American Idol winner Studdard won a $1m (�630,000) record deal

The 26-year-old was in his Alabama hometown when he was taken ill, a spokeswoman for his record label said.

She said Studdard "will likely remain in the hospital through the end of the week - all promotion for his new album this week has been cancelled".

Studdard won American Idol last year and released his second album, I Need an Angel, on Tuesday.

Spokeswoman Liz Morentin of J Records said Studdard had been feeling unwell over the past couple of weeks.

Exhaustion is believed to be at the root of the illness, although further tests are being carried out in hospital.

The R&B star - dubbed the Velvet Teddy Bear - beat fellow finalist Clay Aiken in the American Idol final in May 2003.

I Need an Angel is Studdard's follow-up to last year's album Soulful, which sold more than one million copies.