AMERICAN IDOL will kick off IDOL ACROSS AMERICA, a cross-country relay of the IDOL microphone, traveling from New York City to the IDOL stage in Los Angeles. Sponsored by Ford, Coca-Cola and AT&T, the "mic" will start its journey in New York City on Friday, March 1, when host Ryan Seacrest will launch the two-week, 5,000-mile trek to the IDOL stage. The "mic" will arrive just in time for the Top 10 live performance show on Wednesday, March 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Local "Idols" - fans, inspirational heroes, local officials and former IDOLs - will walk, run, bike, row, drive, skateboard, line-dance, roller-skate, skip, scooter and fly the "mic," among other means of travel, from state to state with their friends and family cheering them along the way. One lucky relay team member will win tickets to the IDOL finale.

From New York, the epic journey continues on to Boston, MA (March 2); Philadelphia, PA (March 3); Washington, D.C. (March 4); Atlanta, GA (March 5); Nashville, TN (March 6); Detroit, MI (March 7); Chicago, IL (March 8); Oklahoma City, OK (March 9); Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (March 10); Phoenix, AZ (March 11); Las Vegas, NV (March 12); and Los Angeles, CA (March 13). The relay will take the IDOL "mic" to iconic American landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, Fenway Park, the Liberty Bell, the Washington Monument, the Grand Ole Opry, the Grand Canyon, the Las Vegas Strip and finally, the AMERICAN IDOL stage.

The nationwide tour, produced by Civic Entertainment Group, will allow fans to celebrate the cultural phenomenon that is AMERICAN IDOL.

IDOL ACROSS AMERICA will pass through the following cities on its trek to the IDOL stage in Los Angeles. Check out americanidol.com for additional details and locations.

• City and Date
  

• New York, NY - Friday, March 1
  
• Boston, MA - Saturday, March 2
  
• Philadelphia, PA - Sunday, March 3
  
• Washington D.C. - Monday, March 4
  
• Atlanta, GA - Tuesday, March 5
  
• Nashville, TN - Wednesday, March 6
  
• Detroit, MI - Thursday, March 7
  
• Chicago, IL - Friday, March 8
  
• Oklahoma City, OK - Saturday, March 9
  
• Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX - Sunday, March 10
  
• Phoenix, AZ - Monday, March 11
  
• Las Vegas, NV - Tuesday, March 12
  
• Los Angeles, CA - Wednesday, March 13
  

This week on AMERICAN IDOL, tune in Wednesday, Feb. 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), as the girls who impressed the judges in each of their respective auditions cities perform during the grueling and intense "Hollywood Rounds." Then, at the end of the final "Hollywood Round," on Thursday, Feb. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), only the Top 40 contestants - 20 males and 20 females - will remain.

After a thrilling first night for the girls, the eliminations continue with solo performances on Valentine's Day!

Tune in to American Idol and show some "love" for your favorite contestant, as she sings for the chance to advance to the next stage in the competition.

Also, as promised by judge Randy Jackson, eight more of the guys who survived their own Hollywood Week test just last week will also be sent home. Did the guy you were rooting for the most make the cut?

So make sure to tune in to American Idol THU at 8/7c on FOX.

The Girls Hit Hollywood!

The girls get their chance to show the world what they're made of as the Hollywood Round moves on! With the long hours and lack of rest, some contestants persevered and found ways to wow our judges in group performances. Others were unfortunately not as lucky.

As always, our resourceful judges were around to offer their pearls of wisdom.

Check out the best judges' quotes of the first night of the girls' Hollywood Round.

"Nobody understands what we endure." (Mariah Carey)

"We're looking for so many different things and in turn makes for difficult decisions. With that, this is not easy." (Keith Urban)

"It's tough when they are in a group scenario but the show must go on darling, the show must go on." (Mariah Carey)

"Lot of cowgirl boots up there." (Keith Urban to Raisin' Kane)

"Well, I do have to say ladies...I do declare my, my, my southern belles I think that was a mighty fine job." (Nicki Minaj to Raisin' Kane)

"I've enjoyed you guys messing up the words than I've enjoyed any performance today." (Nicki Minaj to The Dramatics)

"The fact that you don't fit in and the fact you don't feel like you belong; it makes you so endearing." (Nicki Minaj to Janel Stinney of The Dramatics)

"You may think that you were incredible, but the four of us collectively did not feel that." (Randy Jackson to Shira Gavrielov)

"A lot of the girls today have been looking at their hands today and it is kind of disrespectful to us. We're sitting here, wanting you to engage." (Nicki Minaj to the Dolly Chicks)

"You girls got a standing ovation from Nicki! That never happens." (Keith Urban The Misfits)

Tune in to American Idol every WED and THU at 8/7c on FOX.

Our very own Carrie Underwood will be honored in her very own exhibition at the Country Music Hall Of Fame!

The exhibition, opening June 5th, 2013, will be called Carrie Underwood: The Blown Away Tour and will be featured at the Hall of Fame through November 10, 2013. The exhibition promises to be an exciting experience for fans of the former American Idol winner. Proceeds of the exhibition will go to the American and Canadian Red Cross.

This is just the latest in a long line of milestones for Underwood as her latest album, also named Blown Away, debuted at #1 on Billboard?s Top Country Chart. Her fourth number one in a row.

For more information about the Country Music Hall of Fame and the exhibition, visit www.countrymusichalloffame.org or call (615) 416-2001

Tune in to American Idol every WED and THU at 8/7c on FOX.