In the days leading up to the Idol finale, David Cook reportedly stepped out from the rehearsals and interviews for a more important appointment: he visited former Idol hopeful Luke Menard in the hospital. Menard was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Cook told People.com, "I love Luke and I just wanted to show up and make sure that he understood that I love him and know that if there’s anything I can do for him and his wife, sign me up, you know?" During Hollywood week, Cook said he, Menard, Michael Johns and Jason Yeager bonded and called themselves "the four horsemen." He explained, "Any time one of your own is going through something as horrible as that, it makes everything else seem a little bit insignificant." "I'm excited to be put in [the spotlight] where I can hopefully do something to help other people," Cook said. His older brother, Adam, has also been battling cancer. In the aftermath of his big public achievement, it seems that Cook's persona as a caring g...
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American Idol semi-finalist Luke Menard, who made it to the top 16, was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma, spokesperson Jane Victor from his a capella group confirmed to CBS news. The singer was suffering from a lingering cough and chest pains, and though they thought he just had walking pneumonia, tests revealed a mass. Victor added "more testing led to the diagnosis of Stage II Hodgkin Lymphoma."Though this type of cancer is usually inoperable, the success rate of treatment is very high. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society Menard's type of cancer is now considered to be one of the most curable forms of cancer.The 29-year-old singer, his wife and family "remain hopeful" about a full recovery.Please send good wishes his way or post your thoughts below. — Erin Fox
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They came close, but received no cigar. TV Guide caught up the four American Idol hopefuls that didn't make the Top 12. Read on to see who believes she may have won by losing, who plans to make like a male Tyra Banks, and who finds Simon's nastiness rather unnecessary. — Carita RizzoAsia'h Epperson"On Wednesday, when they said, 'You're [singing] first,' I called my mom and said, 'I think this is going to be the last time I'm performing.' Knowing the strategy that goes into it — and it's 100 percent strategy — I figured that it was just too much, too quick. If I'm in the audience, [a performance of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody"] is just hitting you over the head. But everything happens for a reason, and clearly God just has a bigger and better plan for me. I believe this was a great stepping stone for me, this is what I needed, and that's it."Kady Malloy"Let me put it this way — it's a TV show. It's hard [to take criticism] in front of so many p...
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As bummed as I was after last weeks results show Im pretty OK with all of the eliminations made tonight I was puzzled by one choice among the four who went home but all in all I think this seasons top 12 is looking pretty solid No group performance tonight and instead we got Blake Lewis I was a big fan of his last season loved his You Give Love a Bad Name and it was good to see him again but his song How Many Words was totally ho-hum Speaking of ho-hum for those who didnt catch it Paulas single is not the No 1 downloaded song on iTunes as Ryan sort of implied but rather the top music video Which is only slightly less disturbing Anyway the first couple of guys to take their seats were no surprise namely David C who did some weird thing with his tongue as he was waiting to hear his fate and David A who seemed to think it was a foregone conclusion that he would be safe When it came to the girls turn it was no surprise that Brooke was t
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Did the TVGuide.com Power Rankings wield some power? On Thursday night's American Idol, Kady Malloy — who in this week's reader poll placed dead last on the girls' side — got sent home. Also now packing their bags are Danny Noriega and Luke Menard, who this week combined for a mere 2.5 percent of the vote on the guys' side of things. The other gal out of the running is Asia'h Epperson, handicapped in large part by a thoroughly subpar Wednesday performance.For the top 12 remaining wannabes, it's now party time — literally — and TV Guide, TVGuide.com and TV Guide Network were on the scene for the after-show festivities. Check back Friday morning for the full recap of the soiree as well as scads of pics.For you the viewers, meanwhile, it's time to vote. Who of the remaining dozen contenders is your current pick to be named this year's American Idol? The poll is here. The new Power Rankings come out Monday.Vote here.
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