American Idol contestant Pia Toscano and Dancing with the Stars’ performer Mark Ballas have decided to call it quits. E! News reports that the 22-year old singer and the 25-year old dancer, who began dating earlier this year, have “recently called off their romance.” A rep for Pia declined to comment on the split but said “She’s hard at work on her new album and can’t wait for her fans to hear it. Pia is wrapping up her American Idol tour and her album is expected to be released soon.” That’s right girl, focus on your career and make sure you deliver some great music!

American Idol Winner Performances Video

American Idol Top 13 – Born This Way – Performance Video

James Durbin and Judas Priest – Breaking the Law – Performance Video

Jacob Lusk, Kirk Franklin and Gladys Knight – I Smile – Performance Video

Casey Abrams and Jack Black – Fat Bottomed Girls – Performance Video

American Idol Girls and Beyonce – Beyonce Medley – Performance Video

Haley Reinhart and Tony Bennett – Steppin’ Out with My Baby – Performance Video

TLC and American Idol Girls – No Scrubs/Waterfalls – Performance Video

Scotty McCreery and Tim McGraw – Live like You were Dying – Performance Video

Marc Anthony – Aguanile – Performance Video

American Idol Guys – Tom Jones Medley – Performance Video

Tom Jones and American Idol Guys – It’s Not Unusual – Performance Video

More AI Performances:

Bono, The Edge, Reeve Carney – Rise Above – Performance Video

Beyonce – 1 + 1 – Performance Video

Lady Gaga – The Edge of Glory – Performance Video

Lauren Alaina and Carrie Underwood – Before He Cheats – Performance Video

Steven Tyler – Dream On – Performance Video

Remember the fourth place finalist of American Idol from three years back who just last year released his first album? That’s right… Jason Castro recently announced that his family will be getting bigger with the addition of one new member. This is what he wrote on his blog on the matter: “I am excited to announce that there will be a new addition to the Castro family! We just found out yesterday that it is going to be a girl! haha that makes me laugh… what am i going to do with a sweet little girl?! probably just smile alot… i cannot wait!!!” Well now, this is happy news indeed. It probably means that Jason Castro will be taking a bit of time off from his extremely busy music career.

The American Idol contestant has apparently not only whipped out the ace in his sleeve for his performances on the show, but he also seems to have managed to attract some other attentions as well. It seems that Paul McDonald has a new girlfriend and that girlfriend is none other than “Twilight” star Nikki Reed. Apparently it all started from a little innocent skypeing that evolved very well into Paul McDonald’s advantage. It seems that the American Idol’s luck is really turning for the better… who knows to what heights he might actually soar with Nikki Reed by his side.
Check some performances from the AI last night
Final Song – Pia Toscano – I’ll Stand By You – American Idol Top 9 Results Show

American Idol – Group Performance – I Love Rock & Roll, The Letter & Sweet Home Alabama

American Idol – Constantine Maroulis – Unchained Melody (LIVE) – Top 9 Results Show

American Idol – Iggy Pop – I’m a Wild One (LIVE Performance) – Top 9 Results Show

TV host Ryan Seacrest has been given a $6,000 luxury toilet for his birthday. It can’t be easy finding a present for someone who earns over $50 million. But Seacreast’s best friend Laurence came up with something different for his 36th birthday.  The American Idol host told listeners of his KIIS FM radio show that he was given the luxury automatic toilet. He said that when he came home from hosting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, he found his friend had installed a Toto Automatic Toilet in his bathroom as a gift for his December 24th birthday. The toilet features an automatic lid, three washing modes and an integrated warm air dryer. Ryan admitted that he felt like a ‘new man’ since getting the present.

Source: Splash News

Lee DeWyze, 2nd song on Top 3, “Hallelujah”, American Idol 2010

Lee Dewyze Hallelujah Video:

American Idol judge Ellen DeGeneres had her socks knocked off by a young woman finalist with a curious name.

Crystal Bowersox, 24, of Toledo, Ohio delighted judges across the panel of this week’s edition of the reality talent show with her rendition of the Janis Joplin classic Me and Bobby McGee.

“These people love you. Take it all in and respond,” declared DeGeneres.

DeGeneres said she thought of Bowersox when she heard the Kris Kristofferson-penned song on the radio. She qualified her praise with a request for “a little more connection”.

Bowersox, a single mother and musician who accompanies herself on guitar, and rolls out a “homey carpet” on-stage, responded by noting she had big plans for next week, USA Today reports.

Kara DioGuardi asked Bowersox if she had considered putting down her guitar – to which the singer reiterated: “I just told Ellen that I have big plans for next week.”

Simon Cowell said he would not change a thing about the act. “Up until now, we’ve been listening to a karaoke competition. You just took a song, nailed it, and your only gimmick is a carpet.”

Source: Splash News

TV’s Mr Nasty Simon Cowell is showing off his softer side – after buying his fiancée an expensive car.

Cowell is reportedly set to spend a whopping £65,000 on a Jaguar XK convertible for make-up artist Mezghan Hussainy.

American Idol judge Cowell, who is set to marry Mezghan later this year, has been spotted in Los Angeles, looking around car showrooms.

It is believed he has been looking at classic cars ready for her 37th birthday.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Money is clearly no object, but he’s considering buying her something that little bit special. He’s obviously a big fan of cars but she is, too.”

Cowell – who is also known for being vain – recently bought her a joke his-and-hers diamond encrusted mirror for £7,000.

The source added: “Simon also has a wicked sense of humour and decided to present her with a mirror so they could both check their reflections. It’s a running joke between them.”

But the source revealed that Cowell, who is taking his popular X-Factor to the US, also constantly buys Mezghan smaller romantic gifts.

The source said: “Red roses, French lingerie, Prada bags, you name it. He gives her something new practically every day. One particularly sweet surprise was private his-and-hers Swedish massages in their London hotel room.”

Source: Splash News

And there is little chance for the American Idol contestant to sit on one of the top ten seats. For her performance Paige Miles went with Phil Collins’ “Against all odds”… a rather ironic choice, especially if she doesn’t get voted off given the level of her performance. Simon Cowell probably had a lot of fun with her last night. He didn’t even try to be subtle: “I think you’re going to be in serious, serious trouble tonight, sweetheart.” Kara DioGuardi comes in with a real confidence booster too: “It was the worst vocal I have ever heard from you, and possibly the worst of the season,” Well, unless the public thinks differently than the judges, it seems that Paige Miles will be taking the long road home… against all odds.

Simon Cowell’s girlfriend has reportedly confirmed that the two are getting married soon.

The music mogul gave make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy a dazzling ring on Valentine’s Day and was quoted as saying she is “the one”.

Now, after days of rumours, she has reportedly said that the two are officially engaged.

The couple met on American Idol several years ago, and what began as friendship grew into love after Cowell’s previous relationship ended.

Although no quotes were published, RadarOnline.com claim Hussainy told its executive vice-president David Perel that they are getting married. The website did not reveal the wedding date but hinted that it is very soon.

A part of the story read: “And the wedding date? Well, we promised we wouldn’t give everything away, but let’s just say don’t put off shopping for their wedding gift too long.”

Mezhgan, 36, is an Afghanistan native and has been dating Simon for nearly a year, according to previous statements by Cowell’s publicist Max Clifford.

“They are very suited,” Clifford said earlier. “She is someone who is independent and says what she thinks and feels, and he likes that. He’s probably the happiest I have ever known him in the nine years I’ve been working with him.”

American Idol hopeful General Larry Platt just took in-flight entertainment to the next level as the wannabe singer recently busted out and impromptu performance of ‘Pants on the Ground’ during a flight from LA to Atlanta the morning after the Grammys. Apparently, passengers recognized the General and then begged him to do it. Larry performed the song in the aisle in coach. He was even the last person to get off the plane because the pilots and flight attendants wanted to meet him. He’s such a cool guy really. He most definitely beats William Hung’s popularity by miles! Heck, he might even get better recognition than the other Idol rejects.

I don’t care how many times Kara DioGuardi says otherwise, I still say she was brought on to replace Paula Abdul as a judge on American Idol. The new judge recently talked to Ryan Seacrest on his radio show saying “The way I’m understanding it is that it was her choice to leave. I never was here to replace her. It would be impossible to replace Paula Abdul. She’s an incredible talent. She is somebody who helped make the show as big as it is. How could you ever replace that?…If anything, she was really somebody who helped me because it was awkward at times being the fourth person.”

Katharine McPhee is a natural brunette who recently turned chemically blonde. The American Idol alum has a new look to accompany her new album called ‘Unbroken’. The singer said “I’ve never dyed my hair before so this was a pretty drastic change. I’ve always been known as a brunette but I’ve been thinking about it for a long time and it kind of just fit with all of the searching with the music and experimenting that I would do the same thing with my look. The look has affected the way I dress, it’s inspired me to be more adventurous with what I decide to wear. It’s silly that something so simple as changing your hair could have such a big effect.”

While most are calling Kris Allen’s win over Adam Lambert an American Idol upset and some are thinking that Kris was the right choice when it comes to the marketability, some are also saying that Adam was done a big favor by not being named the winner. Adam won’t be stuck singing the song ‘No Boundaries’ for the next six months to a year. Considering that it was co-written by Kara DioGuardi,. It’s pretty much a given that Adam is going to get a record deal. The challenge now is for him to make a great album that not only has his stamp but is also marketable.

The American Idol contestant managed to redeem himself over the relative failure of the duet he did with Kris Allen by performing Aerosmith’s “Dream On”. Apparently the key to the whole song was the final scream which Danny Gokey managed to nail very… luckily. In the rehearsals he does it cool and by the books, but during the performance, it apparently spirals out of proportion… which is good as far as the judges are concerned. Regardless of Simon Cowell’s comment on it and namely that it was like watching a horror movie, it seems Danny Gokey is safe for the time being. Now ain’t that just peachy: a horror scream finally saving somebody for a change.

Another American Idol alum has gotten himself a record deal as last year’s third runner up, Jason Castro, has signed on with Atlantic Records to release his debut album later this year. Jason was able to reach the top spot on iTunes last year with his rendition of ‘Over the Rainbow’ after performing it on stage. His upcoming album will even feature tracks written by current Idol judge Kara DioGuardi and Grammy award-winning songwriter John Fields as well as a slew of other song writing giants in the industry. It sounds to me that they really want to push him. I hope he doesn’t bomb.

American Idol champion Jordin Sparks belted out the national anthem at the first game of the LA Dodgers’ new spring training stadium in Phoenix, Arizona last Sunday afternoon. The 19-year old singer donned a Dodgers baseball cap at Camelback Ranch as they hosted the Chicago White Sox in a 3-2 loss. The Dodgers are looking to improve on their successful season from last year, after capturing the NL West Crown and playing in the NL League Championship Series. I wonder when Jordin’s going to improve on her career standing with a new record. I also wonder if she’s going to make an appearance on American Idol.

Singer Kelly Clarkson has promised herself that she will never attempt to make a big screen appearance that because her foray into acting was ‘awful’ and she does not want to repeat the act anytime again.

Kelly starred in the musical comedy From Justin to Kelly which she got to do as part of her winning the American Idol contest. Everyone who was the movie had something negative about the film be it her fans or critics and that has promoted her to give up the idea for good.

Speaking to Attitude magazine she says, “Oh it was a movie I had to do, and it was so horrible. Whoever won (American Idol) had to do it. I tried to get out of it legally, because I have no desire to be an actress. My favorite actresses are like Meryl Streep and Cate Blanchett and I always hate when I go to movies and I think you just shouldn’t be an actress. It was horrible. I am a horrible actress”.

That’s really great attitude because most other actors would not care of what the audiences or critics would think all that matters to them is landing the role and getting hands on the money. She knows she does not fit in and accepts that with ease. I’m your new fans Kelly but please do not getting into acting just because I’ve praised you a little bit. Best stick to your music sweetie!

Tune in tomorrow morning, February 12th, to Live With Regis and Kelly to see ten lucky girls vying for a date with Taylor Hicks! The American Idol alum is participating in the show’s “Dating With The Stars” contest which will score one winner a date with the soulful singer. The audience will then vote on which three ladies can compete to win a date with Taylor on Thursday, February 19th.

Taylor Hicks is currently touring with Grease, performing select solo dates and gearing up to release his album, The Distance, on March 10th. For more information please visits TaylorHicks.com.

American Idol season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino is making the smart decision to go back to school. Apparently, she wants to set a good example for her 7-year old daughter and 15-year old brother as she now plans to earn her degree after dropping out of high school in the 9th grade over a decade ago. The singer explained further saying “I’ve been talking about it for so long, I have a lot of young people who look up to me… It’s something that I really need to do and that I want to do.” I’m not sure if she’s the ideal role model but it’s a step in the right direction.