American Idol

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 sources connected with the production of the show tell TMZ ... Ryan may be MIA for the first time in the 11-season run of the show.

We're told Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe stepped in for Ryan during the dress rehearsal this afternoon.

Sources say Ryan had an IV in his arm, and is fighting "a bad stomach bug." We're told he was throwing up all last night and today.

Ryan was not at the rehearsal and it's unclear if he'll do the show. If he doesn't, Nigel is ready to step in.

"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 earring made by Sarah Poe, a designer from her home state of South Carolina. Sarah and Elise are friends and customers had always thought Tyler would love her stuff, given his penchant for feathered accessories, so Sarah gave one to Elise to pass on.

Ever since the show aired, Poe tells TMZ her phone lines, Facebook page and email have all been blowing up with business. All the pieces are handmade and one-of-a-kind and range between $65-$145, with Tyler's piece costing around $125.

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 judges to use their "save" on the contestant.

We're told producers actually thought 2 of the 3 contestants in the bottom tonight were strong candidates to win the entire competition.

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 his wife Surata Zuri McCants, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in January.

It got hairy at first -- Zuri tried to get the judge in their divorce case to nullify the prenup, claiming Ruben blindsided her with the documents just days before the wedding, unfairly pressuring her into signing them.

But the judge wasn't buying it -- upholding the prenup, and awarding Zuri close to ZILCH in the divorce.

According to the final judgment, Ruben was not ordered to pay ANY spousal support or alimony ... and he gets to keep their home plus all his belongings -- jewelry, pensions, royalties, clothing, and all his cash. It was even ordered Zuri return the engagement ring.

Meanwhile, Zuri gets next to nothing -- her wedding dress, her photo albums, a 2006 BMW (which Ruben will pay off), a 10k property settlement, 2k for attorneys fees ... oh yeah, and her maiden name.

The "American Idol" finalists better watch their step in their Hollywood mansion -- because no matter where they go ... someone has probably already had dirty sex there ... this according to two swingers who used to live in the house.

TMZ broke the story ... Idol’s current mansion was last occupied by a bunch of sex-crazed swingers for Playboy TV's racy reality show "Swing" ... about a random group of live-in swingers and their X-rated sexcapades.

Now former Swing-mates Michael and Holli tell us -- NOTHING in the finalists' current digs was off limits for boning ... especially not the Idol finalists’ music room, where the singers practice.

According to Michael and Holli, the room was a sex mecca -- lined wall-to-wall with mattresses. Castmates even called it the Boom Boom Room.

But that's not all -- according to the swinger duo, the mansion's former swinger occupants did it in the shower, on the floor, on ALL the countertops, outside, and their personal favorite ... in the elevator.

The "American Idol" kids are following in the footsteps of orgy-lovin, sex-crazed, swingers -- TMZ has learned -- because the mansion they just moved in to was previously used for PORN!

Sources tell TMZ, the new digs currently housing the top 9 finalists on ‘Idol’ is the same place Playboy TV shot season 2 of its racy sex show "Swing."

For those you who haven’t seen it ... "Swing" is a show about couples who move into a house with the sole purpose of “living out their erotic curiosities” through swinging ... i.e one big fat excuse for banging each other as often as possible.

As for the specs -- the former sex den is a 10-bdrm, 16-bath, 16,000 sq. ft swingers dream ... now housing the squeaky clean -- soon to be Disney World attraction -- "Idol" finalists.

Infamous "American Idol" bikini girl Katrina Darrell plans to fight all the charges against her stemming from her DUI arrest yesterday, saying she did not flee the scene of an accident and claiming she wasn't even drunk at the time!

As TMZ first reported, Darrell was busted just after midnight in Los Angeles on Friday for fleeing the scene of an accident and failing a breathalyzer test with blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit. Katrina had told police she was in a rush to get her mother to the hospital.

But Katrina's manager, Michael Blakey, tells TMZ Katrina was indeed taking her mother to the hospital because she had taken a nasty fall at home and was bleeding from the head.

After releasing his debut album four months ago to little success, former season 10 "American Idol" singer James Durbin decided to change up his look and dyed his hair bleach blonde.

The 23-year-old newlywed showed off his new locks at a wrestling event in Miami on Thursday night.

Katrina Darrell -- the chick who famously auditioned for "American Idol" in a bikini back in 2009 -- was arrested this morning for DUI ... TMZ has learned.

According to Pomona PD Sgt. Patrick O'Malley, the 24-year-old singer ... also known as "Bikini Girl" ... was arrested in Los Angeles at 12:16 AM ... with her mother in the passenger seat.

Darrell allegedly told police she was en route to a nearby hospital ... because her mom had fallen down at home.

But while Katrina was driving to the hospital, she allegedly ran a red light and smashed into another vehicle.

Darrell allegedly tried to flee the scene ... but a nearby officer who heard the crash responded and pulled over Katrina's 2004 Toyota Camry.

When the officer approached Katrina, he smelled booze ... and gave her a field sobriety test. She performed poorly ... and was arrested for DUI.

Katrina -- who was crying hysterically during the arrest -- was hauled to a nearby police station ... where she took a breathalyzer test ... and blew a .15 and a .17 ... WAYYYY over the legal limit, .08.

Katrina was eventually cited and released just after 6AM. As for her mom, an ambulance was called to the scene of the arrest ... but her condition is unclear.

Things could get worse for Katrina ... we're told she could also face charges for hit and run for allegedly trying to flee the scene of the initial accident.

Rockin' a J.Lo hat and shades, "American Idol" judge Steven Tyler celebrated his 64th birthday by flashing some blue nail polish painted mangled toes in Hawaii on Monday.

Getting older can be so pedi.

The final 5 contestants on "American idol" better LOVE Disney World -- because once the show is over, they'll be working their asses off at the Happiest Place on Earth ... at least temporarily.

According to one of the contestant's contracts, obtained by TMZ, each of the final 5 contestants is required to put in a day's work post-"Idol" at the new American Idol Experience at Disney World -- taping a performance for later use on the attraction.

Lucky for them, they're not working for free -- according to the deal, the 2nd through 5th place contestants will earn $50,000 for the day's work ... much more than most Disney employees can say.

But the deal gets a little trickier for whoever wins "Idol" this season -- that person is required not only to tape a performance for the attraction ... he or she is also required to participate in a commercial and make an in-person appearance at Disney world to help promote the attraction.

The good news -- the winner gets paid handsomely for the job ... $200,000.

"American Idol" finalist Phillip Phillips’ family can't afford to watch him perform live in Hollywood -- so his hometown in Georgia is banding together ... to raise money to send 'em there ... TMZ has learned.

According to sources, it costs about $3,000 to fly out Phillip's family from Leesburg, GA to Los Angeles -- and the Phillipses simply can't afford to make the trip ... despite their son making it to the finals.

But the good citizens of Leesburg, GA have trying their best to help out ... throwing fundraisers every Wednesday -- where at least 15 merchants donate a percentage of their profits from that day ... to help the family make the trip to tinseltown.

The events are so popular -- Mayor Jim Quinn named 'em ‘Phillip Phillips’ Wednesdays’ ... and even gave Phillips’ family a key to the town.

Sources tell TMZ -- people from all over are eager to donate ... townsfolk ... tourists off the street ... and even fans as far as Florida are mailing in checks.

God's a lot more forgiving than "American Idol" -- TMZ has learned, the hometown church where Jermaine Jones grew up singing choir still welcomes him with open arms ... despite his checkered past.

TMZ broke the story, "Idol" producers terminated Jermaine's run on the show after discovering the singer had 4 warrants out for his arrest -- and gave multiple fake names to cops.

But Reverend George Holland at Green Grove Baptist Church in NJ isn't so quick to rush to judgment -- telling TMZ, he has known Jermaine since he was a boy ... explaining, “He’s well-loved and accepted here. We serve a forgiving God. Everyone has made mistakes in their lives. Hopefully when you make those mistakes you’ve learned from them and become a better person.”

Former "American Idol" finalist Asia'h Epperson is currently recovering from a bad car accident in which she suffered multiple broken bones ... including her jaw and 9 ribs ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple people close to Asia'h tell us ... the Season 7 semi-finalist has been hospitalized in L.A. ever since the wreck on Wednesday.

We're told Asia'h broke her jaw, pelvis, 9 ribs, and multiple vertebrae. We're told she also suffered injuries to her spleen, lung and kidney.

A rep for Asia'h tells us the singer's family is by her side ... and says doctors believe she'll make a full recovery.

Asia'h got to the final 16 during her run in 2008 ... the same year David Cook won the competition.

"American Idol" contestant Phillip Phillips' bum kidney will NOT end his run on the show -- TMZ has learned, he's still determined to compete ... even after undergoing an extremely painful medical procedure.

TMZ broke the story, Phillip -- who has a long kidney stone history -- was rushed to a medical facility last week, complaining of some nasty abdominal pain.

According to sources, Phillip underwent a procedure to install a ‘stent’ in his kidney -- a kind of medical tube thing -- to help alleviate a blockage caused by kidney stones.

Here’s the catch -- stents are super painful ... the kind of pain that makes it hard to compete on a nationally-televised singing competition.

But Phillip's dad tells us, his kid wants to stay in the competition as long as possible -- despite the excruciating pain caused by the stent ... and won’t have it removed 'til his "Idol" run is done.

Jermaine Jones got a swift kick in the ass from reality last night ... when 'Idol' producers confronted the singer on tape and told him he's FIRED from the show for lying about his criminal past.

Jones took it well ... thanking executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick for the opportunity ... and then getting into the back of a waiting car ... not a cop car.

TMZ broke the story ... Jones has 4 warrants out for his arrest and a history of allegedly using multiple fake names with cops.