Our top 40 IDOL hopefuls are in Las Vegas ready to face our Sudden Death Round. Over the next few weeks half will continue to rock the road to IDOL fame, while half will be heading home. Tonight, ten of our ladies will take the stage at the Mirage Hotel and have one shot at staying in the competition. Only five will survive.
First up was Kentucky native, Jenny Beth Willis who sang "Heaven Heartache And The Power Of Love" by Trisha Yearwood. The panel was really mixed on her performance, with perhaps, Mariah, giving Jenny Beth the best feedback. Next up was twenty-eight year old New Yorker, Teena Torres who, at that ripe old age, is facing her final chance at IDOL fame. Tenna gave us "Soulmate" by Natasha Bedingfield. Nicki, with newly died dark roots, hated Teena's hair but loved her singing. Randy and the rest of the panel sang her praises and noted her emotional connection to the song.
Then our first Alaska semifinalist ever, Adriana Latonio sang "Ain't No Way" by the legendary Aretha Franklin and brought a big dose of soul to the song. The pint-sized singer commanded the stage, got an "A+" from Mariah, and looked Ryan right in the eye, literally, as she expressed her excitement.
26-year-old Brandy Hotard came up and sang "Anymore," by Travis Tritt. Keith and Nicki thought she failed to connect with the emotion of the song and that her "pageant" performance was sub-par. Could be trouble for Brandy! Next up was high school student, Shubha Vedula at the piano with Lady Gaga's "Born This Way." The audience was on its feet and loved it, but Keith and Nicki thought that despite her strong voice, the song was all over the place. Man, the acoustics allow you to hear every boo in that theatre!
Professional background singer, Kamaria Ousley then gave us "Mr. Know It All," by AMERICAN IDOL'S icon Kelly Clarkson. Keith said that he literally couldn't tell a thing about her from the performance, Nicki loved the look but not so much the performance, and Randy and Mariah thought is was a pitchy mess and her worst performance to date. Ouch!
Nashville singer Kree Harrison, was up next with "Up To The Mountain" and got quite a different response from the panel, standing ovations all around, and gushing kudos from Keith. Nicki continued her mind-meld with Keith, echoed his comments, and told the other gals to be afraid, very afraid, given how much Kree killed it. The Dawg called her a "natural born singer" and Mariah said she "sang the hell out of that song." Four thumbs up, fo sho!
The last time Angela Miller sang her original tune, she became a front-runner. Tonight, she sang "Nobody's Perfect" by Jessie J and further solidified her status as the real deal. Praise all around from the panel! Angela was followed by Isabelle singing "God Bless The Child" by Billie Holiday and made every boy who ever blew her off for the prom feel like a putz. Can we say "putz"? Nicki loved her and took issue with Randy who called the performance "old fashioned." Mariah loved the song, the performance, and the heart Isabelle brought to the tune. So mixed reviews for Isabelle.
Houston singer, Amber Holcomb was next with "My Funny Valentine" and wowed the crowd and the judges were thrilled with her performance. An A+++ from Nicki, but will she go on? Up next, it's decision time!
The ladies gave it their all, and then came the time for the judges to render their decisions. Five will continue on the road to fame. Five will be heading home, dreams dashed, and their journeys done. One by one, our first ten semifinalist females walked on stage.
The talent level was high, the tension was thick, and the judges faced some incredibly tough decisions, but in the end, Adriana Latonio, Amber Holcomb, Angela Miller, Kree Harrison, and Tenna Torees stood out and will be standing on stage going forward.
With five of our top twenty in hand, next, it's time for the guys to face sudden death on the road to our top twenty.