Kristy Lee Cook is speaking out against her former record label, Arista Nashville. The 'American Idol' alum says record execs spent too much time and money on another country 'Idol.'"(Arista) released me again. It's because I was on the same label as Carrie Underwood," Cook tells the Grants Pass Daily Courier. "We're kind of glad that we got released because we weren't getting the attention we need."
Cook first signed with Arista at age 17 but was dropped before any music was released. She was re-signed to the label shortly after placing seventh on Season 7 of 'Idol,' and quickly released her debut album, 'Why Wait.'
"They promoted it a little bit," Cook says of Arista's attention to the album. "They spent so much more money on Carrie."
Cook's first single, '15 Minutes of Shame,' hit the Top 30 on the country charts, but no other singles from the album were officially released to radio. She says fans haven't heard her best music yet.
"I have a song that they didn't want me to put on the album that's going to be a hit," Cook insists. "I'm going to take it to another label ... We're talking with Universal right now."
Reader Comments(1 of 12)
ccscabnum5at 1-02-2009
Kristie Don't blame Carrie for the fact that little money on promoting your album was spent. it is clear the label spent more money on the PROVEN winner then some newbie. Maybe you should have taken a hint when they dropped you when you were 17 that you weren't cut out for Nashville.
judymfebat 1-04-2009
Ms.Cook must be dreaming. Carrie Underwood is muchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh better than her and still is the AMERICAN IDOL!!
koonoeat 1-04-2009
The music industry is evil.
doreenmorgat 1-04-2009
If Idol doesn't launch the right "winner", then the public eventually will. Country aside, look at Chris Daughtry. He placed fourth and has enjoyed more success than the three folks above him.
If Kristie is good enough, her star will rise. Unfortunately for Kristie, there's a valid reason she spent time on VoteForTheWorst.com during the Idol season. It's a dubious distinction she DOES have over Carrie.
Sherryat 1-05-2009
I think Ms. Underwood has more talent than Ms. Cook. However, I also think if Ms. Cook is good enough, she will make it. She was given a tremendous opportunity that most people don't have. There are plenty of good singers that never get heard. She should make the most out of whatever chance she is given, and she shouldn't bring anyone else's name into it because that makes her look smaller. She is a young girl and probably does not realize that blaming someone else makes it worse.
footkisserat 1-05-2009
All the people who are bashing Kristy because they *think* she's bashing Carrie Underwood would do well to re-read the comments. She never said anything bad about Carrie Underwood. She criticized her label for giving all the attention to Carrie and not enough to herself. That, to me, seems like it could be a fair observation, or at the least we could say she has a right to her opinion--after all, it concerns her career. I can't fault a label for promoting Carrie Underwood to the moon, because her star keeps rising. On the other hand, I do agree that Kristy seems to have a lot of potential that is just waiting to be explored.
Billat 1-05-2009
I agree with you "ccsca" no way in her comments did Kristy diss Carrie. I like both of them. Because they are on the same label, it would be a promblem for Kristy as Carrie would be getting all the promotion. I think Kristy is good and I bought her first CD. I wish only the best for her.
Billat 1-05-2009
"Csca" I take my "I agree with you" back. Like those who misread Kristy comments, I misread your comments. I definitely "do not agree with you". As I said, no where in Kristy comments did she diss Carrie. She was only explaining her situation with the label. It is true being on the same label with Carrie would be a problem for Kristy, that is all she is saying. Again, I like both Carrie and Kristy, and unlike so many here (including you) who speak only the worst of Kristy; I wish only the best for her. She has the talent for success. I bought her first CD and liked it.
Jamieat 1-05-2009
ok cook isnt even close to sounding as good as carrie underwood. i just listened to her 15 min of shame. she sounds like kaoroke. its not bad, but not something i would pay to listen to. record labels were right in promoting the better performer/singer. why waste the money?
delmont99at 1-05-2009
Cook is horrible. The only reason she madeit as far as she did was her looks. She is a terrible performer and her voice is worse. Arista spent the money wisely and no matter what label she is I wouldn't waste my money on her. Heck, I wouldn't waste hard drive space on a "stolen" MP3. She is that. She needs to wake up and realize maybe they dropped her because is just isn't that good.
Kenat 1-05-2009
Kristy grow up and act like a lady you can't hold a candle to Carrie Underwood. Get a life
f14dbombcat2006at 1-02-2009
I agree with you Cab, the fact she is blaming Carrie because, the label didn't promote 'Why Wait' as much as 'Carnival Ride' is simply because. Carrie brings in money for Arista. is dumb.
Who would you rather heavily promote? the proven star who WON American Idol and has a HUGE ammount of awards to her name or an up and comer whose only claim to fame was finishing 7th on American Idol and only got there cause she sold her horse?
Tough call.
I find it ironic her first and only radio single was '15 minutes of shame'.
I rarely heard it on the radio except for maybe on Satillite radio.
Robinat 1-05-2009
NO, she didn't come right out and diss Carrie, but, Carrie is not the only artist that Arista has either, so why bring up a name it all? Just pure jealousy is all it is in my opinion, but then we all know what opinions are like don't we?? :-)
Happy New Year to everyone!!
doggielover1199at 1-02-2009
But at the same time, you guys, where you rank in Idol doesn't seem to mean jack about your ability to sing. By the same logic you used, Reuben Studdard should be doing better than Clay Aiken. But, by anyone's standard, Clay Aiken has more fans, is more popular, and more successful than Reuben.
annewahmat 1-04-2009
Ruben did okay for the genre he chose, but you are probably right that Clay had more fans - for a while anyway. I WAS a Clay fan, but quickly lost interest after that first ick, blah CD. He fits better with Broadway then he does with raido. The better example of ranking not being important when it comes to Idol would be fourth place Daughtry eclipsing Hicks.