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At Chicago auditions, Shania is an 'American Idol' diva in Twaining

Shania bars photos, wants to be alone as guest judge here

Chicago Sun-Times
September 2, 2009
By Bill Zwecker - Sun-Times Columnist

Don't know what Shania Twain's problem was, but the country crooner sure came across as bitchy while in town the past couple of days as the guest judge for the ''American Idol'' auditions.

Twain not only demanded no one -- including the official ''Idol'' folks -- photograph her, she even insisted the local affiliate for Fox (which airs ''American Idol'') be ''nowhere near her'' when she arrived for the auditions at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, said Fox Chicago entertainment reporter David Viggiano.

On a more positive note, ''Idol'' judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi -- plus show host Ryan Seacrest -- ''were nothing but great'' during the Monday and Tuesday tapings, Viggiano said.

Cowell and Jackson both raved about how much they love Chicago -- and are even thinking of getting places here. The famously edgy Simon said Our Town ''somehow reminds me of [his native] England.''

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