DAVID HERNANDEZ IS ELIMINATED FROM THE "AMERICAN IDOL" COMPETITION

TOP 11 FINALISTS WILL ONCE AGAIN PERFORM SONGS FROM LENNON AND MCCARTNEY TUESDAY, MARCH 18, ON FOX

Ruben Studdard's "Celebrate Me Home" Premieres as New Goodbye Song

Finalist David Hernandez was eliminated tonight from the AMERICAN IDOL competition after he received the fewest of America's approximately 29 million votes. On Tuesday's performance show, Hernandez, 24, from Glendale, AZ, sang "I Saw Her Standing There." After Ryan Seacrest announced Hernandez's elimination, AMERICAN IDOL took a look back at his experience set to Ruben Studdard's "Celebrate Me Home," the show's new weekly goodbye song.

On Tuesday, March 18 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 11 finalists (Amanda Overmyer, Brooke White, Carly Smithson, Chikezie, David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado) will return to the Idol stage and once again perform songs from the Sony/ATV Music Publishing songbook of the legendary John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Tune in the following night to see who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who must go home on the live results show Wednesday, March 19 (9:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder and CEO 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.

Visit americanidol.com for exclusive videos, interviews and photos of the top 24 as well as special behind-the-scenes information and all of your AMERICAN IDOL news.