"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.

Former 'American Idol' champ Taylor Hicks pulled a full-on rock star move to force his way onto an airplane in Atlanta after nearly missing his flight.


Taylor gave us the blow-by-blow when he got off his Delta flight from Atlanta to NYC on Friday -- telling us, "They wouldn't let me in so I had to call the higher-ups. We banged on the door to the plane as it was leaving."

Hicks -- the oldest 'Idol' winner ever -- might be exaggerating his pull with the airline just a bit. Officials at Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta tell us they have no record of Hicks' flight being held up ... and they suspect he merely knocked on the jetway door shortly after it closed.

Still, he did make it on the plane. Today a 757 ... tomorrow, the Top 40.

Former "American Idol" star Taylor Hicks laid out in Mexico yesterday, working on his soulful tan.


Hicks has not had a song make the charts since 2006.

Craziness exploded in Hollywood last night -- and it all went down mere inches from our cameraman ... and some guy named Taylor Hicks.


The drama started after Taylor's show at the Roxy -- which the "American Idol" WINNER(?) performed in front of an audience of people who got their tickets for free because nobody would pay actual money for them.

The cops came, the cops helped a drunk chick, and then the cops got back in their car, flipped on the sirens and chased after something else. It was super intense, but we only caught bits of it ... because, for some completely unknown reason, our guy thought keeping the camera on Taylor Hicks would provide better material.

Even Taylor Hicks knew Taylor Hicks couldn't compete with that.

It's not a charity show, it's not a fundraiser ... Taylor Hicks concert tickets have now been reduced to a whopping $0.00 -- and it still hasn't sold out. Soul Patrol!

The season five "American Idol" winner was originally scheduled to perform at The Roxy on Sunset tomorrow night -- for $36.50 a ticket. But in the last few hours, a bunch of tickets wound up on goldstar.com -- a website which claims to offer ticket discounts because, "Not every show sells out, so instead of letting seats go empty, venues list them with us to sell to our members."

Now, instead of offering the usual half-price discount, Hicks tix are being given away for nothing ... nada .. zip ... zilch ... except an $8.75 service fee.

Still too much?

It's been 16 months since Taylor Hicks won "American Idol" -- and he's really going places -- like the opening of an Alabama housing development!

On the weekend of Oct. 26, people who have purchased land in the The Oaks development in Lake Guntersville will enjoy "an intimate dinner with Taylor Hicks and several other celebrities TBA." Plots of lakefront property start at the whopping price of $49,900! On top of seeing the graying, soon-to-be 31-year-old (who himself owns land in the area), guests will enjoy, "complementary [sic] food, boat rides, bass fishing and more." Soul Patrol!

Poor Season 5 runner-up Kat McPhee will just have to be content making movies!

If you thought Taylor Hicks' music was boring -- wait 'til you read his autobiography! Snore Patrol!

The 30-year-old Season 5 "American Idol" "winner" has just released his "inspirational memoir" called "Heart Full of Soul." Zzzzzzzzz.

In addition to covering his lackluster post-"Idol" career, the 272-page lullaby mentions how Hicks realized "Eminem has it right: when you only have one shot, you'd better lose yourself in the music." Mission accomplished Taylor -- you lost it alright!

So who was that bikini blonde cavorting in the Hawaiian sand with Season 5 "Idol" winner Taylor Hicks? If you live in Milwaukee, you know spritely Caroline Lyders as the morning anchor for WISN TV.

According to OnMilwaukee.com, Lyders says she and Hicks are "friends," but won't say anymore. Friends with benefits?!

If the pics are any indication, it looks like Lyders is on more than just soul patrol!

Taylor Hicks was spotted in Hawaii with a tight-bodied, blonde babe! Guess it pays to be an "American Idol" after all!

The two made the trek to the 808 after Taylor's "American Idol" season-ending mini-concert on Wednesday and have been spotted getting real lovey dovey all over the beach.

First Heidi and Spencer ... now Taylor and a mystery blonde? Hollywood's hookups; no end to the excitement.

Kelly Clarkson may be feuding with her label head Clive Davis, but she's got nothing but love for "American Idol."

TMZ has learned that Kelly -- and all winners from seasons past, except Fantasia -- will be back performing on the "American Idol" stage for tonight's finale.

Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks are headed to the Kodak Theater, but Fantasia Barrino won't be, since she is headlining Oprah Winfrey's production of "The Color Purple" on Broadway.

Sources tell TMZ Gladys Knight will perform "Midnight Train to Georgia" with the top six female finalists, while Smokey Robinson will join the top six male finalists for a rendition of "Ooh Baby Baby." Most recently booted finalist Melinda Doolittle will sing with brother and sister gospel duo BeBe and CeCe Winans, while the hairiffic Sanjaya duets with Aerosmith's Joe Perry to the Kinks' "You Really Got Me." It's sure to be an unbeweavable night!

Beat-boxing finalist Blake Lewis will show off his mad skillz against rapper Doug E. Fresh, and then duet with fellow finalist and probable winner, Jordin Sparks, to the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There." Since producers were able to finally get clearance to use Beatles music, a medley of Fab Four hits will be performed as well.

Luckily, we're told no one is expected to be exhumed a la Elvis on tonight's finale!

UPDATE: A well-placed source tells TMZ that anti-establishment rockers Green Day sold out and will be on the "American Idiot" "Idol" finale too!