American Idol season nine winner Lee DeWyze has finally set a release date for his debut album, November 16! Lee has had a busy summer touring the country on the American Idols Live! Tour, writing, and recording music for his album -- he even picked up a Teen Choice Award for Choice Male Reality/Variety Star. "I've been very fortunate to be able to collaborate with some amazing songwriters on new songs over the past 3 months," Lee says. "I can't wait for everyone to hear my debut album!"

What do YOU think of Lee? Will you buy his album?

After only judging for one season, Ellen DeGeneres announced that she will not be returning for season 10 of American Idol.

"A couple months ago, I let FOX and the American Idol producers know that this didn't feel like the right fit for me," Ellen says. "I told them I wouldn't leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for."

Ellen says she plans on focusing on discovering and supporting new talent like Greyson Chance, who is the first person to be on Ellen's record label eleveneleven.

In other Idol news, it's also being reported that judge Kara DioGuardi was fired from the show and that Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler will be joining Randy Jackson next season on the judges panel.

Keep checking j14.com as this story develops.

Are you going to miss Ellen?

Photo: Michael Becker/FOX

American Idol kicked off it's season 10 auditions on Friday in Nashville and the reality show lowered it's minimum age to audition from 16-years-old to 15-years-old. Does that mean that next year someone like Justin Bieber, who would have been 15 if he auditioned last year, could win?! Yep!

Here's the list of remaining cities and dates where you can audition for the show:
Wednesday, July 21, Milwaukee, WI, Bradley Center
Monday, July 26, New Orleans, LA, TBA
Tuesday, Aug. 3, East Rutherford, NJ, IZOD Center
Wednesday, Aug. 11, Austin, TX, Frank Erwin Center
Thursday, Aug. 19, San Francisco, CA, AT&T Park

Remember, just like season nine finalist Aaron Kelly, you can also try your luck at the American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World.

Do you plan on auditioning for American Idol?

Photo: Courtesy of FOX

Sons of Sylvia have been playing music for years under a couple of different names, but brothers Austin, Ashley, and Adam Clark have recently found a ton of success -- and major fan -- as they tour the country with Carrie Underwood. They even got to sing on American Idol this year! The boys sat down with J-14 at our office to dish on their music, Carrie, and Idol judge Simon Cowell.

J-14: Why did you change names from The Clark Brothers to Sons of Sylvia?
Ashley Clark: We went in a different direction musically, so we wanted to change our name with the music, and we felt it fit better -- and we are momma's boys. Our band name is after our mother -- her name is Sylvia, so we thought Sons of Sylvia.

J-14: How did she react when you told her you were going to name the band after her?
Ashley: She was crying. She was happy. But dad was like, "That will never work. Now, Sons of Frederick -- there's a better name." We're like, "Thanks, Dad. She had eleven kids, remember?" It's Allen, Aaron, Adam, Ashley, Andrew, Austin, Alexander, Abraham, Avery, Amy, and Amber. That is why we named the band after her -- she's still recovering from it all.

Wonder why American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox sang such an emotional final song during Tuesday night's finale? It wasn't just because she was fighting to win the competition -- just hours before she sang her hear tout, Crystal split from her boyfriend, Tony Kusian.

Tony had been extremely supportive of Crystal over the course of the season, even wearing American flag pants at one point just because she asked him too! But the pressure of being in the public eye became too much for Tony.

"He went home," Crystal revealed this morning while visiting Ryan Seacrest's radio show. "He wasn't cool with the lifestyle." During the competition, Tony even admitted that he was happy for Crystal but not into the fame. "I don't need the attention."

Nearly 100 million people voted for either Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze in this year's American Idol finale. And with less than two percent margin between the two, the winner of American Idol is...

Click "Read More" to find out who won!

Last night Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze battled it out for the title of American Idol. Here's a recap about what went down:

In the first round the two got to sing songs they already sang before in the competition. Lee sang "The Boxer," which he sang during "Inspirational Song" week on Idol. Crystal sang "Me and Bobby McGee," which she performed originally on "Billboard Number Ones" week.

Round two was judges choice -- Lee sang "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M. and Crystal sang "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles.

Finally for round three, Lee and Crystal performed the song that will be their single on the radio if they win. Lee's will be "Beautiful Day," originally by U2 and Crystal's will be Patty Griffin's "Up to the Mountain."

The finale starts tonight at 8 pm on FOX. Besides crowning the new American Idol, this show will be Simon Cowell's last show ever, so expect a tribute the the judge. Christina Aguilera is also expected to perform with other surprise guests.

Who's going to win tonight?

Photo: Michael Becker / FOX

He made it big as a member of the boy band NLT, but now singer Travis Garland is breaking out on his own. The Texas native just sang his single, "Believe," on American Idol, and now J-14's got the scoop on the song, what it was like to perform in front of Idol judge Simon Cowell, and if he's still friends with former NLT member and current Glee star Kevin McHale.

J-14: Can you tell us the story behind "Believe"?
Travis Garland: I co-wrote it with [producer] Danja. I've just been working with him, and this is the one we selected as the first single. I get inspiration from everywhere. For "Believe," it was just going in and free-styling melodies. That's how I start -- Danja will give me the track and I'll just lay down melodies. Sometimes it just comes out, and that was what came out, the word "believe," and I went from there with the concept and ran with it.

J-14: What was it like to perform on American Idol?
Travis: It was an incredible experience, one I'll never forget. I talked and Simon after. Randy was super nice. Joe Simpson is my manager, and Randy and Joe are like best friends, so Randy was like, 'What's up dawg? You chillin' man? You chillin?' And I was like, 'Yeah, man, I'm chilling!' And then they introduced Simon to him, and he was like, 'Are you excited?' I was like 'Yeah, I'm excited man!' And he was like, 'You don't seem excited.' I was like, 'Oh, I'm tired man. It's been a long week.'