Some people think that the MARIAH CAREY / NICKI MINAJ FEUD on "American Idol" is B.S. . . . or at least it's way overblown.  (--And for good reason.  Nicki's hire sure seems like a stunt, no matter how you slice it.)

--But a source "connected" with "Idol" says it's very real . . . and that everyone was sent home from auditions in Baton Rouge this weekend, a week earlier than planned.  This was to give everyone a chance to "cool down."

--Although we've heard that Mariah and Nicki are acting more civil . . . at least professionally . . . there's talk that they were filming promos for the show late last week, and Mariah and Nicki had to be shot separately.

--The source says the show's staff and crew is so fed up with it, they already wish JENNIFER LOPEZ and STEVEN TYLER were back.

--The main problem is Nicki.  Supposedly, she "brings a negative vibe to the show," while Mariah is more of a pro who "holds her breath when Nicki goes on a rant."

--This "cool down" period is expected to last through this month, before the judges reconvene in November to do more auditions.

--By the way, the source says that when the big blowup happened in Charlotte last week, it happened before the contestant was told whether or not she'd be moving on.

--So the show gave her a pass to Hollywood in an attempt to keep her from exposing Nicki's tantrum on the set