"American Idol" Contestants Know The Show Must Go On Despite Family Hardships

Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - "American Idol" contestant David Cook was hospitalized briefly last week for high blood pressure and heart palpitations, but the singer is coping with more than his own ailments. Cook's brother, Adam, is battling cancer.

Cook, who hasn't spoken about his brother, has performed with an electric guitar emblazoned with the initials "AC" on it.

Cook, who is from Blue Springs, Missouri, has two brothers whose names start with the letter "A," Adam and Andrew. Cook said, "So, because of superstition I put their initials on everything growing up. I decided a few years ago to put AC on my arm, so I carry that lucky charm with me everywhere."

Cook isn't the first Idol contestant to face hardship while on the show. Last year, "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks faced an enormously draining experience. She told People.com, "The week before we came up for the Top 24, my best friend passed away, and I was just like, 'I don't know if I can go out there.' I went to the funeral and came back and then my uncle passed away - and then my grandma ... and so I had three deaths go on during the show."

Sparks went on to say, "It's hard because you have to go out there and put this smile on your face. It's very exhausting, and it's very overwhelming and kind of gets to you. I mean I got sick a couple times, just because I was so tired and kept trying to do all this stuff and it was crazy."

"American Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe said recently that only once has a contestant had to take a leave from the show for personal reasons. It happened in the U.K., and Lythgoe said they gave the contestant a week off.