RECORD NUMBER OF VOTES CAST AS JESSICA SIERRA IS ELIMINATED FROM THE "AMERICAN IDOL" COMPETITION

Countdown to the Next American Idol Continues; Top 9 Compete Tuesday, April 5, on FOX

AMERICAN IDOL Winner Fantasia Returns to the Stage Wednesday, April 6, on FOX

The No. 1 show on television continued its phenomenal season last night, when the Top 10 finalists performed songs from the 1990s on AMERICAN IDOL. 32.5 million votes � a record number for a non-finale episode � were cast this week, as America made its decision on who should leave and who should remain in the competition. It was revealed last night that the journey ended for Jessica Sierra after she received the lowest number of votes. Sierra, from Tampa, FL, sang "On the Side of Angels."

Next week, the competition heats up when the Top 9 � Bo Bice, Anthony Fedorov, Constantine Maroulis, Anwar Robinson, Scott Savol, Nikko Smith, Vonzell Solomon, Nadia Turner and Carrie Underwood � compete head-to-head for the AMERICAN IDOL crown. They will take the stage, singing live for America, on Tuesday, April 5 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).

Tune in the following night to see the most recent AMERICAN IDOL winner, Fantasia Barrino, return to the stage to perform. Fantasia's album, "Free Yourself," includes "I Believe," which went to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart in June 2004. She made Billboard history with the single by becoming the first artist in the history of the Hot 100 chart to debut at No. 1 with her first solo record. "I Believe" was named the Top-Selling R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year and Top-Selling Single of the Year at the December 2004 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS. Find out who America has chosen to stay and who is sent home on the next live results show Wednesday, April 6 (9:00-9:30 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Eight-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Television; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Chief Operating Officer, Production, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

Go to www.idolonfox.com for all of your AMERICAN IDOL news and tickets to the show. Check out the photos from the different audition cities, along with special, behind-the-scenes information on AMERICAN IDOL.