American Idol

Tough choice, isn't it?

That's decision facing fairgoers at the Hickory American Legion Fair in Hickory, N.C. today. "Idol" wannabeen Phil Stacey headlines the fair tonight at 9:00 PM -- the same time David Smith the Human Cannonball is set to perform.

Bucky Covington's fan base is so big, an Illinois festival is moving mountains to accommodate him.

Ok, so we're talking about the Grundy County Corn Festival, and it's a move from downtown to where the old high school was. But the Fest's entertainment director tells us they had to petition the town council to use the new space. They haven't gotten a yea or nay.

If they get the nix, the 5,000 Buckymaniacs they're expecting will have to squeeze into a space for only 2,000, and you know how people get when they can't get their Bucky.

TMZ has learned Kevin Covais -- you know, Chicken Little from season five of "AI" -- is cooped up in the hospital.

And even though he's got a big new movie coming out ("College," out next Friday), he's going to have a little trouble smiling. That's because he's developed Bell's palsy -- a partial paralysis of the face -- because of the stress of his press tour. It's also aggravated by his diabetes, we're told.

But, his rep tells TMZ Kev's condition isn't "life-threatening" and he's going to be back pushing "College" soon.

Her famously restricting ties to the world of bondage won't get "American Idol" reject Frenchie Davis booted off of her latest gig -- in fact, it probably got her the job!

Like many a wannabeen before her, the Season 2 loser performed at a Toronto street fair over the weekend, but this was no local balloon festival -- it was a leather and fetish fair! The safe word is "desperate."

Frenchie's kinky gig actually makes perfect sense, since going on "Idol" requires being a masochist.

The "American Idol" tour rolled through D.C. today and it was actually Jeff Archuleta that signed the most autographs -- besting son David and "Idol" champ David Cook. Some people have strange tastes.

Before "Idol," his E! gig, radio show or having his TV talk show canceled, 19-year-old Ryan Seacrest flashed his best "Blue Steel" pose in a ridiculous photo shoot back in '94.

If only Lou Pearlman had gotten his hands on him before Merv Griffin.

29-year-old Aiken, his 50-year-old baby mama and their two-day-old baby left a North Carolina hospital yesterday. The duo plans to raise the child together. Imagine that parent teacher conference!

Clay Aiken's baby mama has popped!

Aiken's mother told local Raleigh, N.C. TV station that the "American Idol" runner-up was now the proud papa of a bouncing baby boy named Parker Foster Aiken.

Aiken's BFF, 50-year-old record producer Jaymes Foster, gave birth at 8:08 AM this morning in an "undisclosed location." TMZ was the first to tell you he had inseminated Foster.

Aiken's mother Faye said the dark-haired Parker weighed in at 6 lbs. 2 oz and was 19" long. She says her son is "smiling from ear-to-ear."

Mom, dad and baby all are doing fine, according to Faye.

Aiken and Foster, who met when Clay appeared on "A.I.," will raise their spawn together.

It's hard to tell the Jonas Brothers apart sometimes, but here's a hint: David Archuleta isn't one of them.

Kevin, Joe and Nick were so happy about their Teen Choice Awards victories, they blogged about it on their MySpace page. They were particularly jazzed about their win for Most Fanatical Fans. The only problem is they didn't win that award -- David Archuleta did.

Don't take away the one thing he's won!

What if you held "American Idol" auditions and no one showed up?! Not paging Nigel Lythgoe!

On Saturday, "A.I." held one of their typical open call auditions in San Juan, Puerto Rico and instead of the usual capacity crowds lined up practicing their awful renditions of tired Whitney Houston standards, according to El Nuevo Dia, only around 300 fools turned out. Ay dios mio! In contrast, last month 7,000 wannabe Taylor Hicks' camped out overnight at auditions held in Northern California.

In other words, don't expect to see a Spanish-language Carrie Underwood album anytime soon.

As we first reported, Lythgoe will spend his time working on his show, "So You Think You Can Dance," as well as starting a joint venture with "A.I." creator Simon Fuller.

Lythgoe sent us a statement, which reads in part, "Due to the huge success of 'So You Think You Can Dance,' my summer will be taken up by travels to South Africa, Australia and Canada to work on local versions of the show. I will step back from my day-to-day producing work on 'American Idol' and will be devoting my time to a new venture with Simon Fuller. I have very much enjoyed my personal and professional relationship with Simon. He is without doubt, a man of vision, and I look forward to partnering with him on new and exciting challenges in all forms of entertainment."

Nigel Lythgoe is off "American Idol."

TMZ has learned Lythgoe, who has executive produced the show for seven seasons, has just taken himself off the program and will not return. No replacement has been named.

We're told Lythgoe felt it was time for someone else to step in. Sources say he's said privately he is "not passionate about it anymore." "A.I.'s" ratings slipped last season, and the show was getting a little boring.

While Kelly Clarkson has played the big people stage at Universal's Gibson Amphitheater -- "American Idol" runner-up Justin Guarini is forced to rock out a free gig on the City Walk.

Carrie Underwood (right) proved "Idol" does give back and spared some dollars to a homeless woman who was not on "A.I." (left) in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

Taylor Hicks was nowhere in sight.