Diana blogs about 'Idol' for OK! Magazine

For the second year in a row, Diana wrote up a review of a performance episode of American Idol for OK! Magazine. Now in its eighth season, Idol is still very much a part of Diana's life, as evident in her recap of the performances of songs from the Rat Pack era. Below is a snippet from the recap:

Just as Allison Iraheta did, I sang "Someone To Watch Over Me," but back then we got to sing two songs for Big Band Night. That is only one of the many changes the show has made since MY Idol days!

(Wow, I kinda sounded like my grandmother for a moment there.... So, yeah, back to THIS season!)

I truly believe that Idol has got a very strong top 5 this year. Every season has its "front-runners," "favorites," and "black horses," but based on last night's show I feel strongly that it just could be anyone's game.

Diana was sure to inject her signature candid commentary throughout her piece, and she went on to compare Danny Gokey to Taylor Hicks and that Adam Lambert's performance of "Feeling Good" reminded her of how a band like The White Stripes would cover it.

She also said this is the first full episode of the show she has watched "in a very, very long time."

Diana interviewed by OK! Magazine's Jennifer Birn

Diana spoke with Jennifer Birn of OK! Magazine's blog "Simply Jen" on Monday about her current goings on. The conversation addressed various topics that ranged from Diana's starring role in the Los Angeles production of Back to Bacharach and David to her life back in Nashville (or as Diana likes to call it: "Nashvegas"). Below is a snippet from the interview:

You think of yourself as more of a country star than a pop star?
Correct. Life makes you go full circle for a reason and I grew up listening to country music of course living in the south and at the time when I was first singing, country was the only kind of clean music that a kid can sing. Then pop music flew off of the chart with Nsync, the Backstreet Boys, and Christina Aguilera. That's when I was in middle school, which is a huge melting point for your life and I just thought that pop was where I wanted to be and of course, I did it on Idol and I enjoyed it. I just wasn't happy in the end and everyone said my writing was more country. Life just takes you back to where you want to be and I feel blessed that I can still do country music. I also used to have a wonderful career in musical theatre so it's kind of funny that both of those things are in the same human being. I can go home and my accent comes back and I feel more natural, but as a theater actor I can turn it off and play Maria from Westside story. It's a great life I'm living, I wouldn't want it any other way.

And you're working on John Rich now?
I am. He's a great guy. He's kind of funny, but he's a great guy.

Diana went on to say that of all her friends from the third season of Idol, she keeps in contact the most with Matt Rogers. She also said Kimberley Locke and Bo Bice have become friends from the Idol circle and that she thinks it will come down to Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta for the finale of the current season of the series.

Diana does promo for "60 Seconds of Fame"

Diana yesterday flew to New York City to do promotion for GetScouted.com's "60 Seconds of Fame" talent search, which began accepting entrants on Monday. Diana will play a major role in the contest, which gives those who enter a shot at starring in a nationally-televised commercial in addition to meeting with Diana and Broadway executive producer and director Richard Jay-Alexander.

Before a winner is crowned, however, the finale five hopefuls will perform before Diana and other celebrity judges including Kimberley Locke and Bailey Hanks of MTV's Legally Blonde reality series at the Hard Rock Cafe in NYC's Times Square on Mon., June 8.

LA Times reviews Back2BD

The Los Angeles production of Back to Bacharach and David saw its maiden voyage take off on a strong note Sunday night according to a review that appeared in yesterday's edition of The Los Angeles Times. Of the show's opening night, Charles McNulty wrote:

Pulsating with an onstage band led by musical director Ben Toth and genially choreographed by Javier Velasco, the show is less a jukebox musical than a goosey cabaret. A talented foursome approaches the music in a whimsical vein, never allowing reverence to grow even remotely clammy — always a risk for material in which romance is the alpha and the omega.

Diana DeGarmo, a runner-up on the third season of “American Idol,” maintains a loopy go-go air as she sings her heart out. Tressa Thomas, who possesses the juiciest voice in the group, seems content to snatch spotlighted moments without milking anything. Tom Lowe, another “American Idol” alum, and Susan Mosher, who was part of the show’s original off-Broadway company, are content to hit all the right notes while playing the cut-ups.

As for the kind of crowd that showed up to the musical's premiere, TheWrap.com's Jenny Sundel noted that Nia Vardalos, Helen Hunt, Marisa Tomei, Camryn Manheim, Ricki Lake, Steve Martin and Sheryl Crow.

Diana joins Twitter

Diana has joined another sector of the social networking revolution when she opened her very own Twitter account, which she will use to connect with fans on an entirely new level. Diana's first tweet came at 3:49 p.m. on Tues., April 14, which looks to be the first of many.

So far Diana has used the microblogging site to raise awareness of the musical she's currently starring in, Back to Bacharach and David, by documenting her experiences at rehearsal and her pre-show preparations. Diana has also tweeted about other random musings she felt like sharing with the rest of the world such as how she ate oreos for breakfast one day.

To follow Diana on Twitter, see here.

Benefit concert at Bluebird Cafe set for May 9

Diana is one of nine acts set to perform at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tenn., on Sat., May 9, at a benefit concert in support of the fight against Alzheimer's Disease in the memory of Charles E. Majors.

The night will be divided into two concerts, with Diana scheduled to perform during the late concert from 9:30-11:30 p.m. The cover is $12 for the late show, whereas the early show is free to all. Other artists scheduled to take the stage in the second show include Natasha Borzilova, Linda Davis and Michael Peterson. The show is part of the "Forget-Me-Not" benefit music series..

Although they are not required, reservations are suggested for this event, which is being billed as "an unforgettable night."

Back2BD running through May 17

Diana is currently starring in the musical Back to Bacharach and David, which officially premieres Sunday following three previews that kicked off with a dress rehearsal on Wed., April 15, and will run through May 17. The musical's 23 performances are being held at Los Angeles' The Music Box @ Fonda.

Back2BD is the brainchild of its director, Kathy Najimy, and Steve Gunderson and stars Tom Lowe, Susan Mosher and Tress Thomas in addition to Diana and features the music of songwriting greats Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Some of the songs that are tackled by the cast include past hits like "Walk On By," "I Just Have to Breathe" and "Anyone Who Had a Heart."

In an article published last Friday in The OC Register, Najimy said the following of Diana:

"That's what I like about Diana. As a character, she's memorable. She's got such a personality. She's this brilliant singer and she's not afraid of doing the edgy, crazy sexy stuff. It takes on a life of its own – and she sells it."

In the same article, Diana spoke of the challenges she had in learning the musical's song set:

"I had to step out of my comfort zone. Country music is a little more straightforward than Burt's songs. But I love the challenge of singing something that's not that easy. His songs throw curveballs at you while you're singing and while you're listening. Good music is timeless, whether it's a country song, rock, or R&B."

Tickets, which range anywhere from $25-100, can be purchased online at Etix.com (Cast photo courtesy of Armando Brown).

Diana's stalker denied bail

Diana's Australian stalker of three years, 23-year-old Tanya Maree Quattrocchi, was denied bail on Thursday. According to an article from The Associated Press:

Senior Sergeant Graham Banks said Quattrocchi's victims felt they had endured a nonstop, three-year attack. He told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court that the suspect was at risk of committing further offenses and interfering with witnesses if she were granted bail.

Quattrocchi's mother offered to quit her job and stay with her daughter 24 hours a day to ensure she did not have access to the Internet if she were released.

She now must await another hearing on Mon., May 11. According to EOnline, a new trial is set for October.