AMERICAN IDOL FINALIST DANNY GOKEY HINTS AT POSSIBLE RECORD DEAL

When American Idol finalist Danny Gokey was asked about a recording contract, he responded to realitytvworld, "All I can say is there's good news."

"That's all I can say," he continued. "There's good news on the horizon. I've been told to keep my mouth kind of quiet about it. So that's our little secret. It's gotta be done properly; they're not going to start talking about it."

Gokey, who is currently on the American Idol tour, has reportedly spoken with 19 Recordings, Sony Nashville and Christian music label Word, according to Morning Call. Sphere: Related Content

SIMON COWELL HAS A SOFT SPORT FOR DOGS

American Idol's Simon Cowell, known for his sometimes harsh "tell-it-like-it-is" judging style, actually has a soft spot in his heart -- for dogs!

Cowell is donating about $165,000 a year to fund a dogs' home run by former Exorcist star, Linda Blair, according to The Sun newspaper. "He doesn't like talking about it as he sees it as a private arrangement," a source told thesun. The shelter provides care for neglected and abandoned dogs.

"Simon is a huge dog lover," a source told thaindiannews. "But because he's always travelling, he can't have one. He thought it would be a great idea to help Linda out."

Cowell has a history of helping animals, and has reportedly claimed that he expects to leave the bulk of his multi-million dollar fortune to pet shelters, according to thaindiannews. Sphere: Related Content

AMERICAN IDOL KRIS ALLEN EXPLAINS THAT IDOL FINALISTS HAVE THEIR OWN KIND OF FRATERNITY

"People have said that once you get onto the show and make it that far, you're in this kind of fraternity, and as weird as this is, it's true," explained American Idol Kris Allen.

In discussing the American Idol tour, Allen told californiachronicle "It's not the easiest thing in the world. There's not a whole lot of sleep, and you're not on any kind of schedule. You arrive in some places at 5 or 6 in the morning, then some places at 1 or 2 -- it's always different. But every night is totally worth it. The shows are what we do this for."

Allen said that Chris Daughtry, finalist in 2006 and now frontman for the band Daughtry, advised him early on to get as much sleep as he could.

In speaking of Daughtry, Allen explained, "We've dealt with a lot of the same people, gone through the same things. There are good things about it, bad things about it -- there's plenty to talk about with each other. People said that once you get onto the show and made it that far, you're in this ... fraternity, and it's true. We all have each other's back."

Further evidence of the fraternity among Idol finalists of different seasons is checking them on Twitter. Each of the finalists can be observed not only following finalists of their own season, but finalists of other seasons as well.

A perfect example is this season finalist Danny Gokey who follows, among others, Kris Allen, David Archuleta, Carrie Underwood, David Cook, Adam Lambert, Jason Castro, Scott MacIntyre, Megan Joy, Phil Stacey, Allison Iraheta, Matt Giraud, Paula Abdul, Ryan Seacrest and Anoop Desai.

Also reportedly revealed in that interview, Allen's favorite judge was the one who has become known as "the judge with a heart," Paula Abdul. Allen has said that he really hopes that something can be worked out between Idol executives and Abdul to keep her on the show. Sphere: Related Content

KRISTEN STEWART AND TAYLOR LAUTNER WOULD LIKE TO SING ON AMERICAN IDOL

Twilight stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner both revealed a secret wish -- to sing on American Idol!

Both Stewart and Lautner, during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, revealed that they would enjoy performing a duet on the popular talent competition show.

The couple explained that they are Idol fans -- and thought that singing on Idol would be fun.

"I am kind of addicted (to Idol)," Lautner told ew. And Stewart chimed in, "I want to go on American Idol with Taylor." She said that she thought they should perform "Love Story, totally .... the Taylor Swift song." Sphere: Related Content

PAULA ABDUL IS CRITICAL TO AMERICAN IDOL OPINES FORMER IDOL FINALIST BO BICE

Paula is criticial to American Idol's success, says former Idol finalist Bo Bice.

"If you took away Randy or you took away Paula or you took away Simon, you're changing the dynamic of what made the show great," Fox news quoted Bice who recently had the opportunity to entertain troops in Afghanistan.

"I don't think it (American Idol) could equally handle the loss on either end of which way the teeter tot goes," he added, "whether it be Simon or Paula. It's like having a hit show, take Joey out of 'Friends' ... would it still be still be just as big of a hit?"

While Abdul's manager says that Idol executives and Abdul are not in talks for her return to American Idol, he added that other offers have been flooding in. But thus far no solid deals have reported as inked. ABC wanted Paula for a celebrity dance gig on Dancing With the Stars and a guest spot on Ugly Betty, but that deal never happened.

Nigel Lythgoe, judge of So You Think You Can Dance, told extra, "We're still talking and we will continue to talk ... I would still like to see her do 'American Idol,' with guesting on 'So You Think You Can Dance' -- that would be perfect for me."

And Idol fans are frustrated that American Idol appears unwilling to do what it takes to get their "judge with a heart" back on the show. They have been saying that Idol without Paula is not really good for anyone -- the show, Abdul or Idol fans. As one fan put it, American Idol without Paula is "like a dog with three legs" -- the dog can still hobble along, but not like the dog it once was." Sphere: Related Content

JOE JONAS WILL GUEST JUDGE FOR AMERICAN IDOL ON MONDAY IN DALLAS

Along with Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi, Joe Jonas will be sitting on the judging panel for auditions in Dallas on Monday!

A representative for the middle Jonas confirmed to People Magazine that Joe Jonas will be at the Dallas auditions lending his assessments and advice to American Idol hopefuls.

The list of American Idol guest hosts has continued to grow, including Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Katy Perry, Shania Twain and Joe Jonas.

However, rumors that Kelly Clarkson would also join the guest judging ranks are false, her representative told Us Weekly. Sphere: Related Content

HOW TALL IS RYAN SEACREST? -- NO ONE REALLY CARES!

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest apparently taped some TV segments outside of Idol auditions while "standing on top of a large box to appear taller for cameras," reported buzznet. That article lists Seacrest at 5 ft 8.

"According to Ryan John Seacrest he is 5 ft 9, but some other people say that he is not much (taller) than 5 ft 6," cites news.puggal.

One person posted on yahoo, "When I tried out for American Idol, I had the opportunity to stand next to Ryan Seacrest. I am 5' 7" tall, and Mr. Seacrest was about half a head shorter than me."

Regardless of his actual height, Seacrest has proven himself to be a "big" draw on the American Idol television show -- and likely that is the only kind of big that Idol execs care about. And, of course, fans love Seacrest at whatever his height actually is! In the end, this is another of those often chatted about "so what" issues. Everyone seems to love Seacrest, and no one really cares at all about how tall he is!" Sphere: Related Content