news article 25 september

[Inside Australian Idol]

Idol missing mum
From Sydney Confidential
September 25, 2003


KELLY Clarkson may be living the pop star's dream - jetting around the world, staying at the best hotels promoting her new album - but she just wants her mum.

Kelly Clarkson performs in Melbourne.

"I'm looking forward to a couple of days off and my mum is coming down to Sydney," she told Confidential yesterday.

"I haven't seen her for about four months and I'm just looking forward to hanging out with her and getting pampered, I miss her so much."

Clarkson arrives in Sydney tomorrow following brief visits to the UK, Canada and Asia.

"The hardest thing is being away from my family, when you have a hard day at work, you come home to complain to your family and I don't get to do that."

Although she hasn't had a chance to familiarise herself with the current Australian Idol contestants, she is looking forward to hearing the talent when she is a special guest on Monday night's show and she has a few words of advice.

"Don't pick pop songs, choose something that will showcase your talent," she said.

While in Sydney she will be performing at HMV Pitt St tomorrow at 4pm and at Mall Music, Warringah Mall on Saturday at 11.30am. She will also be singing at the NRL grand finals.

The Daily Telegraph

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[Inside Australian Idol]

Idols on the bandwagon
By LUKE DENNEHY
25sep03

THERE'S only one Victorian left in Australian Idol - and he's a Hawthorn supporter.

But on Saturday Rob Mills will be jumping on the Collingwood bandwagon, like many other Victorians, and will be barracking with full force for the Pies.
Mills will join the other nine finalists left in Australian Idol to sing Up There Cazaly and One Day in September.

Just a few months ago Mills was performing in a covers band at the Anglers Tavern in Maribyrnong, and the Red Eagle in Albert Park.

Now he is favourite to win the competition, according to Centrebet.

"Just walking on to the ground is awesome," Mills said yesterday.

"I've been to a preliminary final, but never the Grand Final.

"I've got a couple of mates that are big Collingwood supporters, so I'm doing it for them."

Yesterday the finalists for Australian Idol had their first rehearsal at the MCG for Saturday's big day.

Paulini Curuenavuli, who was the judges' favourite and wowed the crowd last Sunday night with her performance of Don't Leave Me This Way, is just happy to perform at such a big event.

The Sydneysider has only watched a few games of Aussie rules on television in her life.

"I'm just happy to be here, this is such a big event," she said.

"I've never been involved in something like this, it's amazing."

While Mills is the only Victorian left in the competition, Queensland also has just one representative, 19-year-old Levi Kereama, of Brisbane.

The group will spend the rest of the week getting ready for the big day.


Grand battle: Australian Idol finalists Levi Kereama and Rob Mills fight it out for their teams, Brisbane and Collingwood respectively. Picture: Jay Town


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