'American Idol': Jermaine Jones addresses disqualification

Jermaine responds to booting

Jermaine Jones spoke to HLN about his disqualification from American Idol on Wednesday’s show because of past run-ins with the law. The 25-year-old singer said that he had no idea what was going to happen when he was called into a room with producers Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe, where the two informed him — on camera – that he was being kicked off the show. He described it as a “very humbling experience” and said he was “very disappointed… it hurt a lot.”

Colton Dixon is keeping the faith

Idol hopeful Colton Dixon told the Today Show that when the finalists started “the Twitter and Facebook stuff,” Idol producers told them to “beware of political and religious tweets, just because it can turn off voters or whatever.” But Colton, a devout Christian who wants a career in Christian music after the show, says, “Being a Christian is who I am. It’s a part of me musically.” About sharing his religious beliefs, he added, “I am not going to hide it, and I am not going to stray away from it just because I am on a TV show.”

Meanwhile, Steven Tyler thought that Dixon’s rendition of the 1991 song “Broken Heart” for the “Songs For the Year You Were Born” theme this week was the wrong song for the Idol finalist’s “voice and passion.” The tune’s co-writer, Mike Tramp of the band White Lion, however, begs to differ. Tramp told The Hollywood Reporter, that he had “nothing but praise and absolutely the best to say about Colton, his voice, and his passion for music. I enjoyed his performance and conviction of the song. Colton has my support all the way, he is a true star.”

New Jordin Sparks commercial online

Season 6 Idol winner Jordin Sparks’ adorable commercial for the AT&T HTC Vivid & Beatbox Portable, hit the Web this week. (Jordin hardly gets a word in edgewise!)

Casey’s Crying

Season 9 Idol third-place finisher, Casey James is getting ready to release his self-titled debut album on BNA Records Nashville on Tuesday, March 20. Check out the country artist and guitar slinger’s rehearsal video of “Crying on a Suitcase,” one of the cuts off the album.

NEXT PAGE: Kellie Pickler and Pia Toscano performance video

Live! with Kellie

Season 5 Idol, Kellie Pickler, performed songs from her album 100 Proof in an intimate setting for Yahoo! Ram Country.

Jack and his big sister Brooke

Season 7 Idol Brooke White and her musical partner, Jack Matranga — also known as the musical duo Jack and White — have released a new EP called Winter. Check out the pair performing an acoustic version of an EP track called “XYZ.”

David Cook running for charity

David Cook fans, mark May 5 on your calendar. The benefit, Night of Hope, will feature the season 7 Idol winner in an intimate storyteller-style acoustic performance to celebrate the brain-tumor community. Proceeds will benefit the Race for Hope taking place the next day in Washington, D.C. David will also be running in the race. To donate to his team, visit his page at Race for Hope. David runs in honor of his older brother Adam, who died of a brain tumor in 2009. There is more information about the Night for Hope at The State Theater.

Haley Johnsen reveals her “Sweet Dreams”

“A little train wreck-y” is how Randy Jackson described the semifinal performance of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” by contestant Haley Johnsen. Perhaps with redemption in mind, the Beaverton, Ore., coffee-shop singer posted a new, live version of the song to YouTube. “Still feeling creatively unsatisfied,” Haley writes on her YouTube page, “I decided to unravel the train wreck and let you hear what my original version for ‘Sweet Dreams’ was.”

Scotty McCreery gets his fastball on

Reigning Idol champ, Scotty McCreery was back on the mound last Saturday with his high school baseball team, the Garner Trojans, pitching the seventh inning of the varsity team’s 8-7 loss to Fuquay-Varina.“It means a lot to still be a part of this,” the platinum-selling country artist told The News & Observer. “It’s still playing with my friends, just being back home. I’m blessed to have this opportunity.”

Pia Toscano sings the national anthem

Season 10 Idol Pia Toscano’s ninth-place boot left Idol fans shocked last year, but her rendition of the national anthem before the Nascar Kolbalt 400 race last Sunday at the Las Vegas Speedway will leave them breathless.

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“Open Your Eyes” for the new Lee DeWyze song

Season 9 Idol winner Lee DeWyze may be operating a little under the radar since he parted ways with record label RCA earlier this year, but he’s still hard at work on his next album. The indie Idol debuted a brand new song called “Open Your Eyes” at a sold out Viper Alley concert in Lincolnshire, Ill. last Saturday.

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