Idol Winner Phillip Phillips Had 8 Surgeries During Show’s Run

American Idol winner Phillip Phillips has more than his Idol trophy and record contract to be thankful for. He also has his health!

People caught up with Phillip Phillips’ father, also named Phillip Phillips, at the Ford sponsored Idol finale party to talk about the reigning champion’s condition that had the folk singer under the weather for the whole duration of the show.

What’s surprising is just how ill Phillip Phillips was during his time on Idol, going under the knife eight times to rid his kidneys of impacted stones. According to the singer’s father he wasn’t at his 100 percent best during his time on the show. “They’ve just seen a glimpse of what Phillip can do. We can’t wait to get him well and 100 percent and really see how he can perform.” Of his Idol win, the elder Phillips says, “I was so proud I could cry.”

Phillip’s illness was somewhat documented on the show when Idol brought to it to attention during one of the rehearsal segments with Jimmy Iovine that he was recovering from kidney surgery. It was also said on the eve before the season finale that the singer turned down emergency surgery in order to perform for his hometown when the Idols returned to honor their locals.

In the coming weeks Phillips will have that emergency surgery that he put off to finish out his Idol season. The surgery will reconstruct his kidneys and give him just enough time to rest up before the American Idol tour kicks off. “The recovery’s probably two to four weeks,” said his father. “He’s healthy, he’s good. His kidneys are good. I can’t wait for America and the whole world to see him [after his surgery], because he’s a big cut-up. He’s going to have some fun.”

When asked about how he got through being ill throughout the whole season, Phillip Phillips said, “It was very tough [getting through the season]. I had great doctors and great people surrounding me [who] really helped out, so it’s just a blessing to be here.”

Are you happy about Idol’s outcome this season?