Katharine McPhee's estranged husband gave her a hand Tuesday ... a very gentle hand.

It's a stark contrast to her split with Nick Cokas, which allegedly came after Katharine was photographed sucking face with her "Smash" director Michael Morris. Katharine claimed in the documents she was already separated from Nick, but he says they were still together.

But things change ... or do they? A source close to Katharine insists Katharine and Nick had a friendly business breakfast in West Hollywood. He's still involved in her music stuff.

Ryan Seacrest clearly has a type -- hot and blonde -- but his new girl is different in one big way ... she has a bambino.

The "American Idol" host was spotted out this weekend in NYC with a new blonde -- Renée Hall.

Hall (who is ... shocker!!! ... a model) met Seacrest, fresh off his breakup with model Shayna Taylor, at his 40th birthday party in Napa a few weeks ago.

We're told they met through the Marciano brothers (GUESS founders) and quickly hit it off.

Seacrest took Hall to NYC over the weekend, where they went to the Museum of Modern Art.

As for Hall's 8-year-old son, she's proud and loud, posting pics all over her Instagram page.

Ryan would be a cool stepdad, right?

It's a good thing "American Idol" Season 2 finalist Josh Gracin is a country singer -- he just got a ton of inspiration by losing half his music rights in his divorce ... which was just finalized.

According to divorce docs ... the exes divvied up their assets, and Ann Gracin is walking with a 50% stake in 24 songs Josh recorded during their 17-year marriage.

Josh will also shell out $1590/month in alimony, and $1436/month for child support. They have four kids -- and will share custody, but there's a complication. Each has a restraining order against the other, requiring them to stay at least 25 feet away.

Interestingly, Ann was ordered to return Josh's Glock. As we reported ... Josh was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold after posting an apparent suicide threat on Facebook last August. Ann filed divorce papers the next month.

Josh's next album should be interesting.

Phillip Phillips says "American Idol" producers are ruining his career ... and he wants out of his contract with them before he goes in the dumper.

Phillips claims 19 Entertainment has held him down since he won the competition in 2012. Phillips claims 19 controls every aspect of his career and has made decisions that only benefit them and actually hurt him.

Phillips mentions one concert -- where he was forced to perform a free show for a JetBlue ad, and 19 flat out told him he had to do it because it benefited the "American Idol" live concert tour.

He also says they have kept him in the dark to the point he wasn't even consulted about the title to one of his albums and only found out when he heard about it in the media.

Phillips goes on and on, claiming it's typical "in the life of a rising star" for the record company to give him a better deal, yet 19 never asked Interscope to cut him a break. As you know, Jimmy Iovine who ran Interscope until recently was also a mentor on "Idol."

Phillip says the 19 contract is so one-sided it's illegal, and he's asking for the Labor Commission to let him out.

The story broke in the Hollywood Reporter.

The rep for 19 Entertainment tells TMZ, "We have always acted in the best interest of Phillip. We will vigorously defend ourselves from any baseless claims to the contrary and from any attempt to interfere with our rights and relationships." Translation ... they're gonna fight him.

Jennifer Lopez just massacred Marc Anthony, Ben Affleck, Diddy and worst of all ... Casper Smart!

JLo had a little truth slip on "American Idol" Wednesday night ... letting fellow judges Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban in on a secret -- she's awesome, but the problem lies with the men she chooses.

We forgot poor Chris Judd. She thinks he sucks too.

Jog your memory with the 9 "AI" champs whose careers hit a bum note.

"American Idol" is NOT racist against Black contestants -- the lawsuit filed by 10 former Idol wannabes who claimed they were cut over race ... has been dismissed, but mostly on a technicality.

TMZ broke the story ... the contestants claimed "Idol" producers dug up criminal charges from their pasts -- including crimes for which they were never convicted -- and this was done strictly because they're Black.

According to new court docs, however ... all but 1 of them waited too long to file their cases, and since the statute of limitations ran out ... they had no leg to stand on. A judge tossed the cases.

The one who DID file in time -- Chris Golightly ... had his case dismissed when "Idol" proved to the court the reason he was booted was because he'd violated a show rule by being in a band.

"American Idol" singer Michael Johns died from an enlarged heart, but a "fatty liver" contributed to his death ... this according to the Coroner's report.

The 35-year-old singer died suddenly Aug. 1 after his leg became swollen and bruised ... reportedly from a sprained ankle. Family sources claimed the injury had triggered a blood clot, but his best friend claimed the singer drank himself to death.

The Orange County Coroner's report concludes Johns died of natural causes -- the result of a disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that inhibits the flow of blood to the body. The disease caused his heart to enlarge.

As for the "fatty liver" ... it can be caused by excessive alcohol intake, but there are other causes as well. Law enforcement told us ... Johns often drank to excess and did so hours before he died.

"American Idol" Season 8 finalist Scott MacIntyre says he's got 6 months until his kidney gives out ... and if he doesn't get a new one before then -- his music career is in serious jeopardy.

MacIntyre and his wife were out Saturday night in Hollywood when he told us he's currently waiting for a donor ... but he's hopeful about getting one before his kidney completely fails.

For those interested, Scott told our photog where he's listed ... and said people have already promised him they'd get tested to see if they're a match.

Good luck Scott, we're rooting for you.

Former "American Idol" contestant Joanne Borgella died Saturday at the age of 32 ... after fighting for the past year against what she described as a "rare case" of cancer.

Borgella's family broke the news on her Facebook page Saturday ... saying the singer passed away around 5:45 A.M. -- adding, "Her faith, courage and strength were unshaken throughout every obstacle she encountered."

Joanne was the first winner of "Mo'Nique's Fat Chance" using the name "Miss F.A.T." in 2005. In 2008, she was on Season 7 of "A.I." and made it into the top 12 girls category.

Last year, Joanne said her cancer was rare because it had spread to her chest -- the family's post on Facebook described it as endometrial cancer ... a form of cancer that attacks the lining of the womb.

Borgella last updated her social media pages about her battle in September ... and said she was going back to radiation for 2 more procedures.

Katharine McPhee's about to score a huge paycheck ... but she probably shouldn't blow it on a new Maserati ... because her soon-to-be-ex Nick Cokas gets half.

Columbia/Epic Records still owes Kat $700K according to court docs ... and she concedes it's community property -- meaning Nick gets half.

As we've reported ... the divorce is bitter ... Nick's accusing Katharine of banging "Smash" director Michael Morris and then lying about it. It really doesn't legally matter, but he's pissed.

Randy Jackson has 2 things that would be problematic for a lot of guys ... a $40 MILLION fortune, and no prenup.

TMZ broke the story ... Randy's wife filed for divorce Friday, after 18 years of marriage. Sources connected with the couple tell us ... they had no prenup, which means all of Randy's earnings during the marriage are split 50/50.

Short story ... all of Randy's "American Idol" money is on the table. We're told toward the end of Randy's 12-year run as a judge he averaged around $5 mil a year.

We're also told his estimated worth is approximately $40 million. Although some of that is money he brought into the relationship -- meaning it's his separate property -- we're told it's been so commingled over the years it's impossible to unscramble ... so Erika will get half ... subject to any wheeling and dealing between the lawyers.

Ex-"American Idol" judge Randy Jackson just got voted out ... of his marriage. His wife filed for divorce ... TMZ has learned.

Erika Jackson filed docs to end their 18-year marriage ... citing irreconcilable differences.

She wants full physical custody and joint legal custody of the 1 minor son, 17-year-old Jordan. They have a daughter who is an adult.

Erika also wants spousal support and she wants him to foot her attorney's fees.

This is Jackson's 2nd marriage. He has 1 other daughter from his prior marriage.

Jackson spent 12 seasons judging "American Idol" ... but announced he was leaving in 2013. He later returned as a musical mentor for the contestants.

The wife of "American Idol" contestant Michael Johns created a lie to cover-up the real cause of death ... alcohol abuse ... this according to his best friend.

Stacey Vuduris filed legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- claiming Torrey Gambill has been on a hate campaign, blaming her for Michael's death in August and sending her abusing texts.

But Torrey has fired off legal docs of his own, claiming Stacey concocted a lie after he found Michael dead in his Orange County apartment.

After Michael died, we reported Stacey's story -- that Michael had an ankle injury that led to a fatal blood clot. But law enforcement told us at the time Michael had engaged in heavy alcohol use prior to death.

Torrey quotes from a text Stacey sent him shortly after Michael died, saying, "I'd rather it be said he died at home if that's ok with u .. he would want that."

Stacey continued, "I rather that then 'alcoholic' stuff ... his good friends would never say anything ... so I don't think that will come out. At least blood clot sounds sudden."

Torrey also says Michael and Stacey were separated, and that Michael "insinuated" she had a boyfriend. He says Stacey put Michael through hell his last year.

According to legal docs ... Stacey and Torrey settled their beef without a judge's order.

It's so eerie ... Jennifer Hudson's half-brother is in jail ... for allegedly repeatedly stabbing a man in the face ... a man who was involved in a relationship with his estranged wife.

The incident mirrors another tragedy in the Hudson family. William Balfour -- the ex-boyfriend of Jennifer's sister Julia -- murdered her mom, brother and nephew in a jealous rage triggered by what he thought was a gift to Julia from her new boyfriend.

Josh Gracin -- the American Idol Season 2 finalist who left what appeared to be a suicide note that got cops and family scrambling Thursday -- has checked himself into an inpatient facility and is remorseful over the commotion he caused.

TMZ broke the story ... Josh posted a message on Facebook with a clear message -- he was about to take his life. The post read in part: "I loved her for 17 years ... I made mistakes ... I admitted them, told her the truth and she turned her back on me when I needed her help the most."

The post went on: "Pray for my family as they carry on in this world without me. Goodbye."

Cops picked Josh up Thursday night and took him to the hospital. He just released this statement: