Idol Also-Ran Holds Cancer Fundraiser

21-year-old supposed scammer harassed via Reddit

(NEWSER) - Reddit users are a bit red in the face after launching a crusade against an alleged scammer—who turned out to be a real 21-year-old college student fundraising for cancer. The student, who is shaving her head to raise money for children's treatments, had too many apparent red flags, including a personal PayPal account and a habit of deleting posts, Gawker reports. "It's obviously a huge scam," one user told fellow Redditors. "Can we all please band together and call this person on their shit and make them go away." More»

(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. More»

Pair of star-studded shows take on Latin American poverty

(NEWSER) - Shakira, Ricky Martin, and dozens of other Spanish-speaking pop stars performed at simultaneous fundraising concerts in Mexico City and Buenos Aires yesterday, reports the LA Times. “It is doable, we can really eradicate poverty,” said the Colombian singer, whose shows benefited Alas, a charity that helps Latin America's neediest children. Shakira secured nearly $200 million in donations from billionaires Howard Buffet (son of Warren) and Carlos Slim, reports the BBC. More»

Jordin Sparks cancels tour start, expects full recovery

(NEWSER) - "American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks has been forced to cancel April concert dates with Alicia Keys because of dangerous vocal-cord hemorrhaging, the New York Post reports. Even a sneeze could permanently damage the 18-year-old chart-topper, who has been singing nonstop since winning "Idol" last year. However, her handlers say, Sparks is expected to recover fully. More»

Idle profits mark more turmoil for idol's new, "darker" album

(NEWSER) - Inaugural American Idol darling Kelly Clarkson has pulled the plug on her summer tour because of dismal ticket sales—just 11 days before her new album hits stores. It's been a rocky week for Clarkson, who canned her manager and has irritated RCA execs by refusing to work with producers from her last Grammy-winning album. More»