Diana's stalker sentenced to 26 months

Diana's cyber-stalker from Australia, Tanya Maree Quattrocchi, was today sentenced to 26 months in jail for her actions. Earlier this month, she pleaded guilty to four charges of cyber-stalking. From an article by The Associated Press:

Judge Lisa Hannan described Quattrocchi's offenses as serious, especially considering they began only six months after she was convicted on similar charges....She has been in custody since January when she was arrested as she sat a computer typing an e-mail pretending to be DeGarmo's mother. The new convictions are for offenses since November 2007.

This is the second time around Quattrocchi has been held accountable for her actions, following a sentence of 150 hours of community service that was handed down to her in 2007.

FOX News profiles Diana for her USO tour activities

Diana was recognized for her charitable contributions to the USO tour in an article that was published on FOXNews.com on Wednesday. In the article, Diana spoke of her time on the tour back in 2006-07 that took her to the Middle East, including Iraq. She talked about visiting with the troops and the inspiration it gave her for her song "Thank You" among other things. Below is an excerpt from the article:

"We spent NYE in Saddam Hussein’s palace in Baghdad, then not even eight hours after we left there was a mortar attack, so as we were going through Germany they asked us if we’d mind going to the hospital and seeing the men, some that were hurt in the mortar attack were already there," DeGarmo reminisced to Pop Tarts in an exclusive interview. "I went through and sat with them and prayed with them. But there was this one young man - he was so young, they kept saying he was so excited to meet us but by the time we got to him he had already fallen asleep and the doctor told us that we had to let him rest because he’d been through a lot. There he was, this young man lying in this hospital bed -- all beaten up, cuts and everything. On his chest he had this huge tattoo of the U.S. Army, he was so proud to be there. It was so humbling; my job is so insignificant compared to what they do on a daily basis. That memory will always stick in my mind."

She also spoke a little to her country music career, informing readers that she began singing country music prior to Idol:

"But most people don’t know I grew up singing country music, that’s what I sang right up until I did ‘Idol.’ Life brings you back full circle, my mom jokes that I came back from the dark side of pop music but I finally came to my senses and knew I had to go back to what I just naturally do."

And Diana also gave her two cents on the trial surrounding her Australian cyber-stalker, Tanya Maree Quattrocchi:

"The only season of 'American Idol' to be aired in Australia and I got a stalker from it," DeGarmo said. "They caught her and she’s in jail. But it was really scary; I had my identity stolen and everything."

Diana stated that she has been looking into the possibility of doing another USO tour.

Diana attends the 'Idol' finale

Before heading back to Nashville following her stint in the Los Angeles production of Back to Bacharach and David, Diana attended the finale of the eighth season of American Idol at the Nokia Theater on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 19-20.

Following the performance episode of the finale, Diana was interviewed by Mike Galanos of HLN's Prime News about the dual roles of amateurs vs. professionals on the show. On the topic, she said:

I think people now realize that "American Idol" is such a launching spot for anyone's career. People that maybe would have not done it a few years ago, saying, "Oh, I'm too professional," maybe take a little bit of a second glance at the show because they realize it's such a launching pad. But I do think it's a little harder for the everyday Joe to get in it.

As for her activities on the red carpet, Diana spoke with many media personnel, including Denise Martin of the LA Times' "Idol Tracker" blog:

3:06 p.m.: Third season runner-up Diana DeGarmo, who's wearing ankle boots along with her part leopard-print, part-bedazzled dress tells us she's been sporting her fluorescent purple locks since November. Her inspiration? Boredom! -- DM

Yahoo! Music's Lyndsey Parker chatted with Diana on the red carpet Wednesday about her hair color and her Unplugged In Nashville EP that's out on iTunes:



She also talked to MTV News about working with Kara DioGuardi in the past and possibly working with her in the future, and Entertainment Weekly caught her dueling "mic lightsabers" with Blake Lewis.

And finally, Diana gave her two cents about the "American Idol Experience" attraction at Walt Disney World.

Diana says farewell to Danny in 'Idol' recap for OK!

Last night's American Idol Top 3 results show was definitely considered to be an exciting one by most viewers, and Diana agreed in her recap for OK! Magazine. She said:

Last night's result show was a high impact, full energy evening that ended with another inevitable sad goodbye.

Diana also picked up on the amount of product placement featured on the show such as Alicia Keys' "Keep a Child Alive" charitable organization and the Ben Stiller summer tent pole blockbuster Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian, and how all the guest performers were squeezed into an hour-long show.

She also reminisced on her days on Idol when she returned home to Snellville, Ga., during the hometown visits Top 3 week, as she wrote:

I remember when I landed back in Atlanta, even though it was kind of muggy and rainy, just like it should be in May in the South, I was soooooo excited just to see trees! I love me some L.A., but y'all can't beat those Georgia pine! :) I think it's great that the show goes back home with each of the contestants in the final three. Not only does that trip give the contestant an extra confidence boost but it also shows them just how much life has changed within three quick months! Ahhhhh... the bittersweet memories.

To finish off her blog, Diana called Danny "full of class" and "a sweet spirit" and said she loved watching his goodbye video.

Diana comments on Top 3 performances for OK!

After watching last night's American Idol Top 3 performance show with fans via a chat on Fancast.com, Diana once again put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and spilled her thoughts on the performances OK! Magazine. Expectantly, Diana did not have one negative thing to say about Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey nor Kris Allen, and instead focused on highlighting all the characteristics that differentiate the three.

Between reminiscing on her time on the show back in its third season and adding tidbits of information on the side, like the fact that she flew from Milwaukee to Nashville with Danny's family, Diana had plenty of comments on not only the performers, but the judges themselves. Of the little spat that took place between judges Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi following Kris' performance of "Apologize" by OneRepublic, Diana said:

Kara picked on him a little too much, but hey, the judges are open to their own opinions — even if we don't like them! BUT! I also think the judges need to be reminded on occasion that the show isn't about their quarrels; it's about the contestants!

Although she seemed to enjoy all six performances, Diana saved her most enthusiastic compliments for Adam's final performance of "Cryin'" by Aerosmith. She said:

The last, but certainly not least, performance of the night was the big, the bad, Adam Lambert, who sang Aerosmith's "Cryin" and took us just close enough to the edge that he pretty much sealed his fate into the finals. We all know that Adam has been a huge contender throughout the competition, but Simon is right that YOU HAVE TO VOTE!!

In her latest prediction of who she thinks will vie for the title of Idol winner next week, Diana said she thought up until this point it was going to be Adam/Danny but after Kris' performance of "Heartless" by Kanye West, she said it was a possibility that he could sneak in the Top 2.

Diana performs "Crazy" at Bluebird Cafe

Diana performed at the Bluebird Cafe back home in Nashville on Saturday for the Forget-Me-Not benefit concert series, which raised money for the Alzheimer’s Association. Watch Diana sing "Crazy" by Patsy Cline courtesy of Steve Moore:

Other artists that performed in the round include Natasha Borzilova, Linda Davis and Michael Peterson. Following the set, Diana rushed back to Los Angeles to be back in time for the next show for Back to Bacharach and David.

Diana ready to perform set at LIFE on Wilshire

Diana will perform a 20-30 minute acoustic set with the guitar player from Back to Bacharach and David at LIFE on Wilshire tomorrow beginning at 9:30 p.m.

The concert is free to the public and will feature songs from her upcoming country release. The venue is located at 6311 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, Calif.

Diana and Tom Lowe interviewed on 90.7 FM KPFK

In the midst of promoting the Los Angeles production of the musical Back to Bacharach and David, Diana and co-star Tom Lowe sat down with Julio Martinez of 90.7 FM KPFK's "Arts In Review" program Thursday for an hour of discussion of the show and other topics.

The program, which is available for download as a podcast on the station's Web site, covered topics including how the two actors originally got involved with the production, what their thoughts were on the 30 songs featured in the show and even a few questions on the two artists' time on American Idol. Audio clips of Diana and her cast mates were interspersed throughout the duration of the interview.

Back2BD's director, Kathy Najimy, also called in for a few minutes to share her thoughts on how the show was going and mentioned that "Diana is 21 years old and she sings these songs like Dionne Warwick" and that she "couldn't even tell you how much she wanted to get Diana" for the part.

The show will close Sun., May 17.

Diana dishes on the Top 4 results for OK!

After attending the previous night's Top 4 performance show and writing up her thoughts for OK! Magazine, Diana commented on this week's results show on Thursday.

Diana thought highly of the final four contestants, so when the results came in that 17-year-old Allison Iraheta was eliminated, it was a little sad for her to go. Diana wrote:

I think that the top 4 for this season has been really great, but I think that Allison deserved to make it at least one more week. Since being on the show, I have kind of figured out how the show tends to "work" and honestly, I thought it would have come down between Allison and Adam Lambert in the finale. I have been wrong before so — believe it or not — this was not the first time! ;)

She also talked up Paula Abdul's performance - her first ever on the show - and No Doubt's performance because she is a big fan. Regarding Paula, Diana said:

Paula's still got the moves and her dancers were lovin' her! The whole performance was over the top, but in a good way. I tend to like that kind of thing. :) Paula was always so nice to me during my Idol days — and still is now — so I will always support her.

She also stated that she thinks it's anyone's game from here on in.

Diana recaps "Rock Night" for OK! Magazine

For the second week, Diana recapped the performances for the eighth season of American Idol. With only four finalists left in the competition, things heated up when they sang songs from the rock catalog and a few pre-show mishaps provided for a scare that caused the audience to evacuate the studio temporarily.

This week, Diana attended the show and was a member of the live studio audience, sitting behind Slash, who served as the contestants' mentor for the week. Below is an excerpt of what was on Diana's mind this week:

For the first time in Idol history, the contestants had to sing duets and, honestly, I don't think it was Idol's brightest idea.

Danny Gokey and Kris Allen sang Styx's "Renegade" — a kick-butt song — and sounded fabulous together, but how in the world were the judges supposed to judge THAT?? Songs for the show can barely be a minute and a half and then when you have to divide that again with another contestant — huh, what, why??

The arrangement done for Kris and Danny didn't give enough "personal shine time" for either of them. That was just plain unfair. The judges gave the guys a hard time, but I was jamming out with them the whole song!

Diana seemed happy with her trip back to the Idol studio, even mentioning that she received a wave from judge Simon Cowell. She had positive things to say about each contestants' performances, commenting that Adam Lambert's "confidence was very obvious from the moment he stepped out on that stage" and how Allison Iraheta "picked a perfect song for her voice."

Cast of Back2BD to sing Anthem at Dodgers game

Diana and her fellow cast mates from Back to Bacharach and David will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Los Angeles Dodgers game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Mon., May 4 at 7:10 p.m. Per a press release issued Wednesday:

The cast of "Back to Bacharach and David," an off-Broadway musical review that gives tribute to the music of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, will sing the National Anthem. Stars include Diana DeGarmo and Tom Lowe of "American Idol" and Susan Mosher of "Hairspray."

Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor of Slumdog Millionaire fame will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the same game.