Mandisa is Eliminated From American Idol, Next Week - Queen  4/6/06

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MANDISA IS ELIMINATED FROM THE “AMERICAN IDOL” COMPETITION; 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. 

We will rock you when the AMERICAN IDOL Top 8 finalists perform their favorite songs by world-famous British rock band QUEEN on next week’s performance show, Tuesday, April 11 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape delayed) on FOX. Earlier this week, the finalists had a chance to perform their songs with the legendary band at the latest stop on QUEEN's current tour, which features Free/Bad Company vocalist Paul Rodgers. Next Wednesday, after the finalists perform one of QUEEN’s hits, America's vote will be revealed and another one bites the dust on a special one-hour AMERICAN IDOL results show Wednesday, April 12 (8:30-9:32 PM ET Live/PT tape-delayed).

QUEEN came to popularity in the mid-1970s, topping the U.S. charts with singles such as "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "Another One Bites the Dust." They were rediscovered by a whole new generation of fans when "Bohemian Rhapsody," Freddie Mercury’s classic rock opus, was featured in the 1992 movie "Wayne's World," taking the song to the Top 10 for a second time. Their rock anthems "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You" continue to be among the most-played tracks in America, both on the radio and at sports stadiums across the U.S., where they are heard over the loudspeaker at practically every major sporting event. In the UK, the band recently overtook the Beatles as the most successful band ever on the UK albums chart.

QUEEN has also influenced the world of musical theater, producing and writing with Ben Elton the hit rock musical “We Will Rock You.” The show is now approaching its fifth year in London’s West End and has spawned productions in Australia, Germany, Japan, Spain, Russia and Las Vegas, with an audience of over 5 million to-date. QUEEN was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH, in 2001, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002, and the inaugural UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004, where they were given credit for “jumpstarting the video era.”

QUEEN, with Paul Rodgers taking over for the late, legendary Mercury, are currently in the midst of their first major U.S. tour together, the band's first tour of this country since 1982.

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.

Go to AmericanIdol.com for all of your AMERICAN IDOL news. Check out photos from the different audition cities, along with special, behind-the-scenes information on AMERICAN IDOL. 

-FOX-