Ryan Seacrest has confirmed Joanna Pacitti, 'American Idol' hopeful has been disqualified from the show, something in her background making it imperative for the 24-year-old to be dropped after making it to the Top 36 semi-finals.

As 'American Idol' returns, questions arise about Abdul's relationship with new judge Kara DioGuardi and the apparent suicide of an alleged stalker, outside her home last year. Last week, Abdul, DioGuardi and producers fielded a flurry of aggressive inquiries about whether she was leaving the show, because she feels threatened by DioGuardi?

Reportedly, on the evening of 11th November, Paula Goodspeed, 30, a Paula Abdul fan and former Idol auditioner, was found dead in her car, just a few houses down from Abdul's Sherman Oaks, CA home. Bearing license plate number - ABL LV, her car also had Abdul's photo hanging from its rear view mirror.