Music of Billy Joel to Be Featured on Next Week's AMERICAN IDOL

On next week's AMERICAN IDOL, the Top 10 contestants will take on the music of legendary performer Billy Joel. The show will air on Wednesday, March 21st at 8/7c on the Fox Network. 

The following night, Season 10 contestant Haley Reinhart will return to the Idol stage to perform her new single “Free”. Also on tap, singer Lana Del Ray will perform “Video Games”; and another finalist will be sent home by the judges. 

Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States. He is also a six-time Grammy Award winner, a 23-time Grammy nominee and has sold over 150 million records worldwide.

He was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (1992), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1999), the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (2006), and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame (2009). In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's 50th anniversary, with Billy Joel positioned at No. 23. 

In 2002, MOVIN' OUT, a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Billy Joel, opened on Broadway. Conceived by Twyla Tharp, the musical told the story of a generation of American youth growing up on Long Island during the 1960s and their experiences with the Vietnam War. The principal characters were drawn from those who appeared in various Joel tunes. The show went on to win four Tony Awards, including one for Joel.