That was a close call!
Moments before American Idol's Lauren Alaina was set to take the stage at L.A.'s Nokia Live to face off against Scotty McCreery Tuesday, the 16-year-old singer received emergency medical treatment to combat a bout of laryngitis.
With third-place finisher Haley Reinhart waiting in the wings prepared to compete against McCreery, 17, Alaina rallied and took the stage ready to sing.
"I'm here, I'm ready to sing and I'm fine," Alaina told host Ryan Seacrest at the top of Tuesday's broadcast. "Don't worry about it." Later, an Idol medic explained Alaina blew a vocal cord during an afternoon rehearsal and had received treatment in the interim.
An Idol insider tells Us Weekly the singer is "in a real state," but pushing through.
"She is trying to get her head together. It's been a roller coaster for her. She's determined to get through this," says the source of Alaina, citing nerves as the reason for the singer's health scare. "She's a trooper."
Indeed, Alaina took the stage Tuesday to perform Carrie Underwood's "Flat on the Floor," and received a standing ovation from judge Jennifer Lopez.
Alaina and McCreery are set to perform three songs: Their favorite from the competition, one song selected by their personal idols (George Strait and Underwood) and their coronation song should they win the competition.
By Allison Corneau for UsMagazine.com. For more Channel Surfing, click here.
