The quest of American Idol finalist Sanjaya Malakar ended last night when it was announced that he received the fewest votes. Tuesday’s performance show featured the Top 7 singers performing country music after being mentored by superstar Martina McBride. Malakar, 17, from Federal Way, WA, sang “Something to Talk About.”

Over 38 million votes, this season’s highest total, were received after the show. On Wednesday, McBride performed “Anyway” from her new album “Waking Up Laughing,” Fergie sang “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and it was revealed that Malakar will not be moving forward in the competition.

Next week, American Idol partners with the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF) on an historic television event: Idol Gives Back, a two-night special raising awareness and funds for organizations that provide relief programs to help children and young people in extreme poverty in America and Africa. On Tuesday, April 24 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), in keeping with the Idol Gives Back theme, the Top 6 finalists (Melinda Doolittle, LaKisha Jones, Blake Lewis, Chris Richardson, Jordin Sparks and Phil Stacey) will sing “life anthem” songs about compassion and hope.

The special two-hour results show on Wednesday, April 25 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) will be a star-studded evening featuring live performances from the American Idol stage as well as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Also, viewers find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who must go home on the live results show.

-American Idol Pictures