Kristy Lee Cook signs with 19 Recordings / Arista Nashville
Cook's '15 Minutes' (USA Today)
American Idol finalist Kristy Lee Cook has signed with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville. Her first single, 15 Minutes of Shame, arrives Aug. 11, and the album follows in the fall. The album is being produced by Brett James, who co-wrote Jesus, Take the Wheel for former Idol champion Carrie Underwood. The signing marks the return for Cook, 24, to Arista Nashville. She was signed to the label as a teen but dropped before recording anything. Cook will record her album while touring with American Idols Live, which kicks off Tuesday in Glendale, Ariz., and runs through Sept. 13.
Whatever
We're going to have to get used to this. American Idol can't hide these ringers as good as they used to. The problem with Kristy Lee Cook is that she knew all of this was for publicity -- so she didn't even try as hard during the show -- unlike some of the other contestants. I mean she didn't even show us her sexy side (Syesha ended up taking that mantle) -- and that was supposed to be her "selling point".
It's kinda sickening that of all people, Kristy Lee Cook would be the first outside of the Davids to announce a record deal. I would think that Michael Johns, Carly Smithson or even Brooke White would get an official announcement first. Kristy Lee? The girl who owned a dozen horses and made it look like she sacrificed everything just to audition for American Idol? C'mon. If you are going to have to manufacture your story, might as well make it as believable as possible. Kristy Lee Cook just looked like she was so unwilling to go with the flow during the show.
My hope is that Kristy Lee goes the Pickler-sexy-mink route and finally show us something. Maybe it might happen on the tour, but I doubt it. Only Syesha Mercado was willing to wear short shorts during the show, and I don't think Kristy Lee is going to do that. You can only get so many fans if the only song you know how to sing is "Amazing Grace". And anybody can sing "God Bless the U.S.A." and not get eliminated on the show so that didn't count.