BEIJING, March. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Twenty-two-year-old college student from Chapel Hill, N.C., Anoop Desai, won the "unusual" 13th spot on "American Idol", which had in past seasons 12 finalists only.

    Simon Cowell, who announced Anoop Desai was the fourth wild card winner in the next round of the popular Fox singing contest, said: "we decided — recently — we're going to make this a top 13."

    The three other wild-card finalists were Jasmine Murray, the big-voiced 16-year-old high school student from Starkville, Miss.; Megan Corkrey, the quirky 22-year-old single mother from Sandy, Utah; and Matt Giraud, the soulful 23-year-old dueling piano player from Kalamazoo, Mich.

    The previously dismissed foursome were selected by the show's judges.

    Desai, Murray, Corkrey and Giraud join previously picked finalists Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nunez, Lil Rounds and Michael Sarver.