Official ABC statement

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION
TWO MISS AMERICA WAY
SUITE 1000
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ 08401

CLAY AIKEN WILL BE A SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMER
ON ABC'S "MISS AMERICA" TELECAST SEPTEMBER 18

Aiken Will Serenade The Winner With "Miss America's" Signature
Song, "There She Is," As Part of His Appearance On The Show

Multi-platinum recording artist Clay Aiken will be a special guest performer on this year's live "Miss America" telecast, on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the first "Miss America" telecast, which also aired on ABC.

Aiken, who has garnered millions of fans and critical acclaim worldwide since he burst on the scene with his lush vocals and youthful charm, will have a presence throughout the program's final competition festivities in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He will introduce the contestants during the glamorous evening wear competition, as well as perform his single, "The Way," from his hit debut album, "Measure of a Man," during the telecast. In the dramatic culmination of the competition, he also will serenade this year's winner with "Miss America's" signature song, "There She Is." Aiken's popular band, which is accompanying him on tour, will back him up on the show.

This year marks Aiken's second consecutive year as special guest performer on the program. He is in the midst of a national tour promoting his debut album, "Measure of a Man," which is nearing triple-platinum status. It sold 613,000 units in its first week of release, the highest first-week total for a debut artist in over 10 years, and it was ranked by SoundScan as one of the best-selling albums of the year.Chris Harrison, host of ABC's romance reality hit series "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," will host the live "Miss America" telecast for the first time.

Art McMaster, president and CEO of the Miss America Organization, is an executive producer of ABC's live telecast of "Miss America." Bob Bain returns for his fourth year as executive producer of the telecast. Alan Carter will be the director. (CLOSED-CAPTIONED) (Broadcast in stereo where available)