Snoop Dogg – recently re-named Snoop Lion, the reggae artist – has announced that he “will do American Idol.” So far there has been no word from the American Idol officials as to whether or not Snoop Lion will actually be filling the seat of former judge, Steven Tyler, or if he is even being considered for the position.

Part of the problem with having Snoop Lion on as a judge is that the family-friendly show may not mesh well with the former rapper’s personality. Although Snoop promises to clean up his language, his love affair with marijuana may not be toned down enough for the American Idol viewers.

American Idol will start up again in January and they are currently beginning some of the auditions, although not the portions in which they need the judges. The parts in which they record the judges with contestants will begin in fall of this year. So far the show has managed to replace Jennifer Lopez with Mariah Carey who has a one year contract in which she will make $18 million.

Snoop Dogg announced Monday, July 30 that he was converting to Rastafarianism. “I feel like I’ve always been a Rastafari,” he stated. “I just didn’t have my third eye open.” Monday is also when Snoop announced his name change from Snoop Dogg to Snoop Lion. “I want to bury Snoop Dogg and become Snoop Lion”

Prior to the recording of his latest album, “Reincarnation,” Snoop received a blessing from Bob Marley’s son, Rohan, to travel to Jamaica and explore the Rasta culture as well as the life of Bob Marley, immersing himself in the Niyabinghi branch of Rastafarianism. Snoop is also releasing a documentary about his rebirth called ‘Reincarnation’ as well.

So far the reception of the new album has been fairly positive. “If you haven’t seen Snoop recently, he’s gone totally Rasta. He has Bob Marley and Haile Selassie pins – he’s mad Rasta,” Diplo reported to MTV. He also added, “It’s gonna surprise people, but it’s an amazing record. We have some almost rap stuff on the record, but there’s also a lot of singing, because he sings really well and there’s a lot of backing vocals. He was really studying Bob Marley.”

During the press conference in which he discussed his transformation Snoop talked about people who inspired him, “We was looking for the creators, some of the forefathers. Most definitely Bob Marley, off the top, and the Wailers, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy Cliff, Barres, most definitely.”

The new Snoop Lion changed his name during a visit to Jamaica, where the Rasta movement began. Ennis Edmonds, scholar and expert on Rastafarianism at Kenyon College, explained Snoop’s sudden name change by claiming, “Rastas would probably see calling yourself a dog as an indication of lack of self-knowledge.”

In Rastafarianism the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie is considered the messiah and the descendant of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The lion is symbolic of Solomon’s Tribe of Judah and is thus held in high regard with the Rastafari. Bob Marley often sang of the “lion of Zion” and was usually referring to Selassie.

According to Snoop a Rasta priest gave him his new name. Snoop Lion also came back from Jamaica claiming that he is the reincarnation of Bob Marley.

One part of the Rasta religion that Snoop has been heavily involved with over the past few years is the smoking of ganja (marijuana). According to Edmonds, “Marijuana helps them break through the mental boundaries that Babylon has placed upon them and return to their sense of self.” Marijuana is also supposed to make the user feel more peaceful, introspective, and open to communal harmony, according to the religion. Ultimately, this aspect of the religion may in fact be too controversial for the ‘American Idol’ family-friendly atmosphere, which could prevent Snoop being chosen as a judge.

Image Courtesy of   Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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Los Angeles, U.S.A. – American Idol LIVE! returns this summer for another hit tour to showcase this season’s talented top 10 finalists. Launching the careers of many, the American Idol LIVE! Tour is the first chance to see your favorites in concert! The tour launches in Detroit, Michigan at the Joe Louis Arena on Friday, July 6th and wraps up on September 11th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Tickets go on sale Friday, May 11th at 10am via www.AmericanIdol.com,www.ticketmaster.com and www.aeglive.com.  As presenting sponsors of American Idol LIVE! Tour 2012, Chips Ahoy! and RITZ are thrilled to bring the excitement of the tour to their fans in a number of unique ways, from cookie and cracker coupons to a one-of-a-kind consumer promotion. The U.S. Air Force Reserve is an associate sponsor.

American Idol LIVE!  gives fans the unique opportunity to be up close and personal with Idol finalists Colton Dixon, DeAndre Brackensick, Elise Testone, Erika Van Pelt, Heejun Han, Hollie Cavanagh,Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips and Skylar Laine, all of whom were announced on Thursday, March 15th on Fox.     

Iain Pirie, President, 19 Entertainment stated “Every year we are amazed at the extraordinary wealth of untapped talent that is discovered on American Idol and we couldn’t be happier with this season’s top 10 contestants. We are truly excited to bring our contestants on tour across America directly to our fans’ hometowns.”

The American Idol season finale will air on FOX May 23rd, but the fan-favorites will continue on with the 2012 live tour. Past tours have featured stars such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, David Cook, Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Lee DeWyze, Scotty McCreery and so many more. Log on to AmericanIdol.com for full list of dates and links.

Tickets are subject to applicable service charges.

Event time and date subject to change.

For the latest tour and ticketing information please visit:

www.americanidol.com

www.ticketmaster.com

www.aeglive.com

Image Courtesy of  Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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The music of Shelby Tweten has helped her through life’s deepest valleys. This sensational 17-year-old states on her Facebook page that music has changed her life. Now, she wants her music to change the lives of others as well.

Her singing is definitely making an impact already. Her audition for American Idol 2012 in Aspen, Colorado brought tears to judge Jennifer Lopez’s eyes as she exclaimed how beautiful Tweten’s singing was. Tweten earned a Golden Ticket to Hollywood with her stirring audition.

Tweten is currently a student at Mankato West High School in Minnesota. The Mankato Free Press describes her life as a musician and dancer in her hometown. It states that she was often asked to sing the national anthem at various events. One of these events was Mankato Moondogs. She is also a dancer and member of the West Orchesis Dance Team.

The valleys in Tweten’s life have been much deeper and more difficult than her bright eyes show. The wide-eyed, enthusiastic blonde has had more than her fair share of hardships. She disclosed her battle with bipolar disorder and depression to the camera crew of American Idol who visited her in her hometown, North Mankato.

She explained that it causes her to stutter and sometimes even lose control over her body, but that singing helps her through these difficult times. This was evident in her audition – there was no sign of stuttering as the beautiful blonde sang Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home”.

A study claimed that music therapy in people with mental health problems is aimed at creating inspiration and motivation in the patient, amongst other goals. On BipolarTrip.com, fellow sufferer of bipolar disorder, “Roxy Roller”, claims that music therapy improves the quality of life of bipolar sufferers.

Roller states, “Music can help bring back confidence in one’s life, as well as improve one’s self-esteem levels.” Furthermore, Roller is convinced that music therapy brings about positive changes in a sufferer’s mood and emotional states.

Music seems to have been a therapeutic device in Tweten’s own struggle with bipolar disorder. Singing has helped her overcome many obstacles with which this disorder has presented her. During her Idols audition, she told the judges that her mom would sing with her during her hypo-manic episodes. “I’ll sing and it, like, really helps,” she said with a smile on her face. Even before she sang to the judges, she told them, “It’s made me so happy and gotten over so much stuff.”

Now Tweten wants to share that power she discovered in music with the world. “It’s really important to me because I do want to show people that bipolar doesn’t define who you are,” she explained to the Idols crew who visited her hometown. Music has helped her live a normal life, even though she is a bipolar sufferer.

Through music and American Idol, she can show the world that bipolar sufferers are just like the rest of us, and this message can extend to people suffering from any kind of disease or disorder.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelby-Tweten/234082806624505

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