Even if you've been making a concerted effort to avoid pop culture, you know who Simon Cowell is. Such is the level of Cowell's fame and influence in the entertainment industry. A native of the UK and veteran of the music business, Cowell first became familiar to American audiences in the summer of 2002 when the reality TV series 'American Idol' premiered. A spin-off of England's similar ...

Stephen Baldwin wears many hats: actor, author, reality show contestant, devout Christian and youngest brother of Alec Baldwin, to name a few. Today, he will add the title "music video director" to his resume. Baldwin has made his directorial debut on the clip for 'Break the Cycle,' the infectious new song by Arkansas-based pop singer Cory Lamb. The track, which will be included on Lamb's ...

Fans of 'American Idol' know that periodically, a contestant brings more than a good voice to the show -- they bring an emotional backstory that touches both the judges and the viewers. This year, that contestant was Chris Medina. The 26-year-old aspiring singer from Illinois was engaged to marry Juliana Ramos, his longtime girlfriend, in December 2009. But two months before they were ...

In the eyes of many 'American Idol' fans, last season's runner-up Crystal Bowersox was a more interesting contestant than eventual winner Lee DeWyze (she at least has a more captivating name). During her spell on 'Idol,' the Midwesterner covered Janis Joplin more than once with her passionate takes on such classics as 'Piece of My Heart' and 'Me and Bobby McGee.' She also represented a somewhat ...

Kimberly Caldwell has been a familiar face in pop culture since she made the top 10 during the second season of 'American Idol' -- a season that produced Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Kimberly Locke, among others. Since that time, the Texas native and former beauty pageant winner has released the occasional single and worked as an entertainment correspondent on various TV shows. Back in 1995, ...