RUDY CARDENAS, PAUL KIM, AMY KREBS AND NICOLE TRANQUILLO ARE ELIMINATED FROM THE �AMERICAN IDOL� COMPETITION

TOP 10 GUYS TAKE THE STAGE NEXT TUESDAY, FEB. 27, FOLLOWED BY THE TOP 10 GIRLS ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28; FOUR MORE GO HOME ON THE THURSDAY RESULTS SHOW, MARCH 1 ON FOX

Kellie Pickler Returns Next Week with New Single

The first week of audience voting produced yet another highlight for the record-breaking sixth season of AMERICAN IDOL, as approximately 32 million votes were cast after Tuesday and Wednesday�s performance shows. Last night, on this season�s first results show, the four semifinalists � two girls and two guys � who received the fewest votes were eliminated from the competition. It was revealed that the AMERICAN IDOL journey has ended for Rudy Cardenas, Paul Kim, Amy Krebs and Nicole Tranquillo. Cardenas, from North Hollywood, CA, sang �Free Ride,� while Kim, of Saratoga, CA, sang �Careless Whisper.� Krebs, who currently lives in Federal Way, WA, entertained the audience with �I Can�t Make You Love Me,� and Tranquillo, from Philadelphia, PA, sang �Stay.�

Also last night, Season Three winner Fantasia had the audience on its feet with her rendition of �I�m Here� from the musical �The Color Purple,� in which she will be starring on Broadway.

Next week, the Top 10 guys (Jared Cotter, Sundance Head, Blake Lewis, Sanjaya Malakar, Nick Pedro, Chris Richardson, Brandon Rogers, Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey, A.J. Tabaldo) will take the stage once again, singing for America on Tuesday, Feb. 27 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT). Then it�s the ladies� turn, as the Top 10 girls (Alaina Alexander, Antonella Barba, Melinda Doolittle, Stephanie Edwards, Gina Glocksen, Leslie Hunt, LaKisha Jones, Haley Scarnato, Sabrina Sloan, Jordin Sparks) perform in hopes of winning America�s vote on Wednesday, Feb. 28 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT). Tune in the following night to see who receives enough votes to stay in the competition, and who goes home. Another two guys and two girls will be eliminated on the live results show, and Season Five finalist Kellie Pickler will perform her new single �I Wonder� Thursday, March 1 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Twenty-two-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.