‘Idol’s’ Hicks settles lawsuit

“American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks has settled a lawsuit he brought against a Nashville producer over the rights to three songs he wrote and recorded before becoming a TV phenom.

Hicks gained possession of the master recordings of the songs under the deal, revealed Tuesday in documents filed in federal court in Hicks’ hometown of Birmingham, Ala. In exchange, Hicks agreed not to pursue further court action against producer William Smith, who recorded Hicks several years ago and recently tried to market the songs. No money will change hands under the agreement.