Phillip Phillips To Kick Off 'American Idol' Tour After Postponing Surgery

Imagine an "American Idol" summer tour without the season's winner. It's never happened before and, after some questions about whether recently-crowned champ Phillip Phillips
 would be sufficiently recovered from kidney surgery to join the rest of this year's top 10, it doesn't look like it will happen this year, either.

Phillips, who battled painful kidney stones
 all season and underwent eight surgeries during the race for the prize on "Idol," was reportedly slated to have reconstructive kidney surgery last week. That procedure was put off due to a fever and now, according to E! Online, the surgery may not be happening at all.

Citing an unnamed tour rep, the site reported that Phillips will be onstage on July 6 in Detroit when American Idols Live kicks off. Instead of flying to New York to do press following his win and then home to Georgia for surgery, Phillips instead did his interviews remotely. And while surgery is still apparently an option, sources told E! that "alternative treatment" has been effective and doctors have given Phillips, 21, the go-ahead to join the 45-day tour.

The source said Phillips is "being treated and doing well," but so far the singer and his family are keeping details of his treatment and any future medical plans private. A spokesperson for Fox had no comment on the reports and a rep for Phillips could not be reached at press time.

"He will still be attending all the tour dates and is really looking forward to the launch on July 6," the tour rep said.