TOP 8 FINALISTS WILL COMPETE ON QUEEN-THEMED ROCK WEEK PERFORMANCE SHOW TUESDAY, APRIL 11, ON FOX


The fifth season of AMERICAN IDOL continued its phenomenal momentum as the Top 9 finalists performed country songs on Tuesday. Last night in a live guest appearance, country great Kenny Rogers performed his hit song "I Can't Unlove You," and it was revealed that Mandisa received the fewest votes after Tuesday's performance show, ending her quest to become the next American Idol. Mandisa, from Antioch, TN, sang "Any Man of Mine." Nearly 35 million votes were cast after Tuesday's performance show.

So far this season, AMERICAN IDOL shows incredible growth compared to the same telecasts last year, increasing +13% among Adults 18-49 (13.0/32 vs. 11.5/29), +10% among Adults 18-34 (11.9/33 vs. 10.8/30), +4% among Teens (9.8/29 vs. 9.4/29) and +14% in Total Viewers (31.1 vs. 27.2 Mil).

Next week, the competition on television's hottest show heats up when the Top 8 finalists (Bucky Covington, Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin, Ace Young, Paris Bennett, Katharine McPhee and Kellie Pickler) compete head-to-head again on Tuesday, April 11 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). Providing the theme for the performance show will be the British rock band QUEEN. Tune in the following night and find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who must go home on a special one-hour results show Wednesday, April 12 (8:30-9:32 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Fourteen-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment, Ltd.; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.