American Idol is a backstage hotbed of sex, drugs and out-of-control boozing, a blockbuster new book reveals.
And former judge Simon Cowell – known as "Mr. Nasty" on the hit FOX show – nearly got into a fist fight with fellow judge Randy Jackson after insulting a contestant, according to its author.
"From a love triangle in Season 1 to drugs and booze that derailed hopeful contestants, Idol has eaten up young singers dreaming of stardom," said a publishing source familiar with American Idol: The Untold Story.
The shocking book is not due to be released until Jan. 18, but The ENQUIRER has an exclusive sneak peek at the no-holds-barred expose of TV’s No. 1 talent show.
According to author Richard Rushfield, the mayhem started in Season 1 when curly-haired heartthrob Justin Guarini secretly carried on simultaneous love affairs with eventual winner Kelly Clarkson and rival Tamyra Gray.
Neither woman knew that Justin was romancing the other one. But Kelly and Tamyra eventually figured out what was going on and got their revenge, according to the book.
Another Season 1 hopeful, fiery redhead Nikki McKibbin, used alcohol to cope with her overwhelming stage fright, Rushfield writes.
According to the book, "when she wasn’t guzzling booze from a hidden bottle before going on stage, Nikki would prowl the neighborhood in search of a bar where she could have a few drinks before airtime," said the source.
Nikki’s drinking raged out of control after her mother died, and she started abusing cocaine and hard drugs.
Finally, in 2008, she was locked up in a psych ward.
For the full shocking story its only in the new ENQUIRER – on sale now!
