Clive Davis Returns To American Idol As The Only Guest Judge For This Season

LOS ANGELES - Music impresario Clive Davis returns as a guest judge on American Idol, Tuesday, May 17, 2005, one week before the program's finale. Davis will be the only guest judge for the season. At a time when the show has had its share of headlines, Davis' presence will return the focus to the task at hand - selecting the next Idol superstar.

Davis has already illustrated that he is free with his opinions when he singled out Idol finalist Fantasia Barrino. In a now already famous line, Davis stated "if this weren't a national competition and I saw you in a basement in Kansas City, and you performed like that, I would sign you straight away." Fantasia was signed to Davis' J Records and made Billboard history by becoming the first artist in the history of Billboard's Hot 100 chart to debut at Number 1 with her first record, "I Believe." "I Believe" went on to become the best selling single in 2004 and Fantasia's album is now at 1,500,000 units sold.

Davis has produced the successful mutli-platinum albums by Idol winners, Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia.