HOT FROM FOX...

FOX TO WORLD PREMIERE SEASON 12 OF "AMERICAN IDOL" FOR FANS WITH ADVANCED SCREENING AND LIVE Q&A EVENTS NATIONWIDE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9

Live Interactive Q&A Featuring Ryan Seacrest, Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban To Stream on www.americanidol.com and www.livestream.com, Starting at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT

Fans Can RSVP to Attend Free Event in their City at www.idolrsvp.com

Submit Questions for LIVE Q&A Now Via Twitter and Facebook

On Wednesday, Jan. 9 (7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT), fans in 11 cities across the country will have the exclusive opportunity to see the Season 12 premiere episode of AMERICAN IDOL for free one week prior to its debut on FOX. Immediately following (8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT), AMERICAN IDOL host Ryan Seacrest and judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban will participate in a nationwide, interactive Q&A, which will be live streamed on www.americanidol.com and www.livestream.com.

Originating from Royce Hall at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), the debut episode and LIVE Q&A will be uplinked via television satellite from Los Angeles to venues in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Detroit, Boston, Nashville, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Houston. Fans can RSVP by logging on to www.idolrsvp.com and submitting their name and contact information. The unique promotional event will enable thousands to see the season's first episode before it premieres on the network in a special two-night event Wednesday, Jan. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Jan.17 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

After the episode preview, Ryan Seacrest will moderate a nationwide interactive Q&A LIVE with judges Carey, Jackson, Minaj and Urban. The LIVE and interactive Q&A will appear in satellite venues, as well as stream on various websites, including www.americanidol.com and www.livestream.com, beginning at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT.

Additionally, fans may submit questions for the participating talent now via the AMERICAN IDOL Facebook page (www.facebook.com/americanidol) and via Twitter (@AmericanIdol). Questions also may be submitted the day of the event via Twitter using #Idol. Fans watching the LIVE Q&A at the satellite venues also will have the opportunity to submit questions to the panel.

The free premiere event will be held as noted below. Fans who would like an opportunity to attend in one of the cities may RSVP now at www.idolrsvp.com.

Eastern Time:

Event begins at 7:00 PM, with the LIVE Q&A starting at 8:30 PM. Doors open at 6:00 PM and all seating is free and first-come, first-served:

NEW YORK AMC Empire 25, 234 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036

PHILADELPHIA AMC Plymouth 12, 494 Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

BOSTON AMC Boston Common 19, 175 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111

WASH., D.C. AMC Hoffman Center 22, 206 Swamp Fox Road, Alexandria, VA 22314

ATLANTA AMC Discover Mills, 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30043

DETROIT AMC Forum 30, 44681 Mound Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48314

Central Time:

Event begins at 6:00 PM, with the LIVE Q&A starting at 7:30 PM. Doors open at 5:00 PM and all seating is free and first-come, first-served:

CHICAGO AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60611

DALLAS AMC Northpark 15, 8687 N. Central Expressway 3000, Dallas, TX 75225

HOUSTON AMC Studio 30, 2949 Dunvale, Houston, TX 77063

NASHVILLE TBA

Pacific Time:

Event begins at 4:00 PM, with the LIVE Q&A starting at 5:30 PM. Doors open at 3:00 PM and all seating is free and first-come, first-served:

LOS ANGELES Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095

Seating at Royce Hall and at all satellite venues is free. Fans will receive an email notification if they have successfully rsvp'd for the event. Fans who have successfully rsvp'd will be added to the guest list. Please note that seating at the venues is not guaranteed. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis at each venue, even if you are on the guest list.