Global superstar Rihanna will perform her latest smash hit “Where Have You Been” on the AMERICAN IDOL Grand Finale Wednesday, May, 23 (8:00-10:07 PM live) on FOX 50, when the newest winner is crowned. The Grand Finale celebration also will feature additional performances by some of music’s biggest artists.

 

AMERICAN IDOL will host the series' two-night grand finale from the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE Tuesday, May 22 (8:00-9:00 PM live) and Wednesday, May 23 (8:00-10:07 PM live) on FOX 50. After weeks of performing on the AMERICAN IDOL stage, the two remaining finalists will perform live Tuesday in front of a theater audience of more than 7000 as well as millions of viewers watching at home. Then, on Wednesday night, at the end of a two-hour music celebration, host Ryan Seacrest will announce the next AMERICAN IDOL.

With only three performance shows left in the season, tune in Wednesday, May 9 (8:00-10:00 PM live), when the Top Four – Hollie Cavanagh, Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez – return to the IDOL stage to sing for America’s votes on a “California Dreamin’”-themed performance show.

Don’t miss the live results show the following night, Thursday, May 10 (8:00-9:00 PM live), when the Top Three finalists are announced and get set for their hometown visits to see family, friends and fans. In addition, global superstar and AMERICAN IDOL judge, Jennifer Lopez, will perform her hit new song, “Dance Again.” Season Seven AMERICAN IDOL winner David Cook also returns to the IDOL stage to perform “The Last Song I’ll Write For You.”

"Where Have You Been," from Rihanna's Island Def Jam album "Talk That Talk," released last November, is the artist’s latest single. Rihanna made Billboard history last year, when "We Found Love," another single off of “Talk That Talk,” became her 11th No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 and her 20th Top 10 hit. She collected her 20 Hot 100 Top 10 singles faster than any other solo artist – six years and four months –and places second only to the Beatles. Additionally, “We Found Love” gives Rihanna her 16th No. 1 Billboard Dance single.

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.

About Rihanna
As the ongoing "Rihanna: UNLOCKED" campaign gathers momentum around the world, Island Def Jam’s reigning queen of the Billboard Hot 100 earned 10 weeks at No. 1 with "We Found Love" (featuring Calvin Harris).

“Talk That Talk’s” first single, “We Found Love” (written and produced by, and featuring Scottish musician Calvin Harris) was a No. 1 hit in approximately 20 territories (including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, and more), with too many gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications to count.

“Loud's” release one year ago registered more than 200,000 first-week sales, the biggest Soundscan week of Rihanna's recording career. From that album, the songs "Only Girl (In the World)," "What's My Name" (featuring Drake) and "S&M" became Rihanna's eighth, ninth and 10th No. 1 hits, respectively. The album also contained the Top 10 "Cheers (Drink To That)." Prior to “Loud,” Rihanna struck RIAA platinum with “Rated R” (Nov. 2009), containing the No. 1 hit "Rude Boy." Rihanna became the first female artist of the decade to chart six No. 1's on the Hot 100 when "Rude Boy" went to the top spot. “Rated R” also contained the Top 10 hits "Russian Roulette" and "Hard" (featuring Jeezy).

Rihanna's chart career began with her RIAA gold debut from 2005, “Music of the Sun,” featuring the worldwide smash, "Pon De Replay." She graduated to RIAA platinum with her second album, 2006's “A Girl Like Me,” which contained the back-to-back hits, "S.O.S." (her first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100), "Unfaithful" and "Break It Off" (featuring Sean Paul). Rihanna went on to double-platinum with “Good Girl Gone Bad” (May 2007), containing the Grammy-winning global No. 1 hit "Umbrella" (featuring Jay-Z), then "Shut Up and Drive," "Hate That I Love You" (featuring Ne-Yo) and "Don't Stop the Music." The CD+DVD package “Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded” (Jan. 2009) continued the hits with the No. 1 "Take A Bow" and the No. 1 "Disturbia." Rihanna's track record also includes No. 1 hits with T.I. ("Live Your Life" in 2008); Eminem ("Love the Way You Lie" in 2010, named Top Rap Song Of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards); and the No. 1 Rap, No. 2 Hot 100 and No. 3 R&B sensation of 2009, "Run This Town" with Jay-Z & Kanye West.