The Idol Buzz

Win Free Tickets To American Idols Live! Tour

2007-06-26T06:19:00.000-07:00

TV Guide is giving away two tickets to the American Idol tour location closest to you!

Go to the TV Guide website for more information.

While you're there, be sure to participate in the discussion forums, and sign up for the TV Guide newsletter.

Jordin Sparks Wins American Idol

2007-05-23T23:09:00.000-07:00

In an exciting finale, Jordin Sparks beat Blake Lewis for the Season Six American Idol title.

The star-studded finale that included Gwen Stefani, Smokey Robinson, Doug E. Fresh, and Gladys Knight among others. The top twelve Idols from this season also performed throughout the evening.

But in the end, it was the 17-year old from Glendale, Arizona that was singing under the confetti.

Congratulations to Jordin and her family!

It's been a fun season. We'll keep you posted on American Idol events throughout the summer and the rest of the year.

Idol Buzz Out!

American Idol Recap: The Finale - May 22nd, 2007

2007-05-22T18:06:00.000-07:00

This is it! Only two contestants remain, and they have completely different styles. For the third year in a row, the competition comes down to a guy and a girl that are nothing alike. It's made for an exciting finish for the past two years. Let's see if this finale can live up to years past.

We're in the Kodak theatre tonight, with a much larger crowd than usual. We check out some footage of Jordin and Blake's auditions in Seattle, and find out that the songwriting winner is from Seattle also. After an overly-dramatic coin-flip, Blake wins and chooses to go first.

The performers will sing three songs each tonight.

Blake is up first, reprising his highly-acclaimed performance of "You Give Love a Bad Name". He's added more beat boxing, more flair, and more energy to the performance. Overall, it was more fun, but not as technically good. I liked the extended drum solo. The judges seem to agree that his performance was great, but the singing wasn't exceptional. I would have to agree.

Randy: Beat boxing 10 out of 10. Vocals just alright.
Paula: Vocals were great.
Simon: Vocals were a little flat, but the performance was one of your best.

Buzz Score: 9.5

Jordin is next singing "Fighter" by Christina Aguilera. I have a tough time buying into Jordin singing this style of song. Her performance is better than I expected though. I think she would have been better served by choosing a song more within her comfort zone.

Randy: It wasn't your greatest entertainment, but your voice was stellar.
Paula: You were stellar.
Simon: The vocals were a bit shrieky. Round one to Blake.

Buzz Score: 8.5

We learn the history of Blake's beat boxing before he sings Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved". This is a pretty good song for Blake. His voice fits well with it. He gets a bit pitchy on the falsetto, but it's a solid performance overall. I like the outfit. It didn't blow me away, but still good.

Randy: Very nice!
Paula: You sounded great, relaxed.
Simon: It was good, it was safe. I wouldn't have chosen that song in the final.

Buzz Score: 8.5

Now it's Jordin Sparks with her penultimate song of the night - Martina McBride's "A Broken Wing". When she sang this on country week, Simon said "This is the first time since we have met where I actually believe you could win American Idol." His words may ring true in about 25 hours. The song starts off really nice. Slow and soulful. As the song progresses, the energy builds and she finishes great. Vocals were spot on. I think this round goes to Jordin.

Randy: You can blow. That was flawless. Better than the original.
Paula: You look adorable. You are in great great vocal voice tonight.
Simon: That... was good!

Buzz Score: 9

Seattle natives won the song-writing competition with "This Is My Now". I was hoping to see Reed Waddle's "I Saw Stars" win the songwriting competition, but what are you going to do. The American Idol winner song is usually a little cheesy and "Adult Contemporary", but I think I like this one less than most of the other winner's songs. Maybe it will grow on me.

Blake will sing the song first. I like how he starts out sitting in the big screen. This song will suit Jordin's voice far more than Blake's, and I think that may give her an advantage. Some seasons, they give a different song to each finalist. The fact that they haven't could easily hurt Blake. The background singers sound pretty bad in parts, but Blake does too. Some notes go way off pitch. For a song like this though, it's a respectable performance.

Randy: You did a pretty good job with it. Not great, but alright.
Paula: I think you did a great job on the song.
Simon: I thought it was all a little odd. We should judge you tonight on your first two performances.

Buzz Score: 8

Can Jordin breathe some life into this song? It'll be hard but she might be able to do it. She opens the song a little more serious than Blake. Overall, her performance is much better than Blake's, but it's not without errors. Her crying at the end will get her some votes too!

Randy: You were the best singer tonight. You deserve it all.
Paula: You have a lot to be proud of.
Simon: Last week, I didn't think you were good enough to make the finals. I was wrong. You just wiped the floor with Blake on that song.

Buzz Score: 9

Daughtry sings us out, and America prepares to vote for their favorite. Who will it be?

I think Jordin beat out Blake vocally tonight, but we all know that this competition is about more than good vocals. Blake is unique and has a fun energetic style that people really like. As always, the votes will be close, and there's no way to tell who will sing under the streamers tomorrow night. If I had to guess, I would say it will be Jordin.

It's been a great season. Vote for your favorite, and enjoy the finale.

The Idol Buzz, out!

American Idol Recap: Round of 3 - May 15th, 2007

2007-05-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

And then there were three!

Melinda, Blake, and Jordin are all that remain in American Idol's Sixth Season.

Each Judge has picked a song for each contestant, the producers have chosen a song, and the contestant gets to pick their own song.

Simon has chosen "Wishing on a Star" for Jordin Sparks, who starts the night. Bad choice of clothing for this song. The dress she chose just isn't flattering. Hervoice more than compensates for her poor wardrobe, though. Her voice is strong and powerful, and I like the jazzy arrangement. Good solid performance!

Randy: That was a very good vocal. Hot!
Paula: Simon picked a good song for you.
Simon: I like the pure version of the song, not the weird jazz arrangement.

Buzz Score: 8.5

Blake is up next. Paula has chosen "Roxanne" by The Police for him to sing tonight. I wasn't sure how he would handle this song, but I think he really pulls it off. His voice is good, the style suits him, and his impersonation of Sting is spot on ;) Overall, I think it was a very good performance, and it reminds us all why we voted Blake into the top three. The background singers sounded way off the whole time. I'm not sure what that was all about.

Randy: Great, great performance. Pretty good vocal. I gotta give you an "A" on that.
Paula: You did me proud. It was good, it was fresh. Good song choice.
Simon: I'm not going to call that earth-shattering. It wasn't as good as the original.

Buzz Score: 9

Governor Bresden of Tennesee read a note from Randy to Melinda, informing her that she would be singing "I Believe In You and Me" by Whitney Houston this week. A slow, soulful song, Melinda sounds great from the beginning. The judges always criticize those that try to sing Whitney, since no one can match her sound. Melinda does very well, but it's not the great sound we've come to expect from Melinda. Good performance, but she'll need to do better to win it all.

Randy: That was hot. You blew it out the box!
Paula: You were fantastic! One of your best performances.
Simon: Very very difficult song. I think it was your best performance. Round One to Melinda.

Buzz Score: 8.5

Jordin's favorite song is "MmmBop" by Hanson. The producers have chosen a slightly more difficult song for her to sing tonight. "She Works Hard for the Money" Sporting a much better outfit, Jordin starts strong, and sounds really great. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot Jordin can do with this song to show off. With what she has to work with though, it's a great performance.

Randy: You're working it out. That was hot!
Paula: You worked hard for the money tonight.
Simon: It was a very good performance.

Buzz Score: 9

Blake gets a question too. In a movie about ihs life, he would choose Jim Carrey to play himself, and title the movie "Organized Chaos". The producers have chosen "This Love" by Maroon Five for Blake. Another perfect song for Blake. The rock-reggae style suits him perfectly. He adds a touch of beat boxing, but it fits well with the song, and doesn't sound gimmicky like last week. Blake usually isn't my favorite contestant, but I've liked him best so far tonight.

Randy: When you make a record, that's the kind of record you should make. Very nicely done.
Paula: You were totally in your element.
Simon: I preferred that one to the first song. That was good.

Buzz Score: 9.5

Seacrest introduces us to Melinda's grandparents, and askes Melinda who her Idol was growing up. She says it's her Mom. Nice! The producers have chosen another legend, asking her to sing an Ike and Tina Turner tune. The producers seem to know the contestant's style really well, because I think these three songs have suited them all better than nearly any other song this season. Melinda's voice exudes soul and her Bo Bice style microphone-grab seals the deal. Fantastic performance!

Randy: Another great solid performance. Put some of that in your repetiore.
Paula: We love you, we love you, we love you.
Simon: Love that side of you. I thought it was another brilliant performance.

Buzz Score: 10

Jordin opens the last group of songs. First, we see that she's gotten a star placed at the mall where she used to work. She's chosen to sing "I Who Have Nothing". This is a great song for her, and she sings it beautifully. If I recall corectly, I gace her a BuzzScore of 9 last time. She gets a perfect 10 tonight!

Randy: Another great performance. Your best performance of the night.
Paula: You sounded really great!
Simon: You sang that very well, but there's a part of me that hated the fact that a 17-year-old was singing a 60-year-old song.

Buzz Score: 10

Blake jams at home with Sir Mix-A-Lot before his performance of "When I Get You Alone". All three songs of Blake's tonight have been very good for his style of voice, and that may very well get him into the finals. His performances are all fun, full of energy, and

Randy: It was cool. It was alright.
Paula: All three songs tonight really exemplify who you are as an artist. Three great performances.
Simon: I really liked that. You don't play it safe, you take a risk, you look like you're having fun.

Buzz Score: 9.5

Melinda wraps up the show with "I'm a Woman". The first time she performed this song, I gave her a perfect 10. This performance deserves at least that! Her voice is soulful, and her performing is simply fantastic! The background singers on stage is a nice touch.

Randy: I'm seeing the range of Melinda Doolittle.
Paula: You're stepping out into the spotlight, and celebrating your journey.
Simon: Love the little striptease. You've consistantly delivered week after week.

Buzz Score: 10.1

Everyone got high scores tonight! I guess that's how it should be for the final three. Who will go home tomorrow night? I think if nothing else, Blake's uniqueness will push him through to the next round. Between Jordin and Melinda, the nod has to go to Melinda. It could really be anyone of the three, but I'm going to have to go with Jordin as the one given the boot tomorrow night.

We'll see what happens. Join me back here tomorrow night!

American Idol Recap: Round of 4 - May 8th, 2007

2007-05-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

"Three Girls and One Guy", we're reminded by Seacrest as the show opens. Tonight is Barry Gibb night. We get a rundown of Barry Gibb's career. I didn't know the BeeGees had 30 albums, did you? How did they have time to do all that.

Since I was just a young lad in the 70s, when I think of Barry Gibb, I mostly think of the Saturday Night Live sketch, "The Barry Gibb Show", with Jimmy Fallon as Barry Gibb. Good Times!

Anyway, after Seacrest tells us for the hundredth time this season that our votes are important, we're on to the music....

Melinda Doolittle is up first. Barry Gibb thought her choice of song ("Love Me Inside and Out") was unusual, but said she managed to pull it off in rehearsals. I think he's right. She really brought the song to life and made it her own. It was just a bit boring, but overall, she did very well!

Randy: That was another solid performance.
Paula: It's hard to critique you because your vocals are always spot on.
Simon: I expect incredible tonight. That was not incredible. That was a backup vocal performance.

Buzz Score: 8.5

Blake Lewis is up next next with "You Should Be Dancin'". Barry Gibb thinks Blake's beat boxing really suits this song. We'll see how well it works. Blake's dance moves really go well with the music, but the style of the song itself is a little weird for me. All the echoing and the poor falsetto is just distracting. I completely agree with Randy. The beat boxing just made it corny. I'm hoping Blake can come back with a great second performance.

Randy: Tonight, the beat boxing didn't work. It made it very corny.
Paula: It started a little shaky. Your pitch was off. You showed why you're unique.
Simon: I'll give you unique, but I thought it was absolutely terrible.

Buzz Score: 7

LaKisha is "Stayin' Alive" tonight. She's decided to slow it down and give it a soulful style. Like Melinda, she's taking a falsetto song by a man and making it her own. Though her pitch is good, and her style is solid, I think she could have done a little more with this song. She really didn't take too many risks, and if she had, perhaps she could have really blown the house down. As it was, it was just good.

Randy: That was weird for me. It wasn't working.
Paula: Everyone was on their feet, but taking the tempo down brought the mood down.
Simon: No kiss tonight, baby!

Buzz Score: 8

Jordin rounds out the performers with "You Don't Know What It's Like". This song has been sung by the Bee Gees, Janis Joplin, Michael Bolton, Hank Williams Jr., among many others. Barry Gibb said he's heard hundreds of people sing this song, but he's never heard a greater version than Jordin. That's quite a compliment. Can she live up to the hype?

She starts off slow with good tone. I'm not totally blown away at first, but as the song progresses, she takes it up a notch and sounds really good. I don't know if I'm as impressed as Barry Gibb, but I liked it.

Randy: That's the best vocal so far. I liked the throwback vibe. So far, you're winning.
Paula: You look very beautiful. The best vocal tonight.
Simon: Best song choice, best performance so far. You're back in the competition.

Buzz Score: 8.5

Sarah from Charlotte asks Melinda what her first tape ever was. She says it was "Bad" by Michael Jackson, but her mother crossed out the album title an wrote "Good".

Singing "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart", she takes a page from her mom's book by leaving out a line in the song that mentions being a loser. The song starts out a little boring, but mid-way through, she finds the energy, and the crowd starts cheering. The ending was great, and her performance was too.

Randy: Second song, much better. Beautiful ending. You're our resident pro.
Paula: A beautiful vocal. I would love for you to throw your technique away and surprise us.
Simon: I think the second half of that song has put you into the semi-finals.

Buzz Score: 9

For his second performance, Blake has chosen "This is Where I Came In." Barry Gibb thought this would be a hit for the Bee Gees, but he was wrong. He now thinks maybe it can be a hit for Blake. I think this song suits Blake's style a little better, and he doesn't base the song around gimmicks. I'm not familiar with the original version of this song, but I can envision a group like 311 singing this version of it. I don't know if Blake will have a hit with this song, but it may put him into the semifinals.
, the judges comments notwithstanding
Randy: I'm not jumping up and down. I like the reggae spin on it.
Paula: There ain't nothin' old about Blake. You are the rebel in this competition.
Simon: I found that song completely tuneless. I don't think you've had a good night tonight.

Buzz Score: 8

Judge Judy us an American Idol Fan! Seacrest says something about her and Simon dating before the producers remind him that we're running short on time. LaKisha's second song is "Run To Me". Barry Gibb thinks her range is amazing. The performance started off boring, and never really broke out. The singing was fine, and I liked the performance well enough, but it wasn't anything special.

Randy: Much better than the first song.
Paula: You're still a champ.
Simon: It was better than the first song. It still wasn't great.

Buzz Score: 7.5

The judges blow quickly through their critique of LaKisha so we can get right to.... a commercial. After the break, Jordin closes the show with her rendidtion of "A Woman in Love", as performed by Barbara Streisand. Barry Gibb really likes Jordin. In this clip, he says she will be one of our greatest recording artists. On the first song, she sounded better in rehearsals than on stage. I don't like this performance as much as the first, but again, I'm not blown away. A solid performance, but not incredible.

Randy: Not your best performance. A little pitchy.
Paula: You are absolutely beautiful.
Simon: I loved the song. Old fashioned. Very pageanty.

Buzz Score: 8

After the recap, Seacrest reminds us to watch tomorrow night, and then he brings back a gem we haven't heard since Season Three. "Seacrest, Out!" Oh yeah!

Gone tomorrow night - It really could be anybody, but I think LaKisha is the smart pick. Blake stands out from the ladies stylistically, and won't have to share votes with any similar performers. I think he's safe for at least another week. America seems to be liking Jordin more and more each week, and Melinda leaving would be a shock (kind of like Chris Daughtry leaving in this round last season).

That's all for now. See you back here tomorrow night! The Idol Buzz, Out!

Tamyra Gray To Play Mimi in Broadway's Rent

2007-05-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Tamyra Gray will join the ranks of former Idols Frenchie Davis, Diana DeGarmo, and Constantine Maroulis when she joins the Broadway cast of Rent at the end of this month.

The Season one finalist will start in the role of Mimi Marquez on May 29th, playing alongside Broadway stars Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp (the original Roger and Mark) when they rejoin the cast in July.

Rent, a modern adaptation of the 19th century opera, La Bohème.

Season two contestant Frenchie Davis has performed in Rent, while Constantine Maroulis played the lead in the Broadway show The Wedding Singer. Diana DeGarmo is currently the lead in Broadway's Hairspray.

Diana DeGarmo Stalker Ordered To Perform Community Service

2007-05-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

Diana DeGarmo's stalker finally had her day in court. Tanya Maree Quattrocchi, 21, of Australia had been stalking and threatening the American Idol Season Three runner-up for several months before she was caught by police.

Quattrocchi was convicted of stalking and blackmail, and was sentenced to 150 hours of community service by an Australian court Friday.

Quattrocchi called DeGarmo 369 times and sent her 570 text messages between March and June of last year, according to court testimony.

Some of the text messages:

"I could kill you before you could even lay a finger on me"

"I know I'm out of line here, but I don't give a f---"

"How badly do you want to kill me right now? Bring it on bitch."

Quattrocchi managed to hack into DeGarmo's MySpace account, impersonate her to family and friends, and purchase pornography with her credit cards. She somehow got hold of some of DeGarmo's newly recorded songs, threatening to release the songs if she wasn't paid a large sum of money.

Diana is currently performing on Braodway in the musical "Hairspray."

Chris Richardson and Phil Stacey Sent Packing - Only Four Idols Remain

2007-05-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson were sent home Wednesday night in a double vote-off show. Noe one was expelled from the show last week during the "Idol Gives Back" episode, so the votes were combined over two weeks. Now, three soulful ladies and one unique vocal artist remain.

Bon Jovi week seemed to be a breeze for everyone but Jordin, who mangled her way through "Living On a Prayer". Every other contestant, including Phil and Chris, did very well, and received high marks from the judges.

Next week, Barry Gibb will help the contestants through Disco week, which should be a fun time. It would have been fun to see Justin Timberlake look-alike Chris Richardson sing like the Bee Gees, like Timberlake has so famously done on Saturday Night Live. Sadly, we can only imagine how hilarious it would be.

American Idol Recap: Round of 6 - May 1st, 2007

2007-05-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

After last week's feel-good performances and a results show with no results, we're back to the weekly grind, whittling down the contestants to one. Our Idols had it easy last week - no one got the boot. Tonight, they have twice as much chance of going home, though. Two of the six remaining contestants will be leaving us tomorrow night.

Bon Jovi is the guest this week, helping the Idols with their singing. Let's hope he does some more coaching than Bono did last week. He and the keyboardist from Bon Jovi are joining the Idols for some coaching this week. Jon echoes Paula's standard advice to "make each song your own."

First up is Phil with "Blaze of Glory". He says he's been singing this song in front of his mirror for the past 15 years. Bon Jovi is impressed, saying Phil has a lot of confidence. Starting at the very back of the audience, Phil comes out with plenty of that confidence, and a bit of a swagger. His performance is great. His vocals are strong and solid, and his energy is fantastic. I think this may be his best so far.

Randy: I'm happy for you for a lot of reasons. Other than country week, this is your best performance ever. That was the bomb!
Paula: This is a year out of your life you will never forget.
Simon: It was okay. I didn't hear any authenticity. Like a bad actor playing a role.

Buzz Score: 9.5

Jordin Sparks was terribly nervous when meeting Bon Jovi, saying her mom is a huge fan. It sounds like she might have played Bon Jovi in Jordin's crib. She and Bon Jovi had to work extra hard on "Living on a Prayer", to get the melodies down. She starts out on stage with two rockin' guitarists, and has a totally rocked out look, with the big hair and the long chains. From the start, I'm not terribly impressed by her performance. Her voice is weak, off-pitch, and totally unbelievable as a rock performance. It sounds like a good karaoke performance, but a bad American Idol performance.

Randy: You're definitely not the rock girl.
Paula: It's hard when you have a hot guy's band. It was a little bit out of your range.
Simon: It was like something out of the Addam's Family. Just out of control, verging on shrieking at times. It was terrible.

Buzz Score: 7.5

LaKisha is next, and she's not much of a "rocker" either. Will she be able to hang with Bon Jovi, or will she have a "rough week" like Jordin? Cathy of Texas asks her what kind of training she had before the show, and she tells us that she never had any training at all. Just singing in the church choir. American Idol likes to play up the angle that they practically take people off the streets with no training and help them become stars, but many of the contestants have a lot of prior training and experience in lower-level performing prior to the show. It's nice that LaKisha is a true amateur. It makes her success on the show that much nicer.

LaKisha has heard of Bon Jovi before, but has never listened to his music. She chose "This Ain't a Love Song", a good soul song that really seems to fit her style. Hearing LaKisha sing this song, it's almost hard to believe it was even a rock song to begin with. LaKisha is really taking Bon Jovi's advice to heart of making the song her own.

She brought a lot of emotion to the song for the first time in a few weeks. LaKisha's been regressing recently, and like Simon, I'm glad to see that she's back in full force.

Randy: LaKisha's back. A little pitchy in the beginning. You blew it out the box.
Paula: You gave everyone a little somethin' somethin'.
Simon: I actually could kiss you after that. You rose to the challenge. You absolutely nailed it, and I'm so glad.

Buzz Score: 9.5

Blake is rolling the dice on his interpretation of "You Give Love a Bad Name". Bon Jovi seems to like it okay, but he seems unconvinced that America will be willing to accept such a unique version of a well-known song. America likes Blake though, so they may be willing to roll with it. The song starts off a little slow for me. There are a few pitch problems, and it's hard to get in to. As the song progresses though, it really takes off.

I can see how not everyone will like it, but I thought it was cool. Blake has a very unique talent, and he's shown it off a little so far, but he's never really put it fully on display like tonight. I'm glad he decided to really put it all out there before the competition ends. If he sticks around until the final, look for him to dom something like this again.

Randy: The most original version of a song on American Idol ever. That was hot!
Paula: That was the biggest leap of faith. This was amazing!
Simon: Half the audience will hate it. Half the audience will love it. You're very brave, but it was the right thing to do. This will keep you in the competition.

Buzz Score: 9

Chris is asked what he tells himself before he walks out on the stage. He says he tells himself to just have fun. He's singing "Dead or Alive" tonight, probably the best known song of the evening. Chris Daughtry sang this last season, but Chris said it wouldn't be Bon Jovi night without someone singing "Dead or Alive", and it's so true.

In rehearsals with Bon Jovi, he forgot some of the words, which has got to be embarrassing. He seems to remember the words tonight, and I think he puts together a good performance. He's toned down the nasally voice, and he's actually somewhat believeable as a rocker. Overall, I thought it was a really good performance.

Randy: Tonight, I was worried about these rock songs,but you didn your thing. You made it your own. nice.
Paula: You don't have anything to worry about. You did your thing.
Simon: I think you did as much as you could possibly do with that song, since that is not your style of music. I'm not sure if you'll stay another week.

Buzz Score: 9

Melinda rounds out the show tonight with her rendition of "Have a Nice Day." Melinda says that she is just learning rock music, but Bon Jovi says she has the pipes and he can teach her to rock. By the end of the rehearsal, he says she can join the band. She starts off looking very confident, and sounding very rockstar-ish. Randy was right when he said she was reminiscent of Tina Turner. Though I would rather watch Melinda sing other types of music than rock, there's no doubt in anyone's mind after tonight that she can sing just about any type of music she feels like. Very very good!

Randy: Great performance again from Melinda Doolittle.
Paula: From the first note, your game was on. You're a rock star.
Simon: I thought it was like a young Tina Turner. Vocally, in a different league than everyone else.

Buzz Score: 9.5

After Melinda's performance, we're greeted by George and Laura Bush, thanking us for helping American Idol raise 70 million dollars last week. President Bush threatens to sing, but fortunately, Laura cuts him off.

Again, it's so hard to predict who will go. Since two people are going home, I guess I have about a one in three shot of correctly predicting at least one. Jordin was by far the worst perfomer of this week, but her strong showing in previous weeks might keep her around. Phil was great, but he went first, and he hasn't been the most popular contestant this year. We also have to keep in mind that all of last week's votes will count as well.

I'm going to have to go with Phil and Jordin, but I'd only be truly surprised of Melinda was voted off. I think everyone else should be worried tonight.

That's all for now. Until next week.........

Sanjaya's Mom Busted For Growing Marijuana

2007-04-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

According to the National Enquirer, Sanjaya's mother, Jillian Blyth, was busted in 2005 for growing pot in her garage. Neighbors complained about the smell of marijuana and the large vent on the roof of the garage, according to legal documents unearthed by the Enquirer.

According to the report, police found 310 marijuana plants at the Malakar's house, and even more at another location in Federal Way, Washington. Sanjaya's mother pled guilty to "unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance", a felony.

The National Ledger revealed further details in an article Wednesday, including the fact that Sanjaya's sister Shyamali was at the scene when police arrived, and that she was the one that told police where to find her mother at the second growing operation in Federal Way.

While his mother was in jail, Sanjaya lived with his aunt.

Read more in this week's National Enquirer.

Carrie Underwood and Tony Romo - Relationship Rumors Confirmed By Photographs

2007-04-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

For quite a while, rumors have been flying that Season Five American Idol winner Carrie Underwood is dating Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. She was in a luxury box at a Cowboys game last year, and they've been seen together in public many times.

The Kidd Kraddick morning show has gotten their hands on some exclusive photographs, showing them together recently, and they certainly seem like a couple. They are seen with their arms around each other, hugging, kissing, and laughing.

As always in Hollywood, representatives for Underwood wouldn't confirm or deny the rumors. "They have recently been spending a little time together.", representative Jessie Schmidt told People magazine. They are "definitely not boyfriend/girlfriend. It's very casual at this point. It's the really early stages."

Take that for what you will.

American Idol Recap: Round of 6 - April 24th, 2007

2007-04-24T18:07:00.001-07:00

This is "Idol Gives Back". They've hyped it up for weeks, and now it's finally here. NewsCorp (the company that owns Fox) will donate 10 cents per call tonight up to 5 million dollars. Ford, AT&T, and Coca Cola are also donating money tonight to help the cause.

First, we're greeted by footage of Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell's trip to Africa. These are some of the chldren and families that this charity will be helping. Simon and Ryan are obviously very moved by the whole experience.

Bono is the special guest tonight, and the theme is "songs that inspire".

Chris Richardson starts us off with "Change the World" by Eric Clapton. This seems like it would be a great song for him, but for an "inspiring song", it started off very uninspiring and a little pitchy. As the song progressed and he picked up the pace, the energy really picked up, and he ended the song really well. The judges seemed to really like him, even Simon! Overall, it was a good start to the evening.

Randy: You are in it to win it. That was great!
Paula: To start it off, you did fantastic. Great song choice. I'm really proud of you.
Simon: This reminds me of the first time we saw you. I think you did really well.

Buzz Score: 8.5

Next we see footage of Randy, Paula, and Ryan's trips to various places around the US, including Louisiana, Kentucky, the Navajo nation in Arizona, and Atlanta. Our votes will be helping to raise money for these places as well.

Since we haven't seen Bono yet, I'm assuming that his duties as "special guest" will be in some capacity other than helping the contestants with their singing. I'm surprised that they've even had time to work on their songs this week considering all the rehearsing and filming they've been doing for the special tomorrow night.

Melinda Doolittle sings "There Will Come a Day" by Faith Hill, because it has a good message that encompasses what tonight is all about. As always, her performance is fantastic. Her voice is strong and powerful, and she really manages to express the emotion of the song through her performance.

Randy: You're our resident pro. You're so dope. You have it all together. You have arrived.
Paula: There's no one like you. You're magical.
Simon: It wasn't a copycat performance. You made me believe you'd recorded it originally. A vocal masterpiece!

Buzz Score: 10

As we go to the break, we see a sign for "The Blake Girls", apparently a fan club for none other than Blake Lewis, who is up next. A question from Virginia asks what the biggest sacrifice he has made to be here. He says it's being apart from his family and friends.

Singing John Lennon's "Imagine", he's out on stage with a piano and wearing a coat. The vocals are sound, but the performance as a whole was kind of boring. I think he's trying to beat Clay Aiken's record for the most odd facial expressions during one performance. I kept waiting for him to break out and really make me enjoy the performance, but it never happened. I was kind of dissapointed by Blake this week.

Randy: It was just kind of alright for me. It didn't move me.
Paula: It's the first real sensetive and emotional performance from you. I really enjoyed it.
Simon: You've chosen one of the big songs of all time. It felt sincere, but it didn't go anywhere. Good.

Buzz Score: 8

After learning about feeding centers and seeing Ryan try to balance a basket of bananas on his head, LaKisha Jones will bring back Fantasia Barrino's winning song from Season Three, "I Believe". This seems like a good choice for LaKisha. I wasn't the biggest Fantasia fan, but I thought she performed this song very well. Since most American Idol viewers have seen this song performed by Fantasia numerous times, it will be hard for voters to not compare the two singers. I think Fantasia definitely wins this battle. Not only did Fantasia sing the song better, but the energy and emotion she brought to the stage far exceeded LaKisha's version. Like with Blake, the performance is vocally sound, but not really unique or exciting. Also, Simon is right about the shouting. For the second week in a row, LaKisha's performance has been overwhelmed her shouting.

Randy: Great song choice. Not your best performance, but I did like it.
Paula: You are a powerhouse vocalist, but I have a hard time getting past the fact that Fantasia sang it so well.
Simon: I'm having an issue with the shouting.

Buzz Score: 8

Molly in Little River, SC asks Phil what he misses most about home. He says he misses his daughters the most. They are usually in Hollywood for his performances, but this week, they are with their grandparents. Tonight, he is singing the Garth Brooks tune that was written to commemorate the Oklahoma City bombing victims - "The Change".

With a piano on stage with him, he brings a good amount of emotion to his performance right from the beginning. His voice starts off a little shaky, but powerful and soulful at the same time. It didn't completely blow me away, but I did really like it a lot.

Randy: You're back again this week with a strong poerformance and a great song.
Paula: I feel like you've really found your comfort. This was your best.
Simon: I really like you. A country tone suits your voice better. People like you.

Buzz Score: 9

After the break, Simon gives us a tour of 'America's Second Harvest', a foodbank that provides starving children in the US with food at a huge discount. Jordin rounds out the night with "You'll Never Walk Alone", which she says has a message of hope. The song, from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Carousel", starts off slow, and Jordin's voice wavers a bit. As she gets louder and the song picks up a bit, I get can't past the pitch problems that I seem to be hearing on every other note along with her scratchy voice. Maybe I'm hearing things, because all the judges loved it. It just didn't move me like it seemed to move the judges. Even on the recap of all the songs,Jordin's part sounded way off to me. Either way, I think Jordin's safe this week.

Randy: I think that's one of the best vocals by any contestant ever.
Paula: You picked an amazing song to end the night. You did a lovely job.
Simon: I thought you were fanstastic.

Buzz Score: 7.5

Everybody left is a great performer and well-liked by America, so it's even harder this week to pick who will go home. I think the three most vulnerable are Chris, Blake, and Phil. Maybe LaKisha. Since Chris went first, I think he may edge out the others, but that's little more than a guess. So that's my final answer: Chris Richardson will go home tomorrow.

Tomorrow night, we will have one of the biggest shocks we have ever had on American Idol. My bet is totally on Simon singing for charity. Sanjaya had suggested he sing "Shiny Happy People", and that might just be what he does. Either way, you heard it here first - Simon will be singing tomorrow night.

Sanjaya on The Top Ten Things He Learned From American Idol

2007-04-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

Sanjaya Malakar appeared on David Letterman on Monday night, and presented his own Top Ten List, with “Top Ten Things I Learned From American Idol”.

Here is his list:

10. The camera adds ten pounds to your Mohawk.
9. Work hard and make sacrifices, you can finish in 7th place.
8. It’s very important to 'Keep it real, Dawg.'
7. I should have gone for the immunity idol – oh, wait that’s Survivor.
6. On camera Simon is a bit nasty, but off camera, he’s a total jerk.
5. Voting for yourself 100 times an hour causes some wicked carpal tunnel.
4. When you forget the words, just do this: “whoa oh, yes he did.”
3. Honestly, I though I was auditioning for 'Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?'
2. Nothing.
1. American loves performers with bad hair - Right, Dave?

Here is the video:

Celine Dion To Perform with Elvis?

2007-04-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

American Idol had said "two of the biggest stars in musical history will come together," and they weren't lying.

Elvis Presley and Celine Dion, on stage together for the first time ever!

According to a source dug up by TMZ, Dion will be singing with a virtual Elvis as she sings his hit song "If I Can Dream." The current American Idol contestants will sing backup.

The singer, widely regarded as one of the best in the world, is currently performing in her own show at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

"Idol Gives Back" is a charity event with many actors and singers coming together to raise money for the poor in the United States and Africa. Celebrities participating include Hugh Grant, Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Daniel Radcliffe and Keira Knightley.

Harry Potter To Appear on American Idol

2007-04-24T06:13:00.000-07:00

This week, American Idol will have the biggest event in it's six year history with it's "Idol Gives Back" show.

Actor Daniel Radcliffe, better known as "Harry Potter" will be on hand along with Forest Whitaker, Hugh Grant, and Jack Black, among others. Musicians Gwen Stefani, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, and Celine Dion will perform on the Wednesday night special.

Ellen Degeneres, the popular host of this year's Oscar ceremonies, will be co-hosting the show.

Sanjaya Dealing With Life As A Celebrity

2007-04-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

Sanjaya Malakar, recently ousted from American Idol can't go anywhere without being noticed.

He talked of his newly found fame on a Monday appearance of Regis and Kelly. "It's really weird. I mean, I'm just Sanjaya from Seattle."

Asked about how he is dealing with the legions of adoring fans, the 17-year old entertainer said "It's paparazzi that get at you, and fans come up and try to give you hugs and get autographs. I would love to just be able to hug everyone and give autographs and take pictures, but you can't."

Sanjaya has been making his rounds this week, attending a dinner at the White House and appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Despite his quick rise to fame, Sanjaya plans on being in the spotlight for a long time. "What I want to do is experience the whole entertainment business because, I mean, I'm not just a musician, I'm an entertainer," he said.

Sanjaya Says VoteForTheWorst.com And Howard Stern Weren't Why He Stayed So Long on Idol

2007-04-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

In a recent AOL Television interview Sanjaya was asked what role VoteForTheWorst.com and Howard Stern had in his staying power.

"I don't think that VoteForTheWorst.com or Howard Stern really have enough people voting enough times to make a dent. I think the reason why I'm here is solely because of my support from fans."

Sanjaya also said that he wasn't too happy with Stern, who encouraged viewers to screw with the Idol system by voting for Sanjaya. Now that Sanjaya is off the show, Phil Stacey has been chose the new "worst" for those still trying to mess with the results.

As the contestants get fewer and the votes pile up, it becomes exponentially harder to keep a bad contestant on the show. Add that to the fact that Phil Stacey isn't as "interesting" as Sanjaya, and it seems pretty clear that VFTW will have little or no impact on the results this week. Phil may not go home on Wednesday, but it won't be because of VoteForTheWorst or Howard Stern.

Simon To America: Sarcasm Was Not Directed at Virginia Tech

2007-04-19T06:42:00.000-07:00

On the results show last night, Simon Cowell addressed the furor that had arisen over the sarcastic eye-roll he gave Chris Richardson after Chris had expressed sympathy towards the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre.

After arguing with Simon about now "nasally is a type of singing", Richardson went on to say "My hearts and prayers go out to Virginia Tech. I have a lot of friends over there. ... Be strong."

The camera then cut to a shot of Simon rolling his eyes and tapping impatiently on the table. This led to the furor, with several commentaries written and videos posted all over the web in outrage during the hours following the show.

"I didn't hear what Chris was saying," Simon said. "I may not be the nicest person in the world, but I would never, ever, ever disrespect those families or those victims. And I felt it was important to set the record straight."

Fox showed the entire sequence, showing Simon the entire time, next to the feed that American saw where it cut back and forth from the judges to the stage. It seems pretty clear that Simon stopped paying attention to Chris before he made the comments regarding Virginia Tech, and instead was arguing with Paula.

Below is a video of the side by side camera angles, which seem to show that Simon was in fact not being disrespectful (at least not any more than usual).

Sanjaya Ousted From American Idol - Howard Stern Fails In His Attempt To Bring Down The Show

2007-04-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

I thought this might be Sanjaya's week to go, but since he hasn't been in the bottom three in what seems like forever, I couldn't bring myself to make that prediction. In the round of seven, though all sorts of crazy stuff can happen.

Despite the best efforts of Howard Stern and VoteForTheWorst.com, Sanjaya was given the boot after his "utterly horrendous" performance of "Somethin' To Talk About" on Tuesday night. Perhaps even more surprising, LaKisha Jones and Blake Lewis rounded out the bottom three.

LaKisha's performance left something to be desired on Tuesday, but she has long been a fan favorite along with Blake. Neither of them had ever been in the bottom three before last night.

Holding back tears, Sanjaya said it had been "an amazing experience." "We won't soon forget you," host Ryan Seacrest said in reply.

Next week, a Sanjaya-less cast will perform in the "Idol Gives Back" week, when each vote cast will help the poor in both the United States and Africa.

American Idol Recap: Round of 7 - April 17th, 2007

2007-04-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

The field is down to seven as Martina McBride leads us into Country night. Surprisingly enough, over the past several seasons, American Idol contestants have probably been more successful in the country genre than any other, with Carrie Underwood, Joshua Gracin, and Kellie Pickler releasing country albums, among others.

There doesn't seem to be a "country" contestant this year, but both Joshua Gracin and Amy Adams broke out on country night, seemingly finding a style they had never considered. Let's see if anyone will shine tonight!

Phil Stacey is first and he hails from Kansas, just like Martina McBride. He comes out without a hat, singing "Where the Blacktop Ends". At first, it was hard to completely buy into the country style for Phil, but his pitch was on target, and his energy was good. He really got the crowd into it by walking through the audience. Nigel Lythgoe was clapping and dancing along with everyone else.

The more he sang, the more I liked it, and he ended it really well. As I mentioned just a second ago, several contestants have found their niche on country night, and Phil might be the next singer added to that list.

Randy: You gonna have a career in country music.
Paula: You sound good from the beginning to the end.
Simon: It's only taken 10 weeks. This is the only time I've heard you in a long time where I think you've chosen a good song, and most surprisingly, we actually saw some personality.

Buzz Score: 8.5

During the break, we see a commercial for KFC that's always bothered me. A Mom is talking to her babysitter about her picky kids, and she stops on the stairs to talk to her son. The conversation continues, but somehow, now they're in the doorway to the kitchen. Then, they're back on the stairs somehow. It just doesn't make sense.

Jordin Sparks sings Martina's very own "Broken Wing". Her voice is even better than usual tonight, and is well suited for a country song. She really brings a good vibe to the stage. As the song progresses, she gets a little pitchy, but she finds herself by the end, and brings it home. Overall, a very good performance. One of her best, I would say.

Randy: Probably one of the most difficult songs to sing. At 17, I like the way you started it slow and took your time. That was the bomb.
Paula: I love you too, and I think you did a fantastic job. You told a story.
Simon: This is the first time since we have met where I actually believe you could win American Idol.

Buzz Score: 9

Since we're on the subject of commercials, the Visa commercial with the woman who breaks her heel, and then decides to buy hundreds of dollars worth of new clothing and a makeover always bothers me too. It says to me "If you're down, don't worry. You can always use your credit card to buy whatever you want. You can worry about the massive interest you'll owe another day. Keep spending because buying things makes you happy!"

Anyway, back to Idol.

Sanjaya, is up next, singing the Bonnie Raitt hit "Something to Talk About". Sally from Cincinatti asked him which judge he would make sing if he had the option. He would choose Simon to sing "Shiny Happy People". 20 bucks says that we'll see this happen in the finale. He sounds pretty good in the rehearsals, and Martina gives him the (very good) advice to project more and not sing so quietly.

The song starts out pretty well. Nothing overly special, but good none the less. Although he stays on pitch and his voice is good, he doesn't sell the song very well. At the risk of sounding cliched, it really sounds like someone performing karaoke at a bar. If I was watching this performance at a bar, I would think it was good. On American Idol, it just didn't measure up.

Randy: That was really just like karaoke. It was very bland and boring.
Paula: We're watching somebody who loves adversity. You're having fun.
Simon: Utterly horrendous. As bad as anything we've seen since the beginning of American Idol.

Buzz Score: 6.5

I rarely comment on commercials, but now that I've started, I just can't stop. The "Sponge Bob No Pants" commercial for Burger King is the dumbest ad I've ever seen. Is it supposed to make me want to eat at Burger King? I just don't understand. Why is the Dad taking a bubble bath? Why does his son just walk in to the bathroom without knocking? We'd better get back to American Idol...

LaKisha Jones is up next with "Jesus Take the Wheel" from Season Five's Idol winner Carrie Underwood. She chose the song because she felt like she could really connect with the song and "tell the story." It's hard to listen to the song without comparing it to the original, but LaKisha really does a good job of making it her own. When she came to the chorus though, it sounded a little out of tune, and I didn't like the style nearly as much as the rest of song. I expected a little better, but overall it was a good performance.

Randy: This had some pitch problems and for me, it wasn't my favorite vocal.
Paula: I'm gonna have to agree with Randy. You're still brilliant.
Simon: It's like eating a hamburger for breakfast. It doesn't go together.

Buzz Score: 8

Chris Richardson sings "Mayberry" by Rascal Flatts. He says he's more confortable with country than people might think. Martina McBride says he could be a country singer if he wanted to be. As the song starts, I don't quite agree with Martina. While Chris sounds fine, he doesn't sound completely comfortable with the style. When he gets to the chorus, he gets into his groove a little more. Then the pitch problems start. To be fair, I think the violin is out of tune more than anything else, but Chris definitely sings off key on several notes.

Randy: I just didn't feel any sense of connection or any emotion.
Paula: The joy and love that you have on stage didn't come through.
Simon: I heard a very non-descript nasally vocal which had no impact on me. Completely and untterly insignificant.

Buzz Score: 7.5

Tracy asks Melinda Doolittle if she had ever run into a crazy fan on the street. She tells the story of when a fan saw her, and she got scared and started running away, not realizing that it was a fan. I guess she's still not used to stardom. She's singing "Trouble is a Woman" tonight, and Martina is impressed, saying it's the "perfect song choice for her."

As she starts her performance, she sounds great! Surprisingly enough, she fits perfectly in this country song. I've never heard this song before, and I already like it. In fact, I can't find a single flaw in this performance. She gets the second perfect BuzzScore of the year tonight! Great performance!

Randy: Another solid performance from our resident pro Miss Melinda Doolittle.
Paula: A girl who knows how to pick the right song and sing her heart out.
Simon: It was fantastic. great choice of song. I saw a little Tina Turner there as well. I saw some attitude as well.

Buzz Score: 10

Blake picked "When the Stars Go Blue" by Tim McGraw. Martina said that Tim had mentioned the other day that he hoped someone would sing that song on the show, and he's gotten his wish. Sporting his trademark sweater vest, Blake sounds good to start, when he gets to some of the higher notes, he strains a little bit, and then gets off pitch. His stage presence is very nice, and I liked to performance overall. There's just no getting around the pitch problems though. Not Blakes best performance.

Randy: I love your sense of style. I love that you picked the right song for yourself. You know who you are.
Paula: You kinda have the whole package.
Simon: It wasn't a jumping out of my chair performance. It was okay.

Buzz Score: 8

It's hard to make any predictions about who will go home. Will this finally be the week that Sanjaya makes the bottom three, and maybe even the bottom one? It's possible, but I'm going to have to go with Phil. Not only did he perform first, but his performance, though good, was forgettable. I think we'll see Phil go home tomorrow night. Chris Richardson is another possibility for getting the boot tomorrow night.

Hillary Clinton Weighs in on Sanjaya and American Idol

2007-04-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

On a radio talk show this morning, Senator Hillary Clinton was asked what the United States could do about Sanjaya Malakar, the Idol contestant routinely criticized for being the worst of the remaining contestants. Despite his seemingly lesser talent, he hasn't been voted one of the bottom three contestants in weeks.

"That's the best question I've been asked in a long time", the Senator responded, but she refused to ansdwer the question directly, telling American that they are free to vote for whomever they wish, just like in the Presidential election next November.

"That's true in my election, and it's true on American Idol," the Senator said.

No word yet on what Ms. Clinton thinks of Sanjaya's mohawk.

American Idol Sex Scandals - The Top Six as Compiled By US Magazine

2007-04-13T18:57:00.000-07:00

US Magazine has posted their list of the top six scandals to take place within American Idol since Season 1. Topping their list is the Corey Clark scandal. First, he was given the boot from the show because a criminal incident was uncovered that he had not disclosed to the show's producers. Two years later, he released a book entitled "American Paulatics", where he revelead details of an alleged sexual relationship that he ha with American Idol judge Paula Abdul.

Second on the list is Antonella Barba, who's racy photos were spread around the internet before the round of 24 even got started. Though the photos revealed a side of Antonella that we didn't see on the show, they weren't racy enough to get her kicked off, so I'm not sure why this would come in at number two.

Third is Frenchie Davis from Season 2. Before the preliminary rounds even started, critics were predicting her to be a finalist. She never got the chance to sing for America's votes, though. Her relationship with an adult website was uncovered, and she was replaced by another contestant. She has gone on to have a relatively successful career since then, including a role on Broadway.

Fourth on the list is the alleged homosexual affair that Clay had with a former military man. The Green Beret has since recanted his story. This probably doesn't belong on the list either, since it apparently didn't even happen.

Fifth is Mario Vasquez, with lewd bahaviour alleged against him by an Idol employee. He withdrew from the show voluntarily for "family reasons", despite being a fan favorite. Not sure if the two are related or not. He may have been given the opportunity to leave on his own accord rather than being kicked off.

Last on the list is Olivia Mojica,who has apparently bared all in an amatuer porn video. US Magazione says they would have ranked her higher, but they could barely remember who she is. America seems to remember. Mojica has been a very popular internet search term for the past week.

Read the US Magazine story here.

Ex-Idol Paris Bennett Calls Idol "A Joke", Votes For Sanjaya To Take Down The Show

2007-04-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

Wow! Who knew that Paris Bennett was so bitter?

Season Five contestant Paris Bennett is trying to screw over American Idol, calling the show that made her famous "a joke" on the Tone E Fly Morning Show on Friday. She says that the show should be taken off the air, and that helping Sanjaya win this season might achieve that goal.

"We want to see [Sanjaya] win because it'll kind of prove that 'American Idol' is kind of losing its taste," she said. She compared the talent competition to the movie American Dreamz. "It kinda isn't going for talent anymore and more for popularity."

Although she didn't name names, she claimed that other past contestants are also part of the plot to 'Vote For the Worst' and take down the show.

Listen to the Audio on TMZ

Haley Scarnato Surprised at All the Fuss Over Her (Lack Of) Clothing

2007-04-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

Recently ousted Idol contestant Haley Scarnato didn't think her shorts and short skirts were a big deal, but after Simon brought up her skimpy clothing in his comments Tuesday night, her wardrobe seems to be what everyone wants to ask her about.

After Haley's performance of"Turn the Beat Around" on Tuesday night, Simon commented that her tactic must be to "wear the least amount of clothes as possible."

Scarnato didn't see what the big deal was. "It's just legs. It is what it is. It's legs. I mean I don't even know what to say about it. It's frustrating because I'm just trying to go out there and perform and sing, and it is a singing competition, and they weren't listening to me anymore."

Tuesday wasn't the first time Simon had alluded to her oufit. In the round of 11 , he called her a "naughty little thing" after she came out in short shorts to perform "Tell Him". "I still want to stay in that frame of mind you have to respect him," said Haley. "He's Simon Cowell. It does hurt a little bit, but you've just got to brush it off and try to get through it. You can't please everybody. I didn't go shorter. I didn't wear less clothes. I just did the same thing." She continued "I mean I never really changed my look since Hollywood Week. I kind of showed my midriff a little bit and stuff like that. I want to stay true to who I am and it's fun dressing up."

Scarnato insists that her clothing was meant to match the vibe of the song and genre she was singing to, not to get viewers looking at her midriff. "You know playing the part of the theme week and the song that you're singing. I don't think I wore less clothes than before. I think I stayed true to who I am."

Though she is off the show, this is not the end for Haley. She will return to the American Idol tour this summer, and after that anything is possible. Don't expect her to be wearing a revealing outfit this summer though. If she hadn't been voted off on Wednesday, her attire would have changed drastically next week. "If I was still going to be here next week I was going to wear a choir robe," she said.

Haley Scarnato Eliminated From American Idol - Phil and Chris in Bottom Three

2007-04-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

Despite Simon's comments, neither Haley's singing or her lack of clothing on Tuesday night could keep her on the show. She was eliminated on Wednesday night, becoming the 5th finalist to be given the boot. Seven contestants remain, and will perform next Tuesday, April 17th on Country night with Martina McBride.

Scarnato's performance of "Turn the Beat Around" was criticized by the judges. Simon Cowell commented that Haley's tactic must be to wear "as little clothes as possible". Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson rounded out the bottom three. Phil performed "Maria, Maria" to mixed reviews, and Richardson sang Santana's "Smooth". The judges seemed to like Chris' performance, but The Idol Buzz gave him a low score.

Jennifer Lopez performed the hit single from her new Spanish album on the Idol stage.