‘American Idol’ Judges Choose Four Finalists; Viewer Vote Will Determine Remaining Six
Earlier in this fifteenth and final season of American Idol, the show producers announced that judges Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr., and Keith Urban would select eight of the ten finalists, leaving only two of the spots up for viewer vote. After much backlash, American Idol producers changed their minds and announced the split would instead be four selections by the judges, leaving six spots for each viewer to vote on.
Going into last night’s episode of American Idol, 14 performers remained. The judges’ four selections were announced, leaving ten more contestants from which viewers can vote for their choices for the remaining six finalists. You can vote multiple times for your favorites, up to ten votes for each contestant. You can cast your vote through any of five methods, including online at www.americanidol.com/vote, on the FOX NOW App, Google Search, Text (SMS), or Toll-free call. Tonight’s episode of American Idol will feature performances by the ten as well as an announcement of the additional six contestants chosen by the public.
The four American Idol finalists selected by the judges in a unanimous vote were, as reported by Radio TV Talk, Dalton Rappattoni, Olivia Rox, Trent Harmon, and La’Porsha Renae. These four American Idol finalists did not have to perform last night. The remaining ten did have to perform but did not have to pick a new song. Instead, they were to give us whatever they considered their best song from this season. The pressure was on as they each tried to win your vote. How did they do?
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American Idol performances kicked off last night with Manny Torres’ rendition of Stevie Wonder’s Master Blaster. Buddy TV describes Manny’s ability to use the stage and interact with the crowd as being the best part of this one, and Keith Urban agreed. It was good, but the performance did nothing to make him stand out. Gianna Isabella was the next to step up to the American Idol mic and gave us Annie Lennox’s I Put a Spell on You, which had its highs and lows. J Lo encouraged her by saying she thought she had a lot of potential. Thomas Stringfellow’s performance was viewed as good, as well, but American Idol judge, Harry Connick Jr., told him to be careful of his trademark voice cracking because it feels overdone and can come to be viewed as bad technique. The American Idol judges unanimously liked Tristan McIntosh’s performance of Rascal Flatt’s What Hurts the Most, but some viewers found it pitchy and lacking emotion.
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Avalon Young was next up on last night’s American Idol broadcast, and her confidence shined in her rendition of Chris Brown’s Yo (Excuse Me Miss) in a performance Jennifer called “smooth like butter.” Jenn Blosil followed with True Colors by Cyndi Lauper and gave a performance Harry said was a “flawless lyric delivery,” but many viewers found her rendition pitchy and lacking in emotion in the same manner as Tristan McIntosh’s performance. Jean Lee did another Ed Sheeran song. This time, it was Make It Rain. Even Harry Connick Jr saw his nerves and said so in his comments.
Hollywood Reporter calls Sonika Vaid among the best on this season of American Idol. Last night she belted out Celine Dion’s I Surrender. Following Vaid’s stellar performance was one that wasn’t so great by Jeneveve Mitchell. She did Ring of Fire, and it was far from her best. Connick told her that she has a unique sound and that everyone may not “get it.” MacKenzie Bourg closed out the final American Idol show before viewers make their choices. He sang his own song, Roses, and Keith Urban loved it.
If you’ve missed any of the American Idol episodes in this farewell season, or if you’d like to watch some of them again before casting your vote, you can do so on FOX NOW. The contestants up for the viewers’ vote for the remaining six finalist spots are Avalon Young, Gianna Isabella, Jeneve Mitchell, Lee Jean, MacKenzie Bourg, Manny Torres, Sonika Vaid, Thomas Stringfellow, Tristan McIntosh, and Jenn Blosil. We’ll find out the final ten on tonight’s broadcast of American Idol at 8 p.m. ET tonight on Fox.
[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]
