RECORD NUMBER OF VOTES CAST AS NIKKO SMITH IS ELIMINATED FROM THE "AMERICAN IDOL" COMPETITION

Countdown to Crowning of Next American Idol Continues; Top 8 Compete Tuesday, April 12, On FOX

The No. 1 show on television continued its phenomenal season last night, when the Top 9 finalists performed songs from their favorite Broadway musicals on AMERICAN IDOL. Season 3 AMERICAN IDOL winner Fantasia Barrino returned to the stage to sing "Truth Is" and "I Believe." A record number of votes - nearly 33 million - were cast this week, as America made its decision on who should leave and who should remain in the competition. It was revealed last night that the journey ended for Nikko Smith after he received the lowest number of votes. Smith, from Town and Country, MO, sang "One Hand, One Heart" from "West Side Story."

Next week, the competition heats up when the Top 8 - Bo Bice, Anthony Fedorov, Constantine Maroulis, Anwar Robinson, Scott Savol, Vonzell Solomon, Nadia Turner and Carrie Underwood - compete head-to-head for the AMERICAN IDOL crown. They will take the stage, singing live for America, on Tuesday, April 12 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).

Tune in the following night to find out who America has chosen to stay and who is sent home on the live results show Wednesday, April 13 (9:00-9:30 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

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

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