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R&B singer Ruben Studdard is book to perform the "farewell song" used to play off the losing contestants when they depart the top 12.
This season, the song will be a cover of Kenny Loggins' "Celebrate Me Home," in a new version produced by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam. "It's very soulful, very heartfelt," Lewis says. "Ruben is singing his pants off."
"Lewis and Jam were on my list of producers to work with, and to have the opportunity was a blessing," Studdard says. "If they tell you something is hot, you can probably rest assured that other people are going to like it."
This would be a huge gig for Studdard, who was dropped from J Records last year.
The "American Idol" season-five farewell song, Daniel Powter's "Bad Day," went on to sell 1.9 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and was the top digital download of 2006.
As part of the show's new sponsorship this season with iTunes, "Celebrate Me Home" will be made available digitally starting March 12, the day the first of the top 12 will be eliminated. In addition, it is expected to be included on one of the compilation albums annually released by "American Idol," according to 19 Entertainment U.S. head Iain Pirie.
In addition, Studdard is in negotiations to perform the song during "Idol Gives Back," the show's midseason charity effort.
