JOSHUA LEDET IS ELIMINATED FROM THE COMPETITION
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Winner Announced on Two-Hour Season Finale Event
Wednesday, May 23
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Auditions for Season 12 Will Be Held Throughout the Summer;
First Cities Include Los Angeles, CA; Newark, NJ; and Chicago, IL
 
Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez are AMERICAN IDOL’s Top Two finalists. After a season-high of nearly 90 million votes, host Ryan Seacrest announced that Joshua Ledet received the fewest number of votes and was eliminated from the competition.
“I’m just a normal guy who loves to play music,†said Phillips. “I just happened to get lucky and I’m so blessed by it. I’m so excited.
“Being in the position I’m in now is more than I could have ever asked for,†added Sanchez. “I’ve been looking forward to auditioning for AMERICAN IDOL ever since the first season. And now, the first season that I’m eligible, I’ve made it to the Top Two! It’s crazy what you can do when you put your mind and heart to it! I don’t know what could be better than this.â€
Next week’s final performance show promises to be a night to remember as Phillip and Jessica battle it out at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE Tuesday, May 22 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.
Tune in the following night for the biggest television event of the season and the momentous Season 11 grand finale on Wednesday, May 23 (8:00-10:07 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). The finale will feature special performances by superstar Rihanna, Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery and other surprise guests, as well as a Top 12 reunion before America’s vote is revealed.
Audition cities and dates for AMERICAN IDOL Season 12 include Los Angeles, CA, on Thursday, June 7; Newark, NJ, on Saturday, June 23; and Chicago, IL, on Thursday, July 12. Additional cities, dates and details will be announced on www.americanidol.com
It’s Phillip vs. Jessica for the title of AMERICAN IDOL!
| Phillip Phillips
Hometown: Leesburg, GA Age: 21 Keep up with Phillip at: www.facebook.com/PPhillipsAI11
  |
VS. | Jessica Sanchez
Hometown: San Diego, CA Age: 16 Keep up with Jessica at: Â |
On tonight’s results show, Lisa Marie Presley performed “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet,†from her new album “Storm & Grace,†and Season Eight runner-up Adam Lambert performed his new song, “Never Close Our Eyes.â€
“Like†AMERICAN IDOL on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanIdol. Follow the series on Twitter @AmericanIdol and join the discussion at #Idol. Also, follow host Ryan Seacrest at @RyanSeacrest, and follow the judges: @yo_randyjackson; @JLo; and @iamstevent.
AMERICAN IDOL is produced by 19 Entertainment, a division of CKX, Inc. and FremantleMedia North America. The series is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, CEO, XIX Entertainment, and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America; Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America; and Nigel Lythgoe, CEO, Nigel Lythgoe Productions.
See what happens every Thursday when the show ends, but the cameras keep rolling, as the eliminated finalist says an emotional goodbye and exits the IDOL stage. Visit www.americanidol.com for this exclusive insider’s view each week after the West Coast broadcast of the results show, as well as for exclusive videos, interviews, photos and special behind-the-scenes information.