American Idol gives its contestants a grueling schedule during the weeks of shooting live performances, Ford video commercials and sessions with mentors. The show may be over - the hard work is not.

Even while the Idols sing a path across the U.S. (they’ll visit 49 cities in 72 days), some of the finalists will be pulling double duty and making records at the same time. Davids Cook and Archuleta, the season’s final two men standing, will both be working on tracks even as they woo audiences.

Thanks to a new deal with 19 Recordings and Arista Nashville, Kristy Lee Cook (who managed to astound judges and audiences with her unimagined longevity in the contest) will also be working on her debut album. The first single “15 Minutes of Shame,” is scheduled for an August 11 release. Cook was formerly signed to this same label years before, but never had the chance to record a single song.

In other Idol news, Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard recently wed his girlfriend, Clay Aiken is fathering a child and ex-stripper David Hernandez was recently spotted in a bar singing a karaoke version of “I Believe I Can Fly.” As for the heavy singing schedule the Top 10 Idols are facing, it could put a real damper on summer fun.

One Idol, however, isn’t too worried that the tour will mess up his love life. David Cook recently talked about the upcoming work and his relationship with fellow Idol Kimberly Caldwell. “We seem to complement each other really well,” he said to the press. “She’s very supportive, and not only with me but with my entire family, which is huge. She’s great.”

It’s not all sunshine and roses for the Idols, however. Season Six runner-up Blake Lewis has split from his label, Artista Records. His debut, Audio Day Dream, sold 300,000 copies, but after only seven months he and Artista have decided to go their separate ways. “My contract with Artisa is up, and they didn’t option me, so I’m with 19 Recordings and we’re working on booking a tour,” Lewis said of his career.