ACE YOUNG IS ELIMINATED FROM THE "AMERICAN IDOL" COMPETITION TOP 6 FINALISTS WILL COMPETE ON "CLASSIC LOVE SONGS"-THEMED PERFORMANCE SHOW TUESDAY, APRIL 25, ON FOX

INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR ANDREA BOCELLI TO PERFORM ON APRIL 26 RESULTS SHOW

The fifth season of AMERICAN IDOL was anything but standard this week as the Top 7 finalists performed their favorite standards from Rod Stewart's "Great American Songbook" series. Last night, it was revealed that Ace Young received the fewest votes after Tuesday's performance show, ending his quest to become the next American Idol. Young, from Los Angeles, CA, sang "That's All." Next week, international superstar Andrea Bocelli will lend his talents to the IDOL finalists as they perform classic love songs on Tuesday's show. In addition, Bocelli will perform live on Wednesday's results show.

This season to date, AMERICAN IDOL also shows incredible growth compared to the same telecasts last year, increasing +12% among Adults 18-49 (12.7/31 vs. 11.3/29), +10% among Adults 18-34 (11.7/32 vs. 10.6/30), +4% among Teens (9.4/29 vs. 9.0/28) and +14% in Total Viewers (30.6 vs. 26.9 Mil).

Next week, television's hottest show gets even hotter when the Top 6 finalists (Paris Bennett, Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler and Elliott Yamin) compete head-to-head again on Tuesday, April 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). The performance show theme will be "Classic Love Songs." Tune in the following night to watch Andrea Bocelli perform, and find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who must go home on the AMERICAN IDOL results show Wednesday, April 26 (9:00-9:32 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. For photos of the finalists, please go to www.foxflash.com.