Jennifer Lopez isn't just saying publicly she isn't sure if she wants to return to "American Idol," she's saying it privately too ... because Steven Tyler asked her the same question and got the same answer.

We bumped into Tyler yesterday in Malibu, and in between posing for pics with a fan, he told our photog he got a big "I don't know" when he asked JLo about her plans for next season. 

And if JLo should go, Tyler didn't offer up any specific suggestions for who should take her spot ... but he did have one general qualification he feels anyone who sits in the judge's chair should meet.

"American Idol" champ Phillip Phillips is celebrating his win by PARTYING LIKE A ROCK STAR IN VEGAS ... at least that's what he should be doing, but instead he's hanging out with his parents and giving them his brand new car!

Sources tell TMZ ... the brand new 2013 Ford Fusion (valued at $25,000) Phillip was given for winning the competition will actually be a gift to his parents ... because he's perfectly happy driving his 2001 Ford Ranger truck (see below) and refuses to give it up.



In fact, we're told Phillip wasn't even tempted to use the new car for himself.

Best. Son. Ever.

"American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips will get badly-needed surgery for a bum kidney on Tuesday, and he'll be recuperating in style in a swanky Malibu mansion ... TMZ has learned.

As we first reported, Phillip endured immense pain during the entire competition ... the result of a congenital kidney stone problem that has already resulted in 8 surgeries.  He's been living with kidney stones that are so big they can't pass through his system.

Doctors inserted a stent into Phillip's kidney 7 weeks ago, as a temporary fix, but the pain borders on unbearable.  In fact, when Phillip went home to Georgia a week ago, his doctor urged him to throw in the towel and get the surgery immediately, but Phillip said no.

So we've learned the surgery will take place Tuesday afternoon.

Phillip's recovery is expected to take weeks -- as many as 6.  But here's the good news.  A honcho from the "A.I." production company has offered his home to Phillip and his parents for the entire recovery.

"American Idol" champ Kris Allen is DEAD WRONG ... the show has life in it yet ... at least according to Season 5 champ Taylor Hicks -- and his own shining success is proof.

As we reported, Kris Allen thinks it's about time "Idol" producers pulled the plug on the operation -- after this season's finale put up the lowest ratings in the show's history.

But Taylor tells TMZ, "American Idol is a juggernaut ... Because of my American Idol win, I am able to do the thing that I love most, which is to be an entertainer."

Taylor adds, "The fact that I am headlining Vegas 6 years after auditioning there and then ultimately winning AI is testament to the incredible platform the show continues to provide for me."

Taylor won "Idol" in 2006 and was signed to Arista Records. Arista dropped Taylor in 2008.
 

Stick a fork in "American Idol" ... it's done -- at least according to former champ Kris Allen, who strongly insinuated the show has run its course.

Kris -- who beat out Adam Lambert to win Season 8 -- was in LA yesterday when we asked if he caught the "Idol" finale Wednesday night. But like millions of former "Idol" fans across the country, Kris said he did NOT.

In fact, Kris said it might be time to pull the plug on "Idol" ... for good.

But it could be a case of "Bitter, party of one." Kris' latest album is only projected to sell a measly 15-20k in its first week ... and there are rumblings that he will be dropped from his record label.

So we gotta ask ... 

Newly-crowned "American Idol" champ Phillip Phillips will finally undergo urgent kidney surgery next week, TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Phillips doctors ordered him to undergo a procedure to fix his severe kidney stone problems -- which have worsened since the singer went on "Idol" -- but Phillip refused, insisting on finishing the show first.

But now that it's all over ... and Phillip won ... we're told he's finally planning on getting the operation in L.A. in the next 7-10 days.

We're told Phillip's parents will be flying in for support.

Kidney operations are no joke -- Phillip can expect to spend several days in the hospital, followed by a 6-week recovery period.

"American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips' family has reason to celebrate, now that the "A.I." winner will be rolling in the dough ... and the first move is selling the family pawn shop.

Sources close to Phillip’s family tell TMZ, Phil's dad Donnie has been mulling over the idea of selling the Albany, GA pawn shop ... but apparently Phillip's success made the decision a no-brainer.

Donnie is banking on a bidding war, now that the shop has the "A.I." cache.

Before Phillip's "Idol" run, Donnie planned to sell the place for $200,000. Onward and upward, he hopes.

He won't be the next "American Idol" ... but recent cast-off Joshua Ledet has already gotten an offer to appear in a real-life stage production ... with a bunch of naked men.

TMZ has learned ... the top banana at the Mantasia male strip club in NYC has been super interested in Ledet ever since "A.I." fans dubbed him "Mantasia."

In case you haven't been watching, Ledet earned the moniker because his powerful voice drew comparisons to a male version of Fantasia Barrino.

But the head dong wrangler at the male review believes Ledet's nickname was a message from the stripper gods that the two were destined to work together ... even if Josh doesn't drop trou.

"We'll find something for him, he's a very talented performer," the stripper boss tells TMZ.

We called Josh for comment -- so far, no response.

The dog who won "Britain's Got Talent" just rejected an offer to appear on the "American Idol" finale, TMZ has learned, because the talented canine is too busy being famous.

Sources tell TMZ ... Pudsey the dog and 17-year old owner Ashleigh were asked to appear live on the "Idol" stage -- it's unclear if they would perform -- but when producers called about the potential gig ... they were met with a big, fat NO.

The reason behind the rejection ... we're told Pudsey and Ashleigh have been getting offers round-the-clock since winning the UK's talent competition ... and the pair is literally too busy to squeeze in an "Idol" appearance.

Good news is ... we're told Pudsey will be making trips to NYC and L.A. soon for OTHER major TV appearances -- just not "Idol" -- and will meet with several producers as well.

Take that, Uggie. 

Phillip Phillips -- one of the finalists on "American Idol" -- has been URGED by his personal doctor to get surgery immediately ... but Phillip wants to work through the pain and the risk so he can win next week.

Multiple "Idol" sources tell us ... when Phillip went back home to Georgia last Saturday ... his family doctor spent almost the entire stay by his side and was alarmed by what he saw -- Phillip wasn't eating and looked horrible. 

Phillip suffers from severe kidney problems and at the beginning of the competition it got so bad he had a stent put in as a temporary fix until he could have surgery. But the condition has worsened and Phillip's doc told him he needed surgery now. Phillip said he was not going to drop out of the show so the doctor told him he ABSOLUTELY had to go under the knife immediately after the finale.

We're told the recovery time for the surgery is at least 6 weeks.

Phillip's condition is taking its toll -- we're told the medication causes dry mouth, and it's had some impact on his singing.

Phillip has also missed some of the field productions that are shot for the show -- including the Ford commercials. Our "Idol" sources tell us they felt that making him go on location for these shoots were just too taxing.

Erika Van Pelt -- the 10th place finisher on this season's "American Idol" -- says Donna Summer gave her a huge leg up in her music career ... and now she wants to honor the Disco Queen's memory on the upcoming "A.I." concert tour.

Van Pelt tells TMZ ... she opened for the singer during a fundraiser in Dallas last summer ... and feels she owes a huge chunk of her success to the experience.

Erika says she wants to pay tribute by singing the Donna Summer classic, "On The Radio" during the "Idol" live tour ... but ultimately, it's up to the producers to sign off on the plan.

Van Pelt says she's already reached out to "A.I." honchos ... and now, she's crossing her fingers until the official lineup is announced.

Stay tuned ...