Phillip Phillips FINALLY Has Surgery For Massive Kidney Stones

Phillip Phillips finally went under the knife to remove the enormous kidney stones that almost derailed his run to the "American Idol" title ... TMZ has learned.

We're told Phillip had the 6 and a half hour long surgery in L.A. yesterday -- and he is recovering well today. The stones that were removed were so huge there was no chance he could've passed them on his own.



As TMZ first reported, Phil was scheduled to have the surgery last week ... but it was delayed because he had a fever and sinus infection.

Phillip suffered through excruciating pain during the entire season of 'Idol.' It obviously paid off.

Oh what a relief.

source: TMZ

What Could’ve Cost Jessica Sanchez The 'Idol' Crown

MANILA, Philippines – Many deemed that Jessica Sanchez would bag the coveted “American Idol” crown, but could it be that she ruined her own chance with her choice of coronation song and potential first single?

“AI” mentor and Interscope Records founder/chairman Jimmy Iovine admitted to The Hollywood Reporter, “It did bomb, didn’t it? The song didn’t work well live.”

The 16-year-old Filipino-Mexican Jessica performed “Change Nothing” as one of her three songs during the final showdown night (May 22 in the US), to the apparent dismay of judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson. They collectively felt that the straight pop ballad didn’t bring out the soulful swag and urban vibe in Jessica.

Iovine said Jessica had “three or four different songs” to choose from, and that “we don’t force the kids to do anything.” The latter did intimate after her performance that “Change Nothing” was her choice.

Foreign scribes put in not-so-pleasant reviews on “Change Nothing.” Entertainment Weekly, for one, wrote that the song “just feels too old for a 16-year-old to be singing.”

“This disconnect between content and personal experience reveals Sanchez’s biggest weakness—although she has some serious pipes, she’s clearly not sure what she wants to say (or if she has anything to say) musically just yet, and the generic drum-machine beat doesn’t help make the song feel any more organic. “

USA Today, meanwhile, deemed that Jessica “made a grave tactical error at precisely the wrong time, choosing to sing a pop ballad—and a not particularly good one—as her potential first single.”

Jessica got “sucker-punched” with “Change Nothing,” MTV wrote, adding that “the song was too poppy and tame and completely stalled any momentum Jessica built up.”

The budding young diva, born in Chula Vista, California to a Filipino mother and Mexican-American father, acknowledged the judges’ reaction to the song in an interview after “American Idol” final show on May 23.

She was quoted by The Hollywood Reporter as saying, “I kind of agreed with them. We only had one day to pick a single. Now that I have time to put myself into my music, it’s going to be all me—100 percent me.”

The “100 percent me” that Jessica refers to is “like a Rihanna-Beyoncé kind of thing,” but pointed out that she doesn’t want to compare herself to anybody.

“I want to be somebody new, too,” she added.

Jessica has also expressed how happy she is over Phillip Phillips’ win, maintaining that he deserves the title. For her fans, though, she is not only an “American Idol” but a “World Idol,” as seen on the comments that poured in on Twitter after the result was revealed.

Some of the tweets read:

@Micolicious: “If Phillip Phillips is the season 11's AI then I guess Jessica Sanchez is the World Idol of all seasons! #WorldIdol @JSanchezAI11.”

@iLikeMariah: “Title or no title, @JSanchezAI11 our #worldIdol has raised the bar of #americanidol 's next season or shld I say raisd dbar of AmericanIdol!”

‏@Angeliquebruna: “Jessica is our winner, Jessica is our winner.She was the toughest among them all. :) 2 Thumbs up Jessica's our winner.#WorldIdol #idolfinale.”

@lyzafionaborjal: “I just can't wait to buy @JSanchezAI11's album! I'm gonna listen to all her AI songs so that I can put this feeling into sleep. #WorldIdol.”

‏@TheBarsss: “@JSanchezAI11 doesn't deserve to become American Idol. She deserves to become #WorldIdol. #JessicaSanchezWorldIdol.”

source: mb.com.ph

Is American Idol a falling star?

Since its debut in 2002, the singing contest "American Idol" on Fox network has been a giant in television ratings.

Now on its 11th season, the network still claims to have the nation's most-watched show even with “Idol” losing 23 percent of its total audience this year, according to Reuters. The report came out May 23, a day before the latest winner was announced.

Over the years, however, the show has lost viewers due to a variety of reasons. Predictability is one of them, as proven once again when Phillip Phillips, who shares his "White Guy With Guitar" quality with the winners of the past four seasons, getting the highest number of votes in this season's competition

Phillips, 21, from Georgia beat ballad singer Jessica Sanchez, 16, of California in the public vote. Interestingly, Sanchez had a 17 percent lead in Yahoo! searches and generated 60 percent more mentions in social media than Phillips, according to a survey by analytics company General Sentiment.

The decline in ratings has prompted some soul-searching among those involved in the show, who are wondering what went wrong, Brian Stelter wrote in the New York Times.

Sanchez "would have been the first Latina to win, visibly representing change for a program that some TV critics have labeled boring," Stelter wrote.

Once derisively described as the "death star" by rival television executives, American Idol has instead eclipsed everything in prime-time TV as Fox topped ratings in 2007. Nielsen Media Research said the talent contest's season premiere that year was the most-watched in its six-year history, with around 37.3 million viewers.

But 2008 saw an 11 percent decline in the popular series, which nevertheless kept its rank as the most-watched show of the TV season, excluding sports. That year was seen as a dull season for American Idol, with viewers finding the show boring and predictable.

"Because the talent level was so high, nothing anyone did was surprising," regular "Idol" viewer Mike Anderson said in a previous report.

The show suffered a decline in TV viewership, particularly among teenagers and women from 18 to 34.

Things changed on the show after that, with less time featuring tryouts and more contestants brought to Hollywood. According to executive producer Ken Warwick, however, these changes were not in response to the previous season's 7 percent ratings dip.

In 2009, Paula Abdul left after eight seasons of being the “craziest judge” on the show. Abdul's departure came as "Idol" steadily lost viewers.

The show had 25.5 million viewers in 2009, less than 26.8 million in 2007-2008, and 30 million in both 2006-2007 and 2005-2006.

In 2010, caustic judge Simon Cowell left the show to focus on "The X Factor."

Fox executives promised to boost the show, which would feature Cowell's replacement.

2011 was a year of changes as the show welcomed new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. The 10th season also saw a switch in its time slot, which was moved from Tuesday and Wednesday night broadcasts to Wednesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, Cowell continued on "Britain's Got Talent," which found a rival in newcomer "The Voice" in 2012. "The Voice" also turned out to be serious competition for "Idol," especially after getting superstar ratings early this year.

In March 2012, LA Times blog Show Tracker said it was clear that "Idol" had handed its ratings crown to "The Voice."

Citing figures released by Nielsen, the blog said "Idol" had lost its viewers ages 18 to 49 to "The Voice," which drew a 6.2 rating. "Idol" was given a 5.7 rating, but still managed to be the most-watched program among all viewers.

The New York Times’ Stelter wrote that "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe cited "The Voice" when asked to explain the ratings drop the week before this season's finale. Lythgoe also mentioned Cowell's "The X Factor," another Fox show.

Although "Idol" is still No. 1 after 11 seasons, it will have to fight to keep its position, Stelter said, quoting Entertainment Weekly managing editor Jess Cagle.

“While the show still does solid numbers for us online, it’s no longer the juggernaut it once was,” Cagle told Stelter.


"Americal Idol" will have some "creative reinvigoration" next season, Stelter quoted Fox president of entertainment Kevin Reilly. Auditions for season 12 begin on June 7 in Los Angeles. - YA, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

For fans, Jessica Sanchez is still the winner of 'American Idol'

Filipino-Mexican-American Jessica Sanchez may have lost the competition but for her fans, she is still the "American Idol."

Sanchez, 16, of Chula Vista, California, lost to Phillip Phillips, 21, of Leesburg, Georgia.

Sanchez's mother is Filipina, while her father is Mexican.

Sanchez's fans on Twitter said they believe Sanchez is still a winner:
@tonyatayde: "Phillip Phillips can have the title of American Idol. Jessica Sanchez is already a GLOBAL Idol."

@FrianneAslahon: "@AmericanIdol Para samen si JESSICA SANCHEZ ANG PANALO !!!!!!"

@adolfooe: "Jessica Sanchez is a global super star like Adam Lambert, #runneruppower!"

Many of her fans have also been saying on Twitter that the Philippines and Mexico have been separated by boxing but united by music.

Twitter user @MgaKasabihan said: "PHILIPPINES & MEXICO, Separated by Boxing, United by Music. That's Jessica Sanchez!"

The Philippines' foremost boxer — Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao — has been called the "Mexicutioner" after having won over many Mexican boxers.

Among "American Idol" contestants with Filipino heritage, Sanchez has so far made the best achievement.

Filipino-American Jasmine Trias made it to the top three of AI's Season 3, while Ramiele Malubay, another Fil-Am, placed ninth in Season 7.

Thia Megia, another Filipino-American, meanwhile, finished in the top 11 of last year's competition. - VVP/KG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Jessica Simpson Rooting for Phillip Phillips to Win American Idol

The new mom, who welcomed daughter Maxwell Drew Johnson on May 1, is rooting for crooner Phillip Phillips to win Wednesday night.

"Crossing my fingers for hot stuff Phillip Phillips!!" she Tweeted Wednesday afternoon.

Phillips, 21, performed three songs alongside another Jessica – 16-year-old Sanchez – Tuesday on the show's final night of competition.

POLL: Who Do You Want to Win American Idol?

And Simpson, it seems, is ready for some new music (lullabies excluded, of course).

"I want his record NOW!!!" she continued in her Tweet.

source: people.com

Power balladeer Jessica vs. ‘genius’ Philip on ‘Idol’ finale

LOS ANGELES – Jessica Sanchez, the teen with the big voice, chose power ballads while Phillip Phillips went with an indie vibe as the two diverse “American Idol” finalists sang on Tuesday for the hearts and votes of America.

Sanchez, 16, bidding to become the youngest ever winner of America’s most-watched TV show, was deemed ahead after performing songs made famous by Whitney Houston and Celine Dion.
But it was acoustic guitar-playing Phillips who brought all three judges to their feet at the end of the performance finale.

“You were perfect tonight, and I think you are the man,” said judge Steven Tyler as Phillips closed the show with his potential first single “Home”—a song that mixed the style of folk-rock band Mumford and Sons with Paul Simon and featured a marching band.

Randy Jackson called the Georgia singer’s performance “brilliant, genius” and added “Dude I loved the song! I loved you. I loved the production … Everything about that was perfect.”

Phillips, 21, also put his own spin on his two other songs—Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out” and the classic “Stand By Me”—earning screams of adulation from the audience of 7,000 in Los Angeles. But he failed to convince the three judges.

“This is a tough one,” said Jennifer Lopez. “It’s like a battle of the opposites.”
Sanchez, a home-schooled California teen, won praise for her renditions of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” and Celine Dion’s “The Prayer.”

But her potential first single, a pop ballad called “Change Nothing,” fell flat with the judges, bringing tears to the eyes of the young singer.
Jackson thought the song was “just okay” while Tyler said “It didn’t feel like the proper song for you to sing.”

But the judges’ impact is limited to potentially swaying audience votes. America’s “Idol” will be chosen by viewers and fans who have four hours to vote by phone, text and online after the show ended on Tuesday.

Results will be announced at the end of a star-studded two hour finale Wednesday (Thursday morning in the Philippines).

Based on social media buzz and Twitter postings going into Tuesday’s final, Sanchez had a 17 percent lead in Yahoo! searches, the Internet search engine said.

She also generated 60 percent more mentions in social media than Phillips, according to a survey by analytics company General Sentiment.

But Phillips, whose goofball humor has charmed millions of young female viewers, has never been in “Idol”s bottom three.

Sanchez, who is sometimes criticized for failing to connect emotionally with her lyrics, was saved by the judges from elimination in April after coming bottom in the public vote.

The young girl of Mexican and Filipino descent has millions of supporters in the Philippines, while Phillips has won sympathy for a kidney problem that has plagued his health during the show.
“Pheel Better Phillip” read one poster in Tuesday’s audience.

The winner will receive a guaranteed recording contract, putting him or her on a potential road to the stardom enjoyed by early champions Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

But more recent winners have fared less well and audiences for “American Idol”, now in its 11th season, have fallen by 23 percent to an average 19.2 million viewers.

article source: interaksyon.com

Jessica Sanchez’s American Idol rival, Phillip, turns down surgery for now

The last man standing in Season 11 of American Idol, Phillip Phillips, has refused “desperately needed” surgery in order to compete in the sing-off with Jessica Sanchez, the last woman standing.

The two contestants made it to the AI finals – Jessica despite a sore throat, and Phillip despite kidney stone problems.

Entertainment news site TMZ reported that the 21-year-old’s kidney problems had gotten worse over months.

The 21-year-old singer intends to go under the knife after next week's finals. The report added that his ability to sing has been “affected”, resulting in his absence in several pre-recorded segments of the popular television singing contest.

Phillips has had five kidney stone removal procedures, according to his father in a report by idolator.com, which said the procedures were done since October last year.

Idolator also reported that Phillips was hospitalized in January this year, and was rushed to the hospital for severe abdominal pain in March. — Marlon Anthony Tonson, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com