First Five Semifinalists Advance to the Top 20 on AMERICAN IDOL

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Last night from Las Vegas, the first group of girl semifinalists performed on the stage of Cirque du Soleil's Beatles LOVE Theatre at The Mirage. After another round of intense deliberations, judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban announced the first five semifinalists who have secured a coveted spot in this season's Top 20. The five semifinalists are Kree Harrison, 22, from Nashville, TN; Amber Holcomb, 18, from Houston, TX; Adriana Latonio, 17, from Anchorage, AK; Angela Miller, 18, from Beverly, MA; and Tenna Torres, 28, from Queens, NY.

Tune in tonight (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), as the Sudden Death Rounds continue when the first group of guys - Charlie Askew, Curtis Finch Jr., Kevin Harris, JDA, Paul Jolley, Johnny Keyser, Elijah Liu, Jimmy Smith, Devin Velez and Chris Watson - perform and the judges reveal the next five semifinalists to join the Top 20.

Next week on Wednesday, Feb. 27 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Feb. 28 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), another 10 semifinalists will perform each night - Girls on Wednesday and guys on Thursday. Each night, the judges once again will face the tough decision of choosing which five will stay and which five will be sent home. At the end of the first Sudden Death Rounds of the semifinals, only the Top 20 will remain.

Visit www.americanidol.com for interviews with the Top 40, as well as additional American Idol news.

"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: @MariahCarey; @yo_randyjackson; @nickiminaj; and @keithurban. Download the American Idol app for iOS devices from the App Store; and for Android devices at Google Play.

AMERICAN IDOL is produced by 19 Entertainment, a division of Core Media Group, and FremantleMedia North America. The series is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, CEO, XIX Entertainment. Cecile Frot-Coutaz, FremantleMedia, Trish Kinane, FremantleMedia North America; Ken Warwick, FremantleMedia North America; and Nigel Lythgoe, CEO, Nigel Lythgoe Productions also serve as executive producers.