Davy Jones -- lead singer of The Monkees -- died after suffering a heart attack this morning ... TMZ has learned.

An official from the medical examiner's office for Martin County, Florida confirmed with TMZ they received a call from Martin Memorial Hospital informing them that Jones had passed away.

We're told Davy suffered the heart attack at a ranch near his Florida home, where he was visiting his horses. Davy began experiencing distress while he was sitting in his car, and that's where a ranch hand found him.

The ranch hand told Sheriff's detectives ... the singer began to complain that he was not feeling well and was having trouble breathing. Paramedics were called and Jones was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Jones is survived by his wife Jessica and 4 daughters from previous marriages. He was 66-years-old. Jones was married to Jessica Pacheco -- his 3rd wife.

Jones joined The Monkees in 1965 ... along with Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork ... and together they churned out a bunch of hugely popular songs including 3 number 1 hits -- "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer."

The group was initially cast by TV producers who wanted to create a scripted series about an actual rock n' roll band. But the group exploded, and Jones in particular became a Beatles-caliber heartthrob.

The Monkees songs were covered by huge bands like Coldpay, and Smash Mouth's version of "I'm a Believer" was famously featured in "Shrek."

Davy's last performance was on February 19th in Oklahoma -- the night before, he performed "Daydream Believer" and "It's Nice to Be with You" at the BB King Blues Club in NYC ... and he looked totally fine

Some contestants who made it through were then sent packing in a new, cruel turn of events.

"American Idol" opened with 70 contestants Thursday (February 16) and ended with 42, as the Las Vegas cuts — referred to alternately as "brutal," "painful" and "deep" — lived up to their billing.

Some who made it through on the strength of their performances were later told they, in fact, didn't make it through, a new twist. The twist wasn't given a name, but it should have been called the "Gotcha!" — as in, "Oh, you thought you were going to go on to achieve your dream of being a singer? Gotcha!"

In Vegas, contestants were asked to form groups and sing songs from the '50s and '60s onstage at the Aria hotel, home to the "Viva Elvis" show.

The episode began, as all future "Idol" episodes should, with Heejun Han talking directly into the camera while wearing a red hooded sweatshirt. Han's feud with this year's resident cowboy contestant, Richie Law, has already proven he's a dry-witted jokester at heart. But Han is also able to turn on the charm, such as when he tamed the "Vocal Coach from Hell," Peggi Blu, and turned her into a pile of mush in his own hands. Regardless of Han's chances this season, he should be considered for the position of next "Idol" host, should Ryan Seacrest ever abandon his post. Or hey, isn't "The X Factor" looking for a new emcee?

Han — God bless Steven Tyler, who sang "Heejun" to the tune of "Hey Jude" when calling his name — made it through to the next round, along with groupmates Phillip Phillips (he apparently is going by "Phil" Phillips now, but we still prefer Phillip Phillips) and Neco Starr. Jairon Jackson initially made it through but then caught an ax to his jugular after the "Gotcha!" twist reared its ugly head. Sorry, man, no one said Las Vegas was going to be all fun and games.

Richie Law, who tormented Han when they were groupmates in Hollywood, found a new victim to torture in Las Vegas in Jermaine Jones. The two baritones made for an unlikely duo, joining forces on "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," but they pulled it off — but only after Law once again showed his stubbornness, telling cameras, "I didn't come here to recycle music; I came here to make it." His determination paid off, but he needs to find a less aggressive way to celebrate; Jones accused him of both bruising his rotator cup and almost taking his neck off while manhandling him following their victory.

The foursome to watch Thursday was the group composed of Reed Grimm, Elise Testone, Haley Johnson and Eben Franckewitz, who earned a standing ovation from the judges and were dubbed "unreal" by Steven Tyler for their version of "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes." The performance came together in note-perfect fashion, as both Grimm — compared by some to an emerging Casey Abrams, though he reminds us more of actor Ethan Embry for some reason — and heartthrob-in-training Franckewitz made their presences felt.

Other victims of the "Gotcha" twist included Gabi Carrubba, Candice Glover, Jairon Jackson, Gaga-alike Angie Ziederman and Schyler Dixon, whose brother, Colton, made it through to the next round. Singers who just plain got cut the first time around included Molly Hunt, Curtis Gray, Curtis Finch Jr., Mathenee Treco and Nick Boddington.

While most contestants took their dismissals in stride, Jessica Phillips wins the Sour Grapes Award for most bitter rant of the night, telling cameras, "I'm an actual artist. It just doesn't seem like they're looking for real artists," after the judges told her to pack her bags. She continued: "I didn't come here to win a television show; I came here for a record deal. And, um, a lot of people are making it through that are not real artists, and they're not going to sell any records, and I don't have to worry about that because that's not me."

Britnee Kellogg, the 27-year-old single mom from Vancouver, Washington, sang alongside Phillips and initially made it through, but was later cut thanks to the "Gotcha!" Only 24-year-old Courtney Williams of Philadelphia made it through from their original trio.

Next week, the Idols will continue to fight for their lives as the field is narrowed from 42 to 24.

Haley Smith, Angie Zeiderman and Jairon Jackson also stand out during Aspen, Colorado, auditions. By Adam Graham

The change in direction in this year's "American Idol" — focusing on actual contestants rather than the humiliating auditions that result in YouTube infamy — has, thus far, deprived viewers of any great-bad moments. That changed Wednesday (January 25) during the "Idol" auditions from Aspen, Colorado, when viewers were introduced to "professional air guitarist" Magic Cyclops, who showed up in front of Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson in an American-flag T-shirt, a red-white-and-blue bandana and a faux-British accent he said he picked up in Davenport, Iowa, from watching the BBC.

The long-haired, facial-hair-sporting Cyclops refused to give his age — "it's not polite to ask a lady her age," he told Jackson — and claimed to be the proud owner of 11,000 air guitars. "I know there's a guy in Belgium that has, I think, five more than me," he said. When it came time to sing, Cyclops offered the judges their choice between Neil Diamond's "Cracklin' Rosie" and Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" and ended up singing them both in a kind of metalhead growl.

Jackson was already on his way out of the room when Cyclops hit his grand finale — a burst of confetti shooting out of a cannon he had tucked into the back of his pants — but by that time, season 11 had finally given us someone to include alongside William Hung, Renaldo Lapuz and others in the "Idol" Bad Audition Hall of Fame.

Cyclops aside, Aspen had a solid crop of talent to offer, with 31 singers earning Golden Tickets to Hollywood. Perhaps the most unique contestant was 25-year-old Angie Zeiderman of Delray Beach, Florida, a would-be Lady Gaga in a floral-print minidress, pearls and a purple hairdo who rolled around the audition stage while performing "When You've Got It, Flaunt It" from "The Producers." She followed it with a measured take on Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou," leading Jackson to tell her, "You're in your own little world." Lopez complimented her strong voice and her tone, while Tyler told her she had a "great little voice." Zeiderman herself told the cameras, "It is time for a vintage glitter queen on 'American Idol,' " and it seems as though she's right, as she sailed through to the next round of auditions.

Viewers were also told the story of Shelby Tweten, 17, of North Mankato, Minnesota, who was diagnosed bipolar last year but who said "American Idol" keeps her balanced and gives her a reason to stay on her medication. Her version of Carrie Underwood's "Temporary Home" brought a tear to Lopez's eye and inspired Jackson to give her a "big, huge yes!" to Hollywood.

Haley Smith, meanwhile, doesn't have just one job she has to leave to head to Hollywood, but three. The hardworking 18-year-old from Orem, Utah, brought a little flower power to Wednesday's show, as her throwback hippie vibe gave Steven Tyler flashbacks. "I love your voice so much. You're right out of my era, and I'm honored to be here listening to your voice," he told the Janis Joplin-like Smith, following her earthy version of Rufus and Chaka Kahn's "Tell Me Something Good."

Then there was 19-year-old Jairon Jackson of Denver, Colorado, whose original song "So Hard" inspired Lopez to exclaim, "That kid is a real artist!" and also provided enough of a tie-in for producers to play will.i.am.'s Lopez-assisted "T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)." Cross-promotion is key, kids.

Other singers ushered through to Hollywood on Wednesday's episode included elementary school teacher Jenni Schick, 24, of Sterling, Virginia, who managed to steal a kiss on the lips from Tyler before leaving the judge's room; Curtis Gray, 28, of Spring Hill, Florida, who was called a "major talent" after his version of Boyz II Men's "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"; Scotty McCreery sound-alike Richie Law, 19, of Centennial, Colorado; Devan Jones, 26, of Aurora, Colorado, a hotel clerk who moved the judges with his version of the Script's "The Man Who Can't Be Moved"; and 25-year-old Mathenee Reco of Centennial, Colorado, a dance instructor who gave an animated version of the Beatles' "Hey Jude."

On Thursday, "Idol" is off to Galveston, Texas, to find out if everything really is bigger in Texas.

Updated Daily. All music , all genre's

The headlines are funny. "Why was Nicole Kidman riding shotgun with Zac Efron?" trumpets E! Online. The reason is that Nicole and Zac are co-starring in the upcoming movie The Paperboy, and the poster has just been released. It shows Nicole's character leering at Zac Efron's character, and the reviews are good. An entertainment website, Hollywood Hills, calls Nicole "still hot as hell" and "very alluring." So do the two characters connect romantically as the movie poster certainly suggests? Zac is being coy, but tells E! Entertainment News, "It's fun. We get to really have some fun." No release date yet for the movie.