Idol Fans: Mark Your Calendars!

“American Idol” fans, it’s time to mark your calendars and start saving your money, because it’s going to be an expensive fall.

Here’s the “Idol”-related release schedule”:

10/17—Ruben Studdard, “The Return”
Standard R&B with help from producer Scott Storch (Paris Hilton) and Ne-Yo
10/31—Kellie Pickler, “Small Town Girl”
Country with the help of a Dixie Chicks’ producer
11/14—Fantasia, TBA
More mainstream pop with a lighter subject matter
11/14—Taylor Hicks, TBA
Taylor’s calling it old-school R&B with a new wave edge. Whatever it is, it’s going to be rushed, since he hasn’t started recording it yet.
11/21—Chris Daughtry, TBA
Here’s the date I’ve got circled. Chris is working with a producer that worked with All-American Rejects and he may do a song with Rob Thomas.
November TBA—Katherine McPhee, TBA
It will probably be a pop album, but there’s a lot of doubt surrounding this one. I sense another Diana DeGarmo—although I thought her CD wasn’t too bad. After seeing Katherine in concert, I won’t be wasting my money on it (Sorry, Kat fans.).

There is one other Idol-related release, but I’m loathe to mention it because the way he skirted the entire Idol process and still found success totally irks me. But, in case you’re curious, “Mario Vazquez” hits stores September 26th.

So who will sell the best? I think it will be between Taylor and Chris, but Clay has a good chance to beat them all. If he and Clive don’t split up first…