American Idol Phillip Phillips to Undergo “Good Sized” Surgery Before Tour

By On 05/10/2012 · 35 Comments · In American Idol, American Idol 11

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Backstage at last night’s American Idol Top 4 performance show, Phillip Phillips told E Online that he’ll be undergoing major surgery before the summer tour to take care of the chronic kidney stone problems plaguing him throughout the competition:

Phillip, who has pushed through the competition despite complications associated with his liver, also spilled that before the Idol summer tour he’ll be undergoing some pretty serious surgery.

“It’s probably going to go down,” he told us. “It’s a pretty good-size surgery, a lot of time down, but you gotta do what you gotta do. So we’ll see. I should be [back in time for the tour].”

Even with all the pressure, the contestants make performing look effortless. However, when we caught up with female frontrunner Jessica Sanchez, she assured us she still gets stage fright before going in front of the cameras.

If Phillip makes the final–and there is a good chance he will–the typical busy promo schedule the winner and runner up embarks upon will have to be postponed.

Actually, immediately post Idol is probably the best window of opportunity for Phillip to take care of his health issues, before tour and recording would begin.  After the tour, there’s the jam packed promotion schedule to promote the debut record.

Plus, the poor guy has been in so much pain, the sooner he takes care of business, the better.  Get well soon, Phillip.

 
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  • http://twitter.com/MissGolightly22 No Thanks

     Yes, she missed a bunch of early dates, and cut her set to only 2 songs.  It caused her to delay her album to an early January release.  Didn’t help her singing career either.

  • Anonymous

    Good luck to Phil. Can’t imagine trying to do this competition while battling very painful kidney issues. And besides a few nods to it here and there by Idol, he hasn’t played for the sympathy vote at all.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SYFK77IYLRQIVATQ2MJKSW2J7Y Pam

    Last night did seem to be one of P2′s better nights vocally.  I agree with the choir though, his health should come before this competition.  It would be better for him to withdraw now to have maybe at least a couple or so extra weeks to recover and not risk missing any tour dates but ultimately, that’s up to him and his physician. 

    I do feel a ton of sympathy for him though and I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.

  • http://twitter.com/RichardsNadine Nadine Richards

    I think it was a mistake.  Kidney problems usually don’t cause liver problems, especially kidney stones. 

  • http://twitter.com/Loretta31 Loretta

    Poor Phil2.  I have noticed his coloring and ill looking complection and his eyes has lost some of the twinkle.  With only two weeks left I say he should hang in and then have the operation.

  • http://www.fatladysings.us/ TFLS

    The business is a bit different now – more compartmentalized.  It will affect Phil’s career sure; but I think he could recover – especially if his record label and management company stand 4-square behind him, promoting the hell out of his first album.  If they abandon him like Bo Bice…..

  • http://twitter.com/MissGolightly22 No Thanks

     I really don’t think any record label or management will be too patient with a chronic illness.  That’s why he needs to get his health under control and in check BEFORE he embarks on his music career.

    Because if he has to constantly cancel and back out of stuff, he will lose his label and management money (or money making opportunities).  And NO ONE in the entertainment business is that charitable (unless they can make it a tax write off).  If I recall, 19E threatened to sue McPhee’s ass for breach of contract if she didn’t get her ass back on tour.

    He can not and will not be able to handle the brutal schedule of an Idol winner (or even a runner up).  But if he takes care of his health NOW, then he might be able to forge a decent career post idol.

    Just keeping it real.

  • too-cool-for-school

    Lol, he has held on this long. Why would he withdraw now? I feel really bad for him. I’m a total pain wimp and I can’t imagine what kind of fortitude it takes to put this kind of problem on the backburner when you’re in an intense competition.

    I’m glad there is at least some time for his surgery and hopefully a speedy recovery following. You never know, he could go tonight. It wouldn’t be the first time a frontrunner left in 4th place. But dropping out? No chance.

  • Anonymous

    I’m not sure anybody knows how long his recovery period will be, since we don’t know specifically what his issues are.  I think he’ll figure it out, and the show would be beyond boring without him.

  • Desmond Hobson

    I noticed that Phillip missed the latest Ford music video shoot that aired last night.  No doubt these health problems have something to do with it.

    Now that I know of his health problems, I admire Phillip even more.

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