Michael Johnsand wife Stacey have a fairytale romance. They met at The Standard Hotel in West Hollywood in 2003, and tied the knot in 2007 – mere months before he would go on to compete on American Idol in 2008.
Now that he’s set to release his debut album, Hold Back My Heart, on June 23, Stacey doesn’t have to worry that her man takes her for granted because he’s always doing sweet things for her.
“It was really raining, and she had a really bad day,” the Aussie rocker, 30, tells me. “It never rains in L.A., so I went to the grocery store, I was getting some stuff, and I found this huge bouquet of sunflowers. I brought that home for her, and said ‘here’s a bit of sunshine. It isn’t that bad.’”
Although lots of girls may proclaim their love for him, Stacey has something special.
“She’s really funny,” Michael says. “Her sense of humor is amazing. It’s rare for me to ever find a girl that I dated who has a sense of humor like hers. I appreciate that.”
He scoffs at split rumors.
“Dispelled, dispelled, dispelled,” he says. “People just always want to talk crap. It’s hard – it’s been the hardest year of our lives – but we’ve been through worse.”
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Michael Johns was widely considered to be the most shocking early elimination in the last season of American Idol.
Fans adored him, and even cold-hearted Simon Cowell said he’d miss the hunky Australian rocker after his untimely departure.
But now he’s back, and it sounds like his premature eviction hasn’t done him too much harm after all.
In fact, OK! has learned that his first post-Idol album, Hold Back My Heart, is set for release on Downtown records in June.
“It’s a rock and soul record,” he told us at a private Seal concert at the W Hotel in Westwood March 24.
"We stripped it down so that it sounds like Otis Redding," the Australian said.
"I was bummed at the time when I got kicked off Idol, but now I’m just so happy," he said. "My wife and I are doing well [now that Idol is over]."
Expect Johns to take his band on the road this summer for at least a few promotional dates. First off, the singer will appear this weekend at the Fight Night event in Phoenix, Arizona alongside featuring Jon Bon Jovi, Muhammad Ali, Michael Phelps and Reba McEntire. Tickets start at $1500 for the charity event.
All seven American Idols descend on Disney’s Hollywood Studios for The American Idol Experience opening held Thursday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
It’s the first time the winning superstars have ever been together!
It’s certainly a cause for celebration: Carrie Underwood and David Cook duet on Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way during the show, which features a handful of real-life competitors vying for the prized ticket. “Carrie looks amazing and I’m just stoked to be here,” David says. Watch OK!’s exclusive video!
What advice would Carrie give wannabe contestants?
“Do whatever you love,” the All-American Girl singer says. “Sometimes the judges may tell you you shouldn’t do it for living, but if that’s what you love, you shouldn’t give it up. So no matter what happens, if you get the magic ticket, the fast-track ticket, use it — even if you don’t, still sing.
One thing Carrie won’t be trying? Her hockey-playing boyfriend Mike Fisher’s sport. (He swings for the Ottawa Senators.) “I can’t play hockey at all,” she laughs. “I can’t even fake.”
Kelly Clarkson — who tells me her slim physique can be attributed to wearing black and not white — gives the attraction her stamp of approval.
“This is pretty cool,” the My Life Would Suck Without You singer says, turning her attention away from Michael Johns. “It’s the first time we’ve actually all been together, so it’s like a family reunion.”
Jordin Sparks can’t believe her eyes. “It’s really creepy how close to the show the attraction actually is,” she says. “It’s got the lights and the fog and the music and the judges. It’s really, really weird, but it was a lot of fun.”
What’s something the No Air singer has lost? Her love for Chris Brown, who likely ended his career by messing up OK! darling Rihanna. “It’s pretty much gone now,” she tells me.
Meanwhile, Paula Abdul has one regret tonight. “I just wish they would all sing,” she says. “It would’ve been fun to hear it.” She adds, “There’s a lot of déjà vu going on. I got a kick out of watching the success of the Idols.”
What tunes would Phil Stacey suggest picking for this attraction?
“You should definitely choose a Celine Dion song or a Whitney Houston song,” he says. “No, I’m kidding. You should do Disney songs. You should get up there and do Can You Feel The Love Tonight or A Whole New World. You’re at Disney World! You’re only going to get the opportunity to do that once.”
Although Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Simon Cowell send regrets, the sizeable Idol turnout also includes a giggly David Archuleta, purple-haired Diana DeGarmo, newlywed Ruben Studdard, tan-and-fit Taylor Hicks, talkative Bo Bice, friendly Ryan Seacrest, jovial Justin Guarini, shy Fantasia Barrino, Idol alum-turned-Rascal Flatts songwriter Chris Schleich, tattooed Carly Smithson, Aussie Michael Johns, chatty Ace Young, dreadlocked Jason Castro, Southern gentleman Josh Gracin, zany Sanjaya, slimmed-down Mandisa and mom LaKisha Jones.
Woo-hoo! David Cook, David Archuleta, Fantasia, Sanjaya and Jason take a spin on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster during the afterparty held on Sunset Boulevard. No lines, no waiting!
As Kat DeLuna’s Whine Up plays, Idols enjoy blue martinis, chicken, steak, garlic mashed potatoes, sushi and the signature American Idol dessert.
Disney certainly treats its Idols well: Ace (and girlfriend Allison Fischer) “hit every ride in about seven hours, and then hit the rides we liked again.” Phil took his five-year-old daughter Chloe on Space Mountain. “It’s intense, and she actually tried it,” he says. “It was frightening for me, but she wasn’t crying at all. She loved it.” LaKisha’s five-year-old daughter Brionne would ride Space Mountain the following day. “She can’t wait to get on it. She’s a little daredevil.”
Still, some might call singing in front of hundreds of people in The American Idol Experience daring.
“I think anybody who gets a chance should absolutely do it,” David Cook says.
Bonus: I worked at Disney Hollywood Studios as part of the Walt Disney College Program, so this is quite a homecoming! I could be found sweeping Sunset Boulevard, the street on which this party is held. It is incredible – and the uniforms are still the same.
When you’re the new American Idol, you’ve got to get to grips with the pop star lifestyle pretty fast.
And just three months after winning the contest, David Cook has already learned the true value of family, fans and… Lysol!
Right now, David and rest of the AI Top Ten finalist are two weeks into the American Idol Live summer tour presented by Pop Tarts, and David tells OK! he’s loving every minute of it.
"This is our way of saying thank you to everybody that voted — it’s one big love-fest.
"Plus, I’m excited to experience parts of the country that I’ve never seen before," said the 25-year-old.
"There is something romantic about waking up in a different city every day. There’s a cool synergy within the group, and we’re really supportive of each other — we got lucky."
But there’s some pitfalls that you have to look out for when you become a star almost overnight.
Like, if you’re a guy who was tending bar less than a year ago, you have to make sure that standing in front of a sea of screaming fans every night doesn’t go to your head.
"Whenever I feel like I need to get my ego in check, I’ll call my family," he said.
"Obviously, my family is really important to me, so I’m going to try and get them out to as many people as possible."
So apart from a firm grip on reality, is there any other must-have item that David has to have on tour?
"My guitar," he says, "and a can of Lysol. I don’t trust Michael Johns and that mustache of his!"
Facial hair must seem like a much bigger health risk when you’re on a cramped tour bus.
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Lindsay Lohan: After her wild week of partying and disheveled appearance out shopping in L.A., friends say Lindsay may be in danger of self-destructing.
Michael Johns and wife Stacey have a fairytale romance. They met at The Standard Hotel in West Hollywood in 2003, and tied the knot in 2007 – mere months before he would go on to compete on American Idol in 2008. 
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<p><em>The American Idol Experience is now open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.</em></p>
<p><em>*Video production by Chris Morran. </em></p>
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