Paula Abdul Left 'Empty' By 2nd Song

On a night when "American Idol" switched up the judges' format by making them hold their appraisals until every contestant had a turn, Abdul offered feedback for two songs sung by Jason Castro - except that he'd only sung one.

Unlike the usual format, in which each "Idol" performance is judged immediately, Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell were made to take notes, then offer individual critiques in rapid succession at the end of each round. The reason, Seacrest offered, was because "this show is so tight."

So after each of the final five contestants sang one Neil Diamond song, Jackson zipped through his appraisals, offering a few terse words for each before kicking it to a visibly flustered Abdul.

"Oh gosh, we've never had to write these things down _ I'm not fast enough," she began, shuffling through her notecards. "Jason, first song, I loved hearing your lower register, which we never really hear, um ... ."

And that's where it started going off the rails.

"The second song, I felt like your usual charm wasn't _ it was missing for me. It kind of left me a little empty."

Indeed.

All six people on stage, including Seacrest, stared blankly (except Syesha Mercado, who wore the furrowed brow of mystification).

"The two songs," she continued, "made me feel like you're not fighting hard enough to get into the top four."

After a smattering of nervous crowd laughter, Jackson finally broke the tension.

"That was just on the first song," he said sheepishly, pointing up to Castro. "Just on the first one."

Simon Cowell closed his eyes and shook his head, and began to guffaw as Abdul's confusion mounted.

"Oh my god, I thought you _ I thought you sang twice!" she said.

She then tried to explain that she got confused by looking ahead at the notes for David Cook.

At that point Seacrest, who makes his money by smoothing over situations just such as these, pointed to Abdul, saying: "You're seeing the future, baby!" before cutting her off and throwing it to Cowell.

Even Cowell gathered himself to help patch up the moment, patting Abdul on the shoulder and asking, in an effort to speed things along, "Paula, who was your favorite?"

Her reply: Cook (the same contestant whose performance she supposedly noted as having left her "empty").

Pressed for time, Cowell then put an end to the awkward-fest by bursting into his own rapid-fire valuation: "Jason, forgettable; David Cook, just above average; Brooke (White) a nightmare; David Archuleta, I thought it was amateurish; and Syesha, I thought it was old-fashioned.

"So guys ... I want to see the performance of a lifetime coming up," he said, as if to ensure absolute clarity, "the second time around."

American Idol - No Superstar Treatment for Carly

Although she positively rocked the title track from Jesus Christ Superstar on an evening dedicated to the work of musical-theater titan Andrew Lloyd Webber, Carly Smithson was eliminated from American Idol Wednesday, leaving five aspiring popsters in the mix to become the next big thing.

"I'm very proud of myself—I'm not upset that I'm going home," said the Irish-born songstress, who earlier in the competition was told more than once that she needed to lighten up.

To which Simon Cowell, always the antidiplomat, replied "Well, you should be."

Despite being one of Smithson's more vocal critics, Cowell was ultimately a strong supporter of the 24-year-old singer, who was on her second Idol journey after a visa complication prematurely ended her first run in season five.

But sometimes all that turning in one of the best performances of the night gets you is a ticket to nowhere, as Syesha Mercado knows all too well. It was almost "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many" for the sprightly 21-year-old, who joined Smithson in one of the least-deserving bottom-twos in recent memory, even though 24 hours before she had hit the jaunty tune from Webber's Starlight Express out of the park.

Maybe the low quality of Jason Castro's performance caused a temporary stupor that prevented people from picking up the phone.

But while everyone was trying to forget Castro's rough, albeit doe-eyed, manhandling of "Memory" from Cats, one of the most famous stage ballads of all time, no one could stop buzzing about Brooke White.

Webber had been especially psyched for White's performance, expounding on how connected she was to the music and how lovely her voice sounded.

"In the dress rehearsals, she was flawless," the composer told Idol host Ryan Seacrest.

And upon further review, White's take on "You Must Love Me" from Evita did evoke the big-screen Madonna version, but her composure never recovered from her start-stop opening hitch—a misstep similar to the one that plagued her on '80s night when she performed the Police's "Every Breath You Take."

But both Cowell and Randy Jackson said they probably would have done the same thing and maybe the voters agreed.

So even though her faux pas turned "You Must Love Me" into a literal plea for acceptance, the sweet-natured nanny from Arizona gets the chance to start again. Literally.

Also golden were David Cook and David Archuleta, polar opposites in style yet currently Siamese twins as far as the fans' love is concerned.

American Idol - The Brooke White Reboot

The American Idol judges couldn't agree if Brooke White did the right—or wrong—thing last night by rebooting her performance of "You Must Love Me."

And there's not quite a consensus among outside singing experts, either.

"Unless it's a total trainwreck, I think you try to make it through," James Lugo, a record producer and vocal coach, said today. "Personally, I think starting and stopping is kind of hack."

To Gina Eckstine, a singer and vocal teacher, going forward is the only way to go. Most of the time.

"If there's no more, and you can't move ahead, sometimes you just have to admit it," said Eckstine.
White opted for the latter route on Tuesday. Some 13 seconds into her performance, she turned to the house band and said, "I'm sorry." Taking the hint, the band restarted the song. White made it through the number, introduced by Madonna in the movie version of Evita, without further incident.

After the song ended, Paula Abdul, the nice Idol judge, looked pained as she considered her words. Firmly but gently, she offered White the following edict: "You must never start and stop."

In a twist, Simon Cowell, the non-nice Idol judge, gave White a pass on the do-over, apparently because it entertained him. "This is why I love live TV," he said. "It was so dramatic—the beginning, you know."

Under questioning from host Ryan Seacrest, White said she restarted because "I lost the lyric."

Cowell claimed he would have done the same thing, and called White's decision "brave." Abdul persisted, telling White she should have vamped until she found the words. Cowell and Randy Jackson, the wild-card Idol judge, disagreed.

On the matter of to vamp or not to vamp, Abdul offered the best advice, the singing experts said.

"I'm not always in agreement with Paula Abdul," Lugo said. "But I am this time."

Eckstine was also on board with the "Straight Up" star. "Most of the time the audience doesn't [realize you've] made a mistake," she said.

The daughter of the late singing great Billy Eckstine, Gina Eckstine said her father taught her how to cover a muffed lyric: "If you forget the second verse, sing the first verse again."

In general, Lis Lewis, a Los Angeles-based vocal coach, concurred. But she reminded that American Idol is unique in that the judges, Abdul included, have tended to point out when a singer misses a lyric.

"Who cares? Except them [the Idol judges]," Lewis said. "The audience wouldn't care. The audience wouldn't really notice."

Lugo sounded a big amen. "Dude, you're singing cover songs," he said. "Who gives a s--t if you forget the lyrics? I think it's irrelevant."

Interestingly, on Tuesday's Idol, botched lyrics, outside of White's botched performance, were, for once, rendered irrelevant.

Both David Archuleta and Carly Smithson missed lines. Archuleta even mumbled through a rough patch. But neither was called out on the breaches. (Archuleta did, however, get a talking-to from Abdul during the first Beatles week when he sang gobbledygook for a few measures of "We Can Work It Out," and, to compound the sin, let the mistake show on his face.)

Lewis said she wouldn't even consider White's faux pas all that bad—"if she hadn't done it before."

Four weeks ago, White started, stopped and restarted "Every Breath You Take." The relaunch stood out less than Tuesday's because it came after White, providing her own accompaniment, had played but a few notes on the piano. Indeed, even White seemed to forget about the gaffe, saying that last night was the first time she'd missed a lyric. And, technically, she was correct. Her problem with "Every Breath You Take" was the key, not a lyric.

Whatever the case, both do-overs stood out to Lewis. "It seems to be a crutch she's relying on," she said.

Eckstine, who didn't watch Idol last night (not to worry—she TiVo'd), said she wasn't surprised to hear that it was White who suffered the meltdown. "She's been very unsteady and unsure," she said.

But will White's latest trouble be her last trouble? Will it seal her fate as Wednesday night's unchosen one?

"Unfortunately, if you're on a show like American Idol," Eckstine said, "you are being judged."

Vocal Problems Of Jordin Sparks

Vocal problems have forced Jordin Sparks to temporarily withdraw from Alicia Keys' tour and cancel all performances for the rest of the month, a representative for the "American Idol" champ said Monday.

"All of her April activities have been postponed or canceled so she can take care of her voice properly," a 19/Jive Records spokeswoman told The Associated Press.

The 18-year-old singer, whose hits include "Tattoo" and "No Air," was scheduled to be the opening act on Keys' tour, which kicked off over the weekend in Hampton, Va. In addition to missing the tour's first month, Sparks was forced to cancel a planned performance at the Earth Day Network & Green Apple Festival concert in Washington, D.C.

But Sparks, who is under a doctor's care, is expected to rejoin Keys' tour in May or perhaps sooner if she progresses, the label said.

"Jordin Sparks is on vocal rest and is expected to make a full and complete recovery," according to a statement from 19/Jive Records. "Sparks has been going nonstop over the past two years and now she's going through the normal course of learning how to manage and care for her voice."

Sparks was the youngest winner of "American Idol" when she won the talent competition last year. She released her self-titled debut album late last year.

New Music Video Web Site

A company backed by investors including Will Smith and major record labels has launched a new Web site offering 10,000 free, high-definition music videos.

Universal Music Group announced Wednesday that it has joined EMI and Sony BMG in backing Santa Monica-based PluggedIn.

The Web site features music videos from artists such as Gwen Stefani, Green Day, Coldplay and Norah Jones and is powered by a new media player that supports full-screen high-definition video.

PluggedIn also announced a partnership with Smith's production and management company Overbrook Entertainment.

Six Idols Left

The praise of Mariah Carey couldn't rescue Kristy Lee Cook from elimination on "American Idol." The 24-year-old resident country singer from Selma, Ore., was the latest casualty as the Fox sing-off narrowed the competition to six finalists.

Though guest mentor Carey said Cook's rendition of "Forever" gave her chills, Simon Cowell was not so impressed.

Brooke White and Syesha Mercado joined Cook with the lowest number of votes on Wednesday's results show. When asked to predict the loser, Cowell said: "Maybe Kristy -- you know, your time's up this time, sweetheart."

Cook cried but took the eviction in stride. She directed her reprisal of "Forever" to Cowell, who grinned awkwardly.

The telecast also featured performances by "Idol" also-ran Elliott Yamin and Carey, who sang "Bye Bye" from her new album "EMC2."

Ashlee Simpson's Engagement

Ashlee Simpson and Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz get engagement congrats from family, fans, bandmates, and an ex!

Two days after Ashlee Simpson and Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz shocked their fans by announcing their engagement via a blog post on FriendsOrEnemies.com, reactions are starting to come in from those who know the couple well ... and from those who think they do.

"All I can really say is I'm totally happy for them," FOB frontman Patrick Stump told MTV News in an e-mail. "And I'm happy for myself, too. I'll probably get to wear a tux."

"My sister is overflowing with joy," Ashlee's older sister, Jessica Simpson, said in a statement. "Pete is an incredible soul. They naturally bring out the best in each other. I couldn't be happier."

Ashlee's dad and manager, Joe, told that Wentz asked for his permission to propose to his daughter, and that "I told him that I would be honored to have him as part of my family."

Even Ryan Cabrera, Ash's former boyfriend, weighed in to the site, giving the newly engaged couple a resounding thumbs-up.

"I think they're really good together," he told the magazine. "I met [Wentz] a couple times, and he was really nice and intelligent, so I was like, 'Very cool, go for it!' "

Of course, fan reactions to the engagement were decidedly less glossy. On FriendsOrEnemies.com, comments ranged from elation ("FINALLY!!!!! i knew u guys would get married one day! I am happy for both of you!!!!!") to anger ("i hope assslee DIESS IN A F---ING HOLE"), with a few stops in crazytown thrown in for good measure ("I couldn't believe well i guess i didnt want to believe it its kinda weird i mean pete a husband w/ kids can u really picture that and w/ ashlee well maybe u guys will last CONGRATS now im gonna go stalk patrick ha he isnt married").

The reaction was similar on Wentz's personal blog, where the bassist celebrated his engagement by posting a piece of pop art featuring his dog Hemingway. (Uh, congrats?)

"I love the way she makes you smile, bright boy for wanting to keep someone like that around," one commenter wrote.

"Hey Pete, did you hear that? Little emo hearts just broke all over the world," another added. "Much happiness to you and the lady."

No Charity For 'Idol' Finalist

American Idol" said g'day to Michael Johns. The Australian-born singer was eliminated Thursday from Fox's popular singing competition as the contest was narrowed down to the top seven finalists following Wednesday's "Idol Gives Back" charity event.

The dismissal came as a surprise to many since no contestants were evicted after last year's special "Idol" fundraiser.

Johns, 29, sang Aerosmith's "Dream On" during Tuesday's inspirational-themed performance show. Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson didn't think the song choice suited Johns, although Paula Abdul thought the selection was perfect.

Johns, who now lives in Los Angeles, had never been in the show's bottom three.

Carly Smithson and Syesha Mercado were the other lowest vote-getters.

Before the elimination, Seacrest told the audience that "Idol Gives Back" had garnered over $60 million thus far -- and reminded viewers that donations were still being accepted. Last year, $76 million was raised for underprivileged children. "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe has earlier anticipated this year's event would lure $100 million.

Ratings were significantly down for "Idol Gives Back." Despite being the top-rated show Wednesday, 17.5 million viewers tuned into the second "Idol Give Back" special, down from last year when 26.9 million viewers watched, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Hometown Desperately Seeking Madonna

It used to be her playground, but Madonna wasn't always welcome.
Until now.

After vetoing several prior attempts to honor its most famous native, typically due to her provocative antics, civic leaders in Bay City, Mich., are belatedly getting into the groove.

In a letter sent to the Material One, Mayor Charles M. Brunner extended a formal invitation for the 49-year-old singer to accept a key to the city, according to the Bay City Times.

"We have always been proud of your accomplishments but recently your induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame reminded us that we need to honor you with the highest honor that Bay City can offer," read the missive.

But hizzoner may be engaging in a little revisionist history.

Turns out a former mayor, Timothy Sullivan, and other officials weren't so proud of Madonna's accomplishments back in 1985, when fans first floated the idea of her getting a key to the city upon her "Like a Virgin" success. Sullivan and crew also rejected a professional sculpture of Madonna by an Italian artist, believing her to be a flash-in-the-plan artist.

Hoping to get back in vogue, Guy Greve, the president of the Bay Arts Council, told the Times he plans to commission a new sculpture of Madonna striking one of her famous poses as an "homage for her artistic contributions."

Brunner, meanwhile, has been lobbying the performer's father to help them persuade her to attend their celebration, which may also include a movie screening (Swept Away, anyone?) and a Madonna tribute album featuring local musicians covering her biggest hits.

There was no immediate comment from Madonna's publicist.

The pop queen remains hotter than ever. Aside from her enshrinement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she just cinched a $120 million, 10-year partnership with Live Nation, and her latest album, Hard Candy, takes aim at the pop charts on April 29.

Radiohead, Lights Up Lollapalooza

Thom Yorke's crew is set to join Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails and Rage Against the Machine as the headliners for the annual Lollapalooza festival at Chicago's Grant Park, running Aug. 1 through Aug. 3.

The 2008 lineup is a virtual alt-rock who's-who: Chitown natives Wilco, the Raconteurs, a reunited Love and Rockets, Gnarls Barkley, Bloc Party, Cat Power, Mark Ronson, the Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, the National, Lupe Fiasco, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, G. Love and Special Sauce, and Flogging Molly.

Since morphing three years ago from an alternative-music lover's traveling carnival into a three-day family-friendly affair held in Lake Michigan-adjacent parkland in downtown Chicago, Lollapalooza has rebranded itself as one of America's premiere rock megafestivals, alongside Coachella and Bonnaroo.

The 2007 edition attracted a capacity crowd of 167,330 over the three days, grossing a whopping $9.8 million in ticket sales, per Billboard Boxscore, to rank as the fifth-highest grossing festival worldwide.

And this year's Lolla is shaping up to be the biggest yet.

Since going on sale, three-day $175 Early Bird passes have already been snapped up, while $190 advance passes are reportedly going fast. Once those sell out, a regular festival pass, retailing for $205, will be the only way in.

Aside from featuring 120 music acts, the fest will feature a variety of comedy acts, hip-hop workshops, organic food stands, interactive games, a scavenger hunt and even a petting zoo.

Festival founder Perry Farrell says that organizers are also working on a deal with Apple to hatch iTunes-only unique content, possibly pairing up various acts onstage and, eventually, in the studio as well, which Lollapalooza and Apple would then release.

"These will be recorded in a studio but, of course, because we can share files online, we don't have to be in the same place at the same time—we have finishing studios all over the world for the artists to finish the piece off," Farrell told MTV News. "We'll start to talk with Radiohead about putting them with someone they'd like to collaborate with, tell them how it's going to go down."

Lollapalooza will serve as the kickoff to the second leg of Radiohead's North American tour.

The band has headlining gigs at the All Points West Festival in New Jersey's Liberty State Park Aug. 8 and 9 and the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival at Golden Park in San Francisco. Radiohead is also on track to perform in Indianapolis, Cleveland, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl, before wrapping things up in Santa Barbara on Aug. 28.

Looks Like Jay-Z And Beyonce Are Married

There was a swirl of activity Friday at the rap mogul's Tribeca apartment. Delivery trucks funneled in and out of the building, dropping off silver candelabras and white flowers. A white tent was set up on the roof, and stars including Beyonce's former Destiny's Child bandmates, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, along with Gwyneth Paltrow, were spotted arriving.

A swarm of media camped outside the building was in a state of frenzy, snapping and shouting at any sport-utility vehicle that drove down the cobblestone street.

The Web sites of celebrity magazines People and Us Weekly reported the couple married and threw a lavish but small party at the apartment Friday, citing unnamed sources who are friends with the pair. The Web sites reported their families attended the party.

Rumors circulated all week about the event after a report that the couple had taken out a marriage license in Scarsdale, N.Y. Representatives for Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z declined to comment on reports ahead of the event. Jay-Z's publicist had no comment Saturday.

The couple, who have apparently been dating for six years, have never publicly acknowledged they are together. Knowles, 26, and Jay-Z, 38, whose real name is Shawn Carter, have collaborated on the songs "03 Bonnie and Clyde" and "Crazy In Love."

Clay No Longer Achin

Clay Aiken has finally set a release date of May 6 for his first album of original material in five years.

For those keeping score, On My Way Here is technically Aiken's fourth studio release. But it's only his second to feature new songs. Since releasing the multiplatinum smash Measure of a Man following his runner-up finish on 2003's American Idol, Aiken has failed to match the success with his subsequent albums, compilations of Christmas carols and cover songs, respectively.

According to an announcement Friday touting the release date, the new album will be reflective of a more mature Aiken, with the songs touching on the life lessons racked up by the singer in the years since his reality show stint and subsequent fame.

"I thought if we could find songs that relate to what's gone on in my life over the past five years and address what I've learned from my experiences, it would be a great concept for my album," Aiken said, adding that the album's title came from the title of a song written by One Republic frontman Ryan Tedder.

"Since I got into this business, I've learned so much about myself. I think this album covers how far I've come, personally and professionally."

Aiken has been hitting the recording studio since January, squeezing sessions in during the day before his nightly performances in Spamalot. The album's release coincides with the end of Aiken's Broadway run.

While a full track list has not yet been released, the cover track and a song called "Ashes" are among those expected to make the final cut. Aiken is expected to hit the road for a nationwide tour this July.

New Kids Set for Nationwide Block Party

They may not be new and they're definitely not kids, but they're heading back to the block.

The New Kids on the Block—aka Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood and Jordan and Jonathan Knight—are out to prove they've still got the right stuff, confirming on the Today show Friday they're set to reunite and hit the road for the first time in 14 years.

The quintet, a prototypical boy band from Boston who sold more than 70 million albums and provided the template for 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys, announced they would be embarking on a nationwide tour this fall following the release of a new album.

"Long live the Block!" McIntyre shouted upon the group's revelation, doing his part to rile up the already overhyped crowd.

"It is better than Christmas," trumpetetd Jonathan Knight.

Once the man band was unveiled—with a drumroll and from behind a red-velvet curtain set up outdoors—Wahlberg wasted no time in getting down to the business of the announcement.

"We started recording in August," he said. "Really, it was music that brought us back."

Wahlberg also noted that the reunion announcement, which has been in the ether for months, was something the group wasn't planning on confirming so early on, but felt they needed to after word began to leak out in January.

"We really weren't going to announce this yet," he said, adding that the boys-no-more band ultimately decided to confirm the rumors for their fans' sake.

"The fans got a little excited, but they got a little unsure, so we thought we better come out and let them know it's official. We hope to tour in the fall—we're already setting up limited dates."

The undeniably aged entertainers, reunited 22 years after first forming and 20 years after the release of their debut album, Hanging Tough, are apparently more than willing to embrace their status as the elder statesmen of teenybop pop. (Jonathan Knight's the eldest, at 39; Wahlberg and Wood are both 38; Jordan Knight is 37; and McIntyre is the baby, at 35.)

Asked what they had in store for long-suffering fans on their new album, McIntyre teased, "Three things: the economy, health care and job security."

"We've got some new material," Wahlberg said. "We're going to dance, we're going to sing, we're going to do it all."

Not deterred by the inevitable litany of late-night jokes that will come in the wake of a group of thirtysomething men reuniting as a boy band, Wood put fans' NKOTB-loving minds at ease by clarifying that the group would not be changing its name to more closely reflect the passing of time.

"We're all kids at heart, so it's not going to change," he said.

Before retiring from center stage, the group also made one more eardrum-shattering announcement. The group's first live show in 14 years, before the launch of their tour, will take place May 16 on the Today show as part of the morning program's summer concert series.

Idol Says Malu-Bye to Ramiele

Unfortunately, it didn't cross too many minds to vote for Ramiele Malubay this week. The diminutive singer was eliminated from American Idol Wednesday after not quite connecting with her Dolly Parton song of choice on a performance show devoted to ditties penned by the country-music icon.

Though Paula Abdul said she was proud of Malubay after her solid yet unexciting take on "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" and Randy Jackson "wasn't mad" at her afterward, the majority of the millions of votes cast were on behalf of the eight other contestants still in the running this season.

The super-cute 20-year-old from Miramar, Fla.—"Finally, someone my size!" Parton exclaimed when Malubay approached the piano during rehearsals—wept in fellow finalist Kristy Lee Cook's arms upon hearing the news.

Cook was there to lend comfort because she, too, was in the bottom three. She was joined by Brooke White, who was in the danger zone for the first time after trying her folksy hand at "Jolene," which sounded good but, according to Simon Cowell, was lacking emotion.

"I thought all of you looked very odd together as a group," the Brit noted, choosing to place a little blame on the band, as well.

Relieved to be out of the doghouse, meanwhile, were Syesha Mercado and Jason Castro, both bottom-feeders last week.

Mercado's decision to do "I Will Always Love You"—part of which proficiently echoed the simplicity of Parton's version while the other half failed to compare with Whitney Houston's modern-day classic—was a risk (Randy's never a fan of Whitney impersonators), but perhaps the song's recognition factor worked in her favor.

And Castro, strumming away, seemingly hit "Travelin' Thru" out of the park, turning in one of his richer vocals to date and capturing the message of the song. But Simon hated it.

"If this had been the first time I'd seen you or heard you, I wouldn't get it," he said Tuesday, losing his ticket to Dollywood in the process. But, luckily, it's the armchair critics Castro really has to impress, and he lives to grin another day.

On the flip side, the march to stardom continued for the fearsome foursome.

David Cook, who later in the evening would be rushed to the hospital to be treated for high blood pressure, rocked one of Parton's more contemporary tunes, the bluegrass-tinged "Little Sparrow" off of the 2001 album of the same name.

"If you can make a song about sparrows good, which actually you did, congratulations," opined Simon, always the country enthusiast. (As he did on Kenny Rogers night last season, the pop music aficionado found quite a lot to complain about Wednesday.)

And although he gave his fans a scare, Cook, who sources say was suffering from anxiety brought on by Idol pressures and family issues, ended up being just fine. A doctor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center gave him medication to lower his blood pressure and the 25-year-old rocker was sent back to his hotel to rest up.

Cook was back onstage Wednesday, having little cause to worry after such a strong showing. "I'm cool, I'm not going anywhere," he told Ryan Seacrest.

Simon also took offense to Carly Smithson's wardrobe (or the person who dressed the lass, at least), telling her it was time to start looking like a star.

Well, at least she sounded like one while belting "Here You Come Again."

Next up was David Archuleta, who Simon said was "absolutely on the money" after singing "Smoky Mountain Memories," his version giving Parton all she could do to keep from crying during rehearsal.

And all was well for Michael Johns, who was rewarded for giving his best performance to date—a textured, soulful rendition of "It's All Wrong, But It's All Right"—by being the first contestant to be declared unequivocally safe.

Parton, who had nary a disparaging word for anyone this week, was on hand to perform the single "Jesus & Gravity" off of her new album, Backwoods Barbie.

Next week, no one will get the boot on Wednesday when the second annual Idol Gives Back charity extravaganza takes place.

While it turns out Ellen DeGeneres had to drop out of cohosting the event with Seacrest due to "production constraints," thesps ranging from Brad Pitt and Reese Witherspoon to Robin Williams and Billy Crystal are on board to participate either live or via video, and Idol alums such as Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry and Jordin Sparks are set to perform.

And then, after two weeks worth of votes have been tallied, someone's going to have to go on Thursday.