Washington: Top contenders from the hit television show American Idol descended on the White House on Friday, giving President George W Bush a break from talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the Middle East crisis.
Bush joined the 10 finalists from the show's latest season for a picture-taking session, then got a harmonica from them as a gift.
Contest winner Taylor Hicks already had a connection at the White House as a former student of Susan Whitson, who had been a high school teacher and is now press secretary to First Lady Laura Bush.
Asked if Bush was a fan of the hit reality show, White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said the president had never seen it, "but like most Americans he is well aware of it."
In addition to the harmonica, the visit earned Bush a zinger from Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid's office, which issued a statement pointing out that the show's ratings exceeded the president's own.
The statement also suggested Bush adopt as his theme song, Nobody Knows the Troubles I've Seen by Louis Armstrong.
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