"IDOL GIVES BACK" RAISES OVER $60 MILLION (AND COUNTING) FROM CORPORATE AND VIEWER DONATIONS

MICHAEL JOHNS IS ELIMINATED FROM THE "AMERICAN IDOL" COMPETITION

TOP 7 FINALISTS RETURN TO COMPETE LIVE TUESDAY, APRIL 15, ON FOX

MARIAH CAREY TO PERFORM ON RESULTS SHOW WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, ON FOX

Tonight, Ryan Seacrest announced that over $60 million has already been raised by IDOL GIVES BACK, a special music celebration raising awareness and funds for six charities including: Children's Defense Fund, The Children's Health Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More and Save the Children's U.S. Programs. Donations continue to come in, and an updated total will be announced next week. Viewers who wish to donate may do so by calling 1-877-IDOL-AID (1-877-436-5243) or by logging on to www.americanidol.com.

Also on tonight's show, finalist Michael Johns was eliminated from the AMERICAN IDOL competition after he received the fewest of America's over 31 million votes. On Tuesday's performance show, contestants sang inspirational songs, and Johns, 29, from Buckhead, GA, sang "Dream On."

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama appeared on tonight's show to ask Americans to come together and support IDOL GIVES BACK. Additionally, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an extraordinary pledge last night to donate 20 million mosquito nets to African families and challenged the world to join in the fight to eradicate malaria. The star-studded special also featured performances and appearances by international talent and sports figures from the Kodak Theatre where Ryan Seacrest hosted alongside judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. Also, throughout the evening, Seacrest and the Top 12 finalists were live from the AMERICAN IDOL stage where they answered calls from viewers donating to IDOL GIVES BACK.

The corporate sponsors of IDOL GIVES BACK are led by News Corporation, ExxonMobil, Ford, Coca-Cola, AT&T, iTunes, 19, FremantleMedia, Allstate and the M�A�C AIDS Fund.

On Tuesday, April 15 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 7 finalists (Brooke White, Carly Smithson, David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook and Syesha Mercado) will return to the Idol stage to perform songs by Mariah Carey.

Tune in the following night to see a live performance by superstar Mariah Carey and find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who must go home on the results show Wednesday, April 16 (9:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed).

Mariah Carey, superstar and songwriter, has set April 15 as the in-store date for the most eagerly anticipated album of the year, "E=MC�." The 11th studio album of her career, "E=MC�" is the follow-up to "The Emancipation Of Mimi," Carey's worldwide 10 million selling No. 1 album, which featured "We Belong Together" (winner of Grammy Awards for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song) and "Don't Forget About Us," Mariah's 16th and 17th No. 1 career singles respectively. The singles tied one of the most enduring chart records in Billboard Hot 100 history: Elvis Presley's 17 No. 1s. Carey is now positioned as the only active recording artist in the 48 years of the Hot 100 with the potential to surpass the Beatles' all-time high of 20 No. 1 hits.

The first single from "E=MC�," "Touch My Body," is already a Top 10 radio hit. The video for "Touch My Body" was directed by feature filmmaker Brett Ratner. Guest producers on "E=MC�" include Jermaine Dupri, C. "Tricky" Stewart, The-Dream, DJ Toomp, Stargate, Will.i.am, Bryan Michael Cox, Nate "Danjahandz" Hills and James Poyser. "E=MC�" is executive-produced by Mariah Carey and Antonio "LA" Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group.

The brainchild of Simon Fuller, IDOL GIVES BACK has been recognized as a life-changing program, earning praise from many of the world's best known figures including President George W. Bush, HRH Prince Charles and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Last season, IDOL GIVES BACK raised over $76 million for charity and garnered a prestigious Governor's Award Emmy.

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 finalists, as well as, special behind-the-scenes information and all of your AMERICAN IDOL news.