Days before we reported that American Idol winner Phillip Phillips would not need surgery after all after responding to alternate treatment. But it seems that he did indeed have surgery yesterday in Los Angeles. The surgery lasted 6 and a half hours and he is recovering well, according to TMZ. The kidney stone removed was reportedly so big that he could not have possibly passed it. He is expected to take up to six weeks to recover and should be ready in time for the American Idol national tour.

The American winner was originally scheduled to go under the knife last week for his kidney problem. However, the procedure had to be postponed because the crooner had come down with a fever, due to a sinus infection.

Phillip Phillips had to undergo 8 operations to treat his kidney problem during the course of American Idol. He was scheduled for surgery in California and recovery in a Malibu mansion, thanks to an American Idol executive who has offered his home for Phillips and his parents during the course of the entire recovery.

The 21-year-old singer waited until the end of the singing talent show to get the surgery done despite doctor's advice to have surgery right away.

His single "Home" has broken the record for the highest number of debut digital downloads last 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.

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Phillip phillips, American idol 2012, American Idol