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Casey Abrams bowled over by early Idol save

By April MacIntyre Mar 25, 2011, 4:26 GMT

03/03/2011 - Casey Abrams - 2011 "American Idol" Finalist Party - Arrivals - Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA, USA © Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Touched and in shock, Idol contestant Casey Abrams was saved from elimination as the judges unanimously agreed he needed to stay after he received the fewest of America’s more than 30 million votes.

Abrams will continue in the competition as he takes the stage with the remaining finalists next week.

Season Three finalist and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson returned to the stage, and multi-platinum country music duo Sugarland also performed. A special performance by music legend Stevie Wonder to honor Steven Tyler’s birthday and an appearance by wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan capped the night.

On Wednesday, March 30 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 11 finalists – Casey Abrams, Naima Adedapo, Lauren Alaina, James Durbin, Stefano Langone, Jacob Lusk, Scotty McCreery, Paul McDonald, Thia Megia, Haley Reinhart and Pia Toscano – return to the stage to sing hits from the 1980s.

For the first time ever, the Top 11 will travel the country this summer as part of the “American Idols LIVE! Tour 2011.” Cities, venues and dates will be announced at a later date.

During the live results show on Thursday, March 31 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) tune in to find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who is sent home. In addition, Season Three IDOL winner Fantasia will perform her latest hit, “Collard Greens & Cornbread,” and will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas and Academy Award and Grammy winner Jamie Foxx will perform their first-ever musical collaboration on the IDOL stage. The duo will sing “Hot Wings (I Wanna Party),” an  

Keep up with the AMERICAN IDOL Top 11 at:

Casey Abrams
@CAbramsAI10
facebook.com/CAbramsAI10
myspace.com/CAbramsAI10

Naima Adedapo
@NAdedapoAI10
facebook.com/NAdedapoAI10
myspace.com/NAdedapoAI10

Lauren Alaina
@LAlainaAI10
facebook.com/LAlainaAI10
myspace.com/LAlainaAI10

James Durbin
@JDurbinAI10
facebook.com/JDurbinAI10
myspace.com/JDurbinAI10

Stefano Langone
@SLangoneAI10
facebook.com/SLangoneAI10
myspace.com/SLangoneAI10

Jacob Lusk
@JLuskAI10
facebook.com/JLuskAI10
myspace.com/JLuskAI10

Scotty McCreery
@SMcCreeryAI10
facebook.com/SMcCreeryAI10
myspace.com/SMcCreeryAI10

Paul McDonald
@PMcDonaldAI10
facebook.com/PMcDonaldAI10
myspace.com/PMcDonaldAI10

Thia Megia
@TMegiaAI10
facebook.com/TMegiaAI10
myspace.com/TMegiaAI10

Haley Reinhart
@HReinhartAI10
facebook.com/HReinhartAI10
myspace.com/HReinhartAI10

Pia Toscano
@PToscanoAI10
facebook.com/PToscanoAI10
myspace.com/PToscanoAI10