Newly-engaged Simon Cowell stunned an American Idol hopeful and his fellow judges by offering to go to church with the deeply religious contestant.

Cowell made the shock offer after wannabe Jermaine Sellers responded to criticism from the judges by telling them: “I want you all to come to church with me one good Sunday.”

But he wasn’t expecting the reply he got from Simon, who instantly replied: “I’ll go to church with you.”

Fellow judge Kara DioGuardi looked gobsmacked and asked Cowell: “Really?”

Cowell shrugged: “Why not?”

Sellers, who described himself as “God-fearing”, thought Cowell was joking and pleaded: “Don’t play. I love the church.”

But Cowell maintained he was serious.

He was soon back to delivering his trademark putdowns to Jermaine, 27, who performed Marvin Gaye’s classic What’s Going On in a bid to get through to the last nine male contenders.

He told him: “I don’t think that was church singing. Church singing kind of gets you. You did a kind of cabaret performance with it.”

Simon Cowell has spoken of his sadness at the death of American Idol contestant Alexis Cohen.

Cohen, who became known as “Glitter Girl”, was killed after being hit by a car in New Jersey on Saturday.

Daniel Bark, 23, has since been charged with causing the hit-and-run death of Cohen.

The 25-year-old singer auditioned for Idol during the seventh and eighth seasons of the hit TV show.

“I was incredibly sad to hear the news about Alexis,” said Idol judge Cowell.

“She was one of the contestants I will always remember.

“She had a big personality and a big heart. My thoughts are now with her family and friends.”

Source: Splash News