American Idol winner Phillip Phillips has broken the record for the highest number of debut digital downloads this week. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the crooner had 278,000 digital downloads this week - a record high for a debut single.

Phillips' song is the second-best selling digital song in American Idol history, only trumped by Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You" in 2009.

Phillips' single "Home" is probably what guaranteed his Idol win. Dressed in a dark green jacket, gray shirt and black pants, his performance included a huge marching band entering from both sides of the stage and three backup singers. That particular performance earned him rave reviews and a standing ovation from the judges and audience.

The 21-year-old former pawn shop worker was scheduled to have kidney surgery on Tuesday but was forced to postpone it due to an infection.

Phillip Phillips had to undergo 8 operations to treat his kidney problem during the course of American Idol and urgently needs another surgery. He has waited until the end of the singing talent show to get the surgery done despite doctor's advice to have surgery right away. The surgery has been pushed back to next week and he will take up to six weeks to recover.

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American Idol, Phillip phillips