'Idol' Rejects -- We're Going on Tour ... For Charity!
Three ex-contestants from this season's “American Idol” are going rogue -- in fact, TMZ has learned, they're kicking off a 5-city tour next month ... and 95% of the proceeds are going to a very special cause.
Multiple sources tell TMZ, former “Idol” contestants Chris Medina, Rob Bolin and Tim Halperin are hitting the road on a 5-city tour, spanning 4 states -- starting off in Toledo and ending in Chicago -- and the majority of the profits will go to benefit Medina's disabled fiancée.
According to sources, 95% of the money generated by the tour will be set aside for the Juliana Recovery Fund -- a charity set up to cover medical expenses for Medina’s fiancée Juliana ... who suffered severe brain damage after a horrific car accident in 2009.
FYI -- the concert is not affiliated with "A.I." ... but it obviously couldn't have happened without it.
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'Ghost' Investigators -- Cast Away from 'Idol' Mansion
The "Ghost Adventures" crew will NOT be allowed to investigate the "American Idol" mansion for paranormal activity -- because TMZ has learned, the owner is worried about their negative energy.
As we previously reported, the ghost seekers contacted people at "Idol" to investigate the mansion ... after the contestants living there claimed the place was haunted -- but we're told, the owner of the house quickly shut down the whole operation.
Zak Bagans -- lead paranormal investigator -- tells us, the owner was worried about all the ghost-infestation publicity ... and wanted to ward off any more possibly negative attention.
Bottom line -- the "Ghost Adventures" crew won't be exorcising "Idol" demons any time soon. Boo-hoo.
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MJ Family Offended by 'A.I.' Pepsi Moment
UPDATE: Idol contestant James Durbin just tweeted, "For anyone talkin..I said pepsi NOT MJ! I have no disrespect for Michael. I grew up singing his art. I guess youll take it how you want it..." and then followed that up with, "Talkin about MJs passing is too soon. Making a reference to an incident 25 years ago..not too soon. The stab was at pepsi people."
Michael Jackson's family is offended by a comment made on "American Idol" last night by a contestant, who made light of MJ's devastating injury that triggered years of drug abuse.
If you saw the show, James Durbin told Ryan Seacrest after his performance, "I have a lot of hairspray in my hair to keep it from jumping around -- so much so, the one thing I was worried about was having a 'Pepsi moment.'"
The "Pepsi moment" is a reference to the 1984 incident where Michael Jackson's hair caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial, severely burning his scalp -- an injury that triggered an addiction to prescription drugs that may have ultimately taken his life.
A Jackson family rep tells TMZ, "We were shocked to see this. It's nothing to make light of and everybody should be focusing on who was responsible for Michael's death."
The rep says Joe was particularly upset that producers didn't take the remark out of the West Coast feed.
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'American Idol' Casey Abrams -- Eat Me!
"American Idol" finalist Casey Abrams may not win the title, but he'll always be able to get a warm meal back home -- because dude just got a restaurant lounge named in his honor!
Cafe Aroma in Casey's hometown of Idyllwild, CA just renamed a section of the joint ... the "Casey Abrams American Idol Lounge."
Employees tell us, Casey's such a big shot at the restaurant -- which features belly dancers -- they've even put his name on his favorite dish ... "Casey Abrams Gnocchi Alfredo" ... 6 meatballs included.
Belly dances cost extra -- though we're thinking they'll give Casey a deal.
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'Idol' Finalists: The Haunted Mansion Wasn't Haunted!
Two "American Idol" contestants refuse to believe the "Idol" mansion was REALLY haunted ... as if flickering lights, a spider invasion, and one mysterious flying bed sheet isn't ENOUGH PROOF.
TMZ ran into finalists Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart this weekend in L.A. -- where they had a far more reasonable explanation for their hasty retreat from the Beverly Hills digs.
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'Ghost' Crew -- We NEED to Investigate 'Idol' Mansion!
The crew from "Ghost Adventures" believes there may be DEMONIC activity inside the haunted "American Idol" mansion ... and they want to investigate the place ASAP ... TMZ has learned.
Zak Bagans -- lead investigator of the "Ghost Adventures Crew" -- insists the alleged paranormal activity inside the Beverly Hills mansion where the "A.I." finalists were staying sounds LEGIT and "possibly demonic."
As TMZ first reported, the "Idol" gang MOVED OUT of the place last week after several spooky incidents -- including flickering lights, mysterious spider infestations, and a FLOATING WHITE SHEET!!
Zak tells us he feels the best way to investigate the supernatural situation would be to bring the "Idol" finalists BACK to the house so he can use them as "trigger objects."
Zak explains, "If there are spirits or demonic entities present they may have had a connection with one of them ... hence all the activity."
We're told the "Ghost Adventures Crew" has already been in touch with the people at "Idol."
Stay tuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuned.
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'American Idol' Contestant Takes Fall After Show
"American Idol" contestant Casey Abrams -- who got voted off the show Thursday and won a save from the judges -- was so overwrought with emotion after the show, he began hyperventilating and then fell to the floor in the hallway.
We're told "A.I." staffers helped Casey up and put him in a chair so he could calm down.
Ironically, his song choice Thursday was "I Don't Need No Doctor."
Our "Idol" spies tell us ... Casey felt horrible that the judges used their save for him, saying "I feel really bad that other [contestants] might have to go home now because they [the judges] used the save on me."
Casey had a rough day Thursday. He got a blood transfusion in the morning because of ongoing problems with internal bleeding.
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Jennifer Hudson I'm NOT Watching 'Idol'
Don't ask Jennifer Hudson how she feels about the new "American Idol" judges ... or the new contestants ... because the former "A.I." finalist says she hasn't watched ONE episode this season.
A super-slimmed down Hudson was at LAX yesterday -- when she told photogs she just hasn't had time to watch the show that launched her career this season.
She did, however, have time to show off her skinny physique.
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'Idol' Contestants Flee -- Our Mansion Is HAUNTED!
GHOSTS invaded the "American Idol" mansion in Beverly Hills -- and the finalists got so freaked, they MOVED OUT of the place Monday night for good ... TMZ has learned.
The supernatural drama began after contestants complained about bizarre flickering lights inside the house ... followed by a spooky spider infestation.
But the paranormal activity that sent the contestants over the edge happened last week -- when several wannabes claim they watched a bed sheet suddenly take on a life of its own and FLOAT down an empty hallway!!!
And as if the ghosts weren't enough, Sunday's torrential rains caused the roof to leak like a mutha.
Sources connected with the production tell us ... the contestants FREAKED OUT and demanded to move ... and "Idol" producers obliged.
We're told the gang is now safely holed up in an undisclosed location ... where the only blinding white objects are Ryan Seacrest's teeth.
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'Idol' Contestant -- The Nate Dogg Connection
Years before Jacob Lusk became a finalist on "American Idol" ... he formed a very special relationship with the one and only Nate Dogg -- a bond, TMZ has learned, that formed in an L.A. gospel choir.
Sources tell TMZ, Jacob auditioned for the gospel group called "InNate Praise" in 2007 -- formed by Nate himself -- and he ended up landing the part ... and we're told, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
According to sources, Jacob and Nate's relationship blossomed over the next two years ... as Jacob performed with the group at churches around L.A. County.
In the video -- shot back in 2007 -- Nate and Jacob are both hanging out in Nate's studio in North Hollywood. Earlier today, Jacob tweeted the following about Nate's death:
As we previously reported, Nate passed away yesterday -- and his family believes his death was caused by complications stemming from two strokes he suffered over the last few years.
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'Idol' Singer's Sweet Hometown Treat
"American Idol" country singer Scotty McCreery’s hometown bosses have his back in the competition… and to show their support they baked him a giant cake.
McCreery’s hometown of Garner, NC has been holding big “Idol” viewing parties -- and this week the market he works for sent over a giant cake made out of 1,000 cupcakes.
The Bakery Director at Lowes Market tells TMZ they plan on showing their support by sending more of the mammoth cakes -- which take 12 hours to bake and use 100 pounds of icing -- to future viewing parties as well.
And just in case "Idol" doesn't work out ... we're told the market is holding McCreery's job.
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Steven Tyler: Just Say No ... to Singing Aerosmith
You might think Steven Tyler would consider it a compliment if an "American Idol" contestant performed one of his classic Aeromsmith songs on the show. Think again ...
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'Idol' Judge's Trailers Mansions on Wheels
It's a wonder the "American Idol" judges ever make it to the stage -- because TMZ has learned they each have a RIDICULOUS trailer ... loaded with everything from plasma TVs to gourmet kitchens.
Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler ... and yes, even Randy Jackson get to chill out in these pimped out trailers -- featuring massage chairs, surround sound systems, A/C, and even private offices ... UPSTAIRS.
You gotta see these things.
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'American Idol' Finalist Casey Back in the Hospital
"American Idol" finalist Casey Abrams missed the top 13 results show today -- after he was rushed to the hospital for the SECOND time in three weeks ... for severe stomach pains.
Ryan Seacrest announced Casey's absence at the top of tonight's live 'AI' episode -- telling the audience, "You'll notice that Casey is missing from the group. He is unfortunately sick and in the hospital right now. So everybody wave to him."
Seacrest then addresses Casey in the hospital, "Feel better ... Get back here soon" -- so, it doesn't sound like Casey's getting the boot tonight.
UPDATE: Seacrest just announced ... Casey is still in the running.
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'Idol' Finalists Move In to Bev Hills MEGA-MANSION
The top 13 finalists on "American Idol" have just moved in to a MASSIVE Beverly Hills mansion together ... a mansion that costs roughly $100,000 per month to rent.
The estate -- worth an estimated $12 million -- boasts 9 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, a hot tub, pool, koi pond, game room with a pool table and one of the SICKEST VIEWS EVER. We're told on a clear day, you can see the ocean from the house.
The wannabes moved in on Friday ... and they'll stay there until they're voted off the show.
'American Idol' Favorite -- Why I Quit the Show ...
He was an early favorite to BECOME this year's "American Idol" ... but 22-year-old Scott Dangerfield tells TMZ he backed out of the competition because he had an obligation to his students.
Dangerfield blew the judges away during the first round of the show in Milwaukee ... only to mysteriously disappear from the show just before Hollywood week.
But TMZ spoke to Dangerfield ... who told us he's a dedicated student-teacher at a high school in Wisconsin ... and when producers told him the dates he would need to be in Hollywood ... they clashed with certain obligations he had at the school.
Dangerfield tells us, "The kids are depending on me."
Dangerfield tells us "Idol" producers tried to talk him out of his decision to quit the show ... but Scott says he had made up his mind.
But you may not have seen the last of Dangerfield ... he tells us producers are encouraging him to try out again next year ... and he's strongly considering it.
