Tony Bennett to Mentor Top 9 American Idol Contestants 3/30/07

LEGENDARY ARTIST TONY BENNETT TO MENTOR TOP 9 AND PERFORM ON “AMERICAN IDOL” TUESDAY, APRIL 3, AND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, ON FOX

Legendary artist Tony Bennett will work with the Top 9 finalists next week as they prepare to sing “American Classics” on AMERICAN IDOL Tuesday, April 3 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), and he will perform on the results show Wednesday, April 4 (9:00-9:30 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Bennett is one of a handful of artists to have new albums charting in the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and beyond. Signed to Columbia Records in 1950, he has a string of hits, including such chart-toppers as "Because of You," "Rags to Riches" "Cold, Cold Heart" and his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." He has released over 100 albums and has sold over 50 million records worldwide. Bennett has won 14 Grammy Awards, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and is a Kennedy Center Honoree. His latest CD, “Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic,” recently won three Grammys. The highest-charting CD of Bennett’s career, “Duets” was certified Platinum just three months after its release.

Twenty-two-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 -