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"AMERICAN IDOL" OFFERS HOPEFULS THREE MORE WAYS TO AUDITION FOR SEASON 12

Nationwide "AMERICAN IDOL Small Town Audition Bus Tour" To Visit 10 Cities This August

New "Nominate An Idol" Initiative And Online Auditions Begin Wednesday, August 1, At www.americanidol.com

AMERICAN IDOL is expanding audition opportunities by providing aspiring superstars three additional ways to audition for the No. 1 show on television, including the "AMERICAN IDOL Small Town Audition Bus Tour," the "Nominate An Idol" program and online auditions.

The series will leave no stone unturned in its quest for talent, and for the first time ever, will embark on the "AMERICAN IDOL Small Town Audition Bus Tour," a 10-town nationwide mobile tour offering hopefuls a chance to audition for IDOL. The mobile audition bus will hit the road next month, giving thousands of hopefuls the chance of a lifetime. The "AMERICAN IDOL Small Town Audition Bus Tour" will stop at the following cities: Idaho Falls, ID; Billings, MT; Casper, WY; Rock Rapids, IA; Iowa City, IA; Bowling Green, KY; Clarksdale, MS; Joplin, MO; Dodge City, KA; and Grand Junction, CO. Specific locations and dates to be announced. Please keep checking www.americanidol.com for forms, rules and terms and conditions.

IDOL is also looking for talent who may not think of auditioning. The "Nominate An Idol" program is a new audition opportunity that lets family and friends nominate individuals who they think could be the next AMERICAN IDOL. Individuals can secretly nominate their friends or family by filling out an online form and submitting an existing video or URL of their "nominee" singing solo and a cappella. Chosen candidates will then be surprised on location by a film crew and given the chance to advance to the next round of auditions. Submissions and nominations must meet all eligibility requirements and be a surprise. If you are going to nominate someone, you must read and agree to the terms and conditions. Please keep checking www.americanidol.com for submission rules and terms and conditions.

Online auditions for Season 12 will be open from Wednesday, Aug. 1 through Tuesday, Aug. 14. Hopefuls will have the opportunity to audition by submitting an audition video online. Entrants should demonstrate their stellar singing ability by choosing one of the songs from the approved list and performing it a cappella. Videos are limited to one submission per person. Please keep checking www.americanidol.com for submission rules and terms and conditions.

All AMERICAN IDOL auditioners must be between the ages of 15-28 (on June 5, 2012), and a legal U.S. citizen or a permanent U.S. resident who is eligible to work full-time in the United States.

The 12th season of AMERICAN IDOL kicks off in January 2013.

AMERICAN IDOL has been the No. 1 entertainment program among Total Viewers for the past nine consecutive seasons. To date, IDOL alums have produced 349 No. 1 Billboard hits and garnered nearly 250 million iTunes downloads. Last year, Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery released his debut album "Clear As Day," which dominated the Billboard Country Albums chart and has gone platinum, selling more than one million copies. Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips' first single, "Home," which was released May 23, has been certified gold.

Visit americanidol.com to follow the bus as it makes its way around the country and also for exclusive videos, interviews and photos, as well as special behind-the-scenes information and all of your AMERICAN IDOL news.

AMERICAN IDOL is produced by 19 Entertainment, a division of CKX, Inc., and FremantleMedia North America, Inc. "Like" AMERICAN IDOL on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanIdol. Follow the series on Twitter @AmericanIdol and join the discussion at #idol.