With more than 220,000 units scanned since the release of his chart-topping debut CD, Bucky Covington takes the lead as this year’s best-selling debut country artist. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Bucky Covington has scanned an average of 16,000 units each week and has remained inside the top 12 on the Top 75 Country Albums Chart since its release in April. The good news comes as the lead single, “A Different World,” climbs to #7 on the Billboard chart and is quickly charging towards the top 5 and beyond. The song is currently reaching a weekly audience of over 23.5 million listeners. It’s been a busy year for Bucky, whose touring schedule has kept him on the road for much of the year. Tomorrow, Bucky will take a brief break from his touring with a visit to Idol Camp in Northfield, Massachusetts. At Idol Camp, a summer camp for aspiring performers ages 12-15, Bucky will participate in a Q&A session and perform for the attendees. Following his visit to Idol Camp, Bucky’s upcoming tour dates include Charlotte, Milwaukee and St. Louis, plus additional shows opening for Sawyer Brown in Dekalb, Illinois, Hutchinson, Kansas and at the Detroit Lakes WE Fest. Bucky Covington’s self-titled CD debuted at #1 on Nielsen SoundScan’s Country Top 75 Chart with not only 2007’s biggest unit debut from a new country artist, but also the best first week sales and highest Top 200 debut for any new male country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992. In recent months, Bucky’s national television appearances have included Live with Regis & Kelly, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Morning America and Fox & Friends. Check out our exclusive interview with Bucky!

If you're in or around NYC tonight, you'll definitely want to catch Season Four's Sarah Mather performance at The Red Lion. She will be performing songs off of her EP "Another Day" and new album "Under Cover." Show Information: The Red Lion 151 Bleecker Street NYC Show Starts at 10:00 PM

The producers behind AMERICAN IDOL take the musical reality genre to a whole new level with a mission to find undiscovered American bands that are ready to rock the nation, starting with the special two-hour series premiere of THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND (working title) Friday, Oct. 19 8/7c on FOX. The show will air in its regular time period on Fridays at 8/7c. From hair bands to hip-hop, classic rockers to country crooners, THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND (working title) scoured the country seeking musical groups of all ages and styles, with hundreds of bands auditioning for a backstage pass to stardom. From the auditions, judges will narrow down the hopefuls to 10 semifinalist bands who will perform weekly in front of a live studio audience. Viewers will vote for their favorite bands to determine who stays in the competition. Each week, the bands will perform either original music or covers of varied styles. The range of genres will test their musical limits, and could also strike the wrong chord in their personal and professional relationships. The season finale brings the ultimate battle of the bands, with the last three groups competing to secure a contract with 19 Recordings and the title of “Next Great American Band.” The series’ host and judges will be announced soon. If you are interested in entering your band, please be aware that today is the last day to submit your entry on the show's Myspace page! What are you waiting for? Enter now for a chance at making it big and securing a place for your band in reality show history!

The producers behind AMERICAN IDOL take the musical reality genre to a whole new level with a mission to find undiscovered American bands that are ready to rock the nation, starting with the special two-hour series premiere of THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND (working title) Friday, Oct. 19 8/7c on FOX. The show will air in its regular time period on Fridays at 8/7c. From hair bands to hip-hop, classic rockers to country crooners, THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND (working title) scoured the country seeking musical groups of all ages and styles, with hundreds of bands auditioning for a backstage pass to stardom. From the auditions, judges will narrow down the hopefuls to 10 semifinalist bands who will perform weekly in front of a live studio audience. Viewers will vote for their favorite bands to determine who stays in the competition. Each week, the bands will perform either original music or covers of varied styles. The range of genres will test their musical limits, and could also strike the wrong chord in their personal and professional relationships. The season finale brings the ultimate battle of the bands, with the last three groups competing to secure a contract with 19 Recordings and the title of “Next Great American Band.” The series’ host and judges will be announced soon. If you are interested in entering your band, please be aware that today is the last day to submit your entry on the show's Myspace page! What are you waiting for? Enter now for a chance at making it big and securing a place for your band in reality show history!

Americanidol.com's James Pumphrey had the opportunity to sit down with Constantine Maroulis to chat about his upcoming self-titled debut album, due out on August 7th. While he calls the album "distinctly rock," he says it's also diverse in that you will hear a lot of other influences in his music. The record is being produced by his own label, Sixth Place Records, which is an homage to his placement on American Idol. What's interesting is how long he waited to put out an album, unlike many of the other Idols who are quick to do so after their time on the show. This is mostly because Constantine has many interests and always has. He grew up in a family that truly values music and instilled in Constantine a desire to learn from a young age. His family exposed him to the many old jazz legends and took him to a number of musicals. All of this led up to his time at the Boston Conservatory of Music, where his desire to perform was cemented. After graduating from the Conservatory, he spent a lot of time on the road, traveling with the production "Rent." His time on the road actually prevented him from watching much television, so when he decided to audition for "Idol," he'd never seen one episode! More recently, Constantine has been spending a lot of his time on the small screen by playing a version of himself on the soap opera, "The Bold And The Beautiful." What's great for Constantine is that the show has steadily been working his songs into the storyline of the show. It seems as though the arrangement also works well for the soap opera, as they have kept Constantine four months over the original contract. Don't expect Constantine to choose between acting and singing any time soon. While he says that the celebrity part of it is not important to him, he'd just like to continue doing good work in both arenas, as they are both big parts of him. Watch our Exit Interview with Constantine from Season 4! 

(AP) - This photo provided by the Governor's office shows 'American Idol' winner Taylor Hicks, left, showing Alabama Gov. Bob Riley his cowboy boots in this May 12, 2006, photo at the Governor's Mansion in Montgomery, Ala. The owner of about a dozen pairs , all size 12, Riley wears cowboy boots every day and almost everywhere. (AP Photo/Governor's Office, Robin Cooper)

(AP) - American Idol's Mandisa releases debut CD 'True Beauty' on July 31, 2007. (PRNewsFoto/The Media Collective)

(AP) - In this booking photo released by the Pulaski County Sheriff in Little Rock, Ark., former American Idol contestant Corey Clark is shown Monday, July 30, 2007. Clark was arrested early Monday on drug charges and for an outstanding warrant from Arizona, authorities said. (AP Photo/Pulaski County Sheriff)

(AP) - San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, right, prepares to cut a ribbon marking the beginning of auditions for the 'American Idol' television talent show's seventh season while hopeful contestants wait in line outside Qualcomm Stadium Monday, July 30, 2007 in San Diego. Thousands of people lined up to register for the auditions as early as Saturday morning. (AP Photo/Chris Park)

(AP) - 'American Idol' hopefuls celebrate while waiting in line outside Qualcomm Stadium for a chance to audition for the television talent show's seventh season on Monday, July 30, 2007 in San Diego. Thousands of people lined up to register for the auditions as early as Saturday morning. (AP Photo/Chris Park)