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Season nine winner Lee gets by with a little help — and a lot of advice — from his Idol friends. But what have they told him?

Lee DeWyze was humbled and awed to find himself in the presence of so many former American Idol winners during his finale party May 26, so much so that he’s raving about the night two days later! But who impressed the season 9 winner the most?

We told you that Lee, 24, cozied up to season 4 winner Carrie Underwood at the bash, held at the Mondrian Hotel’s Skybar in La, and we were right! “I saw Carrie a little bit at the Idol party and she was so supportive!” the Mt. Prospect, Ill. native enthused during a May 28 conference call. “She said, ‘Anything you need, let me know.’ She was awesome.”

He added, “There’s a line you cross when you get to this point with everybody,...

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Carrie, Kelly, Ruben, Fantasia, Jordin, Kris and Taylor were all on hand to sing Simon Cowell off in style — but where was David?

Last night’s Simon Cowell tribute performance was as touching as they come. Seven of the eight Idol-winning artists he (nearly single-handedly) made — Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, Carrie Underwood and Kris Allen — were all on hand to bid the departing American Idol judge farewell May 26 with their heartfelt rendition of Delta Goodrem’s “Together We Are One.” But where was season 7 winner David Cook?

Don’t worry — the sexy singer doesn’t have beef with cranky Cowell: he simply had a prior cancer charity commitment in Kansas City, says his rep tells Access Hollywood.

Although he wasn’t on hand to take the stage with his fellow Idol winners, the 27-year-old singer proved...

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Harry killed it as a mentor on American Idol this week, leading departed contestant Aaron Kelly to say he’d be a fab replacement for Simon! But will he take the job?

Harry Connick Jr. is officially in the running for the prime piece of real estate that is Simon Cowell’s ‘throne’ on American Idol. Judges, fans and the Idols themselves all raved about his skills as a mentor during Frank Sinatra week, and booted contestant Aaron Kelly even suggested Harry could fill the British judge’s shoes when he leaves Idol for X-Factor next year. But what does Harry himself say about being up for the job?

“I don’t know if I’d be a good judge,” the 42-year-old crooner admitted on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show May 6, just one day after performing on the Idol stage. “Although I am the only person who does...

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Backstage at the Ellen show, the Glee starlet revealed what she’d really like to do with her musical chops — help the Idol hopefuls with stage presence!

Adam Lambert, Miley Cyrus, Usher….and Lea Michele? Glee’s female lead wants to join the ranks of pop music’s finest by playing mentor on American Idol!

The brunette beauty confided her secret Idol desire while hanging out backstage at the Ellen show May 3 (her segment airs today, May 4). “Lea loved appearing on the Ellen show, but she actually wants to be on Ellen’s Other show — American Idol — as a guest mentor. She said it’s only a matter of time,” a show insider confided to HollywoodLife.com. “She said that it would be easy because they’re on the same network [Fox] and a movie or Broadway night would be perfect for her.”

Says our insider of the 23-year-old singer with the Broadway background,...

Erik: “And there goes the lead.” It’s appropriate that Erik’s comment starts this blog since the downfall of Galu all started with Galu voting out Erik, one of their own. Survivor hindsight is no different than any other hindsight, it’s always 20-20. But man… if they only knew what they were starting, 'ole Erik would probably still be wearing those black knee highs and most of the Foa Foa would be gone. Instead… it’s wow, wow, wow. Who would have ever predicted this kind of a turnaround? Galu, the tribe who dominated for so long...