Josiah Leming — The Ellen DeGeneres Show — 02/19/08

Tuesday, February 19, 2008, 12:56 PM | American Idol 7

Josiah Leming American idol Ellen

American Idol fan-favorite Josiah Leming was a guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show this morning.

Josiah Leming got a standing ovation. Josiah admitted that he became over-confident, but everything happens for a reason. He sang an original song on Ellen! Awesome. Afterwards, Ellen DeGeneres gave Josiah Leming $8,000 worth of music equipment to get him started on his musical career. Good luck Josiah. There is life after American Idol.

Video clip:

39 Comments for Josiah Leming — The Ellen DeGeneres Show — 02/19/08

1

Thank you so much for posting this, Rickey! I am so happy for Josiah and I hope that this exposure brings him great things in the future.

There are also a couple of great video clips on MTV of Josiah that they filmed over the weekend:

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1581790&vid=210835

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1581790&vid=210836

awau on February 19, 2008 at 1:09 pm
2

squeeeeee!!!!!! thanks rickey!!!

amber on February 19, 2008 at 1:12 pm
3

I don’t care what anybody says, he needs maturing and toughening up. He’s an emotional wreck. He should stick w/ songwriting….and team up with Blake His music isn’t my cup of tea.

Chicago-48 on February 19, 2008 at 1:16 pm
4

Clarifying my above statement: He has a “niche” sound, meaning it appeals to a “niche” group of people, but not “popular” or won’t sell widely. At 18, he should be in the Micky Mouse stable, but I wonder if emotionally he’s able to take direction from anyone….he’s the type who would dismiss the director and try to direct himself….he’s definitely an independent, and normally “independents” only go so far in the business.

Chicago-48 on February 19, 2008 at 1:20 pm
5

WHAT A DOLL!!!

he sang his song “to run”, which he also sang at his first audition. you can buy it from his myspace page.

his songs all have a similar feel, soaring and without a lot of hooks. i know there are a lot of kids like him out there but i hope he is encouraged to keep on going.

probably better for him to go out with the bang of AI shock instead of get cut somewhere along the line. i don’t think he would have been very good at singing other people’s songs for very long.

GO JOSIAH!!!

amber on February 19, 2008 at 1:23 pm
6

(shrugs) who couldn’t use some maturing at 18? come on, jordin sparks was ONLY SEVENTEEN!!! HOLY CHRIST ALMIGHTY!!!

i’ll take his niche over mass produced pop pabst anyday.

amber on February 19, 2008 at 1:25 pm
7

i listen to mostly independent music anyway. but i still love me some idol. so it goes.

amber on February 19, 2008 at 1:25 pm
8

Wow, Josiah was amaxing, I love that song and he is so very talented. It is hard to believe AI let this one get away. I have looked at his myspace page and it has gone from 300,000 the nicgt after his Hollywood audition to over 800,000 now. It seems that many people adore this young man. He is very talented as a songwriter,musician nd singer.

Cheers to Ellen for letting him sing his song for us and Rickey, pleasse do for him what you have done for Sanjaya and keep him on your blog for us Josiah Lemings! Love you Josiah and have bought your music on myspace and can’t wait for your first cd.

Also, someone said he is going to be on Extra but I can’t find anything about it? Does anybody know?

chloeg on February 19, 2008 at 1:29 pm
9

thanks for the links, awau!!!

amber on February 19, 2008 at 1:32 pm
10

I think the judges on Idol made a BIG mistake not putting him thru. He’s quirky, has his own style, really likable and he could have grown tremendously while on Idol. He also could have learned a lot from his experiences.

Out of the 50 something contestants that were left before the final 24 were announced, I agreed w/ all of their decisions EXCEPT this one. They should have put him thru to see where he could have gone w/ the opportunity.

krazijen on February 19, 2008 at 1:32 pm
11

yeah, but hopefully he’s better off without an extended run on idol, krazijen. maybe the people who are broader musicians than someone who specializes at vocals just aren’t right for idol. like taylor, daughtry. they’re not pop divas in the making.

not trying to bash on people that are singers, but i think someone that writes and plays is a different type of beast.

amber on February 19, 2008 at 1:35 pm
12

GAHHHHH! the mtv pieces are great!

now i’m relieved that he got the boot because i was in danger of getting seriously obsessed. phew. dodged it that time.

amber on February 19, 2008 at 1:41 pm
13

Thank you Rickey, you are the fastest on the net. What a great interview, good luck to Josiah. His music is touching and Ellen is so a great host. I am so glad they did his hair and makeup…LOL…

sue on February 19, 2008 at 2:03 pm
14

I really like Josiah, and wish him the best. I hope good things happen for him. Even though he got cut, I’m glad AI showcased him at least. He’s captured the hearts of many people. The likability factor is important. He seems very humble and appreciative to me.

alango on February 19, 2008 at 2:10 pm
15

OMG!! I’m so happy for him!!!

I just KNOW this is not the last we’ll see of him!

GO JOSIAH!

jamied on February 19, 2008 at 2:18 pm
16

Amber…ME TOO!

I was ALSO in danger of getting seriously obsessed! and I really don’t have the time to commit to an obsession of this caliber.

jamied on February 19, 2008 at 2:20 pm
17

tell me about it, jamied. sigh. what a cutie. at least he’s 18…

amber on February 19, 2008 at 2:53 pm
18

Boy doesn’t need free crap, boy needs to get hid butt home and get some help.
Anyways…. he’s having his 15mins of fame… he better live it up while he can.

Pallaton on February 19, 2008 at 3:20 pm
19

Maybe he should try out for America’s Got Talent?

Chicago-48 on February 19, 2008 at 3:43 pm
20

Yey, Josiah! thanks for the video Rickey, you’re the best!

He is still adorable. it’s funny that he said he wouldn’t cry anymore but he was cute when he almost cried when Ellen gave him gifts so he can continue his music. Go Josiah!

vegasbabe on February 19, 2008 at 4:16 pm
21

I love him. I hope he does well. I’ll buy your cd Josiah!

SingItLikeYaminIt on February 19, 2008 at 4:30 pm
22

Aww, that was nice of Ellen to give that stuff to him.

s0x_prisoner on February 19, 2008 at 4:36 pm
23

How many talk shows do you think are vying for him now?

Chicago-48 on February 19, 2008 at 5:00 pm
24

He did a great job and that was really a nice thing for Ellen to do.

Go Josiah!

laureldj on February 19, 2008 at 5:16 pm
25

Well atleast we now know that whoever gets voted off, he/she will be on Ellen. That is free publicity and then some for that individual.

This is a wonderful rehearsal, notice they played the song that will be played for the one goin home.

Fioux on February 19, 2008 at 5:25 pm
26

ellen always hosts contestants that get voted off, but has she had someone on before that got the boot pre top 24?

amber on February 19, 2008 at 5:45 pm
27

This kid was awesome. Great song and style. If he is what he seems to be and there’s no BS to the backstory– damn AI for making us not believe anyone or anything anymore– than he can go places with his music. Wishing him lots of great luck.

Izzy on February 19, 2008 at 6:23 pm
28

#25 — what do you mean– they played the song for the one going home? What did I miss here?

Izzy on February 19, 2008 at 6:25 pm
29

Ugh, what a mess. With that faux-European accent, that tinny voice and that weirdo vibrato, he’d be yesterday’s punch line if he weren’t so calculatingly smart. He knew exactly how to make a name for himself, from the sappy sad-sack story about living in his car (HIS choice, mind you), to the incessant mental-patient-like sobbing at every turn to the audacity of attempting (pitifully at that) an a capella ‘Stand By Me’…all very slick (also, since when does American Idol allow TV programs to air Idol footage? Hmmm. Interesting, no?). I have to give him credit for all that – a mediocre-at-best talent with more publicity than money can buy!

And that Ellen – boy, she loves an underdog, doesn’t she? I only hope his car trunk is big enough for the $8000 worth of equipment she bestowed upon him. Maybe he needs to do Oprah for a bigger vehicle

jeffreychrist on February 19, 2008 at 7:16 pm
30

Cynical much Jeffereychrist? So happy I am not you, what a bummer that life would be.

chloeg on February 19, 2008 at 7:27 pm
31

Izzy: What #25 meant was that they played this year’s exit song, Ferras’ “Hollywood’s Not America”, when Joshiah was on Ellen today.

alango on February 19, 2008 at 7:44 pm
32

C’mon, give the kid a break. he’s 18–that’s a little too young for cynicism.

BTW, watch the vid above–he looks like Ellen’s long lost child.

phillychuck on February 19, 2008 at 8:03 pm
33

I thought it was decent — not the greatest thing I’ve ever heard, but I think that he has a lot of potential as a songwriter and as a performer.

Don’t think I would waste my time listening to this though if I already knew that I couldn’t stand his singing.

laureldj on February 19, 2008 at 8:26 pm
34

#31 ALANGO— thank you for that explanation– I didn’t catch the connection — and I also did not know for sure that the HOLLYWOOD song is the “Booting off/Recap” song for AI 7.

JEFFREYCHRIST: I know you have a column and, I hope, a following. There’s a difference between snark and bitter poison. I hope you know you’re veering towards the latter with each comment you share here on RICKEY.ORG

You used to be funnier.
A little more wise-cracking.
A little easier on the edges.

Why so angry these days? ;>

Remember: American Idol blogging is NOT blogging The Declaration of Independence.

;}

Izzy on February 20, 2008 at 12:25 am
35

ok now…i already bought some of his songs from hi MYSPACE page….they are really good!!!i love THEY SAY…and PAPER HOUSE!!!really good ones!!!

i hope some producers out there sign him up!!!

mrseattle on February 20, 2008 at 3:33 am
36

Yey..I love Josiah. He probably lost his chance to enter the AI because of her last performance on the Hollywood session..But I still believe he is a good singer. And he is still young so if anybody question his personality and stuff..I believe its something that can be manage. Josiah has to continue his career

anakayam on February 20, 2008 at 6:26 am
37

he is so awesome. probably the definition of “adorable.”
he’s performing a heck of a lot better than most of the guys on idol…
mtv spot was amazing. ugh. i’m so happy with him.
did anyone catch him on extra last night? they gave him a little mini makeover. it was the cutest thing i ever saw. haha.

zomgaubrie on February 20, 2008 at 9:35 am
38

I think Josiah has something special about him and he is unique. I hope good things keep happening for him. After seeing some of the lack of talent in last night’s top 12 guys, Josiah should have been in the top 12.

Kimber on February 20, 2008 at 9:53 am
39

Even though they dumped him, Idol has done that boy some good. About 200 Myspace fans before Idol, now 23,400. Appearances on Ellen, MTV, Extra and who knows what else to come. They said on Idol Wrap last week that “he had a meeting” coming up with the president of Fox.

Lol….. Maybe Mrs. Fox felt sorry for him after seeing the show and told Mr. Fox that he’d better do something for that young man or he’d be sleeping on the couch.

Go Josiah!

laureldj on February 20, 2008 at 10:22 am