Season 11 Contestants

One of the keys to American Idol's success is the show's ability to paint the "rags to riches” story. Idol is meant to be a showcase for pop sensations of humble beginnings, whose shot at fame means more than just being a star but providing monetarily and emotionally for their families in dire need.

We’ve always been big softies for a heart-warming tale to accompany a stellar...

Johnny Keyser first auditioned for American Idol in St. Louis in Season 11, and he was, by all appearances, a suntanned beefcake from Florida. Johnny chose a super ambitious song for his audition: Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come." Judge Jennifer Lopez was borderline speechless after his performance, saying, "You know you're gonna be a star, right?"
 
Sadly, Johnny didn't make it past...

Sadly, celebrity DUIs in Hollywood are a dime a dozen, but for Phillip Phillips’ mom, Sheryl, finding her way into the pokey happened in the tiny town of Albany, Georgia. According to TMZ, local law enforcement officials pulled her over after an undercover unit saw Sheryl’s van swerving across lanes of traffic. P2’s mom was then unable to complete her sobriety test.

It...