This whole Susan Boyle/Lou Reed feud got us thinking -- who would win in a no-holds barred steel cage wrestling match? Who better to debate this with ... then "America's Got Talent" host Howie Mandel!


Then Howie made a sex tape joke -- and it got real ugly, real fast. 

TMZ has obtained audio of Susan Boyle singing "Perfect Day" -- the song that drove her to tears after being told she couldn't sing it on "America's Got Talent."


We broke the story ... Lou Reed -- who wrote and sang the song -- is not a fan of Boyle's and would not give her permission to sing it.  Although Reed's reps have reportedly denied he withheld permission, we have posted an internal email between Boyle's manager and producers of the TV show that says otherwise.

We just got this statement from Simon Cowell, creator and Executive Producer of "America's Got Talent," who says if Reed did turn thumbs down it's "petty -- so pathetic." 

Cowell adds, "Loads of people have covered this song ... Well Lou, if you're listening to this, do we have permission, yes or no, to put the song on 'America's Got Talent' next week?  Personal request from me." 

We took your questions on everything -- including Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrested for grand larceny, Tiger Woods mistress Devon James being fired from a hooker gig, and our exclusive audio of Susan Boyle's forbidden rendition of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day."


Plus: Britney Spears' former bodyguards' sexual harassment suit ... and it's Matt's birthday!

Susan Boyle was "absolutely devastated" when she learned Lou Reed had personally blocked her from performing one of his hit songs on "America's Got Talent" ... so says Susan's manager.


TMZ has obtained an email that Susan's manager fired off on Thursday to FremantleMedia -- the production company behind "Talent" -- saying:

"Susan was absolutely devastated to be told on the morning of the show taping that Lou Reed had personally decided to block her singing his already much covered song, 'Perfect Day,' on 'America's Got Talent' in L.A.."

The email continues, "We obviously had no idea of this prior to leaving London. None of us can understand the decision given that it's such a beautiful rendition of the song."

Susan's manager also explains that Susan decided to pull out of the show entirely instead of changing her tune because she only learned about the rejection with "less than two hours to go before the recording" and had "no other new song rehearsed."

A rep for Lou Reed has reportedly stated that the former Velvet Underground singer didn't throw the kibosh on SuBo -- but obviously, Susan's camp isn't buying it.