News Release – Details Confirmed for Canadian Idol's Most Spectacular Show Ever

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Toronto, ON (September 12, 2005) – It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster of a show. After thousands of auditions, months of eliminations and tens of millions of votes, CTV released details today for the epic, two-hour conclusion of television’s most-watched program this Wednesday on CTV. CTV announced today that for the first time ever, Canadian Idol judge Sass Jordan will perform live on the show. And also for the first time, Canadian Idol and American Idol vocal coach Debra Byrd will take to the stage to showcase her pipes to her charges. Jordan and Byrd join previously announced guest stars Barenaked Ladies and Kalan Porter, as well as the return of the Canadian Idol Top 10, all of whom will join finalists Rex Goudie and Melissa O’Neil in the performance-packed, live, spectacular. Canadian Idol wraps up Wednesday, Sept. 14 live on CTV at 8 p.m. ET and tape delayed in British Columbia, Alberta (live in Calgary) and Sask.

On tomorrow night’s final, 90-minute performance show, airing Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, the remaining two finalists – Rex Goudie, 19, from Burlington NL and Melissa O’Neil, 17, from Calgary, AB – will duke it out for one last time in competition. Goudie and O’Neil will sing three songs each: a new song of their own choosing; a new song selected by the Canadian Idol judges; and “Alive,” the new, up-tempo “Winner’s Single” written exclusively for the Canadian Idol champion and set to be released to radio this Thursday morning. In addition, Canadian Idol Season Two runner-up Theresa Sokyrka will make a special guest appearance to perform her song “Turned My Back” from her Gold Record These Old Charms.

Following the show, Canadians from across the country will take to the phones for what is expected to be the largest mass telephone event in Canadian history. Already, 34 million votes have been logged in the competition, surpassing last year’s total for the same period by 21 per cent with millions more expected tomorrow night.

On Wednesday’s results show, Goudie and O’Neil will be reunited with the remaining Top 10 Canadian Idol finalists who return to the stage for several group numbers. Among the many highlights scheduled for Wednesday’s show:

For the first time in three seasons, Canadian Idol judge and diamond-selling singer Sass Jordan will perform live on the Canadian Idol stage. Backed by a piano and classical guitar, Jordan will perform Stevie Wonder’s “All in Love is Fair.” Jordan will dedicate the song to the thousands of young people from across Canada that have put it on the line to audition for Canadian Idol. Winner of Billboard’s Best Female Rock Vocalist award, the bilingual Montrealer has toured and/or worked with many music heavyweights, including Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Van Halen, Carlos Santana and Joe Cocker.

After guiding American Idol competitors for four years and Canadian Idol competitors for two, vocal coach Debra Byrd gets her moment in the spotlight when she performs Dionne Warwick’s “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” as a tribute to her Idol students. Byrd has toured, recorded and/or appeared on video with The Eurythmics, Bob Dylan, UB40, Lyle Lovett, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, and Bob Geldof, to name a few.

Canadian music icons Barenaked Ladies – subject of a Canadian Idol tribute last week – return the favour with a live performance of their international hit “One Week.”

Canadian Idol will go live several times to hometown rallies for both Goudie and O’Neil. CTV’s Barb Higgins will report live from the Roundup Centre in Calgary while cameras will also go live from the Pepsi Centre in Corner Brook, NL. Thousands are expected at both venues to cheer on their hometown heroes.

Goudie and O’Neil will perform a duet together – Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds” – as well as two solos: Michel Bublé’s “Feeling Good” (Goudie) and Ella Fitzgerald’s “De-Lovely” (O’Neil).

The Top 10 will perform several group numbers: Greenday’s “Time of Your Life” as well as a salute to British Rock including songs by the Rolling Stones, Queen and John Lennon.

The Top 10, not including Goudie and O’Neil, will perform a medley of songs from the 2005 Canadian Idol compilation CD High Notes, featuring the performances that vaulted them into the Top 10.

Award-winning recording artist Kalan Porter returns to the stage that crowned him the second Canadian Idol winner to perform “In Spite of It All” from his double-platinum debut CD.

After the results of tomorrow’s massive, nation-wide vote are announced by host Ben Mulroney, the winner will once again sing “Alive.” Written by Rob Wells, Jeff Cates and Lindy Robbins, “Alive” will be released to radio stations across the country moments after the new Idol is crowned. The single will be released commercially in October by Sony BMG Music (Canada), Inc. Last year’s single, Kalan Porter’s “Awake in a Dream,” was the biggest-selling single debut ever for a Canadian artist. It went eight times platinum and remained on the top of Canada’s single charts for over three months.

At a media conference following the show, the winner sill sign a recording contract with Sony BMG Music (Canada), Inc. Next week, the winner will begin recording their debut album, to be released by Sony BMG this fall.

Credit: CTV