CARLY SMITHSON IS ELIMINATED FROM "AMERICAN IDOL" COMPETITION;

PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH DELIVER SPECIAL "IDOL GIVES BACK" MESSAGE

Top 5 Finalists Will Perform Music of Neil Diamond Tuesday, April 29, on FOX

Neil Diamond and Natasha Bedingfield to Perform on Next Results Show Wednesday, April 30

It was revealed tonight that finalist Carly Smithson was eliminated from the AMERICAN IDOL competition after she received the fewest of America's over 38 million votes. On Tuesday's performance show, contestants sang Andrew Lloyd Webber songs, and Smithson, 24, from San Diego, CA, sang "Superstar" from "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Also on tonight's show, Andrew Lloyd Webber performed with the Top 6 finalists, and Leona Lewis, pop music sensation and winner of Britain's "The X Factor," also took the Idol stage and performed her hit "Bleeding Love."

In a very special message, President and Mrs. Bush announced that IDOL GIVES BACK has raised over $65 million to help children and young people in need in the U.S. and around the world.

On Tuesday, April 29 (8:00-9:02 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 5 finalists (Brooke White, David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado) will return to the Idol stage to perform the music of Neil Diamond.

Tune in the following night to see a live performance of "Amazing Grace" by superstar Neil Diamond, as well as Natasha Bedingfield perform her hit "Pocket Full of Sunshine." Find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who must go home on the results show Wednesday, April 30 (9:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Neil Diamond is one of the most successful pop music performers in the history of music with more than 125 million records sold worldwide, 15 Top Ten albums and 37 Top Ten singles. His work has been celebrated over the past four decades with 12 Grammy nominations and four Golden Globes. He has also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Columbia Records recently announced a May 6 release date for Diamond's "Home Before Dark," the highly anticipated new album from the legendary singer-songwriter. A compelling collection of honest, passionate songs, "Home Before Dark" finds the iconic artist reuniting with acclaimed producer Rick Rubin. The album follows the Rubin-produced "12 Songs," which entered the Billboard Top 200 at No. 4, Diamond's highest-charting debut yet. The disc was hailed by Newsweek as "the best work Diamond has done in 30 years." The Grammy-winning, record-breaking performer will kick off a world tour this summer, performing to audiences of all ages and selling-out performances across the globe.

With over 6 million units shifted worldwide, Natasha Bedingfield is the U.K.'s biggest female pop star. Bedingfield became somewhat of an overnight success in Europe and the U.K. in 2004 with the release of her debut, "Single." Her sophomore album, "Unwritten," and the smash hit "These Words" both topped the charts. With nearly 2 million downloads of her single "Unwritten," Bedingfield became the first British female to score a No. 1 on the U.S. billboard pop chart in 19 years since Kim Wilde and "You Keep Me Hangin' On." "Love Like This," which features Sean Kingston, is the first single from Natasha's forthcoming album, "Pocketful of Sunshine."

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. For all photo requests, please go to www.foxflash.com.