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Kimberley guest stars on an episode of Rick & Steve:the Happiest Gay Couple as Steamroom Sally! The episode airs on the Logo Network at 10PM/ET Jan. 6th.

Before Kim left her old manager, he claimed she had five more albums to deliver to Curb. Who knows how true that is. I could see them being digital.

'American Idol' finalists on Christmas tour

Four performers plan a holiday stop Friday at E.J. Thomas Hall

By Rich Heldenfels
Beacon Journal popular culture writer

POSTED: 07:50 a.m. EST, Dec 18, 2008

Kimberley Locke apologized for calling late. She had been out running - seven miles in balmy Florida weather - and I shouldn't have been surprised.

But first, she called to talk about American Stars in Concert for the Holidays, a holiday-themed series of performances featuring four former American Idol contestants: Locke, Diana DeGarmo, David Hernandez and Chikezie. It will stop at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall in Akron on Friday.

The show is mainly Christmas music from different combinations of the performers. For example, Locke sings Santa Baby, has a duet with DeGarmo on Breath of Heaven and is part of a group ''Christmas rock'' medley. There's also some audience participation that Locke called ''probably one of my funniest parts of the show.''

But while Idol is a major selling point for the tour, Locke said, ''I'm not throwing myself back in the Idol mix.''

The concerts also let the performers sing some non-holiday songs they're known for. Not long ago, she toured with Dave Koz. And in early '09, she plans to be back in the studio to work on another CD.

At the same time, though, she said that Idol performers - even those spread across three different seasons, like these four are - share an experience that outsiders may not get. ''I think that people don't understand the amount of work that goes into it,'' she said, ''the highs and lows, the struggle at the end.''

Locke finished third in what still ranks as the most intensely competitive Idol season ever, won in a nail-biter by Ruben Studdard over Clay Aiken. But as much attention as that garnered, it did not prepare Locke for the way the spotlight shone on her earlier this year.

The reason: dating another celebrity.

About a year ago, Locke went on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club, reportedly losing 40 pounds and picking up a health regimen that includes things like seven-mile runs.

''Since Celebrity Fit Club, I haven't stopped exercising,'' she said. ''It's part of my life, something I do for myself.''

But after finishing the show, she gained one thing: a budding romance with the show's tough-talking trainer, Harvey E. Walden IV. The gossip columns caught onto the relationship in its early stages. (''We weren't 'involved involved,' like we are now,'' Locke said.) But Walden was still in the middle of a divorce, and Locke ''had to step back'' until Walden was single again.

Now, she said, ''we are officially involved.'' No wedding date yet, and no ring, she said, but ''we're talking about it.''

It's not only a personal relationship, either. The couple will host a ''Locke and Loaded'' fitness-and-music cruise in September. (For information, go to http://www.lockeandloaded.com.)

Besides Locke, performers on the cruise will include Idol's Vonzell Solomon and Jon Peter Lewis; she's also hoping to add DeGarmo, whom she has gotten to know during the American Stars tour. ''She's a sweetheart,'' Locke said.

We have been discussing the record and will hopefully start recording soon.