secrets, secrets...

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With just seven hours until showtime, the secrecy surrounding tonight's finale extravaganza is both intriguing and irritating. By this time last year, we pretty much knew who was scheduled, in what order and what they were singing.

This year? Virtually nothing.

Here's what we know or, at least, think we know with a high degree of certainty.

The top five (at least) are scheduled for solo/duets, which is my way of saying these kids will perform alone with an established star, rather than being grouped with one or more of the other kids for the performance. This is a new, but welcomed twist, because of all of the last five seasons, this is the one with the potential to spawn more breakout stars than the others. In addition to Taylor and Kat, I feel certain that we'll see Chris Daughtry with a CD out within the year. I expect to be standing in line to buy whatever Elliott Yamin produces, and a Paris Bennett CD wouldn't be a surprise. I do expect to see Kellie Pickler in a sitcom and see Ace Young somewhere on my television eventually. And if Mandisa doesn't release a gospel CD, I'll be shocked. And I'm not counting out Lisa Tucker or Bucky Covington.

Katharine McPhee will perform with Meatloaf. (I'm squeeling at the thought of Meatloaf on the Idol stage!)

Elliott Yamin will be paired with Mary J. Blige. (I'm hearing there's a lot of anticipation surrounding this performance.)

Chris Daughtry will perform with his favorite band, Live.

Paris Bennett will, reportedly, be singing with Al Jarreau.

Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken will be there. Bo Bice may possibly be there. (Now, wouldn't it be nice to see Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Ruben Studdard, Diana DeGarmo and Fantasia Barrino too? Well, nobody's said they won't be there...) We haven't had a winners reunion since season three.

Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick will perform, most probably with the kids. Kevin Covais will sing What's New Pussycat, or at least part of it. Bucky Covington will sing Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head. And the girls will be singing a Girls Rule!-type of medley.

Katharine and Taylor's traditional duet will likely be (I've Had) The Time of My Life, from the soundtrack Dirty Dancing, suspected only because a couple of super sneaky radio personalities risked losing their media credentials to secretly tape them during rehearsal. (p.s. they sound good.)

UPDATED: Taylor Hicks will be performing In the Ghetto with Toni Braxton.

Here's what we don't know...

Who Taylor will be paired with, other than his harmonica. (Names thrown about have ranged from Bruce Springsteen and Bob Seger to Toni Braxton and Sheryl Crow, so it's anybody's guess.)

Who will sing the national anthem, which, if you're new to the finale, is always a highlight. Last year it was Leandra Jackson, one of the worst auditioners who was brought back, all dolled up and given a standing ovation. I cried. This year? My money's on little Garet Johnson, the Wyoming cowboy who is probably practicing in front of an audience of turkeys for his return to the big stage.

Nigel is being tight-lipped but promising us enormous surprises throughout the two-hour telecast. And Katharine is following in his footsteps, telling ET that "There's a big surprise that out of all the contestants only me and Taylor know about, so trust us it's pretty big, something that's never happened on the show!"

Okay, it's pretty big. Never happened before. And Kat and Taylor would be clued in, but the other contestants left clueless. Hmmm. Guessing game time. Maybe they're gonna announce that Kat and Taylor really aren't the two top finishers, cause the whole season was a reverse dream and all the awards go to Melissa and Kevin. Now that's never happened before.

Or maybe they're gonna announce the offering of recording contracts to more kids from this group than have ever been offered in the past five seasons. Naaah. Wishful thinking.

Ideas?