Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips will battle it out for the American Idol crown next Tuesday, and the new American Idol will be revealed the following night during the big two-hour-plus finale. Make sure to set your DVR’s correctly; the episode will run over with an extra seven minutes. Current American Idol champ Scotty McCreery and pop superstar Rihanna, plus a slew of surprise guests, are set to appear.

The final performance themes, according to producer Nigel Lythgoe will be: 1. The finalist’s favorite song of the series. 2. A song chosen by Simon Fuller. 3. The finalist’s new single.

Nigel Lythgoe took to Twitter hours after the top 3 results show last night to reveal his favorite Idol contestant. He tweeted, “I promised I would reveal my favorite when they were voted off the show so….. it was Joshua. However, I am thrilled for Jessica & Phillip.” No wonder Joshua got so many standing ovations from the judges! Nigel also claims that Phillip and Jessica did not dominate the voting week to week. Joshua Ledet, Skylar Laine, Colton Dixon, and Elise Testone all topped the voting at various times. READ FULL STORY »