''The short list of songs will be [chosen by] the three judges and the producers,'' predicts Warwick. But Lythgoe says the judges should have nothing to do with the final choice. His solution? ''I would love to do two or three shows with past Idol contestants singing the songs, and then have America judge the songs,'' he says. ''But that is not confirmed with Fox yet.''
The judges are none too happy at the prospect of being cut out of the song-selection process. ''People always ask, 'Why did you pick that song?''' Abdul says. ''It's weird. We have everything to do with the rest of the season and nothing to do with the final song.'' Lythgoe's response? ''They're on hand to judge singing. It's unfair to knock the final song. Randy does it more than anyone else, probably because he only says five words over and over all season. We send him a dictionary every Christmas, but he doesn't read it.''
Whichever side emerges victorious, two facts remain: The most popular finale song was season 1's ''A Moment Like This,'' and that was the one winning Idol tune that Cowell — who's since been booted from the selection committee — personally commissioned. (He's releasing it again as the first single for Leona Lewis, winner of U.K. sensation The X Factor.) ''It's no skin off my nose,'' he shrugs, ''but if I hate [the song] I'm going to say it.'' Why do we have a sinking suspicion he's not going to love the songs America comes up with? ''I guarantee the songs submitted will have the words blessed and proud in them. 'I'm blessed to be proud.' 'I'm proud to be blessed.''' And Randy's thoughts? ''Finding a hit song at any time is one of the hardest things in the world. I wouldn't want to be the guy looking through them all.''
4. The finalists just might meet a Beatle
We've come a long way since nebbishy Paul Anka coached Clay Aiken on performance technique. Last year's roster of guest stars included Rod Stewart and Stevie Wonder mentoring finalists for Tuesday-night performances — and then singing their own hits the following evening, which exposed them to a new, non-AARP audience and reaped huge sales gains for their latest albums. Expect more marquee names as season 6 progresses, and if all goes according to plan, look for them to reach an epic scale. Confides Cowell, ''Everyone wants Paul McCartney, and there's a chance this year. It would be fantastic to do the Beatles songbook.'' Jackson, who's always boasting about his connections, says he's finally ready to start calling in some favors: ''I don't cross my Idol life and my producer life that much, but I may call Mariah this season and say, 'Yo, come on, dude. Get in this game.'''
Producers won't confirm any names, citing the hellish logistics it can take to get a top performer through the stage door. ''You'd be amazed how many big names we turned down that didn't want to work with the kids,'' says Warwick. ''People phone up saying, 'I'll perform on Wednesday, but that's it.' Record labels try to get some of these arrogant stars to work with the kids, and we just say no.'' Of course, big demands and bigger egos won't stop Lythgoe, who has one notoriously hard-to-reach singer on his wish list.
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