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 Kelly

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Crystal, you are so talented. Take care of yourself girl!

By vituspr

I'd like to hear her do her own take on "Wild Horses".

By mizsarah77

Yes...Wild Horses! Crystal would sing that beautifully...

Saturday 13 March

By Cathy from Green

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So funny...Thursday night, my sister and I were looking at the list of the Rolling Stones' hits and when I came to "Wild Horses", I said that same thing! Crystal would kill it. You know, in a good way! As an Ohioan, I am very proud that she is representing. Go Crystal, win it all for the ladies and for Ohio!

By gloria

I hope she wins..she is a great talent, reminds me of
a mellow Janis Joplin....

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JACKASS!!

By PAMELA

I love to hear Crystal perform.She seems so much more mature than the rest.She is very pretty,I would love to see a new hairstyle.Good luck Crystal you will be in my prayers.

By Deborah

I am not taking away all of you liking Crystal but doesn't anybody see the talent in Siobhan Magnus? She can sing soft, moderate or forceful. She has stage presence. I'm sorry Crystal has health problems but her voice is still the same with or without them. She looks dumpy, dowdy and like a wet rag. You always know what kind of "voice" to expect from Crystal but with Siobhan you never know what to expect. To me, that's what I look forward to.

Friday 16 April

By Lilla

Siobhan sucks. You know what to expect from her more than Chrystal. Siobhan just screams at the end of every song, that is getting boring and annoying. I hope her and that freak Tim get the boot sooon.

By S. Johnson

I agree about Wild Horses. Crystal could sing that beautifully!

By Lynn

Crystal is the only bright spot in an extremely dull season. I hope and pray she stays healthy. Not just so she can stay on idol but she's a mama with a baby to raise. As far as I'm concerned they can take her off idol today and stick her in the recording studio tomorrow so I can stop watching this dreadful show. Whether she wins AI or not she has fans among my family and friends who will buy her cds and pay to see her perform live. Good luck Crystal.

Sunday 14 March

By harry

i too am a crystal fan, but everyone forgets that there are no judges--young fans text in their votes - quite often it's not the best singer, but who has the best hair who gets the vote!!!!

By Frebreezey

She sounds decent, but she looks like she could use a nice hot bath...

By xlr8

How is this banner headline,"Crystal Bowersox's Illness Clouds Contestant's Future," relevant? Has Sam Brand been asleep for the past week?
How can an illness "cloud" your future when there's no indication in the article, or otherwise, that she's expected to have a reoccurance.
Stupid, stupid waste of energy reading this trash.

By rick

I would like to hear sing a song by Janis Joplin she so reminds me of her. This girl has the talent to go far in the music business. I also agree this season 9 has the worst of the worst of talent besides Crystal.I think every other season has had great talent from the start of the show to the end of the show.

By Cindy

I think Crystal is handling the situation very well being a diabetic. Nobody ever questioned Elliott Yamin or has ever questioned the Jonas brother, whom both have done great in their music and done wonders for showing that it is okay to be diabetic and have dreams and go after them. I guess you can tell that I am a female diabetic from childhood and I say give her a break. Just think, it could happen to you or someone in your family, so have a heart.

By Bill

I agree there..If she is going to go all the way and get a recording contract, she is going to have to get some dental work done....

I agree Crystal Bowersox is a fantastic singer.. But her health can get in the way..When they were knocking it down to the top 12 on Thursday, she didn't look like she was feeling to well then, by the way she looked..She has to take care of herself....

By eilo

i just love the fact that she's so non-showbiz. when she felt bad about katelyn and lilly leaving, it was there on her face and didn't change beyond the end of the show. it's not just the fame and fortune... it's about relationships that have been built

By ken

Being from Toledo.I have seen her perform you can't shake her up.

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