Archuleta made the tearful announcement during his Christmas concert in Utah on Monday night, telling the audience, “It’s not because somebody told me that I was supposed to do it, not because that I no longer want to do music anymore, but it’s because it’s the feeling that I felt that I need to do next in my life.”

You can’t fault Archuleta for doing something other than music, especially considering that he was dropped by Jive Records after his “The Other Side of Down” album bombed.

Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest return for American Idol, but will viewers still tune in?

With more talent competition shows crowding the TV schedule, does American Idol still stand out?

Look for American Idol Season 11 to premiere on January 22.

Oh no! Sounds like Lauren Alaina either stopped because she forgot the Star Spangled Banner’s words or her microphone cut out. Either way, she sounded really good.

Cut the kid some slack.

Kellie Pickler tweeted in her defense: “IN A TIME WHERE BULLYING IS AT ITS WORST I’M SO DISAPPOINTED THAT GROWN MEN & WOMEN ARE RIPPING APART A 17YR OLD. WHEN PEOPLE FALL…YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP THEM UP, NOT KICK EM’ FURTHER DOWN. DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU. BE KIND. @Lauren_Alaina HEY DOLL! YOU HANDLED YOURSELF LIKE A PRO! SEND THE BULLIES MY WAY & I’LL TELL EM’ WHERE TO GO! XO”

What do you think of David Cook’s new single? Love it or hate it?

Pretty sexy subject matter in the lyrics of “Fade Into Me,” but with that signature Cookie sound.

Love him!

In this Today show video clip, Tyler explains the incident to Matt Lauer – no, Steven didn’t have some kind of drug-related fall.

Steven Tyler fell in a hotel bathroom in South America after a food poisoning episode, telling Lauer that he got to a hospital to get stitched up and get dental implants.

As the interview was wrapping up, Tyler quipped, “You can’t handle the tooth!”

A firm believer in “the show must go on,” Steven Tyler didn’t miss his concert either.

Kelly says it’s her “best album yet” and her favorite!

Then, Matt Lauer goes on to read the glowing reviews for her new album.

Love Kelly!

First? A microphone that doesn’t work. Second? Scotty McCreery sounds like he’s singing “No Jose…”

McCreery had to start over after a microphone malfunction, but the American Idol winner did a good country-fied version of the National Anthem.

Then came Scotty McCreery’s National Anthem lyrics flub, as he’s heard singing: “No José does that star-spangled banner yet wave…”

Oops.

McDonald and Reed issued a statement that said, “We couldn’t be happier.”

They added, “[We were] surrounded by our family and friends. We’re so glad this day has come!”

Their rep shares that the couple had 100 guests in attendance at their wedding at a private Malibu ranch.

It was a whirlwind romance for Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed, who met during one of the American Idol movie premieres, began dating in April and were engaged just two months later.

Kellie Pickler plays the role of Sally, a friend of new character Austin. Kellie Pickler, as Sally, will sing “Tough” on 90210 in a talent competition.

“Tough” is the first single on Kellie Pickler’s upcoming new album.

Pickler said of the role, “My zip code growing up was a long way from 90210, so it will definitely be acting. I’m really excited and a little bit nervous about it, but it will be a fun and unique place to perform ‘Tough.’”

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Watch Scotty McCreery sing his new single, “The Trouble with Girls,” in this Today show video clip.

Scotty turns 18 this weekend, five days after his album drops!

McCreery will also sing the National Anthem at Game 1 of the World Series Baseball series on October 19.

He’ll also perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Busy, busy!