It’s so soon, I can almost taste it: American Idol 7 will be premiering on January 15th and 16th, at 8 p.m. (7 c) on Fox. It’s a two-night four hour event, so make sure you mark it on your calendar.

You can preview some audition photos and videos right now on the official site. Can’t wait any longer? If spoilers are your thing, check out the top rumored contestants on Chiff.com.

The official American Idol site has posted details on auditions for American Idol 7:

With auditions scheduled in seven cities across the nation, the phenomenal American Idol begins its search for the next singing superstar. Once again, talented singers will have an extraordinary opportunity to perform before millions of TV viewers and become household names, with one winning the American Idol title and a major recording contract.

The quest to become the next American Idol is about to start. Auditions for the seventh season of American Idol begin in San Diego, CA, on Monday, July 30, at Qualcomm Stadium.

Remember Bucky Covington?

Apparently, he’s doing quite well for himself these days:

Bucky Covington hit another career milestone this week as his first single, “A Different World,� cracks the Top 10 on country radio, delivering the country singer his first Top 10 hit. The song is currently reaching a weekly audience of 21 million listeners.

Bucky Covington’s self-titled CD debuted at #1 on Nielsen SoundScan’s Country Top 75 Chart with not only 2007’s biggest unit debut from a new country artist, but also the best first week sales and highest Top 200 debut for any new male country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992.

He always seemed like a genuinely nice guy to me. Go, Bucky!

Yes, I stopped blogging when Sanjaya left. I continued watching, of course- and although I was gunning for Blake until the very last moment, the truth was that this was my favourite American Idol Final Two ever- and I’m a big Jordin fan as well!

So, anyway, I’m sorry for the lack of Idol posts… I’ve been reading most of them over at Rickey, and I highly recommend you visit his archives for all the Idol yumminess that exists over there. In the meantime, I’m going to start blogging more general entertainment and celebrity things- at least until American Idol 7 starts up!

Although I’ve never been a die-hard Sanjaya fan, I did like the fact he was on the show, and his voice. The boy can sing. But perhaps most of all, I liked his personality. He was always smiling, never cocky, obviously sensitive, and good natured. Someone I wouldn’t mind my (future) daughter to bring home as a prom date.

Which is why I’m sad he’s no longer on American Idol.