American Idol | featured news

With its power hitters, "Glee" and "American Idol," at the plate Tuesday night, Fox won the adult 18-49 race for a third consecutive evening, with the former freshman series becoming the top-rated scripted series of the season in the process.

For years "American Idol" has been known to its competitors by a moniker meant to express its popularity and immense ratings: "The Death Star."

Tim Urban's performance of the Goo Goo Dolls' "Better Days" on Tuesday, April 20, did not impress the "American Idol" judges or fans. The singer was eliminated on Wednesday's "Idol Gives Back."

Adam Lambert has pooh-poohed our "American Idol" fave Siobhan Magnus.Adam, who spent a week as guest mentor on "Idol" says he thinks the contest will come down to Siobhan's four big rivals."There's some amazing voices this year. I think Crystal [Bowersox], Casey [James], Lee [Dewyze] and Michael [Lynche], for me, those four really stand out as authentic, pure, amazing vocals," he said.

Simon Fuller, the entertainment magnate behind "American Idol" and its charity event airing Wednesday, is trumpeting a starry lineup that includes Elton John, Alicia Keys and Carrie Underwood. But he played it coy when asked about the "Idol Gives Back" role of two other prominent people. Bill and Melinda Gates, supporters of the fundraiser since it launched in 2007, "have done something very special, quite incredible, this year," Fuller said. Pressed for details, he would only advise that you must watch the broadcast.

'Idol' frontrunner Crystal Bowersox claims she confided in Ryan Seacrest in a moment of weakness about desire to leave the show, which he publicly revealed

When Carrie Underwood took the gamble and tried out for "American Idol," she never imagined a night - or year - quite like this one....

"American Idol" viewers were cruel to Andrew Garcia and Katie Stevens. The 24-year-old musician from Moreno Valley, Calif., and the 17-year-old high school student from Middlebury, Conn., received the fewest viewer votes Wednesday on the Fox singing contest.

Adam Lambert's Whataya Want From Me remains the week's best-selling Idol track -- a place he'll almost surely hold next week, too, after performing on American Idol tonight. And while Adam is rapidly closing in on a million downloads for his track, Kellie Pickler has finally surpassed that mark for her Best Days of Your Life.

Simon Cowell isn't the only person leaving “American Idol” this season. Bandleader Rickey Minor will replace Jay Leno’s bandleader Kevin Eubanks on “Tonight Show” beginning June 7.