American Idol

In the wise words of Ryan Seacrest, "This is American Idol!"

The spotlight is now on you, and you ain't no shoe-in! Do you have the star power to find the differences between these two photos? Take the stage and show 'em what you're made of!

Idols Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Ryan Seacrest were all smiles earlier this week at the "American Idol" Season 22 Top 10 Event held in Los Angeles. Before voting closes down, can you pick up the changes?

And the winner is ...

Ryan Seacrest y Aubrey Paige han terminado su relación luego de tres años juntos, esto de acuerdo a un nuevo informe.

People informa que Ryan y Aubrey han decidido separarse, aunque no se citó ninguna razón específica. Una fuente dice que planean permanecer en la vida del otro como buenos amigos.

Los fans comenzaron a especular que la relación de Ryan y Aubrey había terminado después de que ella publicara un críptico post en Instagram. El martes subió un video que la mostraba bailando en un apartamento... sin Ryan a la vista.

Ryan Seacrest and Aubrey Paige have called it quits after 3 years together ... this according to a new report.

People reports that Ryan and Aubrey have mutually decided to part ways -- although no specific reason was cited. A source tells them RS and AP plan on staying in each other's lives as good friends ... and will continue to support one another's endeavors.

Fans first began speculating that Ryan and Aubrey's relationship was over after she dropped a cryptic post on Instagram. She uploaded a video of herself on Tuesday, which showed her dancing around an apartment ... with no Ryan in sight.

"American Idol" alum and Grammy-winning singer Mandisa has died ... TMZ has learned.

Her father confirms her death to TMZ ... telling us her death was unexpected and a total shock to the family. We're told there were no known health issues prior to her passing, and her cause of death is not currently known.

Mandisa -- who competed on season 5 of 'Idol,' finishing in 9th place -- was found dead in her home in Nashville on Thursday.

Mandisa, la cantante, ex participante de "American Idol" y ganadora del Grammy ha muerto ... según ha averiguado TMZ.

Su padre confirma su muerte a TMZ, quien nos dice que esta fue inesperada y un shock total para la familia. Nos dicen que no había problemas de salud conocidos antes de su muerte y la causa del deceso no se conoce actualmente.

Mandisa, quien compitió en la temporada 5 de "Idol" y terminó en el 9º lugar, fue encontrada muerta en su casa de Nashville el jueves.

Katy Perry dice que Jelly Roll sería un buen reemplazo en "American Idol" cuando ella se retire, mientras sigue latente la pregunta de quién va a ocupar sus zapatos.

La cantante le dijo a E! News que está a favor de que la estrella del rap/country tome su lugar en la próxima temporada, sobre todo desde que causó una gran impresión en ella cuando apareció como invitado en el programa de ABC a principios de este mes.

Ella dice: "Tengo que decir que Jelly Roll estaba loco cuando vino al show", añadiendo que la convenció completamente con todo su conocimiento de la industria.

Katy Perry says Jelly Roll would make a good 'American Idol' replacement before she dips -- this as the question of who's gonna fill her shoes continues to linger.

The singer told E! News she's all in for the rapper/country star to take her spot next season -- especially since he made a lasting impression on her during his guest appearance on the ABC show earlier this month.

She says "I gotta say, Jelly Roll was crazy when he came on the show" ... adding he had her totally convinced with all his industry knowledge.

"American Idol" contestant and former NFL pro Blake Proehl's biggest fan has been revealed -- it's his two-time Super Bowl champ dad, Ricky ... 'cause he tells TMZ Sports his son's singing career has left him speechless!!

Blake -- a star receiver for East Carolina before joining the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 -- has kickstarted quite the second career after transitioning from football ... he's currently crushing it on the popular competition show.

Now that Blake is in the top 24 on "Idol," we talked to Ricky about watching his talented son on the stage instead of the field ... and he's unbelievably proud, especially considering he had no idea where it came from!!

"It's just amazing because none of us can sing!" Ricky told us this week. "I can't sing, my wife can't sign, my parents, her parents -- it's a gift!"

Ricky -- who played for six teams in the NFL from 1990-2006 -- recalled the first time he heard Blake belt out a tune ... and it was so powerful, he got a frog in his throat.

"For me, it was an emotional moment because I couldn't believe it. Then we heard him in person and we started hearing it more and more and how talented he was and how good he sounded just blew me away in that short period of time."

Ricky said it's super easy to support Blake's new career path ... 'cause he can tell just how much he loves music, just like he was with football.

"I think it took a lot for him to walk away from a game that he loves. A game that his dad played, his brother played and to have the courage to say, 'Hey, Dad, I'm going to pursue music.' I thought that said a lot about who he is as a person and I respect the guy. I love him for that."

On this episode of The TMZ podcast ...

Andy Cohen is firing back at Leah McSweeney after she claimed in a lawsuit that he encouraged cocaine use and created a toxic work environment on the "Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip" set.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the movie "Rust," was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the death of Halyna Hutchins.

Paula Abdul fired back at "American Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, bringing up receipts of text messages showing sexual harassment. This comes after Lythgoe's legal response included emails from Paula in which Nigel says gave off a friendly and loving vibe between the two.

Plus ... Jake Paul is set to fight boxing legend Mike Tyson in a match that will air on Netflix in July! Paul, 27, says the boxing match with Tyson, 57, will be the "biggest fight in history."

It's an all-out war between Paula Abdul and former "American Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe ... and now she's producing alleged texts from him, which she says show some of the ways he sexually harassed her.

Paula's attorney, Melissa Eubanks, tells TMZ ... Nigel is victim-shaming Paula and is cherry-picking from years of communications between them as he tries to discredit the allegations she brought against him in her sexual assault lawsuit in December.

As we first told you, Nigel's legal response to Paula's suit included alleged emails she sent him ... with Nigel claiming the emails gave off a friendly and loving vibe between them ... after the time Paula alleged he sexually assaulted her

Now, Paula's firing back ... as her attorney says Nigel's response fails to appreciate the power dynamic in their relationship, where Lythgoe was a powerful exec/her boss and Paula worked under him as a judge on the reality competition shows he executive produced.

Abdul's attorney says ... "He held the cards to her career in his hand and he knew it." The lawyer also goes on to call Nigel's tactic classic victim shaming.

What's more, Paula's legal team says those emails Nigel referenced in his docs were just Paula placating his ego with "positive messaging and seeming adoration ... defenses that many women like Ms. Abdul had to adopt to deal with men who abuse their power."

Paula claims to have some receipts from Nigel too ... saying she has text messages from him showing numerous instances of overt sexual harassment.

Abdul's camp claims Nigel texted her on March 8, 2014, writing ... "When you get back to LA will you please make love to me! Slowly and lovingly!" Paula says she didn't respond and Nigel double texted, "I'll take that as a YES then!"

Another alleged text, from April, 10, 2014, is a response to a message Paula sent Nigel about "So You Think You Can Dance" auditions in Las Vegas ... to which Nigel allegedly responded, "I'll come if you promise a big wet kiss! With tongues! Is a small grope of the ass asking too much?"

A few months later, in July 2014, Paula claims Nigel acknowledged he was being inappropriate when he allegedly texted her ... "You love me like a relation I love you like a girlfriend. I could easily be your f****** cousin? Ha Ha."

Remember ... Paula claims Nigel sexually assaulted her twice -- the first time during "one of Idol's initial sessions" in the early 2000s, and again at some point during her 2 seasons on 'SYTYCD' ... a gig she started in 2015.

Paula's attorney also claims Nigel verbally assaulted Adbul on multiple occasions as well ... which she says "are evidence of the frequent abusive behavior that Ms. Abdul was subjected to during her time on American Idol and SYTYCD."

Nigel Lythgoe está mostrando una serie de correos electrónicos y mensajes de Paula Abdul que según él demuestran que tenían una relación muy amistosa y cariñosa durante años posteriores a una supuesta agresión sexual.

En los documentos legales presentados el martes, queda claro que Nigel está tomando una postura combativa contra su ex amiga y compañera de trabajo en "American Idol" y "So You Think You Can Dance", llamándola una "fabulista bien documentada, con una larga historia de contar historias salvajes que están desvinculadas de la realidad y están diseñadas principalmente para atraer la atención y hacer que Abdul parezca ser la víctima de una terrible desgracia".

La mordaz respuesta incluye varios correos electrónicos privados que Lythgoe dice que Abdul le envió, llenos de lenguaje florido, amable y "adulador". Por ejemplo, un correo electrónico del 12 de septiembre de 2014 dice: "Hola cariño... gracias por este precioso 'regalo'. Por favor, perdóname por no haberte llamado ayer. ¡Siempre agradecida de tenerte en mi vida! Te quiero, te quiero, ¡TE QUIERO! XO P."

Otro correo del 20 de junio de 2014, dice: "Gracias por las hermosas flores, ¡estaban exquisitas! Pero, tengo que decir que lo mejor fue la tarjeta de cumpleaños de anoche. ¡Todavía estoy aullando! Aprecio de verdad nuestra amistad y estoy deseando lanzar nuestro proyecto".

La presentación de Lythgoe también incluye páginas de los tuits públicos de Paula en su cuenta @dizzyfeet, a partir de 2009 y continuando hasta 2015, cuando ambos estaban trabajando en "SYTYCD". Muchos de ellos incluyen fotos de ellos juntos y mensajes como: "Usted sabe que la tripulación te ama, también!!!! :)) xoxoP", y en un tuit de Acción de Gracias, ella escribió: "¡Yo también estoy agradecida de haberte conocido, Nigel! ¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias! xoxoP".

TMZ publicó la historia, Abdul presentó una demanda contra Nigel y FremantleMedia North America (productores de "Idol" y "SYTYCD") en diciembre, alegando que la había agredido sexualmente dos veces: la primera vez en "una de las temporadas iniciales de Idol" (que sería a principios de la década de 2000), y la segunda, en algún momento no especificado durante sus dos temporadas como juez de "SYTYCD". Ella comenzó a trabajar ahí en 2015.

Según los nuevos documentos, las páginas de correos electrónicos, mensajes y tuits "muestran cómo Abdul realmente se sentía acerca de Lythgoe durante y después del momento en el que supuestamente ocurrió el abuso".

Lythgoe más intentos de impugnar el carácter de Abdul, alegando que abogó por ella para ser contratado en "Idol" y "SYTYCD", "a pesar de la oposición de otros ejecutivos debido al ya conocido comportamiento errático de Abdul".

También afirma que sus problemas de abuso de sustancias eran un tema frecuente para los ejecutivos de "Idol", afirmando: "En su peor momento, Abdul arrastraba las palabras, era ininteligible, babeaba y se desmayaba en las salas de audición, teniendo que ser sacada en dos ocasiones distintas".

Lythgoe toma otro golpe importante en Paula, diciendo que su "credibilidad se ha puesto en duda en un tema serio" a saber, el accidente de avión que dice que sobrevivió en 1992.

En los documentos, Lythgoe dice: "No hay constancia alguna del supuesto accidente aéreo". En una entrevista, Abdul explicó que pudo mantener la historia en secreto con acuerdos de confidencialidad y porque "no había Internet en aquella época". En otra entrevista, explicó que en el momento del accidente 'no había ordenadores'".

Como informamos, Nigel desestimó sus acusaciones contra él como "falsa y profundamente ofensivo" el día después de que ella presentó su demanda ... y él es, de nuevo, negando rotundamente las acusaciones en los documentos.

Él está pidiendo al tribunal que desestime la demanda de Paula, y él quiere que ella cubra sus honorarios de abogado.

3/6 -- 2:45 PM PT -- Paula Abdul responded to Nigel Lythgoe's latest barb, with her attorney telling Deadline ... "Mr. Lythgoe's answer to Ms. Abdul's complaint is classic victim shaming. These are the defenses that many women like Ms. Abdul had to adopt to deal with men who abuse their power."

Nigel Lythgoe is producing a slew of emails and posts from Paula Abdul which he says show they had a very friendly and loving relationship for years after she alleges he sexually assaulted her.

In the legal docs filed Tuesday, it's immediately clear Nigel's taking the gloves off with his former friend and coworker at "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" ... calling her a "well-documented fabulist, with a long history of telling wild stories that are untethered from reality and are primarily designed to attract attention and make Abdul appear to be the victim of dreadful misfortune."

The scathing response includes several private emails Lythgoe says Abdul sent him, filled with flowery, kind and "adoring" language. For instance, a Sept. 12, 2014 email reads in part, "Hi sweetheart -- thank you for this lovely 'gift.' Please forgive me for not calling yesterday. Forever grateful to have you in my life! Love, love LOVE YOU! XO P."

Another, dated June 20, 2014, says, "Thank you for the beautiful flowers -- they were exquisite! But, I have to say the kicker was the birthday card last night. I am still howling! I truly appreciate our friendship and am looking forward to launching our project."

Lythgoe's filing also includes pages of Paula's public tweets at his @dizzyfeet handle, starting in 2009 and continuing through 2015 when they were both working on 'SYTYCD.' Many of them include photos of them together and captions like, "You know the crew loves you, too!! :)) xoxoP" -- and, in a Thanksgiving tweet, she wrote, "I'm grateful that I met you too, Nigel! Have a very Happy Thanksgiving! xoxoP."

TMZ broke the story ... Abdul filed a lawsuit against Nigel and FremantleMedia North America (producers of 'Idol' and 'SYTYCD') in December, alleging he'd sexually assaulted her twice -- the first time in "one of Idol's initial seasons" ... which would be the early 2000s, and the second at some unspecified point during her 2 seasons as a 'SYTYCD' judge. She started that gig in 2015.

According to the new docs, the pages of emails, messages and tweets "show how Abdul really felt about Lythgoe during and after the time she now alleges abuse occurred."

Lythgoe further attempts to impugn Abdul's character, claiming he championed her to be hired on 'Idol' and 'SYTYCD' ... "despite the opposition from other executives due to Abdul's already well-known erratic behavior."

He also claims her substance abuse issues were a frequent topic for 'Idol' execs, claiming ... "At her worst, Abdul was slurring her speech, unintelligible, drooling and passing out in audition rooms, having to be carried out on two separate occasions."

And, Lythgoe takes one other major swipe at Paula, saying her "credibility has been called into question on a serious issue" ... namely, the plane crash she says she survived in 1992.

In the docs, Lythgoe says, "There are no records whatsoever of the supposed plane crash. In one interview Abdul explained that she was able to keep the story under wraps with NDAs and because 'there was no internet at the time.' In another interview, she explained that at the time of the crash, there were 'no computers.'"

As we reported, Nigel dismissed her allegations against him as "false and deeply offensive" the day after she filed her lawsuit ... and he's, again, flatly denying the allegations in the docs.

He's asking the court to dismiss Paula's lawsuit, and he wants her to cover his attorney fees.

We've reached out to Paula's reps ... so far, no word back yet.

El ex receptor de los Minnesota Vikings Blake Proehl va a por todas en su carrera musical y se está tomando tan en serio su nueva empresa, que le dice a TMZ Sports que preferiría recibir un Grammy antes que ganar un Super Bowl.

El joven de 25 años impresionó a los jueces de "American Idol" durante su audición en la 22ª temporada del programa, tanto así que incluso hizo llorar a Katy Perry mientras ganaba un boleto de oro a Hollywood.

Nos pusimos al día con Proehl poco después de su emocionante actuación y nos dijo que todavía era difícil hacerse la idea de que realmente sucedió, pero espera que su viaje inspire a otros a seguir sus sueños, incluso si carecen de experiencia o confianza para dar un salto.

Por supuesto, Proehl pasó unos años en la NFL, pero volvió a enamorarse de la música cuando fue marginado después de una lesión en 2021.

El tiempo alejado del campo lo llevó a tomar la decisión de dejar el fútbol americano en el pasado, a pesar de que tenía oportunidades para continuar su carrera, y ahora está a todo vapor en el mundo del entretenimiento.

Proehl explicó que entiende el riesgo que implica cambiar de profesión, sobre todo si uno tiene en cuenta lo raro que es triunfar en la música, pero lo único que importa es que está haciendo lo que le gusta.

Former Minnesota Vikings receiver Blake Proehl is going all-in on his music career ... and he's so serious about the new endeavor, he tells TMZ Sports he'd take a Grammy over a Super Bowl win!!

The 25-year-old blew the "American Idol" judges away during his audition on the 22nd season of the singing show ... even bringing Katy Perry to tears as he earned a golden ticket to Hollywood.

We caught up with Proehl fresh off the emotional performance ... and he said it's still hard to wrap his head around the fact it actually happened, but he hopes his journey inspires others to follow their dreams -- even if they lack experience or confidence in taking a leap of faith.

Of course, Proehl spent a few years in the NFL ... but he fell back in love with music when he was sidelined following an injury in 2021.

The time away from the field led to his decision to leave football in the past -- despite having opportunities to continue his career -- and now, it's full steam ahead in entertainment.

Proehl explained he understands the risk of switching professions -- especially considering it's rare to make it big in music -- but all that mattered was that he was doing what he loved.

Turns out, former NFL player Blake Proehl is good on the gridiron AND on the keys ... 'cause he performed so well on the piano during his recent "American Idol" audition -- he brought Katy Perry to tears!!

The ex-Minnesota Vikings wideout -- who's the son of longtime Panthers receiver Ricky Proehl -- sang his heart out in front of Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on the famed talent show ... and when his segment aired on TV on Sunday, it wasn't hard to see the dude's got a bright future in music.

Playing Brett Young's "In Case You Didn't Know" with his grandma by his side ... Blake, who played for the Vikes from 2021 to 2023, belted out every verse perfectly -- wowing Perry the entire time.

She not only got goosebumps, she also at one point appeared to wipe away a tear. After he finished, she even asked for his autograph.

The other judges, Bryan and Richie, were just as impressed ... and the trio gave him a unanimous golden ticket to the show's next round.

It was all quite emotional for Blake ... as he explained that a knee injury he suffered during his NFL days had him wondering if he'd ever run again -- let alone become a music star.

Some of Blake's famous pals congratulated him on social media following the show ... including Kirk Cousins, who wrote, "Cousins fam will be pulling hard for him this spring."

On this episode of The TMZ podcast ...

We caught up with Kanye West at LAX fresh on the heels of 'Vultures' hitting #1 on the charts, and he told us that he can't be canceled, and stands by his antisemitic statements.

Katy Perry revealed on "Jimmy Kimmel: Live!" that the upcoming season of "American Idol" will be her last, while subtly teasing new music.

Tom Cruise reportedly has a new girlfriend, and the two are "growing closer" according to insiders.

Plus, Beyoncé released two new country genre singles from her upcoming "Renaissance: Act II," despite receiving backlash at the 2016 CMAs.

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