Author: Shirley Halperin

For the first time in the Fox show’s history, the American Idol finale will take place in New York City. 

The network has yet to confirm the news, which began circulating on Idol blogs on Thursday afternoon, but a source tells The Hollywood Reporter that the season 13 grand finale will be held at Madison Square Garden, which recently underwent a major renovation.

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Idol, which kicks off its new season on Jan. 15 with a new panel of judges comprised of Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., usually holds its final bow in Los Angeles. Since season seven, when David Cook took the crown, the show has been beamed live from the Nokia Theatre in downtown L.A. Before that, the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood (now called the Dolby) was home to the show’s last battle.

It’s unclear as of yet whether the show is betting big on finale night acts (last year’s bill included Jessie J, Aretha Franklin, Psy, Jennifer Hudson and Lopez with Pitbull) or confident that its new group of finalists will draw increased interest — enough to fill the 18,000-capacity arena. 

The season 13 finale is scheduled to air on May 20 and 21. 

Other acts booked at MSG in the coming months include Paul Simon and Sting, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban and Billy Joel, who performs at the venue every month through September.

Fox has not responded to a request for comment. 

Twitter: @shirleyhalperin

Longtime American Idol diehards — diminishing but still proud — will appreciate the effort Fox and the show’s new executive producers are putting into highlighting the series’ past in an effort to amp up its future.

In a new promo for season 13 (or XIII, as its been branded), revealed exclusively to The Hollywood Reporter‘s Idol Worship, a Facebook timeline theme is employed to remind viewers — devoted, passive, casual and otherwise — of the more than 20 household names to emerge from the show, starting with season one winner Kelly Clarkson and ending on season 11’s Phillip Phillips.

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Other alums that get shout-outs in the clip include season four champ Carrie Underwood, season three’s Jennifer Hudson, season five finalist Chris Daughtry and season eight favorite Adam Lambert. 

The effort mirrors what Fox, Fremantle and friends have long contended: that Idol’s post-show track record is unparalleled — and competitors The Voice (on NBC) and X Factor U.S. (also on Fox) don’t even come close. That may be true, but the show, especially in recent years, has undoubtedly lost some of its luster. Will a nod towards its past turns things around?

See the promo below along with a list of Idol alums referenced in the clip followed by the number of mentions (writen or visual).

Ryan Seacrest: 1

Kelly Clarkson: 3

Ruben Studdard: 1 

Jennifer Hudson: 2

Diana DeGarmo: 1 

Carrie Underwood: 2

Chris Daughtry: 1

Katharine McPhee: 1

Taylor Hicks: 1 

Jordin Sparks: 2

David Cook: 1

Adam Lambert: 2

Kris Allen: 1 

Lee DeWyze: 1

Simon Cowell: 2 

Randy Jackson: 1

Jennifer Lopez: 1

Steven Tyler: 1 

Haley Reinhart: 1 

Fantasia: 1 

Scotty McCreery: 1 

Candice Glover: 1 

Phillip Phillips: 2 

Producers of the Soul Train Awards are prepping their biggest event yet. The 2013 edition of the urban music celebration takes place on Nov. 8 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas (it airs Dec. 1 on BET), where a new venue promises a grander, two-stage production worthy of the marquee names being honored.

Among the nominees: Kendrick Lamar leads with a tally of six including best new artist, album of the year and song of the year. Just behind the hip-hop newcomer are Miguel, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Chris Brown, Tamar Braxton and Janelle Monae, each with five noms.

Presenters scheduled to appear include Bill Bellamy, Boris Kodjoe, Vanessa A. Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Kandi Burruss, Michelle Williams and Vanilla Ice. Confirmed performers are Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson, Gladys Knight, Tamar Braxton, American Idol’s Candice Glover and Ruben Studdard, Warren G. and Big Daddy Kane, among others.

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Actor and comedian Anthony Anderson hosts the show, while today, it was announced that popular talk show host Wendy Williams will handle red carpet duties for the broadcast. “She is an amazing television personality and that translates incredibly well to a red carpet host,” says executive producer Bart Phillips. “It’s what she does, talking to celebrities, her energy and pushing the envelope, which is what Soul Train is all about.”

In many ways, these are not your parents’ Soul Train Awards. For one thing, the show has added a second stage (see rendering below), which will feature a rotating mix of DJs including Big Tigger and D-Nice. But while it lunges forward, it also looks back, honoring the soul soundtrack of the 90s this year via influential black cinema and R&B hits of the day.

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But perhaps most importantly, adds Phillips, is having Soul Train Awards’ acts perform “100 percent live — no tracks here.” It’s all part of a legacy that goes back decades to syndicated dance show Soul Train’s first broadcast in 1971. Says Phillips: “So many legends were made on the infamous Soul Train stage. The music is the core and that is what keeps Soul Train relevant today, both with the people who grew up running to their TVs on Saturday morning and to today’s youth.”

With that in mind, the bill brings together artists who’ll inevitably pay homage to what came before them. Joss Stone, for example, will participate in a “Blue Eyed Soul” segment during the show, while Wale will incorporate hip hop into the live band’s interstitial repertoire and beyond.

This year’s motto is “We Got Soul” and they mean it. Adds Phillips: “It’s a party! People aren’t going to want to miss this. We have so many surprises planned. It’s all about the 90s this year!”

Twitter: @THR_Earshot