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HOOORAY! I had lunch with the lovely and talented Diana DeGarmo today! We even sat next to each other, and now we're besties and she told me to call her "DD." Okay, the last two parts of that sentence aren't true, but she has the demeanor of a smart and mature BFF (it's hard to believe she's just 21-years-old), and she was absolutely lovely.

Diana was in town to discuss one of her new projects, GetScouted.com -- a talent recruitment site that connects up-and-coming artists, singers, dancers, performers, and designers with talent scouts -- and the musical revue she's in in L.A. right now, Back To Bacharach And David (as in BURT BACHARACH, who's one of my personal idols) -- and how she gets to wear one off Mel B's costumes from Peep Show! Eee!

Since you probably want to know which former American Idol-ers Diana still K.I.T.s with, I made sure to ask! She said she's closest with Kimberley Locke, and she talks to Michael Johns and Matt Rogers a lot and that he just texted her this morning! Cuh-YOOT! She also told a really sweet story about meeting the girl who would become Matt Rogers' wife and telling him immediately that he was going to marry her, which is how she ended up singing in their wedding.

And Diana, who said she's "keeping up" with this season's American Idol, said she's a huge Kara DioGuardifan, and that she supports the new judges-save rule. She also addressed the rumors that Simon Cowell may leave American Idol: "They'll definitely need to find that vinegar" she said, referring to Simon's flair for the vitriolic. Hee. Well put!

Finally, like any celebrity interview these days, the meet-up turned into a Tweet-up. Yes, friends, Diana DeGarmo is on Twitter, AND she Tweeted about our lunch while we eating (as did I). She also told me she Tweeted Perez Hilton, but he hasn't Tweeted her back yet. (Get on that, Perez!)

So, everyone follow @DianaDeGarmo, mkay?

Tags American Idol, Burt Bacharach, Diana-DeGarmo, Kara DioGuardi, Kimberley Locke, Simon Cowell, Twitter

We're still totally exhausted from watching the American Idol season premiere … did it really need to be four hours spread over two nights? We like laughing at the crazy and crappy singers just as much as the next guy, but sometimes, as Chris Daughtry rightfully pointed out, it's a bit much. What we really get into is watching the top 12 duke it out and placing our bets on who will be crowned the next Idol. But does winning really mean anything anymore?

In recent weeks, past winners Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard and season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee were all kicked to the curb by their record labels. For every Daughtry or Jennifer Hudson, there's a Justin Guarini or Constantine Maroulis or Diana DeGarmo or … well, you get the point. And, in last week's Entertainment Weekly, the show's executive producer clearly dissed all of the season 6 contestants, saying, "We had nobody outstanding." Um … we're guessing that this is news to Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis, who better hope their albums pick up some serious sales momentum fast or they could be axed next.  

As season 7 gets underway, we're wondering if there's another Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood waiting to be discovered. What do you think … is American Idol still the place to find gems or is it just a joke?

Tags American Idol, Blake Lewis, Carrie Underwood, Celebrity, Constantine Maroulis, Daughtry, Diana-DeGarmo, Jennifer-Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Justin-Guarini, Katharine McPhee, Kelly Clarkson, Music, Ruben-Studdard, Taylor-Hicks