TMZ Celebrity News for American Idol

Phillip Phillips Surgery POSTPONED

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-29T10:01:00-07:00

Phillip Phillips will NOT have kidney surgery today as scheduled, because he's burning up with a fever ... TMZ has learned.As we first reported, Phillip has a serious congenital kidney condition that produces kidney stones so large they cannot…

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Britney Spears vs. Jennifer Lopez -- It's All About Money

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-29T05:50:00-07:00

Jennifer Lopez helped Britney Spears secure a $15 million paycheck for "X Factor" -- because Britney had one intractable demand ... she had to make more than J Lo did for her first season on "American Idol."JLo raked in $12 mil for her first season on…

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Steven Tyler -- Jennifer Lopez 'Doesn't Know' If She's Coming Back

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-27T09:01:00-07:00

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,…

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'Idol' Winner Phillip Phillips -- Celebrates His Win with a ... $25k SURPRISE!

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-27T08:52:00-07:00

"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…

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Phillip Phillips -- Under the Knife On Tuesday

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-26T06:30:00-07:00

"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…

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'American Idol' Champ Taylor Hicks -- The Show STILL Makes Stars ... Just Look at Me!!!

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-26T05:00:00-07:00

"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…

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Kris Allen -- Put 'American Idol' Out of Its Misery

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-25T08:36:00-07:00

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…

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'American Idol' Winner Phillip Phillips -- Big Surgery Imminent

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-24T12:20:00-07:00

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…

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'American Idol' Winner Phillip Phillips -- Movin' On Up ... Family Dumping Pawn Shop

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-24T11:30:00-07:00

"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…

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'American Idol' Finalist Joshua Ledet -- Targeted By Male Strippers

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-20T00:50:00-07:00

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…

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'Britain's Got Talent' Dog -- Too Famous For 'American Idol'

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-19T13:45:00-07:00

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…

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'American Idol's' Phillip Phillips Needs Surgery -- BAD

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-18T10:55:00-07:00

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…

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'American Idol' Finalist -- I Wanna Honna Donna

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-18T03:30:00-07:00

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…

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'American Idol' -- We Really, Really Want Jennifer Lopez Back

TMZ Staff — 2012-05-16T11:40:00-07:00

Jennifer Lopez isn't sure if she'll come back for a third season of "American Idol," but the big cheese on the show says he wants her back in the worst way."A.I." EP Nigel Lythgoe tells TMZ, "We want her back. I want her back." Nigel is reacting to…

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'American Idol' Bikini Girl -- Charged with Drunk Hit-and-Run

TMZ Staff — 2012-04-28T04:00:00-07:00

Katrina Darrell -- the girl who infamously auditioned for "American Idol" back in 2009 wearing just a bikini -- has been charged with hit-and-run while driving under the influence ... TMZ has learnedAccording to the charging docs, obtained by TMZ,…

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Ryan Seacrest -- American Idol's Ebola Monkey

TMZ Staff — 2012-04-26T06:55:00-07:00

A very sick Ryan Seacrest made it through "American Idol" last night, but in the process he may have infected every single person who shares the stage with him.We broke the story -- Ryan came close to bailing on the show. He had a terrible stomach virus,…

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Ryan Seacrest Really Sick ... May Not Host 'American Idol' Tonight

TMZ Staff — 2012-04-25T16:15:00-07:00

4:50 PM PDT -- Sources tell TMZ ... Ryan is going to go for it ... although they will have puke buckets on the stage ... just in case he loses it. Ryan Seacrest feels like crap ... so much so he missed the rehearsal for "American Idol" tonight, and…

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'American Idol' -- Feather in the Ear Means Money in the Bank

TMZ Staff — 2012-04-15T07:10:00-07:00

"American Idol" hopeful Elise Testone gave judge Steven Tyler the gift of a feather earring on the show this week -- but the real gift was all the publicity she gave the jewelry designer who made it. Testone gave the Aerosmith singer a feather…

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Shocker on 'American Idol" -- Favorite Is Voted Off

TMZ Staff — 2012-04-12T16:17:00-07:00

There will be a stunning turn of events on "American Idol" tonight, because TMZ has learned one of the absolute favorites to win the competition will be eliminated.Sources connected with the show tell TMZ ... producers are scrambling to persuade the…

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Ruben Studdard Divorces Like a CHAMP ... with Ironclad Prenup

TMZ Staff — 2012-04-08T06:00:00-07:00

If you ever plan to get married, start taking notes -- because former "American Idol" champ Ruben Studdard just went through the CLEANEST divorce ever ... all thanks to his ironclad prenup.TMZ broke the story ... Ruben filed for divorce in November from…

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