They had a whirlwind courtship and an engagement lasting only weeks, but Crystal Bowersox and Brian Walker were hardly strangers in love. Longtime ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio — More than a half-dozen public employees snooped in confidential state records for personal information on "American Idol" runne...

Just when I was beginning to wonder whether American Idol is really a government conspiracy, an opiate for the people, we finally got to the results.

In a week I found underwhelming, who will be the bottom three? I'd say Aaron, Casey and Michael with Aaron and Casey in the bottom two and Casey going home. What did you think of the singers and their song choices?

My mind is still reeling from Wednesday night's Idol show, and it wasn't just from seeing Shakira quote Roosevelt after her barefoot gypsy dance and duet with country singer Rascal Flatts.

Crystal kept talking back when she should have taken her weak reviews humbly. The problem was that her singing wasn't very good.

After weeks of coasting, Crystal used no instrument, sang a cappella to start, looked supremely confident and knocked it out of the park.

It's Elvis Week and Adam Lambert is the first contestant to come back as a mentor -- and turns out to be one of the best mentors ever.

The weekly topics always stay within the kids' limited range. What about standards? Hip hop? Klezmer? Just something out of their comfort zone. And if someone fails badly -- Cool! It's live TV.

The Top 9 contestants on American Idol were given the keys to the greatest catalog in pop history: the tunes of Lennon and McCartney. The results were so-so.

Simon may be leaving the company but the rig's still in place spewing plumes of vocalists into the American star-hole, leaking into Broadway and Hollywood with no end in sight.

Andrew Garcia did well singing "Forever." But then Simon said, "Don't take this the wrong way, but you're boring." Uh, what exactly is the right way to take "you're boring"?

I doubt many people will argue Didi should have been saved. That would only make sense if you believed she were destined to make the finale and voters had made a tragic mistake. But what about the contenders?

LOS ANGELES — Lee DeWyze, a paint store clerk who overcame his shyness to impress "American Idol" judges and viewers with his spirit and soulful...

In what even ardent fans must admit was the least musically exciting, least dramatic finale in Idol history, Crystal Bowersox received nothing but praise.

American Idol said goodbye to Paige Miles and finalized the Top 10. That's the group that goes on tour and from which most every single successful Idol alum has sprung.

American Idol week now begins on Mondays, when the contestant who just left the show appears on the Late Show With David Letterman.

Whether it's Crystal or Lee who gets crowned on Idol this season, it doesn't really matter. Both artists have given America a reason to cry, cheer, and move on from what's been ailing us.

American Idol is like the Academy Awards this year -- a plethora of nominees but only two real contenders. It's Siobhan Magnus vs. Crystal Bowersox.

American Idol moved to a bigger stage this week as the Top 12 tackled the Rolling Stones. Ryan stared down Simon, Simon gave Crystal Bowersox some helpful tips and the kids were alright.