American Idol's David Cook Faces Family Crisis

According to People, American Idol finalist David Cook, who was briefly hospitalized for high blood pressure and heart palpitations, is also facing a family crisis.

Sources say David's older brother, Adam Cook, is fighting cancer. David has not gone public about his brother's illness out of respect for him and because he does not want America to vote for him just out of sympathy.

Last year's Idol winner, Jordin Sparks, can also relate to enduring personal crises while meeting the demands of being an American Idol contestant.

While filming the show last year, Sparks suffered the loss of her best friend, her uncle and her grandmother.

"It's hard because you have to go out there and put this smile on your face," Sparks said. "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."

If the conditions with Cook's brother worsen, it is possible that he would be granted time off the show, according to People.