Stevie Wonder to Perform With Top 12 Finalists on American Idol Wednesday  3/15/06

Survey - Who Will Win?

STEVIE WONDER TAKES THE STAGE WITH TOP 12 FINALISTS ON "AMERICAN IDOL" WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, ON FOX

Finalists to Perform "The Music of Stevie Wonder" Tonight

Legendary musician and 24-time Grammy Award winner Stevie Wonder will join the Top 12 Finalists on the AMERICAN IDOL stage tomorrow night to perform "My Love Is On Fire" from his new album "A Time To Love" on the AMERICAN IDOL results show Wednesday, March 15 (9:00-9:30 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. Tonight's performance show (Tuesday, March 14, 8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), dedicated to Wonder's amazing song catalogue, will feature the finalists' first meeting with the renowned artist, who gave them advice as they prepared to perform his songs in the competition.

Born Stevland Morris in Saginaw, MI, Wonder enters his fifth decade as one of the most prolific artists in music history, having delivered 35 U.S. albums – including 28 major studio releases – with album sales totaling more than 72 million units. The singer/songwriter has garnered more than 30 Top-10 hits and 11 No. 1 pop singles. He has won 24 Grammys (and a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in '96) and a host of other awards, including induction into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, an Academy Award and, most recently, Billboard's 2004 Century Award.

Wonder also has made impressive contributions to worldwide social and political change, championing the effort to make Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday, as well as becoming a driving force behind 1985's USA For Africa campaign. Paying tribute to Wonder at the 22nd Kennedy Center Honors in 1999, President Clinton remarked: "In so many ways (Wonder) has helped to compose the remaining passages of Dr. King's legacy."

Fourteen-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; 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.

- FOX -