BO BICE RETURNS TO "AMERICAN IDOL" TO PERFORM HIS HIT SINGLE "THE REAL THING" THURSDAY, MARCH 9, ON FOX

Top 12 Finalists to be Revealed This Week

Last year's runner-up Bo Bice returns to the AMERICAN IDOL stage this week to perform his hit single "The Real Thing." After his performance on the results show Thursday, March 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), this season's Top 12 Finalists will be revealed.

Bice's first album, "The Real Thing" (19 Recordings/RCA), produced by Clive Davis, made a smashing debut on the Billboard album chart, opening at No. 4. The album is nearing Platinum and has sold over 550,000 units. Bice's current single "The Real Thing" is being played on Top 40 radio, and his video is airing on VH1 and MTV. The video debuted on TRL Thursday, March 2, at No. 8 and moved up to No. 2 on Friday, March 3, and No. 1 on Tuesday, March 7.

Tonight, Tuesday, March 7 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 8 girls perform in hopes of getting enough votes to secure a spot among the Final 12. Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 8 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 8 guys will have their shot at joining the Top 12 Finalists, who will be announced on the results show airing Thursday, March 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). On Thursday's show, after the performance by fan-favorite Bice, four more contestants will be eliminated, ending their quest to become the next American Idol.

Fourteen-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder 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.