While her fellow "Idol" wannabeens are off playing high-profile gigs at malls and housing developments, Season 5 castoff Mandisa brought the house down at a South Carolina fair. Sing it, girl!
The big-voiced diva headlined the Fall for Greenville festival last week, singing covers of classics like Aretha Franklin's "Respect." Sock it to me!
The 31-year-old also had some choice words for her former "Idol" judge, Simon Cowell. Watch TMZ TV to see what Mandisa had to say!
(April 6, 5:20PM ET) -- America's shocking decision to vote Mandisa off 'American Idol' Wednesday night was not a shock at all to those backstage. Sources connected with 'Idol' tell TMZ the buzz behind the scenes last night was Mandisa getting the boot had nothing to do with her performance -- it was all about her openly anti-gay affiliations.
According to TMZ sources, lots of Hollywood types were backstage, including agents, PR flacks, managers and special guests. And the sentiment was clear; as one person put it, "Once you don't have the gays - forget about it."
During 'Idol's' March 28 show, which had a "Songs of the 21st Century" theme, Mandisa's choice "Wanna Praise You" raised eyebrows.
Before she began singing, Mandisa said, "This song goes out to everyone who wants to be free. Your addiction, lifestyle, or situation may be big, but God is bigger!" Mandisa said the song means a lot to her "because it's a testimony that there's nothing too hard for God."
Mandisa is openly a big fan of anti-gay author and lecturer Beth Moore. In her bio on the 'American Idol' website, Mandisa called Moore her "personal American Idol." Moore's website provides links to other sites that locate ministries for "those affected by homosexuality."
The top rated 'Kevin and Bean Show' on Los Angeles radio station KROQ posed an interesting question Friday morning: Would Mandisa be a Top 10 contestant on 'American Idol' if she were white
"It's fascinating that she can be a front runner and look like she does, yet there's no way 'Whitey' shows up at 280 [lbs.] and gets in the Top 10. It's not even possible," commented Bean, half of the the popular team of Kevin and Bean -- both of whom are white.
Listen to the KROQ segment
With Mandisa considered one of 'Idol's' favorites, the discussion, which included co-hosts Ralph Garman and Lisa May, focused on how overweight Caucasian 'Idol' contestants are seemingly treated differently from African-American contestants. "What is the double standard?," they asked. "Why is it acceptable for the African-American contestants -- and we're not just talking about 'American Idol'-- in all the world, you can be big and black and be considered sexy and no one's trying to get you to lose any weight... yet the big white guy all of a sudden is a pariah."
Mandisa won over the hard-to-please Simon Tuesday night on 'American Idol' with her singing and her style. Her knockout dress was a winner. TMZ was at the Fox Hills Mall on Monday in Culver City, Calif. when Mandisa went through the racks at Ashley Stewart, a plus-size women's store.
Today, a clerk from the store confirmed that Mandisa wore their dress -- a dress she purchased for $39! The clerk says since the TMZ story went up and Mandisa shined on stage, they've received calls from all over the United States inquiring about the dress. If you're interested, better act quickly -- there are only five left. By the way, Mandisa bought other outfits during last Monday from Ashley Stewart that she may wear on upcoming 'A.I.' shows.
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(April 6, 5:20PM ET) -- America's shocking decision to vote Mandisa off 'American Idol' Wednesday night was not a shock at all to those backstage. Sources connected with 'Idol' tell TMZ the buzz behind the scenes last night was Mandisa getting the boot had nothing to do with her performance -- it was all about her openly anti-gay affiliations.
The top rated 'Kevin and Bean Show' on Los Angeles radio station KROQ posed an interesting question Friday morning: Would Mandisa be a Top 10 contestant on 'American Idol' if she were white
