Nick Walker
"It started with a dream."
So reads the dramatic opening for a new official Fox promo clip teasing American Idol's season 12 premiering during tonight's broadcast of the World Series. And this time around, the show has plenty to sing about. Not only is a new panel set to make its debut come January (the exact air date has yet to be revealed, but is typically in the middle of the month) -- joining series vet Randy Jackson are superstar judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban -- but the show's most recent winner has a bonafide hit on his hands: the song "Home."
No wonder season 11 victor Phillip Phillips is getting prime placement on the San Francisco Giants-Detroit Tigers face-off, not only starring in Idol's minute-long commercial, which will air during the game, but also singing the national anthem before the first pitch.
VIDEO: 'American Idol' Winner Phillip Phillips Performs for The Dalai Lama
The 22-year-old Leesburg, Georgia native will be in good Idol company for the latter -- among the alums who've bravely tackled the challenging "Star-Spangled Banner" are fellow winners Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Scotty McCreery. Indeed, with "Home" racking up over 2 million single sales, he's one step closer to joining the illustrious but elite club of true Idol successes. Who's next?
Phillips' debut album, The World From The Side Of The Moon (19 Entertainment/Interscope Records), which features the song "Home," will be released on Nov. 19.
Watch the promo clip below:
Twitter: @shirleyhalperin