Phillip Phillips, who won the 11th season of “American Idol” last month, recently underwent kidney surgery and is currently in recovery.
The 21-year-old rock musician from Leesburg, Georgia, went under the knife in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 6, to remove kidney stones that were too large to pass, People magazine reported, quoting his spokesperson as saying: “Surgery went well. He’s resting.”
He had undergone eight similar procedures during his time on “American Idol,” since the fall of 2011, and it was announced after the finale that he would have another one performed. Phillips had had a stent placed inside one of his kidneys months ago and has said that his stones were causing him regular discomfort.
The singer, who was touted as the season’s token heartthrob and has been compared to Dave Matthews, is set to join the nine “American Idol” finalists for a North American tour, starting on July 6 in Detroit. The last concert takes place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 11.
Phillips is also planning to record his first album. He said on his Twitter page on June 1, when asked by a fan when he thinks he will begin releasing original music: “In a few months, I’m hoping.”