'American Idol' Contestant David Cook Taken to Hospital for High Blood Pressure
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"American Idol" contestant David Cook was taken to the hospital Tuesday night for high blood pressure and heart palpitations, but was never admitted, "Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe said.
"He was taken to the hospital just to see a doctor, but was never admitted,” said Lythgoe on a conference call with reporters. “He still has to take medication, but is fine now and will be continuing with “American Idol.”
Lythgoe said the 25-year-old Missouri bartender was treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for heart palpitations and high blood pressure. He did not require continued care, Lythgoe said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Earlier Wednesday, "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest relayed a text message that Lythgoe had sent him:
"After the show, he [Cook] was in the elevator and said he was going to go to the hospital. He said he had high blood pressure and wasn't feeling well. Now he's back at the hotel," Lythgoe said.
Seacrest told listeners of his KIIS-FM broadcast that "I don't know what he was stressed about. He said yesterday that his blood pressure was high and he wanted to get checked out after the show."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Show medics said Cook's blood pressure was "far too high" and urged the aspiring "Idol" to seek treatment, but he did not want to leave until the show concluded, TMZ.com reported. He was then rushed to the hospital, where doctors gave Cook medicine to bring down his blood pressure and released him after a few hours, the Web site said.
According to TMZ, an "Idol" source said Cook, a top contender on the singing competition, has been under a lot of pressure over his brother's battle with cancer; in an earlier show, he collapsed before performing and said he could not continue, but wound up being able to go through with the program.
Before being driven to the hospital, Cook, sporting a new haircut, pleased the judges with his rendition of Dolly Parton's "Little Sparrow," though Simon said it wasn't his best performance.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Click here to read more at TMZ.com.
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FOXNews.com's Hollie McKay contributed to this report.