You could call him the dark-horse or the grey haired horse but he seemed to have what it took down the stretch to win the hearts and minds of America.  He even swayed hardcore cynic Simon Cowell (who originally “took a pass” on him) to join his “Soul Train of Love”, or whatever they were calling it.

He is the oldest contestant to win the Idol honors (at age 29).  Many say runner-up Catherine McPhee will have a longer and more successful career….I don’t know about that, but I am glad the underdog won.

With only two weeks and three finalists left, it is almost time to say goodbye to this season of American Idol.  However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t time for at least one more Idol scandal.  Last week, voters reported being redirected to Katherine McPhee’s phone line when they attempted to vote for Chris Daughtry. 

The latest Idol buzz about the Idol hopeful?  Katherine McPhee may be a Scientologist.  The New York Post reported today that the Internet, along with Star magazine, is full of rumors that not only is the twenty-two year McPhee a Scientologist, but that she recently completed the Scientology “Purification Rundown” course.  This course, a favorite of Katie Holmes and Kelly Preston, combines cooking-oil, niacin, and sweating in a sauna to get the ‘poisons’ or ‘toxins’ out of the body’s fatty tissue.

It’s anybody’s guess as to if the truth about Katherine McPhee’s ties to Scientology will ever come to the surface.  Hypothetically, if McPhee becomes the next American Idol, a tie to Scientology would be just one more media plug for the quirky and downright spooky ‘religion.’  And as if we hadn’t already had enough of Tom, Kat and their new little Scientologist Suri Cruise.

Guitarist Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones has undergone surgery in New Zealand to remove pressure from his brain.

Richards, 62, was flown to New Zealand after reportedly falling out of a coconut tree. He was officially said to have suffered “mild concussion”.  Which smells like a cover-up story to me.  At 62 there have still be rumors that Keith parties quite hard!

A newspaper in New Zealand had reported that Richards may have suffered a subdural haematoma, a blood clot on his brain.  But the band has refuted that claim. The band stated today that the operation was a “complete success” and Richards is up and talking with his family.

I hope he gets well and has no complications because the Stones rock!

Michael Jackson is eyeing a collaboration with rapper 50 Cent.  The first Jackson/50 Cent track will likely be the result of a DJ Whoo Kid mixtape.  Whoo is headed to Behrain in two weeks to take possession of tracks Jackson has been working on in his home studio.

Sources say the first single from the new album, “Now That I Found Love,” will be released Nov. 21.   Personally I just can’t see this one working out for either person involved.