Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Idol Star David Cook's Brother Dies

By Drew Nelles, Newser Staff

Posted May 3, 2009 4:26 PM CDT

(Newser) – American Idol winner David Cook lost his brother Adam to cancer yesterday, People reports. Cook announced Adam’s death today at a Race for Hope benefit run for brain cancer research in Washington, DC. "I actually lost my brother yesterday to a brain tumor and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else right now," Cook told the crowd. His brother had battled cancer for years.

Adam Cook was undergoing chemotherapy during his brother’s Idol competition, and got the chance to watch David from the front row—something judges said may have given the champ extra motivation to win. "I lost one today," Cook said today, "but I gained 9,000 and I will be here every year that they will have me." Cook’s team raised $97,000 at the event.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

American Idol winner David Cook plays a song from his self-titled debut album during a concert for fans at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

American Idol's David Cook poses during batting practice at Shea Stadium before the New York Mets play the San Diego Padres Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

David Cook, right, gets a hug from his mother Beth Foraker as his brother Adam looks on after being announced the winner of American Idol. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

David Cook announces his brother Adam's death. (justicelvr)

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

I don't run normally, but it seems a small sacrifice compared to what those who have fought cancer have endured. And the fact that my fans have rallied to raise so much in donations is the biggest compliment. - David Cook

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Chemo Killed Swayze: Somers

Cancer survivor Suzanne Somers believes 'poison,' 'toxins' killed Patrick Swayze

(NEWSER) - Suzanne Somers thinks she knows what killed Patrick Swayze, and it wasn’t cancer—it was chemotherapy, she tells the National Post. “They took this beautiful man,” says Somers, a cancer survivor who has a book about the disease coming out next month, “and they basically put poison in him.” Somers herself rejected chemotherapy, against the advice of her doctors, and beat her breast cancer. More»

Idol Hit-and-Run Suspect Was Fleeing Cops

Was running from previous collision when he allegedly hit Cohen

(NEWSER) - The driver suspected of killing outspoken American Idol contestant Alexis Cohen was fleeing police at the time of the hit-and-run, People reports. Authorities say Daniel J. Bark, 23, hit a parked car, refused to stop for a bicycle cop, and was pulled over minutes later—allegedly after fatally hitting Cohen. Bark, convicted of drunk driving in 2004, was charged with manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and leaving the scene of an accident. More»

Docs Weigh Longer Chemo in Cancer Battle

Experts say tumors could be treated as chronic diseases

(NEWSER) - Instead of waiting for cancer to return, some doctors are keeping up patients’ chemotherapy even when the threat has lessened, the New York Times reports. With maintenance therapy, some in the medical and drug industries say, it may be possible to treat cancer as a chronic disease, with tumors kept under control longer. But others say it’s not proven and could do more harm than good. More»

Melanoma Cured by Cloning Patient's Own Immune Cells

Immune system boost wipes out tumors

(NEWSER) - Scientists eliminated a man's late-stage melanoma by giving the body's own defenses a massive boost, Scientific American reports. They removed infection-fighting white blood cells from the patient's body, cloned them in the lab until they numbered in the billions, and injected them back into the patient. He was tumor-free 2 months later and remained so for 2 years. More»

Newest 'Idol': David Cook

The elder David wins in season finale

(NEWSER) - The newest "American Idol" is David Cook. The 25-year-old defeated David Archuleta, 17, in the season finale, the New York Post reports. The two received a record 97.5 million votes from viewers, eclipsing the previous mark by 23 million votes. Cook got 56% of the vote. The victory is a bit of a surprise because the judges swooned over Archuleta in Tuesday night's show. Simon Cowell called his performance that night a "knockout." More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website