season 5 whose first album has sold more than four million copies thus far, on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Election Day. Daughtry will perform on a special live election special Oprah and will appear with Whoopi Goldberg, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, James Carville and Mary Matalin, and members of the "Saturday Night Live" cast.

Diana DeGarmo's and Daughtry's appearances follow that of David Cook, "American Idol" Season 7 winner, who appeared this past weekend on "Saturday Night Live." Cook appeared to promote his new self-titled album coming out on November 18. He sang his current single "Light On," which sits at No. 49 (rising) on Billboard's Pop 100 chart (it peaked at No. 24), and "Declaration," the first track of the twelve new songs on the album.

Cook's main competitor and runner-up for Season 7, David Archuleta, has been all over the place, doing radio interviews, recording, writing on his official website (3500 words, no less) about his upcoming album, also self-titled. His single, "Crush," is currently on its way down the charts, but peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs chart. His new album will hit the stores on November 11.

Cook and Archuleta will be competing with "American Idol" 7^th place Season 3 finisher and Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson, whose first studio album (and, yes, it is self-titled as well) currently rests at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 album chart, after peaking and staying at No. 2 for two weeks. Her new movie, "The Secret Life of Bees," remains in the Top Ten grossing movies at No. 7 (raking in nearly $25.3 in three weeks).

But Jennifer Hudson's personal tragedy continues to play out alongside her stories of success. Funeral services for the Hudson family were held Monday for Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, 57; brother, Jason Hudson, 29; and nephew, Julian King, 7. A private funeral service was held for a select group at the Apostolic Church of God while hundreds of well-wishers, family friends, and fans gathered outside the church.

The three were killed October 24. Donerson and Hudson were found in their South Side Chicago home. Young Julian, Hudson's sister Julia's son, was found in a white SUV three days later on Chicago's West Side. The investigation is ongoing, but no one as yet has been charged in the killings.

"American Idol" returns for Season 8 in January.

Sources:

Newsday.com

DaughtryOfficial.com

The-Movie-Times.com

"Saturday Night Live," NBC Television

Associated Press