American Idol Season 9, Reality Show | featured news

The "American Idol" group auditions proved to be a drama of two dads....

Ellen DeGeneres hit the right notes with "American Idol" viewers. Fans took to the Internet to express their pleasant surprise over the 52-year-old funnylady's debut as the singing competition's fourth judge. DeGeneres assumed her judging panel post for Tuesday's episode chronicling the first round of "Hollywood Week," the cutthroat post-audition phase in which 181 contestants will be narrowed down to 24 semifinalists.

It’s a shame that Neil Patrick Harris has a pretty good day job, what with that “How I Met Your Mother” show and all, because he was the best of the guest judges to grace the “Idol” stage so far this season.

Ryan Seacrest reported that 12,000 hopefuls auditioned in Chicago over a two-day period, with only 13 making it to the next round. Those may seem like long odds, and a good reason for parents to get their kids to do homework instead of working on their voices.

"Idol" judge said he expected to see clones of the over-the-top eighth season runner-up or even croony champion Kris Allen show up to audition, but there were none to be found this time.

"American Idol" will return next month with a two-night, four-hour premiere featuring auditions in Boston and Atlanta, the Fox network says....

Jonas, 20, joins the growing ranks of celebrity judges on “Idol,” including Mary J. Blige, Victoria Beckham and Shania Twain, who have all stepped in to fill the spot left by Paula Abdul.

Now that the “Dancing With the Stars” cast has been announced, and Paula Abdul’s name is not on the list, negotiations between Abdul and Fox for her return to “American Idol” have become more intense.

Simon Cowell, despite hinting in the spring that he might be leaving “American Idol,” will be a judge on hit reality show for at least three more seasons and reportedly will earn $45 million under the new pact.

As the dust settles on the shocking departure of Paula Abdul, 47, from next season's American Idol, now comes confirmation from Victoria Beckham's publicist that the former Posh Spice, 35, will make a "one-off appearance" as a guest judge on the top-rated FOX show, according to Britain's Sky News.