WORLD PREMIERE PREVIEW OF "THE X FACTOR" DEBUTS DURING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S 82ND ALL-STAR GAME ON FOX

Brad Pitt, Jordin Sparks & Michelle Branch Contribute to Star-Studded Night

FOX Sports presents Major League Baseball's 82nd ALL-STAR GAME, live and in high-definition from Phoenix's Chase Field, Tuesday July 12 (8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT). MLB on FOX's Emmy Award-winning broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Joe Buck and analyst Tim McCarver call the action.

Highlighting FOX Sports' All-Star pregame coverage, which starts at 8:00 PM, is a special world premiere preview of THE X FACTOR, the highly anticipated singing competition debuting Wednesday, Sept. 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Sept. 22 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Hosted by Steve Jones and featuring judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger, THE X FACTOR will award the next superstar solo artist or breakout musical group with a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.

In addition, Academy Award-nominated actor Brad Pitt narrates a special pregame open to air at 8:00 PM ET that pays tribute to past and present All-Stars and celebrates the game of baseball.

McCarver, a two-time National League All-Star catcher with the Cardinals (1966 & 1967), is calling the 20th All-Star Game of his Hall of Fame-worthy broadcasting career, the most by any broadcaster in history. The pairing of Buck and McCarver for 13 All-Star Games is also a record.

Grammy nominated platinum recording artist and American Idol-winner Jordin Sparks sings the U.S. National Anthem prior to the All-Star Game. Later in the game, Grammy Award-winning singer Michelle Branch performs "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch.

To bring viewers the sights and sounds of the first All-Star Game hosted by the city of Phoenix, more than 21 cameras and 80 microphones will be positioned throughout Chase Field. This year's star-studded contest also features the FOX "X-MO" which will be used behind home plate. This specialty camera shoots at up to 500 frames-per-second. To bring viewers even closer to the action on the field, players for each league will be miked and in-game interviews with All-Stars, managers and coaches are scheduled throughout the broadcast.