05:05 PM EDT 05/30/2012
Ryan Seacrest
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Ace Young: How I Planned a Live TV Wedding Proposal
Originally posted 05/24/2012 07:15AM
It was the engagement seen 'round the world Wednesday night on American Idol, so how did Ace Young manage to pull off his surprise proposal to fiancée Diana DeGarmo?
With a little help from his Idol family, it turns out.
"I called [producer] Nigel [Lythgoe] directly last week and said, 'I want to do this. I'm going to do this. Is there any way I could do it at the show?' " Young, 31, told PEOPLE at the Ford-sponsored American Idol season 11 finale post party. "He said 'Yes, I'm not going to tell anybody until the day of ... [and] I want you to figure it out with Ryan [Seacrest]."
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Phillip Phillips Is American Idol Season 11 Winner
Originally posted 05/23/2012 10:15PM
Ryan Seacrest is in a tux – and American Idol has a winner!
Season 11's finalists, Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips, both had a big night on Wednesday. In addition to seeing their fellow top 12 contestants (and future tour mates) perform with the likes of Chaka Khan and Neil Diamond, they heard performances by some of the biggest names in music today – Rihanna, Reba McEntire, judge Jennifer Lopez.
They also shared the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE stage with legends: Phillip sang "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" and "Bad Moon Rising" with Creedence Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty. And Jessica performed "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" with original Dreamgirls star Jennifer Holliday. Both to impressive results.
And then there was that little business of announcing the new American Idol. Keep reading to find out who won ...
Whitney Houston's Final Recording Unveiled
Originally posted 05/22/2012 06:20AM
Her movie Sparkle does not open until Aug. 17, but this week brought the debut of Whitney Houston's final song, "Celebrate," a duet from the movie with her costar, Jordin Sparks.
Ryan Seacrest unveiled the pulsating number on his radio show Monday. "Celebrate," which was produced by R. Kelly, will be available on iTunes June 5.
A remake of a 1976 movie that originally starred Lonette McKee and Irene Cara, this new Sparkle, which finished filming last Thanksgiving, also stars Derek Luke, Mike Epps and Cee Lo Green, and chronicles the challenges faced by a group of singing sisters once they hit it big. Houston plays Sparks's mother.
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American Idol: Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez Singing in the Finale
Originally posted 05/17/2012 09:05PM
After a marathon performance night, which had the contestants singing three songs each, American Idol's top three – Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips – faced the final elimination on Thursday.
And even though the contestants say they'll be happy for whoever wins the competition, only two of them will be able to compete in next week's finale.
Keep reading to find out who that will be – and who was sent home Thursday in third place ...
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American Idol Finale: Who Deserves to Make It?
Originally posted 05/17/2012 11:40AM
All three wowed America on Wednesday. Only two will move on Thursday night.
Not that Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez seem too concerned about that. While it may indeed be the closest American Idol race ever, the three remaining competitors are a tight group – and they appear to be as happy for each other as for themselves.
"I want to win, but at this point we're all winners," Ledet told PEOPLE after Wednesday's show. "I'm not gonna say I don't care, but I will be just as happy about me winning or two of my friends, Phillip or Jessica."
"It was a crazy night, man," Phillips said. "Everybody had a great night. Josh sang the house down – he rocked it. And Jessica sang the crap out of all her songs, and I just did something and had fun."
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American Idol: Top Three Battle to Be in the Finale
Originally posted 05/16/2012 10:35PM
Much of Wednesday's American Idol's performance episode was filled with footage of the top three – Joshua Ledet, Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips – on their hometown visits. It was touching footage of these young performers at home feeling like superstars. But who's going to cash in their Idol ticket for a chance at super-stardom?
They all have potential and they all sang three songs each on Wednesday during three rounds of competition. Song choice was selected by the judges, followed by the contestants, followed by mentor and vocal coach Jimmy Iovine.
Here's how it went down …
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American Idol's Top Three Revealed
Originally posted 05/10/2012 09:30PM
We're in the home stretch!
On Wednesday, American Idol's final four performed California-themed songs and personal favorites they wished they'd written. According to the judges, Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips hit it out of the park.
On the other hand, Hollie Cavanagh, who's perennially in the bottom on elimination nights, fell short on her second performance of Bonnie Raitt's classic "I Can't Make You Love Me."
So who's in the top three and heading home in style on a private jet for the annual hometown extravaganza this weekend? And who's just heading home? Keeping reading to find out ...
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Jessica Sanchez Blows Away the Idol Competition
Originally posted 05/09/2012 10:25PM
With just two weeks to go, Phillip, Hollie, Joshua and Jessica are pulling out all the stops as they gun for the American Idol crown. And they didn't disappoint on Wednesday night as the final four continued to bring some of their best performances, tackling California-themed songs and personal faves they wished they'd written.
Those two themes worked wonders for Jessica Sanchez. After a rocky few weeks and earning the final judges' save, the California-native rebounded Wednesday with dynamite performances of Jennifer Holliday's "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" and Etta James's "Steal Away," during which she showed full vocal acrobatics with gritty growls and ethereal coos.
As the judges noted, Sanchez showed she's far wiser than her teenage years. "She's 16 and singing Etta James," Randy Jackson said. "The blues is all about pain ... your vocals are ridiculous!"
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American Idol Announces Final Four
Originally posted 05/03/2012 09:20PM
American Idol has its final four!
After Skylar Laine, Joshua Ledet, Hollie Cavanagh, Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez each performed a song from the '60s and another one from the British pop songbook, the top five faced another elimination on Thursday.
And all eyes were on Hollie Cavanagh, who's been a regular in the bottom, but had two impressive performances with Tina Turner's "River Deep-Mountain High" and Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love."
So did she survive another week? Keep reading to find out ...
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Hollie Cavanagh Bounces Back on American Idol
Originally posted 05/02/2012 10:30PM
The finish line is in sight – and as the final five contestants fight to be the winner of American Idol, the competition is fierce. Just like last week, the contestants brought top-notch performances, tackling classic songs from the 1960s and the British pop songbook.
No one seemed to fight harder than Hollie Cavanagh. After another appearance in the bottom last week, she delivered Wednesday with a high-energy version of Ike and Tina Turner's rock-soul rave-up "River Deep-Mountain High," which found her shimmying and shaking across the stage while wearing sky-high heels. For her second tune, she brought tender emotion to Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love."
"It was a different type of Hollie out there tonight," Jennifer Lopez said of her first song. Randy Jackson also called her this season's "dark horse," adding that her rebound was perfect timing in the competition.
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