'Idol' leaves Casey Abrams shaking, shocked -- and saved [Video] [Poll]

Contestant Casey Abrams was saved from elimination on "American Idol" on Thursday night — and immediately looked as if he were going to lose it. Or maybe just faint. 

(Heck, we were ready to faint when his name came up as the week's lowest vote-getter.)

Shaking and pale after having his sing-for-your-life performance cut off early by the judges' announcement, the unique performer double-checked with them to make sure the save had really happened. "It's Top 11 — why would you do this to me? I can't believe it," Abrams said, referring to the fact that the save might affect the Top 10 summer tour roster.

Abrams fell to his knees upon his return to the stage and had to take a seat on the steps with Ryan Seacrest as he recovered from the shock. The host explained the ramifications of the save: It had been determined in advance that if the save came at this point in the competition, the tour would have 11 performers instead of 10. And next week, two performers will get the hook.

Fans might remember that Michael "Big Mike" Lynche got the save last season when there were nine contestants remaining — only to be eliminated eventually when the field was cut from four to three.

Watch the results segment, including a birthday tribute to Steven Tyler led by Stevie Wonder, below. Casey's save, and shocked reaction, is around the five-minute mark. To read all the details instead, hit Show Tracker for the recap.

Were Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and the birthday boy right to use their one save on Abrams, who they've praised as one of the most talented musicians to ever appear on "Idol"? Scroll down and vote in the poll.

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--- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Casey Abrams at the party for the "American Idol" finalists on March 3, at a moment when shock hadn't turned him pale and shaky. Yes, he got even more pale on Thursday night. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters.

Jennifer Lopez's 'On the Floor' video premieres on 'Idol' [Poll]

 

The premiere of the Jennifer Lopez "On the Floor" video on "American Idol" was a welcome distraction Thursday night after at the end of two intense hours of watching talented kids get sent home -- a relief, of course, until the guillotine came down for the last time moments after the video ended.

It was interesting to see the current style of music video (J. Lo's tune features rapper Pitbull) juxtaposed with the more classic songs the wild-card hopefuls chose to perform in their last-ditch efforts to stay in the running.

There'd been an interactive fan component to the "On the Floor" reveal. "Idol" fans were able to watch three endings online ahead of time, with the most popular version shown Thursday night. (Anybody remember "Choose Your Own Adventure"?)

Separate from the song, there are a few awesome shots of Lopez shaking her money maker, which is one asset that simply makes us happy. If it would make you happy to know the names of "Idol's" Top 13, visit Show Tracker.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

Kellie Pickler explains why she and Kyle Jacobs 'ran away' to marry

 

Kellie Pickler just couldn't handle the stress of wedding planning, she said, and that's why the "American Idol" alum and songwriter Kyle Jacobs eloped to the Caribbean on New Year's Day.

"On New Year's, my best friend and I ran away," she told Ellen DeGeneres.

The 24-year-old country singer and her husband ran off to Jumby Bay to get hitched with only a photographer in tow.

"We were almost finished with the wedding planning -- we'd already done the cake and the flowers and all that -- and every time we got to the guest list, I was like, 'Oh my God, I hate half these people,' " she laughed.

So off to the Caribbean they went.

"It was perfect because we didn't plan anything. All we did is I packed the wedding dress, we packed him an outfit and we flew there," she said. "We totally just put faith in God that it was all going to work out and it did. And it was the most incredible day of my life."

She and Jacobs, 33, stayed a short time on the island then spent their "honeymoon" in Iraq, where Pickler had been booked on a USO Tour.

David Archuleta explains split with record label, management

 

David Archuleta was not exactly dumped by Jive Records, the "American Idol" runner-up said in a video blog posted Tuesday on his official YouTube channel, despite the many headlines to that effect that have popped up since Friday.

"It just felt like the right time to part ways," Archuleta said in the video blog post, titled "Decisions, decisions."

Regular Ministry readers already heard of the split Friday as a parting of the ways between Archie and Jive, though we'd now like to add that the 20-year-old said he's broken up with his management team as well.

"Decisions," Archuleta had tweeted cryptically on Thursday -- anyone seeing a theme yet? -- the day before the split with Jive went public. "They are scary things before knowing what could happen after you make them, but I'm excited for what the future holds."

He spoke Tuesday about how Jive had changed as a company, mentioning his own growing self-awareness. There were, he said, "offers that I continue working with them, but it just didn't feel like the right thing. I loved working with them, they've been so great, you know, the people there are just awesome ... I've learned a lot from them."

About his management team? "I realized that this is not where I need to be right now," he said. Then, because he's David Archuleta, he clarified and praised: "Not like they were doing anything bad or anything wrong, you know, they've been great."

David Archuleta parts ways with Jive Records label

David Archuleta is no longer with Jive Records, the recording label that signed him after his "American Idol" duties were done.

"Decisions," the multiple Teen Choice Award winner, now 20, tweeted cryptically on Thursday. "They are scary things before knowing what could happen after you make them, but I'm excited for what the future holds.

"David was released from our roster," a Jive spokesperson confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter on Friday.

The "American Idol" runner-up, who lost to David Cook in the seventh season of "Idol," has sold only 63,000 copies of "The Other Side of Down," released on Oct. 5, 2010.

In contrast, his self-named 2008 Jive debut, which The Times' reviewer described as "an exacting distillation of a 13-year-old girl's wholesome romantic aspirations as imagined by 50-year-old label reps," went platinum. He'd signed with the label in June of that year.

Some other names from the Jive roster, where Archuleta was still listed Friday: "Idol" alums Crystal Bowersox, Jordin Sparks and Kris Allen, plus Britney Spears, Usher, Pink, Chris Brown and Justin Timberlake.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: David Archuleta arrives at a pep rally for the "Girl Up" United Nations Foundation Campaign on Nov. 5, 2010, in Los Angeles. Archuleta parted ways with Jive Records. Credit: David Livingston / Getty Images

Alex Lambert of 'American Idol' tries Ted Williams' homeless path to fame?

Was Alex Lambert attempting to out himself as the next "homeless man with the golden voice"? The onetime "American Idol" contestant sent out a stream of Twitter messages Monday declaring he'd been "kinda homless! Sleepin on the street and behind buildings [sic]," adding, "I'm usually a strong person, but I can't take it anymore."

A rep for 19 Entertainment, the company behind the "Idol" gang, confirmed the tweets' authenticity Tuesday but also told EW.com that since Lambert wrapped the Web-based reality series "If I Can Dream," he's been on retainer and getting money every month.

"He's not homeless," the rep said. "I don't know where that came from."

Lambert changed tactics Tuesday on Twitter, with another series of messages that said, in part, "O my goodness yall! I have been crashin behind buidings and sleepin outside but I dont want nobody to feel sorry for me! I'm a grown ass man. I've had so much help out here in LA! I just want oto do things on my own! I have places to stay I just don't want to be a burden on anyone! I have money! And soon I will have a place to stay! I just wanted to let yall know! I'm not some rich spoiled kid!"

Steven Tyler on Paula Abdul: 'I guess she had problems with substances'

New "American Idol" judge Steven Tyler recently spoke out about former panel member and "real character" Paula Abdul.

"The world [criticized her] her for nodding out, something I'm not unfamiliar with. I guess she had problems with substances," he told XfinityTV.

The Aerosmith frontman finished a 90-day rehab program last February.

"She's a real character and she's great," Tyler said. "She's an artist. People are gonna look to see what she's got going next. I wish her luck."

See Tyler with veteran judge Randy Jackson and divalicious newbie Jennifer Lopez on the show, which starts its 10th season Wednesday, hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Check out our brother blog Hero Complex's recent "Idol" scoop, and give us your thoughts on Tyler's Abdul musings in comments.

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Update: Steven Tyler says no, his Aerosmith job is not available

-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photos: Steven Tyler, left (Lucy Nicholson / Reuters); Paul Abdul (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press

Kellie Pickler is married to songwriter Kyle Jacobs

Kellie Pickler and songwriter Kyle Jacobs ran off and got married on New Year's Day, opting for a small ceremony on a private Caribbean island. 

Pickler and Jacobs weren't the only ones to pick that date: singer Shania Twain and Frederic Thiebaud got hitched in Puerto Rico and actress Valerie Bertinelli and longtime beau Tom Vitale said "I do" in Malibu on the first day of the year.

Jacobs, 37, proposed to the 24-year-old "American Idol" alum in June, on her late grandma Faye Pickler's birthday. "We both feel like we got my grandmother's blessing," country singer-songwriter told People at the time.

"I could never love somebody the way I love him," Pickler told Us Magazine in August. "He's my world."

Pickler finished in the "Idol" top six the year Taylor Hicks won and Katharine McPhee was runner-up, then made a splash when she made a guest appearance the next season sporting some apparent enhancements that shocked host Ryan Seacrest.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Kyle Jacobs and Kellie Pickler backstage during the "Music City Keep on Playin'" flood relief benefit concert in Nashville, Tenn., on May 16, 2010.  Credit: Rick Diamond / Getty Images

Constantine Maroulis welcomes a 'Rock of Ages' baby

Constantine Maroulis, the "American Idol" rock heartthrob turned Broadway performer and more has a new baby daughter with girlfriend and fellow "Rock of Ages" performer Angel Reed.

"Sometimes Christmas comes early and we're so lucky to get the greatest gift a few days early," Maroulis said in a statement to various media outlets, including People. Malena James, born Thursday night, weighed in at 6 pounds, 11 ounces. 

Maroulis, 35 and a Tony nominee for "Rock of Ages," finished sixth on "Americal Idol" the year Carrie Underwood took first place.

Telling friends she was pregnant, Reed gave noticeto "Rock of Ages" and left the show in June. "Rock" has shows in Florida next week, with Southern California dates coming up Feb. 15-27 at the Pantages Theatre in L.A. and March 1-6 at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa. Another reality TV alum, MiG Ayesa of "Rock Star: INXS," is also in the cast of the touring production.

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Photo: Constantine Maroulis does the national anthem honors at the NFL season opener between the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on Sept. 12, 2010. Credit: Elsa / Getty Images

Fantasia's boyfriend Antwaun Cook was legally separated earlier than wife claimed, judge reportedly rules

Fantasia Barrino may have scored a legal break in the form of a judge's ruling in favor of onetime boyfriend Antwaun Cook regarding when he legally separated from his wife, TheYBF reported Wednesday. 

Antwaun was separated from wife Paula Cook as of Sept. 14, 2009, a North Carolina judge has determined. In filing for divorce, Paula had claimed she and Antwaun were together until June 2010, and had therefore targeted the "American Idol" winner as a homewrecker. Adultery is still a crime in North Carolina.

TheYBF, which first broke news of Fantasia's relationship with a "technically married man," cited Radar Online, which previously reported the singer had admitted on the stand that she'd been pregnant by Cook, but had terminated the pregnancy.

TheYBF exclusively reported Fantasia's relationship with Cook in November 2009, around the time she showed up in pictures with his name tattooed on her chest. According to the blog, the two met the second week of August 2009, while he was still living with his wife and two kids.

Fantasia attempted suicide on Aug. 9, 2010. That event and interaction with Antwaun were captured for her VH1 reality show, "Fantasia for Real."

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Photo: Fantasia Barrino in Los Angeles on Aug. 25. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times