This week “American Idol” moves to Las Vegas for the first ever Sudden Death round. For the next few weeks 10 singers will perform each night with half of them going home at the end of the night. First up were 10 of the girls. Idol mentor Jimmy Iovine was on hand to serve as a tiebreaker if needed.

For the sudden death round the singers may choose any song from any genre. Many of the first performances were of less familiar songs; unlike in the past when the singers took on diva songs.

Jenny Beth got the night started off that Keith said was a great way to start the show but his fellow ju...

This year, American Idol has given us a lot to love and a lot to hate.

Sometimes, that has been embodied by one person all at once. That person is, of course, Nicki Minaj. The simultaneously irritating and indispensible, she’s the only judge of any consequence this season and fits perfectly with a show filled with so much to love and hate.

Be it hating the guys’ Hollywood week or loving the girls’. Hating some changes while loving others. Wondering why Keith Urban and Mariah Carey are there. It’s been a season of disparate feelings that just need to come out on this special day.

So, in h...

Finally, a real Hollywood week.

After last week’s dramaless debacle with the guys, the girls came through in just the way needed to: A classic estrogen-drenched hormone battle over who was going to have the biggest meltdown captured by the backstage cameras.

Yes. There was some singing too, but for the first time this year, the competition backed up the reality show aspect of ‘American Idol’. Finally, we were back in the fights, the hysterical illnesses and the sleeplessness that’s supposed to dominate this part of the show. We got to pick sides in each battle and use this as a vehicle to...

 

After torpedoing group week, the producers had more changes in store for the final solo elimination for the boys. This time the results weren’t quite as decimating.

Normally, this would be a night for the elevator of death. Or the hallway of fire. Or the walk into the weird water room in Vegas. However it was done, this was the most drama the show could ratchet before Seacrest delights in telling people their fates on live television.

Last night, the cuts were much swifter and decisive. A group of eight sings individually and then immediately gets either the good or bad news. It made f...

So far this season has been essentially a typical one for ‘American Idol.’

Despite the promise of revolutionary and wholesale changes from the producers running into the season, we’ve essentially seen nothing new thus far except for the new judges. Yes, that could be considered a big change, but really it’s been the same nonsense as any previous season – the same type of auditions, the same bickering, and the only real difference being determining whether or not Keith Urban is actually a living human being or a tattoo practice mannequin with a bad wig.

Last night, we saw our first big wri...

Former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi is a new mother after welcoming her first child via surrogate.

The songwriter and her husband Mike McCuddy are now the proud parents of little Greyson James Carroll McCuddy.

A gestational surrogate gave birth to the baby boy in Los Angeles on Thursday, DioGuardi tells People.com.

The 42-year-old star gave her son the middle name Carroll in honor of her late mother.

DioGuardi turned to a surrogate following a series of fertility issues and failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts, and she recently praised the unidentified woman, insisting...

Something tells me this will be the last time ‘American Idol’ brings its movable circus to Oklahoma City.

This year, the auditions have been pretty solid if not spectacular. A few so far have been dynamite enough for me to want to put them at the top of my power rankings. A lot of that got lost in the anti-climactic sparring between judges, but this has been a top-level talent search so far that has me looking forward to what these kids are going to put together onstage.

Then Oklahoma City happened.

Last night, undid just about all the good we’d seen so far in auditions. An hour of torpi...

 

With no fighting to write about, I’m having trouble with these introductions. Suddenly this is a singing show again, with good auditions, bad auditions and auditions that last an entire act break while a duo refuses to leave despite being rejected continuously. Leading to these bits from the judges:

Randy: I’m trying to save your lives here.

Mariah: Here’s a basic rule of harmonizing: So the other person can stay on pitch also.

That’s about all the sniping we got tonight, I’m afraid. Let’s just get to the auditions.

The Three Best Auditions

Savannah

This was the single mom who came...

Singer Kelly Clarkson has been crowned the highest-earning American Idol contestant, according to Forbes magazine.

Clarkson, who was the talent show's first winner in 2002, came out on top of a success list after pulling in a whopping $8 million over a 12-month period, beginning in May, 2011.

Fellow champion Carrie Underwood shared second place with rocker Chris Daughtry with earnings of $5 million, while country singer Scotty McCreery came in third with $4 million.

Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson was fourth after surprisingly only raking in $3 million and Jordin Sparks rounded out th...

American Idol boss Nigel Lythgoe has fired back at allegations of racism on the show following the threat of a lawsuit from former contestants.

Lawyer James H. Freeman has submitted a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking permission to sue producers behind the hit talent show on behalf of nine clients, all black men who have previously auditioned on the program.

In the document, which has been obtained by editors at TMZ.com, Freeman claims producers set out to humiliate the contestants by making them audition and then disqualifying them due to their criminal reco...

Finally, a night that was just about the singing.

So much of this season’s drama has come from a focus on the spats between the judges that it’s been easy to forget that this show is actually a singing competition. Sure, the singers have been there with their mish-mash of good and bad auditions, but they’ve mainly served as the side dish to the judge-fight main course.

Last night, it was all about the singing in Baton Rouge. A tight hour of mostly good auditions devoid of the drama, danger and fun of previous episodes.

Wait. Did I say finally in the lead line? I meant, sadly.

The Three ...

Last night was supposed to be the American Idol episode we were waiting for: Nicki Minaj would finally have her spat with Mariah Carey. However, instead we got her argument with a different judge.

Soon after taping started on the new season, a video was leaked of Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey getting into a shouting match after a contestant's tryout. 

So when promotions for the upcoming episode hinted at Minaj fighting and leaving the set, we figured we were finally going to see the infamous showdown. Instead, we got Nicki walking off set after getting angry with Randy Jackson.

Jackson wa...

And here’s when it all went down.

It took nothing more than a girl to say she used to sing country music to turn Nicki Minaj into a rambling crazy person. Well, even more of a rambling crazy person than she normally is. I wasn’t anything like that to be the moment that spurred the fight that dominated tabloids back when they filmed these auditions, but apparently Ms. Minaj can’t deal with constructive criticism…directed at others.

Let’s backtrack. A pretty girl with a pretty voice and the pretty name Summer (see more below) came in for her audition and mentioned she sang country music for...

After 12 seasons, is it time for "American Idol" to hang up the microphone? Former contestant (and Oscar winner) Jennifer Hudson thinks so.

The singer/actress is urging producers to quit while they're ahead and cancel the FOX reality show before the ratings drop even further. The newest season's premiere episode garnered 17.9 million viewers, down 19 percent from 2013.

The show has been sliding in popularity, and new judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban haven't been able to revive it.

Hudson told Celebuzz: "Everything has its time. I think it should just allow itself to go ou...

“American Idol” kicked off season 12 in New York City with a new judging panel but the same old drama and bad singing auditions.

Randy Jackson, Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj, and Mariah Carey met in New York City to the screams of thousands of fans hoping to earn a golden ticket and a trip to Hollywood.

The auditions didn’t get off to a very good start with Mike’s audition who put his own words to the tune of “We Will Rock You.”  His efforts did not earn him a golden ticket.

Mike’s audition set the tone for the night with no split decisions and a search for singers who excelled in vocal gymna...

This year’s ‘Idol’ is going to be a battle of the producers vs. the publicists.

The constant bickering and fighting between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey is likely to cause both parties to emit fluids. While the publicists sweat, hoping that their clients will stop making themselves look bad and possibly alienate an America that doesn’t want to see rich people fight for no reason and be unpleasant, the producers are salivating. Their mouths watering at the prospect of a season that renews a judge rivalry extinct since Simon and Paula stopped yelling at each other almost five years ago.

The...

If you're one to bet on reality television, we have two pieces of advice: 1, get help, and 2, it might be the year to back a female contestant on American Idol.

After five straight seasons of a male contestant winning the competition, this season's judges say they think this is the best crop of female performers in a long time.

"Girls, do not disappoint the Dawg. I think it's the girls' year," Randy Jackson told PEOPLE. Nicki Minaj agrees, "The girls are exceptional. I mean, a girl will definitely win this year, I think."

Since Jordin Sparks won in season 6, five white males won the comp...

Nicki Minaj has warned aspiring rappers not to take their chances on American Idol because she is convinced hip-hop fans need "credible" and "authentic" stars.

The rapper/singer has joined the panel for the latest series of the TV talent show alongside Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and longtime judge Randy Jackson.

However, Minaj is adamant fellow rappers should not be included in the competition and urges aspiring hip-hop stars not to bother auditioning for the show.

During a press junket this week to promote the latest series, Minaj told reporters, "This is definitely not a rap competit...

The new judges for American Idol met the Television Critics Association today. Nicki Minaj is one of three new judges replacing Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, and though the show is only in audition stages, Minaj described one of her favorite acts.

“Nobody else thought she could sing,” Minaj said. “Big Crazy Baby, Obama girl. No one else thought she could sing and I kept on hearing she had potential. Everyone saw her as a crazy character and I can relate to that because when you have a crazy outgoing character, people don’t see your talent. By the time we were in Hollywood, they said, ‘Y...

When Fox presented a panel on American Idol to the Television Critics Association, many reporters wanted some dirt about the reported feud between new judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. The singers assured reporters they had mended fences, and didn’t want to go into detail. Carey herself preferred to focus on the Idol contestants.

“The whole thing is convoluted,” Carey said. “It’s a distraction from the show and from the contestants and I think it’s unfair to them. It shouldn’t be about any of us sitting up here.”

Carey has collaborated with Minaj in the music world as well. “Nicki and ...

Nicki Minaj had reservations about joining American Idol as she worries the hit TV talent show will make her "too famous."

The "Super Bass" hit-maker fears she may lose fans and even her hip-hop credentials by taking a seat on the judging panel of the reality series.

She tells The Hollywood Reporter, "(Before joining) I had a lot of talks with people - my family, my best friends, my label, (mentor) Lil Wayne, management and then the producers."

"(There is) a judgmental culture in hip-hop. Sometimes you are afraid of being too famous because it's almost, like, is that even cool? Being ...

Does Britney Spears no longer have "The X Factor?"  Sources claim the pop star's time on the reality show is possibly coming to an end, according to Us Weekly.

Apparently show frontrunner Simon Cowell was not very impressed with Spears' boring stint on the judging panel. Cowell wanted "crazy Britney" but got "boring and professional Britney" instead. In addition, her enormous contract may be a factor in her dismissal - she was paid $15 million to appear on the reality show and merely say "amazing" and sort of half clap after each performance. Ouch!

If Spears is booted off the show, she'll...

The new season of "American Idol" hasn't even aired yet, but Nicki Minaj is making a lot of people angry, including former judge Steven Tyler.

The Aerosmith singer commented on the animosity between Minaj and Mariah Carey, saying they should get along for the benefit of the contestants.

He tweeted, "I know that they've got something going on on the judges' panel; it shouldn't be that, it should be the opposite. They should have something going on, which is called 'camaraderie'.

"These kids, they just got out of a car from the Midwest somewhere and they're in New York City, they're scared...

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks is one of the many Americans who suffer from migraine headaches, and now she's working with Excedrin to spread the word about migraine awareness - and share her tips for managing them.

The singer/actress is the spokesperson for Excedrin's "Managing Migraines" campaign. The centerpiece of the campaign is the new "My Migraine Triggers" app, now available for free on iTunes, which allows individuals to track their migraine triggers and send relevant data to their doctor.

In addition to explaining how the app works, Jordin shared how she manages her migrai...

The Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey "American Idol" feud has generated so much media attention, even President Barack Obama has an opinion about it.

Earlier this month the rapper verbally attacked the pop star during an audition in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the video footage riveted TV and music fans.

During an interview with TV and radio personality Michael Yo, Obama said he believed the two could move past their differences. He explained, "I think that they are going to be able to sort it out. I am confident. I'm all about bringing people together, working for the same cause. I think ...

Despite reports that things were back to normal on the set of American Idol between judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey after their catfight during Tuesday's auditions, there still seem to be some hard feelings off the set.

Nicki has now called out Mariah for stepping up her security team and adding some fuel to the fire after speaking to veteran broadcaster Barbara Walters over the phone on Thursday; saying that Nicki's unpredictability has caused her to fear for her and her childrens' safety on the set.

Walters reiterated Mariah's story on her morning talk show The View; revealing, "[Ma...

Mariah Carey has beefed up her security team after her fellow American Idol judge Nicki Minaj reportedly threatened to "shoot" her following a furious on set argument on Tuesday.

The two new judges were filming an audition in Charlotte, North Carolina this week when they became embroiled in a huge argument over a contestant. In video footage posted online, an angry Minaj can be seen shouting and swearing at the Hero hit-maker. Reports suggest Minaj continued the rant off camera and, in the heat of the argument, is said to have raged, "If I had a gun I would shoot her (Carey)."

Idol's ex...

Nick Cannon has spoken out over wife Mariah Carey's recent spat with fellow American Idol judge Nicki Minaj, which was caught on video and leaked to TMZ.com on Tuesday.

The America's Got Talent host is accusing Idol producers of leaking the footage to get more people interested in the upcoming season of the show, which he believes takes the focus away from the aspiring singers looking for their big break.

"I feel like it's taking away from the quality of what Idol is all about; this is about people accomplishing their dreams and experts guiding these young people to do what they've done,"...

Keith Urban isn't fazed by the in-fighting between his fellow American Idol judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, calling the panel a "very alive and very invigorating" place to work.

The country singer was caught between the two divas after they became embroiled in a shouting match during try-outs in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday.

In video footage of the incident, Minaj can be heard yelling and swearing at the Hero hit-maker, ranting, "I'm not f**kin' putting up with her f**kin' highness over there," while Carey retorts, "Oh why, why do I have a three year old sitting around me?"...

American Idol boss Nigel Lythgoe has slammed reports suggesting rapper Nicki Minaj threatened to "shoot" fellow TV judge Mariah Carey during a furious on set bust-up on Tuesday.

The two new panelists - the latest superstar mentors hired for the hit reality show - were filming an audition in Charlotte, North Carolina this week when they became embroiled in a huge argument over a contestant.

In video footage posted online, an angry Minaj can be seen shouting and swearing at the Hero hit-maker, telling producers, "I told them, I'm not f**kin' putting up with her f**kin' highness over there...