American Idol

According to sources, Epperson and another chick -- her sister -- kicked another clubgoer's butt inside Colony club.

We have video of Asia'h leaving the club with Too Short at 2:20 AM, just before she was cuffed and cheerfully taken away.

The victim complained of bruising and pain. Epperson is currently at the station.

UPDATE: The alleged victim has now made a citizen's arrest and says she will press charges. Asia'h will be transferred to a nearby jail soon.

UPDATE 7:20 AM: Asia'h has just been released from custody.

Story developing ....

The caller -- who was outside of Fantasia's North Carolina home at the time -- informed the 911 operator that Barrino was slowly losing consciousness ... and had been moved into the shower.

The operator instructed the caller to remove Fantasia from the shower.

Cops arrived to the scene a short time later -- and Fantasia was eventually transported to a North Carolina hospital.

Fantasia's rep announced yesterday that the singer was in stable condition.

The rep just released a statement saying Fantasia ingested the medication after feeling "overwhelmed by the lawsuit and the media attention" surrounding her relationship with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Antwaun Cook ... who happens to be married.

The statement continues, "Last night, Fantasia was hospitalized. She took an overdose of aspirin and a sleep aid. Her injuries are not life threatening. She was dehydrated and exhausted at the time. Fantasia is stable now. She will be released from the hospital soon."

The rep also explains that Fantasia "believed" Antwaun Cook when he told her "he was not happy in his marriage [to Paula Cook] and his heart was not in it."

Here's the statement in its entirety:

Fantasia has always been an open book. Honesty, self-respect, and personal responsibility are values she wears proudly.

Fantasia believed Mr. Cook when he told her he was not happy in his marriage and his heart was not in it. She believed him when he told her he and Mrs. Cook separated in the late summer of 2009. She believed Mr. Cook when he told her he lived elsewhere.

According to the report, cops received a 911 call at 10:13 PM last night ... and responded to Fantasia's home in North Carolina.

According to the report, Barrino was taken to Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville around 8:55 PM ... the report says her condition was not life-threatening.

According to the report, it's unclear whether the OD was intentional or accidental.

As we previously reported -- Barrino was recently accused of making a sex tape with a married man and destroying his marriage.

Our "A.I." spies tell us producers have never put Lopez, Tyler and Randy Jackson in the same room to see if they have the right chemistry. As one source put it, "It's ridiculous not to road test these people before committing ... it's insane."

We're told before choosing Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, Exec Producer Nigel Lythgoe organized dinners with the three prospective judges, to see how they meshed. We're told Nigel even had Simon and Randy go to a few strip clubs together ... to see how they got along.
FOX, we're told, was adamantly opposed to Paula because the Network felt she was "washed up," but Nigel convinced the execs it was all about the "magic" between the three.

Fantasia's manager, Brian Dickens, just released a statement saying the former "American Idol" champ is "certain that she is not responsible for the deterioration of the Cook's marriage."

The statement goes on to say, "Fantasia will weather this storm with the dignity and grace that she has exemplified throughout a life in which she has repeatedly overcome obstacles and challenges. Fantasia's faith in God, herself and family remain as strong as ever."

As we previously reported, Paula Cook just filed for divorce from her husband Antwaun. In the court docs, Paula accused the guy of having a "covert adulterous affair" with Barrino ... and believes they "recorded their illicit activity."

UPDATE: Fantasia's lawyer, Gena Morris, is officially on the attack -- telling TMZ, "Mrs. Cook gratuitously included claims about Fantasia to sensationalize that litigation and to insure that her tale would be picked up by tabloids."

Morris added, "The fact that she would seek such publicity in a case involving her children is particularly disgraceful.”

The buxom 50-year-old showed off his interestingly manscaped torso in the south of France this weekend.

According to docs obtained by WCNC, Paula Cook filed for child support against her estranged husband Antwaun Cook last week and cited an alleged affair between Cook and Barrino. She claims the two met at a T-Mobile store and, beginning in August 2009, began their "covert adulterous affair."

Cook goes on to claim, "Throughout the course of their adulterous affair ... Defendant/Husband and Ms. Barrino have at times recorded their illicit activity."

Rumors of an affair between Barrino and Cook have been around for months -- and Barrino has always denied them.

Victor Willis tells TMZ he'd be the "best choice" to replace Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell because he was "the original idol judge for the selection of the Village People talent" back in 1977.

As we previously reported, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are slated to take the judges table once their contracts are worked out -- but just in case it doesn't work out with them, Willis claims, "I reminded the [American Idol] representative that I was a judge for the selection of talent for the most iconic group of characters of all time."

He added, "The show’s response was that they’re very much aware of this and that I’m considered a serious dark horse candidate."

While promoting her new reality/hunting show "Goin' Country," Cook -- who placed 7th on "Idol" in 2008 -- recently said, "I never used to like killing animals until I got out and experienced it. It's the food chain. Animals are here for us to eat."

Obviously, the statement didn't sit well with the group In Defense of Animals, who see things a little differently ... saying, "Contrary to Kristy Lee's beliefs, animals are meant to live out their lives in peace, not to be killed for our enjoyment."

UPDATE: "Idol" executives are being far more coy than Tyler -- because they told reporters today that "no one has signed a deal on either side of the camera who wasn't on the show last year."

Sources close to production tell TMZ there was "serious talk" of a clean sweep of the judge's panel ... but we're told "Idol" brass wanted to keep a connection to the original judge's table, so Randy was spared.

As we previously reported, Simon Cowell left for "The X Factor," Ellen DeGeneres stepped down after one season and Kara DioGuardi was let go -- leaving Randy as the only remaining judge.

Aerosmith is currently in the middle of a nationwide tour aptly named "Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock!" -- and the tour is scheduled to roll through the end of September ... long after production begins on "Idol."

A rep for the band still won't confirm that Tyler is locked up for "Idol" -- but she did tell us that no matter what, "The Aerosmith tour will continue on for its full scheduled run with Steven Tyler."