American Idol

(Newser) - Simon Cowell says he regrets not realizing how troubled the American Idol contestant who killed herself outside judge Paula Abdul’s home last month was, but refutes Abdul’s claim that she begged producers to keep the obsessed Paula Goodspeed off the show. “I wish we could have spent time trying to help her,” Cowell tells the Daily Mail . “We genuinely didn’t know.” More »

(Newser) - American Idol may not have Paula Abdul to kick around anymore, reports MSNBC's Scoop blog. Abdul, who seems perpetually ticked off at Simon Cowell and the show’s producers, doesn’t need them, anyway, says a friend: “Paula has a reality show on MTV and her jewelry line.” An Idol source says the show is preparing for her imminent departure: “Obviously we have three other judges who can carry the show." More »

(Newser) - Poor, beleaguered Paula Abdul came unglued at the end of her interview with David Letterman last night, Gawker reports. The singer got upset when Letterman brought up her recent allegations that American Idol purposely brought known stalker Paula Goodspeed—who later committed suicide—onto the show. After a few minutes of being encouraged by Letterman to sue Idol , Abdul got up out of her chair and made as if to leave. More »

(Newser) - Paula Abdul is selling the Los Angeles home where an obsessed fan committed suicide outside in her car, Us Weekly reports. The American Idol judge, who reportedly employed a “healer” to cleanse the house of ghosts, now wants to live in a gated community. “Paula simply feels she has outgrown her house,” said the pop star’s spokesman. More »

(Newser) - Amid family tragedy, Jennifer Hudson found herself “blessed” with four Grammy nominations, People reports. “It’s been a childhood dream of mine to release an album,” Hudson said in a statement. “I'm extremely honored and humbled.” The nods came on the same day Hudson's estranged brother-in-law was ordered held without bail in the murders of her mother, brother, and nephew. More »

(Newser) - Prepare to savor the sweet redemption of a judge—albeit a nice one—being judged: Paula Abdul is “very excited” to be a contestant on next season's Dancing with the Stars , Radar reports. The singer-turned- American Idol judge made no secret of the fact that she was “shopping around” for another TV gig; Abdul reportedly became worried about her Idol future after a fan committed suicide outside her house. More »

(Newser) - Fearing that the spirit of her suicidal stalker is haunting her Beverly Hills house, Paula Abdul has hired healers to cleanse it of ghosts, the New York Post reports. Even so, a friend says Abdul has not returned to the house. Former American Idol competitor Paula Goodspeed, found dead outside Abdul’s house last week, was a “deranged stalker,” said the source. More »

(Newser) - The timing isn't the best, but Jennifer Hudson has given her blessing to the inclusion of her photo in a new Gap ad, E! Online reports. The holiday ad campaign, conceived and photographed before the murders of her mother, brother, and 7-year-old nephew, features the Academy Award-winner looking cheery in a red sweater. More »

(Newser) - A suspected stalker was found dead of a possible drug overdose or suicide outside Paula Abdul’s house last night, TMZ reports. The woman, whose parents tipped police off that she may be at Abdul’s house, had Paula stickers hanging from the mirror of the car police found her in. Sources say cops have dealt with the woman before, and Paula’s “people” were reportedly familiar with her. More »