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"The Recording Academy has always supported new and developing artists and now, with the accessibility and popularity of the Internet, we are able to include music fans to make the important decision of bringing the field to five hopeful candidates, then again down to three talented finalists and, eventually, one amazing artist."
—-Neil Portnow, NARAS President

MY GRAMMY MOMENT TAPS AMERICAN IDOL CRAZE

Top 12 Finalists Chosen, One Will Perform with Justin Timberlake on Show Night
The 49th annual Grammy Awards are taking a page from the very successful American Idol formula and involving the audience in at least one of its programming decisions.


One lucky winner will emerge from 12 finalists in the org’s My Grammy Moment competition to perform with Justin Timberlake at the awards show on Feb. 11 at Staples Center in L.A.

The public can log on to Yahoo! Music, the official online partner of the Grammy Awards, to view the video submissions, bios and photos of the 12 hopefuls, and vote for their Top 5 favorites. The results of this round will be announced on Jan. 17.


Said NARAS President Neil Portnow: "We received an overwhelming number of video submissions for 'My Grammy Moment' and the Top 12 finalists selected reflect a diverse group of talented individuals from across the country. The Recording Academy has always supported new and developing artists and now, with the accessibility and popularity of the Internet, we are able to include music fans to make the important decision of bringing the field to five hopeful candidates, then again down to three talented finalists and, eventually, one amazing artist."


Over the next several weeks, fans will continue to narrow the field from five to three finalists by voting online at Yahoo! Music here. The top three finalists will be announced during Super Bowl weekend and each will rehearse with Timberlake during Grammy Week in Los Angeles. The public will choose their favorite performer via online and text message votes during the awards show broadcast live on CBS. The winner will be announced live on the show before his/her "Grammy Moment" with Timberlake.


The Top 12 finalists are Candance Devine (27), Burbank, CA; Amanda Dunn (26), Charlotte, NC; Jillian Gaudious (25), Austin, TX; Jessica James (18), Warner Robins, GA; Africa Miranda (30), Montgomery, AL; David Moore (18), Orlando, FL; Brenda Radney (22), Staten Island, NY; Phillip Ray (28), Oakland, CA; Jayne Rio (20), Vallejo, CA; Robyn Troupe (18), Houston, TX; and Mandy Ventrice (21), Pittsburg, CA.

Viewers and fans will have the opportunity to view the Top 12 videos and vote online for their favorites beginning today at Yahoo! Music. Top 5 finalists will be announced Jan. 17, while Top 3 artists will be announced during Super Bowl weekend and each will rehearse with Timberlake in L.A. during GRAMMY Week. Online voting will continue.

Viewers and fans will have the chance to vote for the final performer on Feb. 11, on CBS.com or via text message from 8 to 10 p.m. ET during the Grammy telecast.

The final performer will be announced as the world watches and will join the stage for his/her ultimate Grammy Moment with Timberlake.

Unsigned artists in the United States 18 years of age and older were asked to submit a 60-second video clip online to Yahoo! Music of an a cappella performance of one of nine Grammy Award-winning songs:

"If I Ain't Got You" (Alicia Keys), "Breathe" (Faith Hill), "Come To My Window" (Melissa Etheridge), "What's Love Got To Do With It" (Tina Turner), "Dance With My Father" (Luther Vandross), "Cry Me A River" (Justin Timberlake), "Respect" (Aretha Franklin), "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (Whitney Houston) or "Vision of Love" (Mariah Carey).

Thousands of video submissions were judged and whittled down to 12 by a VIP Blue Ribbon Committee made up of singers, songwriters, producers and music industry execs, as well as key executives from the Recording Academy. Simon Cowell was not involved in the selection process.