For more than a decade fans around the nation have religiously watched American Idol to see if their favorite contestants makes it to the next week or have their hopes and dreams crushed into oblivion.
Luckily the power was in the hands of each singers' fans, who were able to vote for each participant to move onto the next stage of the competition.
Although we assume the contestants find out if they've been eliminated at the same time as the viewers at home, one American Idol star begs to differ.
Season five winner Taylor Hicks claims he received inside information on who would be one leaving the show that week. He also alleges he wasn't the only one.
"I had an 'in' in the whole production of the show. I'm not going to say who. I'm not going to say anybody "“ I'm not going to say who "“ but I had a clear picture every night who was going," he said in an interview with WJOX radio.
"I never bet one dollar, and there were so many odds," the "Do I Make You Proud" singer continued. "I didn't tell anybody. I was just informed who was going home and who wasn't.
"[In the finale], I did not know who was going to win. The finale was the only night. [But] I had a good feeling. Actually, Nigel Lythgoe and I had a chat before the actual finale results. He gave me a wink and nod, which was great."
Although Hicks said that despite his heads up, the voting wasn't rigged, the show's producer Nigel Lythgoe "strongly denies" the allegations, adding that none of the contestants were privy to the results beforehand.
This isn't the first time a star has spoken about behind the scenes of American Idol.
In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, former judge Mariah Carey revealed she wished she didn't appear on the Emmy Award-winning show.
"It was bleak, darling," she divulged earlier this month. "It was a bleak experience. We don't have to go back there, but there were some good hairstyles. We'll stick to the positive," adding that she may have told Lionel Richie to think about whether he really wanted to become a judge.
During her time on the reality competition, the "We Belong Together" songstress also had a public feud with rapper Nicki Minaj while they were judges. However, Carey alleged the producers had a hand in their rift.
"I'm not going to get into what it was, but let's just say I don't think they had any intentions for us to have a good experience doing that show," she told Australia's Kyle and Jackie O. "Pitting two females against each other wasn't cool."
"It should have been about the contestants instead of about some nonexistent feud that turned into even more ridiculousness," Carey added. "I would never want to be involved with it again. But everybody else did like it."
But despite Carey's candid statements, the show's producers had refuted rumors of their feud back in 2012.
"This is one of the best, most passionate, dynamic and invested judging panels we've ever had. We love and support all of the judges and the fantastic work they are doing, and we can't imagine a better group to find the next American Idol," the statement read.
"Despite all the accusations and media speculation "“ much of which is inaccurate "“ production is going extremely well today and the judges are focused on finding the best talent here in Baton Rouge."
For more American Idol gossip, check out these intriguing posts:
- Katy Perry Being Accused Of Sexual Assault On Live TV
- Kelly Clarkson Reveals She Didn't Want To Win American Idol
- The 15 Most Memorable 'American Idol' Stars - Where Are They Now?
