Crystal Bowersox's Illness Clouds Contestant's Future

By Sam Brand Posted Mar 12th 2010 05:15PM

You're a big deal if you can force 'American Idol' to shift its schedule. Last week, the guys sang before the girls after Crystal Bowersox's doctor kept the sick singer off the stage. It was an unprecedented shakeup for one of TV's most reliably scheduled shows. This week, Bowersox swept the incident aside and followed her talent into the Top 12. But will her health keep her from winning it all?

Former 'American Idol' favorites Christina Christian, Megan Joy, Carly Smithson and David Cook also experienced health scares during competition. Cook, whose condition was perhaps the most serious in 'Idol's' history, was hospitalized for heart palpitations and high blood pressure after Dolly Parton night during season seven. He went on to win it all.

Bowersox, a 24-year-old Ohio native and mother of one, suffers from diabetes. She is the unanimous favorite among online betting sites to win season nine. Last week, it was questionable whether she'd even be able to compete for the Top 16.

But 'Idol' producers shuffled the schedule to accommodate the hospitalized musician. The men performed on Tuesday, and the women on Wednesday, allowing the sick Bowersox an extra day of rest, and injecting a fascinating storyline into a show whose ratings have recently slumped. Predictably, show producers said the shakeup was all about Bowersox's health. Had she failed to make it onstage last Wednesday, she would have been the first competitor in the show's history to be disqualified for health reasons.

"If you're in the Olympics and you're going for the semifinal, for the final, if you don't turn up, you don't get straight through to the final," executive producer Ken Warwick told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show last week.

Crystal turned up last week, in a big way. Simon Cowell raved about her performance of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Long As I Can See the Light.'

"This was like the moment we realized with Kelly Clarkson that we've got a really serious artist here."

This week Bowersox took on Tracy Chapman's 'Give Me One Reason.' The judges' reactions were equally positive.

"This is what the show's about for me," Randy Jackson said.

On Thursday night, Bowersox moved into the Top 12 amid a swirl of uncertainty as to whether her health will again impede her journey to the top. It's unclear if producers will again modify the show's schedule to accommodate the ill singer. It's even less clear if the pressure of the final rounds will take an increasing toll on her health. According to doctors, mental stress can be particularly harmful to those living with diabetes.

Still, as Simon said this past week, Bowersox is "the one to beat."

Tags: american idol, crystal bowersox, david cook, diabetes, randy jackson, ryan seacrest, season 9, simon cowell

Comments

(55)

Friday 12 March

By tuffpaw

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Take care of yourself, Chrystal. I'd like to see you go all the way.

Oops, sorry for the typo. (Crystal)

By John

She is certainly one of my favorites , i wish her well

By Jane T.

Elliot Yamin is also a type 1 diabetic. He did fine. If Crystal takes care of herself, she will stay well, too.

By Donna

If I were a contestant and saw this gal perform, I'd pack it up and just go home. She is light years ahead in talent and stage presence. Unless she falls off the stage, it's clear who will win this thing. And I'll be first in line to buy her CD!

Saturday 13 March

By gloria

I totally agree, I hope she wins, she reminds me of a mellow Janis Joplin, Wow, great talent...

Eliot Yamin (again--sorry Eliot)had dreadful teeth but a talented dentist gave him a beautiful set of pearly whites. She'll do the same.

By Sunni

Crystal, Love your voice and unique style ~~~ hang in there, keep on believing in yourself, you are awesome!!! Best of luck to you!!!

By oscar hopson

crystal your the man! well your not the man exactly, you could be with a couple of operations, but that's another subject. I was saying how great you are. and you have the talent to go all the way. So break a leg! why do they say that?
Just do what you do best. sing!

By go4it

The only two with the vocals worthy of a win- are Michael Lynche...and Crystal. I'm rooting for- Crystal. Good luck.

By Dawn_B

Couldn't agree more. Crystal is the top female and Big Mike is the top male, but I'm also rooting for Crystal. There is just something about her that makes me want to see her win.

By mrkoe

If they lose her, the ratings will plummet. I LOVE this show and I often defend it, but seriously, out of the hundreds of thousands of auditions they listened to, they thought these 24 people had talent??? They should keep Crystal, send the rest of them home and then sit in a room and go through all of the auditions and START OVER!!! A STUNNING LACK OF TALENT THIS SEASON!

By DEBBIE

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

YELLOW. I THINK IT WAS UNFAIR THE WAY HER ILLINESS WAS HANDLED. IF SHE COUULD NOT PEFORM, THEN SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT.SPECIAL TREATMENT GIVEN?

Wednesday 21 April

By slin

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Debbie, Had that been you would you have wanted to be voted out because of an illness? Sounds like you are heartless!!I think it showed that they were very understanding and know they have a winner!! Go Crystal....Our new American Idol

By girl you know its true

She has a great voice, but she always looks miserable and unhappy about being on the show. The frowning and not cracking a smile after being voted into the top 12 was unacceptable. part of winning idol is likeability and i think people are going to like her less and less. Plus, she still looks dirty.

By Kelly

Maybe she didn't smile because she wasn't feeling well.. didn't you ever think of THAT?! DUH! Don't be so judgmental. Besides I've seen her smile plenty of times on the show, especially when she is singing.

Saturday 20 March

By LMD

She doesn't feel well due to her diabetes and she also has some issues with her teeth. A good Dentist and her health under control, she would be smiling all the way.Crystal will be the next American Idol!

By kat

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I have to agree, Crystal looked like she was mad during the elimination because her buddy got the boot. I was expecting her to drop out of A.I. She definately can sing, but her attitude this week ruined it for me.

By matt

Hey Crystal,
Screw the stones and buck the trend.
Do a Greatful Dead tune.

By Sophie564

I would LOVE to see Crystal do "Touch of Gray" by the Grateful Dead.

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