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[05/23/12 - 10:12 PM]
And the Winner of "American Idol" Is...
Over 132 million votes were cast - the highest number in the show's history.
[via press release from FOX]

PHILLIP PHILLIPS IS CROWNED THE "AMERICAN IDOL"

World Record 132 Million Votes Cast

Two-Hour Season Finale Featured Performances by Aerosmith, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Neil Diamond and Chaka Khan; Plus Special Duets by John Fogerty and Phillip Phillips; Jennifer Holliday and Jessica Sanchez; Fantasia and Joshua Ledet; Jordin Sparks and Hollie Cavanagh; Reba McEntire and Skylar Laine

Auditions for Season 12 Held This Summer in Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Newark, NJ; New Orleans, LA; Oklahoma City, OK and San Antonio, TX

Visit www.americanidol.com for Season Finale Performances

The 11th season of AMERICAN IDOL came to a sensational conclusion tonight as Phillip Phillips was crowned the winner during the live two-hour season finale on FOX. Phillips, 21, from Leesburg, GA, received the most of America's world record-shattering 132 million votes - the highest number in the show's history.

Phillips capped his coronation on Wednesday's finale by singing "Home," which is available for download exclusively on www.americanidol.com and iTunes.

The broadcast from the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles featured performances by the reunited Top 12 finalists, as well as music superstars Aerosmith, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Neil Diamond and Chaka Khan. Also, in a series of special duets, John Fogerty joined Phillip Phillips; Jennifer Holliday sang with Jessica Sanchez; Season Three winner Fantasia performed with Joshua Ledet; Season Six winner Jordin Sparks accompanied Hollie Cavanagh; and Reba McEntire paired up with Skylar Laine.

On Tuesday night's final performance show, Phillips and Sanchez each sang three songs. Phillips performed "Stand By Me," "Movin' Out" and "Home"; and Sanchez sang "I Have Nothing," "The Prayer" and "Change Nothing." Also, Jason Derulo performed "Undefeated" and Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery returned to IDOL to sing "Please Remember Me."

Phillips is the 11th finalist to win the coveted AMERICAN IDOL title and a record contract with 19 Recordings. He joins past winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze and Scotty McCreery.

Audition cities and dates for AMERICAN IDOL Season 12 include Los Angeles, CA, on Thursday, June 7; San Antonio, TX, on Thursday, June 14; Charlotte, NC, on Tuesday, June 19; Newark, NJ, on Saturday, June 23; Chicago, IL, on Thursday, July 12; and Oklahoma City, OK, on Friday, July 20. Additional details will be announced on www.americanidol.com.

AMERICAN IDOL is produced by 19 Entertainment, a division of CKX, Inc. and FremantleMedia North America. The series is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, CEO, XIX Entertainment, and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America; Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America; and Nigel Lythgoe, CEO, Nigel Lythgoe Productions.

See what happens after the confetti falls and the show ends, but the cameras keep rolling, as the IDOL winner is crowned. Visit www.americanidol.com for this exclusive insider's view each week after the West Coast broadcast of the results show, as well as for exclusive videos, interviews, photos and special behind-the-scenes information.





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· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)




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