Navy says 'Idol' contestant can tour

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 18 (UPI) -- "American Idol" contestant Phil Stacey can leave his shipmates to join his castmates on this summer's "American Idol" tour that kicks off in Florida.

"It is absolutely true," U.S. Navy spokesman Bob Anderson said to People magazine Friday about Petty Officer 3rd Class Stacey receiving permission to tour. "They're working on the logistics right now -- what he'll be paid, wear, stuff like that."

Stacey, 29, will join the top 10 "Idol" finishers -- Haley Scarnato, Sanjaya Malakar, Melinda Doolittle, Lakisha Jones, Blake Lewis, Gina Glocksen, Chris Richardson, Chris Sligh and Jordin Sparks for "American Idols Live!"

The nationwide concert tour kicks off July 6 in Sunrise, Fla., not far from Stacey's home in Jacksonville, and ends Sept. 22 in in Manchester, N.H.

Lewis and Sparks will be competing for the "Idol" title next week.