Melinda wishes everyone a Merry Christmas!

Melinda's First Album, "Coming Back to You," Releases February 3rd!

Check out her album samples here.

Go to Melinda's new website to keep up with her recent developments.

Melinda Kicks Off the "Rock the Vote" Tour

Rock the Vote kicks off Road Trip in Nashville with Melinda Doolittle, others

STAFF

Youth-focused voter registration/education organization Rock the Vote takes its agenda on the road this month with "The Road Trip '08," which kicks off here in Nashville on Saturday, Sept. 13 with American Idol alum Melinda Doolittle, at Belmont University.

Doolittle will be joined by a group of other local musicians to be announced, along with, RTV's press folks say, "guest speakers from the areas of politics, sports, film and TV to spread the word."

That word is the importance of registering to vote, and to that end, the organization will bring along a Road Trip tour bus stocked with computer kiosks that'll offer attendees the chance to register and learn about the election. The bus' colorful design came via artist Shepard Fairey, whose “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” campaign earned its share of youthful fans.

More information (and downloadable voter registration forms, among other bits of election info) can be found on Rock the Vote's website, www.rockthevote.com.

Full Road Trip '08 city itinerary:
September 13 - Nashville, TN
September 15 – Blacksburg, VA
September 16 – Richmond, VA
September 18 & 19 - Philadelphia, PA
September 20 – State College, PA
September 21 - Pittsburgh, PA
September 24 - Akron, OH
September 25 - Cleveland, OH
September 26 - Kent, OH
September 27 - Columbus, OH
September 28 - Cincinnati, OH
September 30 - Bloomington, IN
October 2 - St. Louis, MO
October 4 – Iowa City, IA
October 6 - Minneapolis, MN

Melinda Appears on the "Billy: The Early Years" Soundtrack with Michael W. Smith

According to the Belmont Alumni news page, Melinda is one of the various artists featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming Billy Graham biopic, called "Billy: The Early Years." You can purchase it here, to be released October 7th.

August 26, 2008

Alumni Featured on Billy Graham Movie Soundtrack

According to Beverly Keel's column in Tuesday's Tennessean, three Belmont alumni will be featured on a soundtrack inspired by the upcoming film Billy: The Early Years, an Oct. 10 movie release that chronicles the life of Rev. Billy Graham. The soundtrack, which releases Oct. 7, includes the song "Almost Persuaded" by Josh Turner as well as a track by Brad Paisley. Alumna and "American Idol" finalist Melinda Doolittle also offers a duet with Michael W. Smith on the Craig Wiseman tune "Amazing Love."

The Billy Graham movie premieres on October 1oth. See the trailer below.

Melinda Signs Her Record Label with Fall Album Due

• Entertainment Weekly reports that former American Idol finalist and Brentwood resident Melinda Doolittle has signed a deal with independent label Hi Fi Recordings and will release an album this fall.

Melinda Sings on Today Show Wedding

If you followed the wedding of Darnell and LaDonna Suggs' wedding on The Today Show, you'll be familiar with Melinda's singing at their wedding. Not only was she a surprise guest, she is also cousin to LaDonna, an additional impact to the surprise. Here are Melinda's performances:

"Never Felt This Way"



"Love You I Do"

Happy Valentine's Day from Melinda!

With her new single, "My Funny Valentine"

Melinda (and Chris) sponsors Edy's Slow Churned Idol Ice Cream

Sampling A Scoop Of Hollywood Fun

(NAPSI)-If you watch reality TV, you know that Americans love to pick a winner--and now there's a chance to choose from five delicious new contestants.

That's because a favorite brand of light ice cream has introduced its second-season lineup of "American Idol" light ice cream flavors. Ice cream lovers can sample this year's hopefuls and cast a vote for their favorite flavor--offering a scoop of Hollywood fun for the entire family.

These Dreyer's/Edy's Slow Churned light ice cream flavors will have a sweet opportunity to shine in the spotlight while dishing up their individual personalities:

Cheesecake Diva: This delightful diva may catch your eye with its creamy, luxurious cheesecake light ice cream that commands the spotlight with decadent brownie bites and an entourage of fudge swirls.

Cookies 'n Dreamz: The stuff that dreamz are made of--down-home chocolate light ice cream filled with crunchy pieces of chocolate cookie.

Mint Karaoke Cookie: Who's that dreamboat on stage? Here's an undiscovered star who's ready for prime time: a cool-headed mint light ice cream with a crescendo of chocolate cookies.

Most Orange-inal: This mix-master performs with genuine freshness and flair. Creamy vanilla light ice cream blended with swirls of refreshing orange sorbet creates a sensational new beat.

One Split Wonder: Flash in the carton or here to stay? This flavor hits the stage with rich banana light ice cream swirling with fruit and gooey fudge.

Ice cream lovers and "Idol" fanatics can cast votes for their favorite flavors at Slowchurned.com until May 31. The winning flavor will earn a permanent spot in the Slow Churned light ice cream lineup. Fans who cast a vote before April 29, 2008 will be entered for a chance to win a trip to the "American Idol" finale and other cool prizes.

To celebrate the new flavors, the show's Season Six finalists Melinda Doolittle and Chris Richardson will be hitting the road on a 20-city U.S. tour, performing and meeting fans.

To locate stores that carry the new flavors, visit Dreyer's/Edy's Flavor Finder at Slowchurned.com. But hurry, because these popular flavors may disappear faster than the Idols voted off last week.

"American Idol" finalist Melinda Doolittle wants you to vote. Is it luxurious Cheesecake Diva or dreamy Mint Karaoke Cookie?

Melinda Hosts"Christmas at Belmont," Her Alma Mater

Melinda Doolittle to Host 2007 ‘Christmas at Belmont’

In a media gathering Thursday morning on the fourth floor of Belmont's Inman Center, College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Cynthia Curtis and alumna Melinda Doolittle (’99) jointly announced that Melinda will host the 2007 "Christmas at Belmont" concert, which will be taped live next month. The special will air nationally on PBS Mon., Dec. 24, at 10 p.m. EST after its local premiere on Nashville Public Television (NPT) Thurs., Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. CST. Doolittle was a top finalist on the sixth season of “American Idol,” where she won the hearts and votes of millions of Americans and gathered legions of devoted fans.

Reflecting on her time as a Belmont student, Doolittle said, "I have a lot of wonderful memories from performing at Belmont. I was a part of Belmont Pops, University Chorus, Jazzmin, and Chadasha so I've been performing here for the longest time, even at the Commercial Music showcase. I'm really, really excited to be coming back for 'Christmas at Belmont,' to be given another chance to perform and also to host."

Belmont President Bob Fisher said, "We have a world-class School of Music, and we are delighted that we can bring our students and faculty to national prominence. We are thrilled to welcome Melinda Doolittle back home to Belmont and are grateful to her for hosting 'Christmas at Belmont' and providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our School of Music students to perform with such a talented singer and inspiration. We’re pleased to be partnering again with NPT to produce this signature holiday event for a national and local audience.”

"Christmas at Belmont," a production of NPT with funding from the Beaman Family Foundation and the Jack C. Massey Foundation, will be broadcast this year for the first time from the illustrious Schermerhorn Symphony Center, adding to the grandeur of the signature holiday event in Music City. The concert features a collage of familiar carols, classical masterworks, world music and light-hearted seasonal favorites. More than 400 student voices join with School of Music faculty and the Nashville Children’s Choir to present the annual holiday production.

Dean Curtis noted, "We are just incredibly pleased and excited to have Melinda hosting our 'Christmas at Belmont' this year. For those of us around Belmont who've known Melinda since she was a freshman, she has always been a complete pleasure to work with. What we saw as she participated in the 'American Idol' process is really who she is: she's very humble and yet very talented as a musician and performer."

Doolittle will return to familiar territory as she takes to the "Christmas at Belmont" stage with students and faculty, but in her first ever role as host. Doolittle graduated from Belmont in 1999 with a degree in commercial voice and began her professional singing career as a backup singer for acts such as BeBe and CeCe Winans, Michael McDonald, Kirk Franklin, Aaron Neville, Alabama, Jonny Lang and Anointed. Doolittle emerged from the background to headliner after her successful run on the sixth season of TV juggernaut "American Idol." Since her run on the show, Doolittle performed in the American Idol national tour and has been preparing for her debut album.

Doolittle, who is is taking over hosting duties from fellow School of Music alumnus and country star Josh Turner (’01), said, "Belmont really prepared me for the musical side of things, finding my style and getting used to who I am musically, as well as for the business side, to understand what I was looking at when someone set a contract in front of me. Belmont has been a huge preparation for me."

Another first for the 2007 Christmas at Belmont production is its relocation to the grand Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville. Opened in 2006, the Schermerhorn is one of few venues in the world featuring natural lighting and state-of-the-art acoustics, including motorized acoustic drapes and an acoustical isolation joint that encircles the entire concert hall and prevents sound waves traveling into or out of the hall.

"Our partnership with Belmont University to produce this Christmas special for PBS will bring the musical assets of one of Nashville's premier educational institutions in a prestigious concert hall to a national audience," Beth Curley, Nashville Public Television President and CEO, said. "PBS programming is aired on the nation's 349 public television stations, which means that millions of Americans will have the opportunity to continue to enjoy this beloved holiday tradition from Music City."

'Christmas at Belmont' Showcases Belmont's Musical Talent

From the first notes of "Festival Fanfare of Christmas" to the parting strains of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," the 2007 "Christmas at Belmont" holiday concert again provided undeniable proof of Belmont School of Music students' talent.

Taped live in front of a full house Monday night in the Laura Turner Concert Hall of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the annual performance featured Belmont alumnus Melinda Doolittle ('99) as host for the evening, and she also performed four selections, including "Some Children See Him" with the Nashville Children's Choir and "Joy to the World" with the combined choirs, University Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Sextet.

The taped special will air nationally on PBS Mon., Dec. 24, at 9 p.m. Central after its local premiere on Nashville Public Television (NPT) Thurs., Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. Central. The television production was made possible by generous gifts from The Beaman Family Foundation and The Jack C. Massey Foundation.

Some of Melinda's Performances:

Christmas Time is Here


Joy To the World


Some Children See Him

Melinda Tours on Michael W. Smith's Christmas Tour 2007

American Idol Finalist to Tour With Michael W. Smith

09/02/07

American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle will be hitting the road this winter with Michael W Smith and The Katinas for the ‘It’s A Wonderful Christmas’ tour.

Doolittle is most recently known for her impressive performances on this year’s American Idol competition.

The tour, which kicks off 29 November and wraps up 22 December, will feature songs from Smith’s third Christmas release and twentieth album, It’s A Wonderful Christmas. The album debuts 16 October.

Smith recorded the album in London's famous Abbey Road Studios in May with a 67-piece symphony before the music was arranged by David Hamilton. He says the music is "epic, symphonic and cinematic".

Smith originally intended to record a classic Christmas album, but when he got into the studio, he was allegedly struck with a ‘rush of inspiration’ and wrote several pieces of original music.

The album will feature three choirs, one being The Choristers of Reigate St Mary's, a London based boy’s choir directed by John Tobin and featuring 16 members in ages ranging from eight to 12 years.

VIEW THE TOUR DATES NOW!

SAMPLE "IT'S A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS" NOW!

See one of Melinda's performances below:

Melinda Doolittle comes to DC!

Melinda Sings on American Idol Tour 2007

Friday, July 6
BankAtlantic Center
Sunrise, FL

Saturday, July 7
St. Pete Times Forum
Tampa, FL

Sunday, July 8
Jacksonville Vet. Mem. Arena
Jacksonville, FL

Tuesday, July 10
BiLo Center
Greenville, SC

Wednesday, July 11
Nashville Arena
Nashville, TN

Thursday, July 12
BJCC Arena
Birmingham, AL

Friday, July 13
ALLTEL Arena
North Little Rock, AR

Sunday, July 15
Toyota Center
Houston, TX

Monday, July 16
AT&T Center
San Antonio, TX

Wednesday, July 18
Jobing.com Arena
Glendale, AZ

Thursday, July 19
San Diego Sports Arena
San Diego, CA

Friday, July 20
SaveMart Center
Fresno, CA

Sunday, July 22
Honda Center
Anaheim, CA (Tickets available Sunday, May 20 at 12PM)

Monday, July 23
Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA (Tickets available Sunday, May 20 at 12PM)

Tuesday, July 24
HP Pavilion at San Jose
San Jose, CA

Wednesday, July 25
ARCO Arena
Sacramento, CA

Friday, July 27
Tacoma Dome
Tacoma, WA

Saturday, July 28
Rose Garden
Portland, OR

Monday, July 30
The Idaho Center
Nampa, ID

Tuesday, July 31
Energy Solutions Arena
Salt Lake City, UT

Friday, August 3
Qwest Center
Omaha, NE

Saturday, August 4
Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, MN

Sunday, August 5
Bradley Center
Milwaukee, WI

Tuesday, August 7
Allstate Arena
Rosemont, IL

Wednesday, August 8
MARK of the Quad Cities
Moline, IL

Thursday, August 9
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, MO

Saturday, August 11
Schottenstein Center
Columbus, OH

Sunday, August 12
Palace at Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills, MI

Monday, August 13
Wolstein Center
Cleveland, OH

Tuesday, August 14
Air Canada Centre Fri, May 18 10am
Toronto, ON (Tickets available Friday, May 18 at 10AM)

Thursday, August 16
Indiana State Fair
Indianapolis, IN

Friday, August 17
Kentucky State Fair
Louisville, KY

Saturday, August 18
Missouri State Fair
Sedalia, MO

Sunday, August 19
Iowa State Fair
Des Moines, IA

Wednesday, August 22
Mellon Arena
Pittsburgh, PA

Thursday, August 23
BlueCross Arena
Rochester, NY

Friday, August 24
Nassau Coliseum
Long Island, NY

Monday, August 27
Hartford Civic Center
Hartford, CT

Tuesday, August 28
Continental Airlines Arena
E. Rutherford, NJ

Thursday, August 30
Times Union Center
Albany, NY

Saturday, September 1
Allentown Fair
Allentown, PA

Sunday, September 2
New York State Fair
Syracuse, NY

Tuesday, September 4
Cumberland County Civic Center
Portland, ME

Wednesday, September 5
DCU Center
Worcester, MA

Friday, September 7
Wachovia Center
Philadelphia, PA

Saturday, September 8
Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ

Sunday, September 9
Verizon Center
Washington, DC

Tuesday, September 11
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, NC

Wednesday, September 12
The Arena at Gwinnett Center
Duluth, GA

Thursday, September 13
FedExForum
Memphis, TN

Saturday, September 15
Big Sandy Superstore Arena
Huntington, WV

Sunday, September 16
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, VA

Tuesday, September 18
Hampton Coliseum
Hampton, VA

Wednesday, September 19
1st Mariner Arena
Baltimore, MD

Thursday, September 20
Arena at Harbor Yard
Bridgeport, CT

Saturday, September 22
Verizon Wireless Arena
Manchester, NH

Melinda Sings "God Bless America" with Jordin and Blake at Macy's 4th of July Celebration

Melinda hits the morning show circuit

The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet


Good Morning New York


Regis & Kelly


Entertainment Weekly


Fox 5 News

Melinda's American Idol Complete Performance Video Anthology

Watch a complete compilation of all of her performances and interviews together below:

Melinda Performs with the Winans during the Finale

Melinda sings "Hold up the Light" with Bebe and Cece Winans, the gospel sibling duo for whom she used to sing backup, now singing lead with them.

Ryan Seacrest interviews Melinda after placing third

Melinda is not voted into the Finale - Finishes Third

Melinda's Top 3 Performances - Various Choice Week

5/15/07: Melinda performs 3 songs:

Judge's Choice (Randy Jackson): "I Believe in You and Me" by Whitney Houston

Producer's Choice: "Nutbush City Limits" by Ike and Tina Turner

Contestant's Choice: "I'm a Woman" by Peggy Lee

5/16/07: Melinda is voted off of American Idol - does not advance to the Finale

Jay Leno interviews the Top 3 Finalists with Melinda

Melinda's Top 4 Finalist Interview

Melinda's Top 4 Performances - Barry Gibb/BeeGees Week

5/8/07: Melinda sings "Love You Inside Out" and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by the BeeGee's for Barry Gibb/Disco Week

5/9/07: Voted into the Top 3 Finals

Melinda goes back for a home visit

Melinda gets to go back home to Brentwood/Nashville, TN to her alma mater, Belmont University, among other stops.

Melinda's Top 6 Performances - Inspirational and Rock Weeks

The Top 6 Finalists stayed around for two weeks, since the charity "Idol Gives Back" aired during the Top 6 performances and no one was eliminated that week. Two contestants were eliminated during the second week of the Top 6 performing instead.

4/24/07: Performs "There Will Come a Day" by Faith Hill for Idol Gives Back/Inspirational Week

4/25/07: Stays in Top 6 Competition (no eliminations this week)

5/1/07: Melinda sings "Have a Nice Day" by Bon Jovi for Bon Jovi/Rock week

5/2/07: Continues into the Top 4 Finals (2 eliminations this week)

Melinda's Top 7 Performance - Martina McBride/Country Week

4/17/07: Performs "Trouble is a Woman" by Julie Reeves for Martina McBride/Country Week

4/18/07: Voted into the Top 6 Finals

Melinda's Top 8 Performance - J.Lo/Latin Week

4/10/07: Sings "Sway" by Jennifer Lopez for the J.Lo/Latin Week in the Final 8 Competition

4/11/07: Moves into the Top 7 Finals

Melinda's Top 9 Performance - Tony Bennett/Swing Week

4/03/07: Sings "I Got Rhythm" for Tony Bennett/Swing Week in the Final 9 Competition

4/04/07: Voted into the Top 8 Finals

Melinda's Top 10 Performance - Gwen Stefani Week

3/27/07: Performs "Heaven Knows" by Donna Summer for Gwen Stefani week in the Top 10 Competiton

3/28/07: Moves on into the Top 9 Competition

Melinda's Top 11 Performance - British Invasion Week

3/20/07: Performs "As Long as He Needs Me" from Oliver! for the British Invasion week in the Top 11 Competition

3/21/07: Continues into the Top 10 Finals

Melinda's Top 12 Performance - Diana Ross Week

3/13/07: Performs "Home" from The Wiz for the Diana Ross week in the Top 12 Competition

3/14/07: Continues into the Top 11 Finals

Melinda's Top 16 Performance

3/07/07: Melinda performs "I'm a Woman" by Peggy Lee in the Top 16 Competition

3/08/07: She is voted into the Top 12 Contestants

Melinda's Top 20 Performance

2/28/07: Performs "My Funny Valentine" by Frank Sinatra in the Top 20 Competition

3/01/07: Voted to advance to the Top 16 Contestants

Melinda's Top 24 Performance

2/20/07: Melinda performs "Since You've Been Gone" by Aretha Franklin.

2/21/07: She is voted to go on to the Top 20 Contestants!

Hollywood Week: Melinda makes it forward to the Top 24 Finalists

Melinda finds out that the judges unanimously voted for her to continue in the Top 24 Contestants.

Melinda tries out for American Idol in Memphis

1/24/07: Melinda Auditions for American Idol in Memphis, singing "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder. The judges loved her and she wins the Golden Ticket to Hollywood!