While Fantasia and Asia'h Epperson Deal with Legal Issues, American Idol Chooses Between Jennifer Lopez and Shania Twain

American Idol, even in its off-season, is in the news today as former contestants Asia'h Epperson and Fantasia Barrino are facing potential legal trouble while the show decides between Jennifer Lopez and Shania Twain as a judge for next season.

Epperson, who was a contestant on the show during Season Seven, was arrested in the wee hours of Thursday morning at the Colony Night Club in Los Angeles. She spent the night in police custody but seemed to be in good spirits when leaving the station. She stands accused, along with her sister, of assaulting another woman in the bathroom at the nightclub. It is not clear yet what caused the incident or to what extent it got physical. The unidentified alleged victim plans to press charges and claims that Epperson caused her bruises and pain.

Fantasia Barrino's problems make Epperson's look small. Earlier this week, it was revealed that she was named in a lawsuit brought by a woman named Paula Cook. Among other things, Fantasia is accused of making a sex tape with Cook's husband, Antwaun Cook.

Fantasia reportedly took the news and the resulting publicity hard and a short while after the story broke, Fantasia reportedly attempted suicide through a combination of aspirin and sleep aids.

Now it is reported that Paula Cook is planning to sue Fantasia for "alienation of affection and criminal conversation". Seven states in the country, including Cook's home state of North Carolina, allow for the 'other woman' to be sued. It would seem difficult to believe that a woman sleeping with a married man could be sued for doing so, but Fantasia's attorneys have been contacted and it looks as if the lawsuit will proceed.

Finally, the show that made both Eppreson and Fantasia at least somewhat famous, American Idol, is looking for two new judges for its new season. While names ranging from Steven Tyler to Howard Stern have been mentioned as possible replacements for the departing Simon Cowell and Ellen Degeneres, it appears that for a female judge, they have narrowed it down to either Jennifer Lopez, who is thought to be the show's first choice, or Shania Twain, who is reportedly considered to be 'Plan B' now.

At first, Lopez looked to be a 'sure thing', but according to various reports, there is some dispute over how much she wants to get paid and how much American Idol is willing to pay.

So while two of its past contestants, Fantasia Barrino and Asia'h Epperson, fight off legal problems, American Idol looks towards its future with Jennifer Lopez or Shania Twain.

Source: Staff, "American Idol Back-Up Plan -- Shania Twain", tmz.com
Source: Staff, "Fantasia May Be Sued for 'Stealing Husband'", tmz.com
Source: Staff, "American Idol Contestant - Busted", tmz.com