Bo Bice
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Congratulations are in order for Bo Bice and wife Caroline Fisher. The couple welcome welcomed a baby boy, Caleb, into the world earlier today.

Bice and Fisher were married in July 2005 in Helena, Alabama. Their son Aidan was born in September 2005.

"[Caleb] is a good biblical name," Bice said at the American Idol finale show in May. "We stuck with that with both kids – good Irish and good biblical names... We're just blessed to have such a beautiful family."

Bo Bice and Caroline Fisher are new parents!

The following interview is courtesy of People magazine. That publication recently caught up with Bo Bice at the Playboy Mansion, where he attended a launch party for Ryan Seacrest's new reality show, Paradise City.

What are you working on right now?
Well, we started on the new album. I've been demoing songs for that for a while and we're getting in the studio. We're doing a cut for the movie Blades of Glory with Will Ferrell – so that's going to be great. I'm just grateful to be able to be out here and doing some fun stuff.

What do you think about this year's Idol hopefuls?
The girls are really shining this year. They seem to have several girls that are really doing well. I think they might be the one who takes it home this year. But you never know, man. It's funny how you can pick somebody at the 12 (contestant) mark and then you never know how they're going to react under pressure. They might be a great singer, but they might crack under pressure.

What's your best advice for those people?
Song choice is very important. But just practice hard, and if you practice hard enough, you're not going to be nervous. You'll fare well in front of the judges.

Do you think the Antonella Barba photos will affect her standing on the show?
Those are private images (and) private images are a different thing than being out on the red carpet or doing things, and I think people understand that. Everybody's got something in their closet, dude. It doesn't matter who you are.

Nothing new here. Just a retrospective look by People at the runners-up in American Idol's brief history. These five singing standouts may have come in second, but they're still Idols to millions. Well, sometimes.

Here's the magazine's photo feature of the fabulous five who dazzled us on American Idol and (almost) went all the way.

KATHARINE MCPHEE / American Idol Season 5 Runner-Up
After opening up about her struggle with bulimia, Katharine McPhee became a role model not just for her voice (which Simon Cowell called the "best of the competition" in 2006), but for her courage. The 22-year-old, who has found love with actor Nick Cokas, will release her self-titled debut album on January 30. "I am just the person who didn't want to settle for not having everything I dreamed of," she says.

BO BICE / American Idol Season 4 Runner-Up
Bo Bice, who lost the 2005 title to country sweetheart Carrie Underwood, has been enjoying his family life with wife, Caroline Fisher, and 15-month-old son, Aiden. The rocker is also working on a follow-up to his 2005 chart-topping debut, The Real Thing. "They allow me to go out and pretend I'm a rock star for three-quarters of the year, and when I get home, they ground me," said the candid, often self-deprecating Bo Bice.

DIANA DEGARMO / American Idol Season 3 Runner-Up
Second to Fantasia Barrino in 2004, DeGarmo released her debut album (Blue Skies) at only 17 years of age. She's found greater footing, however, in the field of musical theater. "It's led me ... where I want to be, a singer for the people," she told the Dallas Morning News in July. Diana DeGarmo won raves last year as Penny Pingleton in Broadway's "Hairspray," and is back with the show after doing a summer tour with Brooklyn: "The Musical."

CLAY AIKEN / American Idol Season 2 Runner-Up
Yes, we are forced to do a double-take every time we're reminded he didn't win. Ask the "Claymates" - his legion of fans - and they'll tell you the same. The 28-year-old North Carolinan, who recently released his third album, A Thousand Different Ways, is known for his sharp wit and big heart. And oh, that voice. But there's something else Clay Aiken would like to accomplish: starting a family. "I want to be a father so badly," he told People in September.

JUSTIN GUARINI / American Idol Season 1 Runner-Up
He once described his post-American Idol career path as a "free fall," but despite his setbacks, Justin Guarini (who lost to Kelly Clarkson in the show's 2002 first season) hasn't given up. He's currently at work on a follow-up to his recently released jazz album, Stranger Things Have Happened, and is filming a comedy, Fast Girl. "To be able to go around the country and keep making music, the one overriding emotion I have is gratitude," he said.

The remainder of Bo Bice's 2006 tour has been cancelled due to the singer's health problems and this month's emergency surgery. Please contact the location where you purchased tickets for refund information. No rescheduled dates can be confirmed at this time, but we'll have the latest for you as the information becomes available.

If you thought the American Idol assault case was the weirdest piece of news related to our favorite show today... you're very right.

But this one gives it a run for its money, albeit in a less violent way. American Idol Worship Stumbled upon an interesting bit of Bo Bice news, which has been out there a while but somehow we've missed until now.

The rocker, who recently underwent surgery, is performing a version of the 1968 Chambers Brothers classic "Time Has Come Today" in ads and promotions for Hasbro's new version of the venerable board game, Monopoly.

The new version, called Monopoly Here and Now, is being given considerable marketing by the company, which has owned the game for decades. The song is also available at iTunes and other online outlets, and will be available as a free digital download at the online Sony Music Store if you purchase Bo's hit album, The Real Thing.

We're big fans of Bo Bice, don't get us wrong. But we're a little disappointed in him for failing to get a property named after him. Come on, Bo. You're worthy of Connecticut Avenue at the very least! It's all about investing in real estate.

Bo Bice wears his heart on his sleeve. We're all familiar with that. It's his digestive system we're concerned about.

The American Idol runner-up underwent emergency intestinal surgery late last week in Nashville to hopefully correct a problem that has been plaguing him for a year, according to the rocker's official site.

So far, three Bo Bice concert dates have been postponed.

"After the first round of tests was completed last week, Bo’s medical team concluded on review of the results that surgery could not wait, and he was immediately admitted to the hospital," Bice's management team said.

"The surgery was not easy or routine, and after a setback the following day, Bo is now recovering well under the supervision of his doctors and hospital staff. We are confident that Bo will have a complete recovery, and hopeful that this procedure will be the final resolution to the problems that have existed for the past year."

Bice, 30, was hospitalized September 26 after experiencing a relapse of his condition, which doctors have diagnosed to be intussusception (the folding of one segment of the intestine into another), an ailment Bo may have had since birth.

The Alabama native had to cut short his stint on the post-American Idol tour last August after undergoing an emergency procedure to remove an intestinal blockage. He had just finished recuperating from a broken foot, on top of all this.

In December, Bice was hospitalized after he coughed up blood, which was called a complication from the original procedure, and which forced him to cancel a performance at the Radio Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Although his onstage time has been hampered by health problems, it didn't stop the Bice Squad from digging his first single, "Inside Your Heaven," which debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and then overtook Carrie Underwood's version for the top spot. Bice's first solo album, The Real Thing, landed on the Billboard 200 at number four.

A month after coming in second to Underwood, Bice tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Caroline Fisher. The couple welcomed a son, Aidan Michael Bice, last September.

Bo Bice wrote three songs on his current album. Apparently, that's not enough for many enthusiastic fans.

TMZ.com obtained a petition begging Bice's record label to green light more music written personally by the American Idol runner-up.

The petition, signed by over 1,400 Idol fans at the moment, speaks directly to RCA chief Clive Davis and is below:

Bo Bice's first CD was made up of songs almost exclusively written by other artists and songwriters. When the CD was released, many of Bo's fans found they preferred his original songs, and would like RCA to support his aspiration to become an original recording artist.

We, the undersigned, want Bo Bice's original music to make up the majority of songs on his next CD.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned

Look out, Clay Aiken, you may have competition for most charitable American Idol contestant.

Bo Bice made a surprise visit to Youree Drive Middle School in Shreveport, Louisiana, yesterday as part of a $10,000 donation of new equipment.

Bice, the fourth season runner-up, has been making a name for himself with radio hits such as "The Real Thing." He arrived after students were told their teacher, Krista Fanning, had won new musical instruments and equipment in a contest sponsored by Intune magazine.

Needless to say, jaws dropped when the American Idol performer entered the room.

The new amps, drum set, guitars and keyboard will comprise what the school hopes will be a state of the arm music rom. Fanning was one of 200 music teachers across the country who wrote essays explaining why they needed new equipment for their students.

She obviously did a mighty fine job with her entry.

Bo Bice, runner-up on the fourth season of American Idol in 2005, is one lucky guy -- and possibly the nation's best-known tribute band singer.

He closed the ninth Snapple Sunset Music Festival on Monday in Newport, R.I., with a set including a few non-descript originals and a dearth of classic rock covers, according to the Newport Daily News.

The sound may not be much different than what you'd hear from the average bar band, except for better equipment and more fans. A lot more.

Even his hit single, "The Real Thing," is basically a harder version of Bread's "Guitar Man." But Bice keeps pumping out the rock that catapulted him to fame on Idol, and fans love him for it.

The other night he performed the Allman Brothers' classics "Whipping Post" and "Dreams," with a voice eerily reminiscent of a young Gregg Allman. Lack of originality matters little to crowds flocking to see Bice, who, despite a strong voice, is as much a TV star and cultural phenomenon than a musician.

He spent scant time playing tunes from his own CD (though he did suggest that the crowd buy it) before tearing back into the redneck anthem "Sweet Home Alabama." One can only wonder if punk, new wave, grunge or alternative rock ever got on the radio in Bice's hometown of Huntsville, Ala.,

Cliche as it may seem, it's hard to blame Bice for milking a formula that works. His audience is too young to have heard Hendrix play "Voodoo Chile" or Duane Allman play "Whipping Post." For all they know, Bice wrote "Free Bird" and that's good enough. Bice is also a pleasant enough guy who has a carpe diem attitude about it all.

After all, if he is going to bang out covers, he might as well do it in front of an army of screaming fans.