Following a wildly successful debut album, Chris Daughtry admits that the pressure is on for its follow-up.

"I don't want to put out anything that is second rate or be accused of going through a sophomore slump," Daughtry told Entertainment Weekly. "So we're taking our time on it."

What can fans expect from the band's second CD, likely to hit stores in the late spring of 2009?

"It's going to be a big huge rock album. We are working with the same producer — Howard Benson [All American Rejects, My Chemical Romance] — same band and some of the same writers so it feels very comfortable this time around."

We can't wait.

Paris Bennett, the fifth season American Idol finalist that received a surprisingly early boot that year, is expecting her first child.

The Rockford, Illinois-native's mother, Jamecia Bennett, told The Minnesota Star Tribute that the father "chooses not to be in the public eye," adding that Bennett "has a ring" and is expecting to have a baby shower in August.

We wish her nothing but the best.

David Archuleta recently gave an interview to Seventeen.

We've excerpted parts of it below, but one response stands out the most: the 17-year old American Idol finalist says he's never kissed a girl.

We can think of a few million females that would like to change that...

When was your first kiss?
I haven’t had a first kiss.

What's the girly movie you secretly love?
I only know of one, and it was good: A Walk to Remember. I hear so much about The Notebook, but I've never seen it. That's the one all the girls were like, "Aww!"

What's your dream job?
To be doing what I am now, only more developed and have more experience in this. But this is my dream job, that's what's funny about it! I never thought I'd be here. I’m in the recording studio right now, just looking at the mics and the headphones and it’s crazy! If not music, I think it would be pretty cool to be an ear, nose, and throat doctor.

Who wants to be the first to kiss David Archuleta?

Another American Idol finalist has been dropped from her record label.

The fate has befallen Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee and Blake Lewis.

Now, Fantasia Barrino has reportedly been dropped from 19 Management. The reason for the split, according to Entertainment Weekly sources, is "creative differences."

This comes as a surprise because - given the poor climate for record sales - Fantasia's albums have done fairly well. Her debut, Free Yourself, sold almost twp million copies, and the follow-up, 2006's Fantasia, went gold and garnered three Grammy nominations.

Auditions for the eighth season of American Idol are underway. They kick off July 17 in San Francisco and will head to seven additional cities.

Check out the complete list now - and good luck to all that audition!

• San Francisco, CA: July 17
• Louisville, KY: July 21
• Phoenix, AZ: July 25
• Salt Lake City, UT: July 29
• San Juan, Puerto Rico: Aug. 2
• Kansas City, MO: Aug. 8
• Jacksonville, FL: Aug. 13
• East Rutherford, NJ: Aug. 19

Simon, Paula and Randy are ready to entertain the best and worst of new American Idol auditions.

Clay Aiken - who's set to have a baby with Jaymes Foster - isn't the only season two finalist with huge news on his future.

Rubem Studdard has obtained a marriage license in Alabama. According to state law, that means he now has 30 days to marry Surata Zuri McCants.

As eyewitness to the paperwork being filled out said the couple "looked really happy." And we couldn't be happier for them!

That was fast.

Reportedly, Blake Lewis has already been dropped from Arista Records.

The sixth season runner-up did not see his debut album, Audio Day Dream, produce a single chart-worth single, as it underperformed American Idol standards, selling 98,000 its first week and 299,000 to date.

Clive Davis embraces Blake Lewis, months before the latter would be dropped from his record label.

Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee were dropped from their respective labels about 18 months after they were signed. Ruben Studdard released three albums before he was dropped.

Blake had just signed with Arista last August. We wish him the best of luck.

Great news, Taylor Hicks fans:

Both of you can be excited that your favorite American Idol singer has landed with a new record label, Vanguard Records. It will distribute his new album in August.

Lost in the excitement over David Cook and David Archuleta is news on other American Idol finalists from season seven. For example, here's an impressive look at what Brooke White is up to:

The talented singer has teamed up with Idol Gives Back and Malaria No More, to launch the “Save The World Summer” campaign.  The initiative seeks to encourage kids to utilize their summer vacation in order to raise money for charitable causes.

Specially, the “Save the World Summer” campaign is focusing on the impoverished in Africa; the participant that raises the most bed nets for Malaria No More will receive two tickets to next year’s American Idol finale.

“It’s empowering for kids to learn how they can take simple steps to make a huge impact, be it through providing food for a hungry family, planting a tree to combat global warming or donating a bed net to protect a child from malaria," White said.

"By learning that every individual can make a difference, they are learning what I learned through my experience on American Idol—that anything is possible.”

Review more information about the “Save the World Summer” campaign and all the rules and regulations involving the American Idol finale ticket prize at the charity's official website.

In a sweet video, David Archuleta thanks his fans for their support. Take a look: