"American Idol" Cuts 4; Books More Guests

Ryan Seacrest has announced on Thursday night that in addition to the previously-announced Gwen Stefani and J.Lo - Tony Bennett, Diana Ross and Bon Jovi will be among the nine musical stars set to appear on the show later this season.

2005 winner Carrie Underwood and 2006 finalist Kellie Pickler will also make an appearance.

Seacrest also announced that former Bee Gee Barry Gibb, country singer Martina McBride, Scottish singer Lulu and Peter Noone of Herman Hermits will appear as singers or celebrity coaches.

The show cut 4 finalists - Amy Krebs, Nicole Tranquillo, Paul Kim and Rudy Cardenas as the viewers got their first chance to vote in the top-rated talent contest's sixth season.

Kim, a 25-year-old from Saratoga, Calif. known for insisting to perform barefoot, was the first one cut on Thursday after failing to impress even Paula Abdul with his rendition of "Careless Whisper" by George Michael.

The 22-year-old Krebs, who sang Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me," was described by judge Simon Cowell as having "the personality of a candle", and may have been cut for not being able to stand out in the crowd.

Tranquillo, a 20-year-old from Philadelphia, was also criticized by Cowell for her "over-rehearsed" cover of Chaka Khan's "Stay", although Paula Abdul thought she was a brilliant vocalist, holding back tears.

Finally, Cardenas, 28, who is from Los Angeles was also praised for his falsetto as "amazing" by Abdul, even though Cowell called him an "OK singer."

Some of the truly horrible singers however managed to dodge the bullet this week as they did not commit that mortal sin of being forgettable.

Thursday's show also featured a performance by third-season winner Fantasia Barrino, who announced she will star as Celie in the Oprah Winfrey produced musical "The Color Purple" on Broadway. She will join the show April 10.

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