It was an ultimate feel-good moment, in the middle of what cynics could easily dismiss as a cultural candy bar.

All night, the "American Idol" singers had exhorted the crowd to come to its feet — with varying degrees of success.

But when the five male finalists took the stage Tuesday night, belting out the anthem of their missing friend, Bo Bice, seemingly everyone in the Everett Events Center rose from their seats to dance, clap and sing along to "Sweet Home Alabama."

And when Constantine Maroulis, the show's other long-haired rocker, urged everyone to cheer their support for Bice — who underwent emergency surgery in Las Vegas late last week — the crowd of grandparents, kids, teens and middle-age couples enthusiastically complied.

The "Idol" phenomenon is such that many concertgoers knew before they arrived that Bice, runner-up to victor Carrie Underwood, was off the tour — perhaps for good.

It hadn't been in the papers or on TV. The "Idol" organization and tour promoters have been silent on Bice's absence from the past four concerts, including Tuesday night's. Seven spokespeople from three "Idol"-related companies on two coasts declined Tuesday to answer simple questions about his health.

Several "Idol" singers said before Tuesday's show that they were forbidden to talk to the media about Bice, 29. Scott Savol announced Bice's absence — and surgery — midway into the concert, between two of his own songs.

But "Idol" is a creature of the popular culture, and the popular imagination. The answers lie on the Web — the great modern purveyor of backyard gossip. Bice's biggest fan sites, www.sugarmoney.net and www.bicesquad.net, have provided updates as he recovers from surgery to repair a blocked or kinked intestine. Bice had reportedly been losing weight for weeks, and was diagnosed with food poisoning twice — immediately before the May 24 finale of "American Idol" in Los Angeles, and again in Grand Prairie, Texas, where the contestants performed Aug. 13.

"I was heartbroken when I found out," said Jenni Ames of Everett. She overheard the news while eating dinner immediately before the concert.

Ten-year-old Chandler Wegner, of Lake Stevens, got the bad news from his mom before he arrived. But he colored a large "Bo Rocks!" poster anyway, and waved it exuberantly during the Bice tribute, which included a video performance of "Vehicle."

"It's pretty bad. But at least we know he's getting better," Wegner said.

Diane Brooks: 425-745-7802 or dbrooks@seattletimes.com