American Idol

3:30 PM PT -- Lythgoe tells us he strongly denies giving Taylor, or any contestant, the heads-up on results at any time.

Former "American Idol" champ Taylor Hicks says he had inside information about who was getting eliminated each week when he was on the show -- and says he wasn't the only one.

Taylor was on WJOX radio Friday in Birmingham, AL when he dropped the bombshell. As he put it, "I had an 'in' in the whole production of the show" who told him the results before they were revealed during season 5.

Mr. Soul Patrol says the only night he didn't get the info was the finale in 2006 -- where he was up against Katharine McPhee. He did say executive producer Nigel Lythgoe gave him a "wink and a nod" before the results were announced.

To be clear, Taylor's not suggesting the voting was rigged. However, if what he's saying is true ... you'd have to question the shocked looks on contestants' faces when Ryan Seacrest revealed the elimination.

Also ... for how many other seasons was Taylor's source tipping off contestants?

Jax has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at the White House on Independence Day, and nothing's going to stop her ... despite the inevitable backlash for hangin' with Donald Trump.

The Season 14 "American Idol" finalist tells TMZ she finds it sad people can't separate politics from patriotism because she has a lot of the latter ... and for good reasons.

For Jax, her upcoming performance is all about honoring her country and her family -- her younger bro is a Marine and her dad was a 9/11 first responder -- she says it's not at all about POTUS.

Ex-NBA player Rasual Butler had multiple substances in his system at the time of his fatal crash back in January ... including alcohol, marijuana and painkillers ... according to the autopsy obtained by TMZ Sports.

As we previously reported, Butler was behind the wheel of a Range Rover -- with a female passenger, Leah LaBelle -- when he lost control around 2:30 AM and crashed into parking meters and a concrete wall. Both died immediately from injuries suffered in the crash.

Toxicology results show Butler's blood alcohol level was tested from blood collected from his heart and leg. The heart sample showed a BAC of .118, above the legal limit.

The leg sample showed a .062, which is under the legal limit. One law enforcement source told us the results are consistent with a person who was legally drunk.

Tests also show Butler tested positive for cannabinoids (marijuana), methamphetamine and oxycodone.

The report shows an empty box of Don Julio tequila was recovered at the crash scene.

As for Butler's passenger, Leah LaBelle -- a former "American Idol" contestant, who Butler referred to as his wife -- she had a .144 blood alcohol level.

The information could be relevant to Leah's family if they decided to go after Butler's estate for wrongful death.

Ryan Seacrest's grueling "American Idol" commute ain't looking all that rough -- considering he gets to make out with his hottie gf, before AND after going wheels up.

Ryan and Shayna Taylor were out shopping and grubbing over in Venice, CA ... the day after they jetted from NYC to LA for his little $10 million weekend gig. They did lunch inside Gjelina, and did PDA outside the hot spot.

Now that all the 'Idol' episodes are live, Ryan has to make this cross-country trek every weekend. Soon as 'Idol' ends Sunday nights ... the couple hops back on a jet plane -- private, of course -- to be back in NYC for 'Live' and his radio show.

Three "American Idol" contestants got the boot this week, and Dennis Lorenzo thinks it's complete BS he was one of 'em, just because he was last on the mic.

The former 'Idol' hopeful told us his placement Sunday night in the Top 10 performances might have sunk him even before the voting started. Much like real estate, Dennis believes location is key on 'Idol,' and going last in the lineup meant he had a smaller window to rake in votes.

Dennis says he went along with producers' guarantees that the process was fair regardless of who went first or last -- but after the show, he says folks told him they'd been shut out of the voting process early.

"American Idol" voters don't like voting for minorities, and the show's most recent elimination round proves it, according to Marcio Donaldson, one of the guys who got booted.

Marcio wasn't voted into the Top 10 Tuesday night, and believes minorities have it harder on the show ... because America tends to vote white. Sounds harsh, but he says the show's record stands for itself when it comes to minorities winning 'Idol.'

On the reboot, judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie picked 4 of the top 10 finalists from a pool of 8 who didn't make the cut with viewers. Almost everyone in the bottom eight was a minority.

"American Idol" star and fan favorite Ada Vox has made her way to the spotlight ... and she hopes a couple legends in the drag queen world have noticed.

We talked to Ada -- the stage persona of Adam Sanders, who's currently killing it on the first season of the 'AI' reboot on ABC -- about her journey and mindset going forward in the competition. She tells us because Adam tried and failed in the past to get where Ada has ... it's a no-brainer to keep it up with her -- she's the entertainer of the 2.

Ada also says it would be amazing if RuPaul would shout her out ... even more so if she got Cher's attention.

Ada performed last week on 'Idol' with Lea Michele, and really made fans -- along with the judges -- believe she could win with her performance. And there's no doubt she believes in herself.

Interesting note -- Ada auditioned for the show 12 times before, as Adam, and was eliminated during Hollywood Week of season 12. But, the drag queen came out for the latest audition ... and the 13th time was the charm.

"American Idol" dreamboat Trevor Holmes got sent home by Katy Perry this week -- but he ain't mad at her ... 'cause their viral "flirting" put him and his music on the map.

We spoke to Trevor a day after his final episode on 'Idol' aired Monday, in which he got eliminated by the judges ... and had the news delivered by none other than Katy.

In case you haven't been following along this season ... Trevor and Katy have sorta had a thang between them since his original audition -- even though he's got a GF, Sierra.

In hindsight, Trevor tells us he has no regrets or resentment about being booted -- although he acknowledges the Katy-Sierra "love triangle" being played up screwed with him a bit.

Tyga is nothing if not predictable, because he's being sued again where he lives ... and he also got his poor little son sued in the process.

Mezhgan Hussainy, Simon Cowell's makeup artist who he was once set on marrying, has a super cool house in Bev Hills that she rented to him for $40k a month. Tyga moved in in March 2017 and paid rent for awhile .. until he didn't.

Hussainy claims the rent check stopped in January and he's made no effort to catch up.

Former "American Idol" contestant Chikezie Eze has a history of beating his estranged wife, Linda Iruke ... at least according to her, and now a judge is ordering him to stay away from Linda and their kids.

Linda filed docs, obtained by TMZ, saying she was forced to move to a domestic violence safe house in August "because of all the abuse." She says they've been separated since May 2017.

In the docs, Linda says Chikezie -- who finished 10th in season 7 -- once threatened, "Don't make me turn this car around and beat your ass." She says he also threatened to post nude photos of her on the Internet.

She claims the last straw came in January when Chikezie allegedly made a verbal threat. She's not specific about what was said, but says based on prior unreported domestic violence, she believes he's capable of carrying out the threat.

Linda requested, and was granted, a restraining order which requires Chikezie to stay at least 100 yards away from Linda, their kids, and her home and work location.

We've reached out to Chikezie ... so far, no word back.

Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan can learn a thing or two from their rivals Adam, Blake, Alicia and Kelly ... and that's according to an "American Idol" winner!

Nick Fradiani -- who won season 14 in 2015 -- watched the big premiere, and says the "Idol" judges have some work to do if they're gonna build up the same kind of chemistry as "The Voice" coaches.

"American Idol" producers have a tricky way of keeping tabs on contestants looking to sneak out of their rooms to bang other contestants ... according to former 'Idol' contestant Jackie Tohn.

We got Jackie, who was on season 8, Monday night at the Hollywood Improv, and she had a flashback when we told the new 'Idol' contestants have been hooking up like crazy.

Jackie says back in her day, producers put a simple piece of tape to good use. You gotta see her break down the strategy used to make sure 'Idol' hopefuls were working on music, and not each other. Hint: Don't break the seal!

The "American Idol" reboot saw its first train wreck of an audition this weekend, but there was no real Simon Cowell to be found among any of the judges ... try as Katy Perry did.

A woman named Koby -- who's a theater performer -- was the first 'no' Sunday night on the premiere of the new 'AI,' with Katy, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan in the judges' chairs.

No offense to the aspiring singer, but her audition was terrible -- and it was the first opportunity for the judges to show their true colors ... and to see if anyone would fill in Cowell's "mean judge" shoes.

Katy did kinda take a crack at it, but she's no Simon Cowell ... as you can see from her feedback. Katy is direct and slightly harsh, telling Koby "You're not a pop star. It's not right." But aside from that, the criticism was relatively mild compared to the good ol' days.

Lionel and Luke also did their best Randy and Paula impressions, but it ain't the real McCoy.

"American Idol" contestants have all been staying in an L.A. hotel together and it's a good bet they're keeping other hotel guests up late at night ... because there's been a lot of banging.

Production sources tell us this season is different from all the others, because contestants are not only hooking up, at least 2 of them and possibly 4 are in actual relationships. There have been a number of casual hookups as well.

We're told producers found out about the bangfest and they're okay with it.

Our production sources say in the first run of the show there were never obvious hookups, but they think the batch of young contestants this season is just further proof Tinder is ingrained in their culture.

Maybe one of them will sing a Crosby, Stills and Nash song ... "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with."

Nigel Lythgoe says Ryan Seacrest should absolutely be allowed to continue hosting "American Idol" ... despite a sexual harassment allegation hanging over his head.

We got the "So You Think You Can Dance" judge Tuesday in Bev Hills, and he thinks the real reason A-list actresses avoided Seacrest at the Oscars is because of their publicists.

While Seacrest did nab some interviews -- like with Taraji P. Henson, who many thought threw shade his way -- the red carpet vet didn't talk to any of the Best Actress nominees.

As for whether Ryan should be allowed to continue hosting the rebooted 'Idol' on ABC, Lythgoe says Seacrest can't be assumed to be guilty based on merely one allegation. He notes no other women have come forward.

"American Idol" alum Haley Reinhart took the stand in her battery case, but her defense fell woefully short -- she was found guilty of hitting a bouncer.

TMZ broke the story ... Haley was arrested last July for punching a bouncer during a bar brawl that left one of her friends bloodied ... prompting him to sue one of the bouncers.

Haley took the witness stand in her own defense Monday, but the judge said her answers were "evasive, argumentative and sometimes implausible" ... according to the Chicago Tribune. She was ordered to pay a $500 fine, but the conviction could be wiped from her record if she keeps her nose clean for 2 years.