American Idol

It's never a good sign when a singer has had more tax liens than platinum albums -- but that's the situation former "American Idol" champ Ruben Studdard has found himself in ... TMZ has learned.

According to docs filed in Alabama, Studdard and his estranged wife Zuri owe $180,216.73 in federal taxes for the year 2009.

Studdard is no stranger to tax problems in Alabama -- he had a property lien filed against him back in 2008 to the tune of nearly $200,000.

Ruben filed for divorce from Zuri back in November.

Jumping on the Angelina leg Internet meme trend, Jennifer Lopez did a little Jolieing and flashed her gorgeous right leg backstage at an "American Idol" party in L.A. on Thursday.

Former "American Idol" contestant and police officer Alisha Bernhardt tells TMZ, she is NOT a cold-hearted bitch -- which is why she's upset at "Idol" producers over how they portrayed her on last week's show.

In case you missed it -- Alisha was the girl who couldn't find a group to perform "Joy to the World" with ... and unleashed a torrent of bitchiness in frustration.

But Alisha -- who was eliminated Wednesday night -- tells us, producers edited the show to make her look more like a loudmouthed fight-picking ice queen than she really is.

"American Idol" castoff Travis Orlando -- who dropped out of high school last year to focus on singing -- is going back to school ... and TMZ has learned, it's all thanks to an "Idol" camera operator.

Travis was voted off the show last week -- and sources tell TMZ, after he gave his goodbye interview, the camerawoman inspired him to go back to school and get his GED.

In case you missed Travis' audition -- the 18-year-old detailed his turbulent home life in the Bronx, claiming his mother walked out on him and his cancer-stricken father. They have since been evicted from their apartment and now live in a shelter.

But sources tell us, the camerawoman who helped conduct Travis' final interview told him not to give up on his education -- saying, "You have lost so much. You don’t want to lose even more by not finishing school."

We're told Travis took her words to heart -- and has since enrolled in the Adult Learning Center at Lehman College in the Bronx. His classes -- which will eventually earn him his GED -- start next month.

Who says "American Idol" rejects are a bunch of hopeless losers -- we found one who actually managed to turn his flash of fame into a lucrative profession ... begging for money on the side of the road.

His name's Magic Cyclops -- and you may remember him as the air guitar-playing bandana-wearing weirdo who fired confetti out of his pants during his audition in Aspen last month.

The judges unanimously rejected him -- no surprise -- but now he's found success outside the music biz, panhandlng on the side of a freeway in Fort Collins, CO.

Magic tells us, since his massively public "Idol" rejection, no one has wanted to hire his one-man band -- because "now people know I don’t have the talent I thought I had.”

But after reading an article about homeless people making up to $30k a year just from begging, Magic was inspired -- and decided to hit the road with a cardboard sign ... earning an impressive $0.35 his first day.

Jennifer Lopez showed off her 42-year-old mother of two taut flat stomach while in Malibu the other day.

The "American Idol" judge was looking belly good, as her 24-year-old boy toy lover Casper Smart frolicked on the sand with her daughter Emme.

Jim Carrey's "American Idol" wannabe daughter is getting support from an unusual place ... her father's ex-girlfriend.

Jenny McCarthy ... who dated Jim for 5 years before splitting in 2010 ... was out in L.A. this weekend, when we asked if she will back Jane on "Idol."

Without hesitation, Jenny declared ... "YES."

24-year-old Jane got a golden ticket to Hollywood this season after busting out a version of "Something to Talk About."

Ethan Jones made it to Hollywood this week on "American Idol" and told a story about how his dad was in rehab -- but Todd Jones wants to clear the air ... he was not actually in rehab when his son auditioned.

Ethan explained on the show (see below) that he was in a band back in St. Louis with his dad, but pops had to leave the band to go to rehab. Steven Tyler, no stranger to addiction, even said, "I want to meet your father when he gets out."

But Todd tells TMZ he's out of rehab for six months and couldn't be with his son at the audition because he was attending a funeral.

Jones says he'd love to take Tyler up on his offer to meet feels it would be "enlightening" to hear Tyler's experiences.

"American Idol" honcho Nigel Lythgoe has balls -- he's asking Prez Obama to come on the show to do the song that made him even more famous -- with Al Green.

So Nigel just tweeted the Prez, "We loved your vocal performance so much we'd love to invite you on to American Idol this Season for a duet with Al Green."

We'd watch. But is it a good move for the Prez?

"American Idol" wannabe Angie Zeiderman loves Lady Gaga (as she proclaimed during her audition) but she's not trying to be like her ... she's just being herself.

Zeiderman tells TMZ she's theatrical by nature, and took it as a great compliment when Jennifer Lopez said most contestants couldn't sing a show tune like she did. Angie says she performs every Thursday night at a gay bar in Delray Beach, FL (the only girl who does so) and performs as part of a burlesque troupe that performs all over Miami.

If the "Idol" thing doesn't pan out, she should have no problem getting a gig ... as a Lady Gaga impersonator.

"American Idol" cheerleader babe Brittany Kerr is more than a pretty face -- she's a pretty face with a black belt in taekwondo!

Brittany tells TMZ she started studying martial arts in Charlotte when she was 8 (above) -- and earned her black belt after 4 years of kicking girls' and boys' butts. Brit says, "I definitely made some boys cry while sparring ... I had a killer high kick!"

Kerr is now 24 and says she's laid off the taekwondo, but still does some kick boxing to stay in shape.

Instead of a golden ticket to Hollywood ... "American Idol" contestant Alanna Snare got a one-way ticket back to her life of fried bulls' balls -- and it looks like she's thrilled.

Alanna was rejected on last night's episode, but used her 'AI' platform to educate America about the delicacy known as Rocky Mountain Oysters ... aka bull testicles.

We got pics of Alanna back in action as a waitress at Bruce's in Severance, CO ... where the house specialty is testes from all sorts of animals.

Alanna tells us she was disappointed about her 'Idol' performance, but on a positive note ... she says her job is a "real ball of a time."

The midriff and booty baring girl who got booted from "American Idol" is pissed at Steven Tyler ... because she claims he approved of her skimpy outfit before her audition ... and even told her she "already won the damn thing!"

Jennifer Diley was dismissed Sunday night after attempting two songs -- "With You" by Jessica Simpson and "Hero" by Mariah Carey. Jennifer tells us she was thrown off because she hadn't rehearsed either song -- and was forced by producers to pick from a list of "flirty" songs.

Jennifer is mostly ticked at Steven though. She says he loved her barely-there tube top and booty shorts 10 minutes before she sang -- but then sat silently as she was ridiculed for it.

You weren't the only one who Googled that smoking hot NBA cheerleader from "American Idol" this week -- THOUSANDS of other people did too ... and TMZ has learned, the massive surge in traffic crashed her manager's website.

In case you missed Wednesday's episode, the smokeshow's name is Brittany Kerr -- a cheerleader for the Charlotte Bobcats. J.Lo wasn't that impressed with her audition, but Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson eagerly handed the girl a ticket to Hollywood.

But the fanfare didn't end there ... a rep for Kerr's management company -- which hosts multiple photos of her on its website -- tells TMZ, its site was forced to shut down for hours after a massive surge in traffic crippled its servers.

But Kerr's management company wasn't the only thing affected ... photographer Jim Merrill -- who recently snapped Kerr in a bikini shoot -- tells TMZ, he had to scramble to buy additional bandwidth for his website to accommodate all the voyeurs.

Merrill tells us, he typically gets about 5,000 hits a month on his website -- but just moments after Kerr's audition, his traffic ballooned to 20,000 hits.

"American Idol" reject Shaun Kraisman's pro singing career might be off the table -- but TMZ has learned, he already has a potentially lucrative back-up plan ... impersonating Ryan Seacrest for a living.

You probably recognize him -- he's the guy from Wednesday night's episode who's a dead ringer for the "Idol" host ... right down to the way he talks. It's scary.

Shaun didn't make it to Hollywood (his audition was ... less than stellar) ... but he's unfazed -- telling us, he got such a positive reaction from his Ryan Seacrest impression on Wednesday night's show, he has decided to pursue a career as a Seacrest impersonator.

Shaun tells us, he has already booked a gig with a local radio station to do his Ryan act -- and is currently reaching out to as many people as possible to get his new career off the ground ... friends, managers, agents.

"American Idol" wannabe Amy Brumfield ... the 24-year-old singer who lives in a tent ... has a LONG criminal record ... revealing a serious battle with alcohol.

According to police records obtained by TMZ, Brumfield has been arrested at least 6 times in the past 7 years ... with 3 arrests involving booze.

Brumfield -- who blew the "Idol" judges away with her rendition of Superwoman by Alicia Keys -- was arrested in Tennessee on August 22, 2010 after cops say she was so drunk, she peed on herself in the lobby of a Baskin Robbins.

Just 9 days before that -- on August 13 -- she was arrested in front of the Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen ... after cops say she was displayed "extreme intoxication" ... and was "trying to find someone to take her home."

Brumfield was arrested twice in 2007 -- once for unlawful detainer (staying at a property after her lease had ended). The other arrest was for underage consumption of alcohol -- for which she pled guilty and was sentenced to probation.

Brumfield was also arrested in 2005 for criminal trespass on private property -- the details around that incident are unclear.

But this story could have a happy ending, judging by her audition on "Idol" last night, Brumfield appears motivated to start a whole new life for herself.