Nikki Reed Is ‘Pumped’ Paul McDonald Is Off ‘American Idol’

American Idol fans might be mourning Paul McDonald’s elimination from Fox’s American Idol Thursday, but Twilight's Nikki Reed isn’t.

"She is actually pumped," McDonald, 26, told People after confirming that they are seeing each other. "She said, 'Dude, you finally get to do your thing and be yourself and be the artist you are.' She is happy about the whole situation. She has been nothing but cool to me."   McDonald, also isn’t weeping because he says he can now do his own thing.   "I'm really, really happy about the way that I went out," he says.   "I have this other side that I didn't even start to show," adds the singer. "I play keys. It's hard to do in a minute-and-a-half of a cover song so I'm looking forward to doing my own thing and getting creative again."   He says he may even “release a solo album” and would love for fellow season 10 contestants Stefano Langone, James Durbin and roommate Jacob Lusk to play on it.   As for Reed, he tells USA Today, "She's super cool, man, she's super smart, really cool girl. I'm happy about it. We've been hanging out, here and there, you know we're both pretty busy, but it's been fun so far."