Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Pia Toscano Working With Songwriter Rodney Jerkins

Producer Rodney Jerkins is working with several of the 'American Idol' contestants from Season 10, including winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina. He's also been in the studio with Pia Toscano -- whose "we can't believe it" elimination sent gasps across couches and water coolers -- telling The Hollywood Reporter that Toscano's album is "a big, diva-sounding record." This we'd expect from the consummate balladeer and fan favorite.

When the Top 11 head on their summer tour, Jerkins will continue working with them, even if it means he has to hit the road and bring the tunes to them. It'll be hectic, but hey, at least he can rack up frequent flyer miles. "These kids have crazy schedules so what’s going to happen is while they're on the road traveling, they'll have to stop in certain cities and record, which might mean us traveling and meeting them to record," Jerkins admitted.

Once he was tasked to write for McCreery and Alaina, Jerkins had to switch gears from diva-pop mode with Toscano to the country and pop-country modes. "I wrote five country songs last week," he admitted. "It's transformed not just the contestants but even the producer. Tricky [Stewart] produced that 'Mama' song for Lauren, and he said, "With this show, we’re not just urban pop guys anymore.'" Ain't that the truth! 'Idol' no longer pledges allegiance to any genre.

There are no projected release dates for albums from McCreery, Alaina and Toscano; and Jerkins, who is under orders from 'Idol' mentor and Interscope head honcho Jimmy Iovine, was told to keep writing. And that's just what's he's doing.

Watch Pia Toscano Sing 'I'll Stand By You' on 'American Idol'