5 Things You Don't Know About American Idol and Coca-Cola

Tonight the 12th season of American Idol debuts on FOX to 15.6 million viewers anxious to see a star born. As many viewers know, Coca-Cola has been a sponsor since the show's launch in 2000, but here are some fun facts about Coke's collaboration with American Idol.

1. The traditional green room where celebrities hang out before the show started with Coca-Cola and to this day is still dubbed the "red room" featuring the famous Coca-Cola red.
2. The Coke Couch, which features the Coca-Cola signature ribbon swooped along the back and used to be onstage during the show, is now located in our "Collectors Corner" at the World of Coca-Cola.
3. In 2011 and 2012 Coca-Cola created songs featuring American Idol fans' lyrics to be performed on the show's season finales. In the last two years, award-winning pop music artists have been a part of bringing fans' lyrics to life.
4. In 2013 Coke will sponsor exclusive behind-the-scenes content online at www.americanidol.com, providing fans with an inside look at the contestant experience. And fans who redeem Coca-Cola My Coke Rewards packaging codes at www.mycokerewards.com will have a chance to instantly win prizes like the new Coca-Cola American Idol cup and trips to the show's finale.
5. As part of Coca-Cola's new "Be OK" campaign, we are using the power of the American Idol audience to spread the word about exactly how many calories are in a can of Coca-Cola. Beginning January 17, 2013, you can see the campaign here.