Former ‘Idol’ Luke Menard Not Letting Cancer Interfere With Music Career

Tags:

American Idol,Luke Menard,Michael Johns,Music
 
 

FIRST PUBLISHED: June 24, 2008 2:55 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: June 24, 2008 10:30 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Former “American Idol” contender Luke Menard is continuing on with his music career despite his recent cancer diagnosis.

In May, it was revealed that the Top 24 contestant from Season 7 was battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and though he has been busy receiving treatment for the disease, he continues to work on new music.

“Luke is doing great,” fellow Season 7 contestant Michael Johns told Access Hollywood. “He went through his second round of chemo. He is battling. He is actually going to Nashville to do some writing very soon, [a] second round of writing.”

Menard, 29, a one-time carpet layer, has been battling stage two of the disease in Los Angeles, with his wife by his side.

Though chemotherapy is known to be rough on a patient, Menard isn’t letting the disease or its treatment stop him. Johns said the Indiana native is even hoping to catch his buddies on the “American Idols” Live Tour 2008, which kicks off July 1 in Glendale, Arizona.

“He is feeling really fit and healthy but it’s not getting in the way of his career,” Johns said. “He actually told me he was going to come to a couple of shows.”

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keep your Access to everything in Hollywood! Breaking news and personal commentary from Nancy, Billy, Tony, Shaun, Maria & all of our producers! Follow us on and now!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

What Do You Think?

How many times will you see ‘New Moon?’

  • Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in ‘New Moon’
     
  • Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart chat during the presentation of their new film ‘The Twighlight Saga: New Moon’ during the HVB youth event at the Olympic Hall on November 14, 2009 in Munich, Germany
     
  • Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson arrive at the afterparty for the premiere ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ at the Hammer Museum on November 16, 2009 in Los Angeles, California
     
  • Robert Pattinson runs his fingers through his hair as he hits ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ premiere red carpet, LA, Nov. 16, 2009
     
  • Michael Sheen in Summit’s ‘New Moon’
     
  • Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, and Chaske Spence as werewolves in ‘New Moon’
     
voteview results & comments