Jordin Sparks Vocal Cords in Trouble

There's all kinds of news out there about Jordin Sparks. She has had to cancel appearances, including the Alicia Keys tour. Some reports say that she has acute vocal cord hemorrhage and will be fine after taking time to heal, some reports say the 18 year old may never sing again.

The poor girl has most likely been singing non-stop since winning the American Idol title almost a year ago and most likely just needs a little rest and relaxation. No news about her condition on her official website as of this writing.

Update 4/29/08 - Jordin says her voice is almost healed. Check out her exclusive interview with MTV

Claudette Yamin - Elliott's Biggest Fan Passes On

One of the better people to come out of American Idol, is Elliott Yamin. The odds had always been stacked against Elliott, and so it was good to see someone other than the throng of self entitled youngsters that crowd the auditions. Elliott seems to be humble and rare. It would appear that his mother raised him right.

Mrs. Yamin was a presence on Season 5 of American Idol where she proudly watched her son make it to the final three. It was always a joy to see the enthusiasm with which she cheered her boy on.

Elliott performed on Wednesday night's American Idol and delivered the sad news that his Mom had passed away on March 31st, 2008 at the age of 65.

For more on Mrs. Yamin and her passing check out the story at MSNBC.

Todd Smithson - The Illustrated Man

Finally, a picture of Todd Smithson, Carly's husband who we never really get a clear view of when they show him in the American Idol audience. He's always in the shadows.

Todd and Carly own Nothing Sacred, a Tattoo parlor in San Diego and are both into the ink.

He looks like a nice looking guy that spent some serious bonding time with the Maori.

For more about Todd's presence and lack of presence in the American Idol audience, check out the National Ledger.

American Idol April 16th - Kristy Lee Cook Goes Home

Finally! I still can't believe she made it into the top ten, but I don't think she can either and I have to give the girl credit for making an impressive exit. Sitting on edge of the judges table, singing directly to Simon Cowell, the man she once vowed to blow out of his socks, she sang the opening to Forever and then completed the song on stage.

Mariah Carey performed one of her drippy, indulgent, all-sound-the-same songs from her new CD which she plugged shamelessly. She must really need the money.

And who is responsible for those dreadful group numbers? I feel for the likes of Carly Smithson and David Cook when they have to participate in something so completely uncool. No one likes the group stuff - well, perhaps fans of the Lawrence Welk show.

For more of a recap of last night's American Idol go here. Here is Kristy Lee Cook's elimination and exit performance:

American Idol April 15th - A Weird Beach Luau

A weird beach Luau where there were no buns for the hamburgers, or perhaps no onions and pickles. Or maybe someone just forgot the condements. So went some of the banter between the judges and Ryan Seacrest on American Idol.

It was Mariah Carey night last night, or in my case, Nails on a Chalkboard night. I just don't like Mariah Carey or her particular style of overindulgent singing or her overexposed cleavage, which is looking rather unnatural these days.

I suppose tonight we'll have to suffer through a Mariah Carey performance, since she is busy promoting her new CD.

You can find a detailed recap of last night's performances over at MTV.

American Idol Elimination April 10th - Michael Johns Goes Home

Even Paula's eager Chihuahuas couldn't save him. And Kristy Lee Cook wasn't even in the bottom three!

Here is Michael's final American Idol performance:

American Idol Gives Back - April 9th

Want a minute by minute recap of the entire show? Go check it out over at It Happened Last Night.

If you want to see a replay of Teri Hatcher singing Before He Cheats, featuring Jesse Spencer on electric violin, click here.

David and Victoria Beckham sure are mean looking people. I guess smiling wouldn't have been appropriate for the topic, but do they ever look happy? And what was with the round bandage under Kobe Bryant's eye?

Favorite line from last night's show, delivered by Ben Stiller: "some of you may be saying, hey, I'm crazy, but isn't that what American Idol is all about? Convincing crazy people that they belong on television?"

The first joke or two about Simon's man boobs was funny, but then it seemed too much, after all it wasn't "American Idol Roasts Simon" night.

Here are the celebrities, etc., who put in appearances on American Idol Gives Back:

Gordon Brown, David Beckham, Kobe Bryant, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Victoria Beckham, Maria Shriver, Sarah Silverman, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Jimmy Kimmel, Whoopi Goldberg, David Spade, George Lopez, Eddie Izzard, Rob Schneider, Billy Crystal, Dane Cook, Robin Williams, Brad Pitt, Julianne Moore, The Rock, Cheryl Hines, Felicity Huffman, Kyra Sedgwick, Minnie Driver, Roselyn Sanchez, Selma Blair, Michael Chiklis, Amy Adams, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Connolly, Kiefer Sutherland, Reese Witherspoon, The Jonas Brothers, Ashley Tisdale, Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, Alicia Keys, Kylie Minogue, Toby Keith, Annie Lennox, Bono, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, Chris Daughtry, Elliott Yamin, Fantasia, Fergie, Gloria Estefan, Heart, John Legend, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Snoop Dogg, Michael Kors, Ricki Lake, Dr. Phil, Jimmy Johnson, Mary Murphy, Sheila E., John Cena, Triple H and Chris Jericho.

Did I leave anybody out?