The Top 5 - DIVAS!

The top 5 finalists will all be singing two songs each. The first will be a song from the year they were born and the second will be a selection from a legendary Diva.

Candice Glover was born in 1989 - the same year that Paula Abdul spent three weeks at #1 with Straight Up. Candice veered away from the dance beat and decided instead to focus on a lighter arrangement where her vocals shined through. But even more importantly, for the first time in the competition she expressed an ease and confidence with her style and stage presence.

Janelle Arthur was born in 1989 - the same year that Vince Gill had a hit with When I Call Your Name. This was a genuine and heartfelt moment of a beautiful voice and sweet personality sharing the gift of music with us. Janelle is so lovely and sincere you feel everything with her.

Kree Harrision was born in 1990 - the same year that She Talks To Angels was a hit for the Black Crowes. This song choice was step backwards for Kree. She was back to being a nameless and faceless voice who was given a microphone but has zero personality and stage presence.

Angie Miller was born in 1994 - The same year that The Pretenders had a hit with I'll Stand By You. This was an outstanding emotional and vocal live concert moment. Angie tore it up at the piano playing with perfection and her voice was totally beautiful.

Amber Holcomb was born in 1994 - The same year Without You was a #3 hit for Mariah Carey. So we all know it wasn't as amazing as Mariah's version, but it was still very good. Her voice is strong and she looked so completely wonderful in a sleek and stylish mini dress.

When You Believe brought Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston together for the first time. This double diva powerhouse ballad was a great opportunity for Candice to show off more of what she can do. It was all about her voice and she did it perfectly.

Dumb Blonde is an example of what makes Dolly Parton a legendary diva. Janelle is the perfect young diva who is capable of rocking the stage with this kind of song. She is vibrant and dynamic every time she gets on stage and her bouncy blonde hair and sparkly outfit were the ideal match for her great vocal performance.

Have You Ever Been In Love is a typical Celine Dion vocal throw down that exemplifies her as one of the greatest divas. Kree Harrison, unfortunately, doesn't even come close to how amazing Celine is. It was a weak effort in comparison to the greats. Kree lacks a distinctive quality that makes her special and unique.

Halo is a Beyonce diva moment and Angie Miller ran in here grabbed it for herself and completely stole the show. She looked incredible and her vocals displayed a pure and crystal clear resonance that knocked over all of the competition. It was like I was hearing this song for the first time. It was beautiful.

Barbra Streisand is the Diva standard that all others are judges against and Amber Holcomb effortlessly rose to the challenge. Her performance was grand, classic and divinely pure. What a lovely talent!

All five of the remaining finalists are very good, but one of them is noticeably lacking in all areas including vocal range, stage presence and style. Kree Harrison should be the lowest vote getter be sent home this week.

The Top 8 - Sing the 80's

Tonight the top 8 finalists are singing songs from the totally awesome 80's!

Debarge took I Like It to #31 in 1983 and Deandre Brackensick brought it right into the present. Once again he chose a song that allowed him to show off his extremely impressive vocal range while highlighting his smooth and wonderful falsetto. Deandre is totally ready for his videos to get millions of views on YouTube.

Foreigner hit #1 in 1984 with I Want To Know What Love is. Elise Testone hoped this power ballad would sustain the energy from her rocking performance last week, but unfortunately it just exposed her vocal and performance limitations.

Colton and Skylar got together to perform Islands In The Stream that Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton took to #1 in 1983. For the most part they just appeared to be going through the motions, but their voices are good enough that it wasn't all bad.

Genesis took That's All! to #6 in 1982. Phillip Phillips was out there showing off a combination of awkwardness mixed with anger. He couldn't seem to connect with the song at all and he made it very obvious that he didn't like it.

Hollie and Deandre served up some pure entertainment with their very fun rendition of The Pointer Sisters #9 hit song I'm So Excited from 1984. It was bouncy, energetic and showed off the lightness in their youthful personalities while also highlighting amazing vocals.

Simply Red had a #1 hit in 1989 with If You Don't Know Me By Now. Joshua Ledet once again took the song to his gospel comfort zone and performed with passion. One thing that he hasn't shown off yet is if he can actually sustain a single note for an extended period of time. There's lots of gasping up and down but no controlled blowing us away.

Whitney Houston took How Will I Know to #1 in 1985. Jessica Sanchez really makes it all look so easy. She can perform outstanding vocals live so incredibly well that it's going to be wonderfully impressive to hear what she produces in the studio. She's wonderful.

Phillip and Elise got together to drag down the fantastic classic rock song from 1981 Stop Dragging My Heart Around. Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty took it to #3 on the Billboard HOT 100 and were a completely natural pairing, but these kids just painfully strained their voices trying to force it out.

Irene Cara had a #1 song for 6 weeks in 1983 with Flashdance, What A Feeling. Hollie Cavanagh looked spectacular in a very cute sparkly blue dress while she strutted and showed off her great legs in some very cute shoes. Along with her working the stage so well came more of her fantastic voice that belted out this great song to perfection.

Jessica and Joshua paired up on the 1987 #1 smash I Knew You Were Waiting from George Michael and Aretha Franklin. It's a good song, but it didn't provide Jessica with any great moments to shine and Joshua just over sang it.

Cyndi Lauper won the Grammy for Best New Artist after releasing great material like Time After Time that hit #1 in 1984. Colton Dixon has a unique ability to transform an amazing song into his very own showstopper. He tore the roof off the place while taking us all on the ride with him.

Bette Midler hit #1 in 1989 with Wind Beneath My Wings. Skylar Laine wanted the crowd to see that she can belt out the big notes and this song easily allowed her to do that. She also managed to interpret the song lyrics very well.

My prediction for the bottom three this week is Elise, Phillip and Joshua. They all have the same problem of lacking range and versatility. They serve up the exact same thing every week, but instead of getting better, it just ends up being more tired and boring. I think that Elise will be going home.

The Top 11 sing the Grand Ole Opry

Recently the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season Four Winner, Carrie Underwood was invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It's an honor only given to the biggest and the best Country Music superstars. Tonight the finalists had the chance to work with Randy Travis and see if they can be taught a lesson on reaching the amazing heights that Carrie has achieved.

Michael Sarver has already demonstrated his skills as a country music singer, but tonight when he took on Ain't Going Down Till The Sun Comes Up, he proved himself even more. It has rapid fire lyrics that he mastered perfectly and he worked the crowd in a way that would have made Garth Brooks proud. His look and style was a classic match for the song.

Alison Iraheta has the voice of a great "rock chick". In her interpretation of Blame It On The Heart she stayed very true to her personal style while adding just the right amount of country flavor. She definitely has the potential to get far in the competition.

A great country song tells a heartfelt story that connects with the listener. Kris Allen sat center stage and did so much more than just sing or perform. He conveyed a sincere and genuine expression of emotions as he sang To Make You Feel My Love. It was vulnerable and he made you feel it.

Lil Rounds left no doubt that she can sing any style of music with her showstopping version of Independence Day. Her vocal range is exceptional and she looked stunning. She should be applauded for doing a song that was true to the theme of the week rather than making everything into an R&B song.

Adam Lambert, on the other hand, knows he is not a country artist and he made no effort to try and be one. He took the Johhny Cash song Ring Of Fire and he did it the way he wanted to. It was entertaining and exciting as he performed multiple levels of drama and energy. Just an observation, though, with the nail polish and jewelry you have to wonder how far he is going to go with his androgynous style. This isn't RuPaul's Drag Race!

Scott MacIntyre gave another example of his great emotional vocals coupled with his skillful piano playing. He is an all around wonderful musician who clearly knows all aspects of what he is doing up there. This arrangement of Martina McBride's Wild Angels was masterful.

Alexis Grace chose to slow things down a bit with her version of Dolly Parton's Jolene. This song should have been an opportunity to show off her vocal range, but she didn't take full advantage of it. It was inconsistent and not as impressive as it needed to be.

When Danny Gokey would serve himself better covering a Taylor Hicks song he decided to take on Carrie Underwood's Jesus Take The Wheel. All it did was expose his lack of vocal range and how he screams rather sings. It was just a sloppy mess on all levels. We know he is a fan favorite, but what are they getting? I'm not getting it.

Always On My Mind is a song that has crossed over from Country to high energy Dance hitting #5 by Willie Nelson in 1982 and doing one better at #4 by the Pet Shop Boys in 1988. Anoop Desai performed a slow and subtle version that focused on his ability to sing and interpret lyrics. A very good choice that could turn things around for him.

It was 1957 when Patsy Cline first hit the Billboard HOT 100 with Walkin' After Midnight. Patsy perfectly defines the legend that is the Grand Ole Opry so Meagan Joy Corkery had big shoes to fill. She stayed true to the essence of the original while adding her own flavor that we've come to know. All I can say is that it wasn't a total mess.

Yet another finalist, this time Matt Giraud, has decided to see if he can rise to the challenge of singing a Carrie Underwood song. So Small was her first single off of Carnival Ride and Matt sat behind the piano and did it better than Danny ever could have. Matt's vocals are a strange combination of bland yet still somehow impressive, but no where near the standard set by Carrie.

At this point I have no expectation of seeing my predictions for the bottom three actually be right. Danny Gokey and Alexis Grace definitely failed to impress me tonight so they are taking the first two slots. I can appreciate that they are somehow popular favorites, but they just aren't bringing it each week so I can see it. I think they will be joined in the bottom three by Michael Sarver. After two lackluster performances in a row, Alexis Grace should be the one going home.

The Results - Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton had her biggest success on the charts when she stayed at #1 for two weeks in 1980 with the theme song from the huge hit smash movie 9 To 5. The top 9 finalists gave their best group performance of the season so far when they opened the show with this fun toe-tapper.

Afterward, Michael Johns, David Archuleta, and Carly Smithson all heard the good news that they are one step closer to working with Mariah Carey on April 15th. After waiting through a performance from the winners of The Next Great American Band, The Clark Brothers, David Cook, Syesha Mercado, Jason Castro all found out that they, too, will have the privilege of getting closer to being mentored by Mariah Carey. That left the bottom three as Ramiele Malubay, Kristy Lee Cook and Brooke White who will be at risk of missing out on the Mariah opportunity of a lifetime.

Dolly Parton has a brand new album in stores now called Backwoods Barbie and she performed a wonderful song from it called Jesus and Gravity. It's a classic slice of down to earth inspiration that we've come to love from Dolly.

Brooke and Kristy Lee were both sent back to safety while Ramiele Malubay has to face the reality of being so close to working with Mariah, but being denied the chance.

I did a little bit better this week correctly predicting two of the bottom three. The time was right for Ramiele to be sent packing while the anticipation builds for a performance from Mariah Carey on April 9th during the Idol Gives Back show. Mariah will then return to mentor the remaining finalists for their April 15th performances and then treat the audience to another spectacular performance on the April 16th results show.

As Mariah Carey has just achieved her 18th #1 single on the Billboard HOT 100 this week, she serves as the embodiment of what American Idol finalists strive for: Career longevity and ongoing success as a recording artist.

The Top 9 Finalists sing Dolly Parton

This week the top 9 finalists had the chance to learn from the music and movie legend, Dolly Parton. Here's the songs they decided to perform:

Brooke White started things off with her interpretation of Jolene. Her familiar guitar strumming was a good fit for this great song, but as usual, her limited vocal range prevented it from reaching its full potential. She also had some difficulty adding any personality to her performance.

David Cook followed things up with his unique interpretation of Little Sparrow. Thankfully, he did not turn the song into a full out rock scream fest. Instead, he showed his range and versatility. He demonstrated his ability to find the balance of making the song his own while maintaining the integrity of the song.

Ramiele Malubay tried to keep the energy up with her interpretation of Do I Ever Cross Your Mind. This cute young lady never has to worry about overpowering a song with her personality or style. She doesn't have enough of either as was exemplified with this forgettable attempt.

Jason Castro picked up his guitar and gave his predictable interpretation of Travelin Thru. The competition has been on for enough weeks for everyone to know that Jason does not have a great voice or much talent at all. Fans are voting for his nice smile, his bright eyes and those distinctive dreadlocks. He brought nothing special to the song.

Carly Smithson provided a spectacular interpretation of the song that Dolly peaked at #3 with in 1977 on the Billboard HOT 100, Here You Come Again. It was a very simple arrangement that allowed the melody and her voice to take center stage. It was a new twist on a great song that audiences will want to hear again and again.

David Archuleta raised his own personal standard of excellence with his interpretation of Smoky Mountain Memories. He may be young and he still has room for improvement, but he's got so much natural talent and personality that he's already the best of the bunch. He seems to sing with a sincere connection and understanding of the song and he conveys that with every note. All that and he has the brightest eyes and the nicest smile of them all.

Cute country girl Kristy Lee Cook appropriately took the stage barefoot as she interpreted The Coat of Many Colors. She sincerely brought to life the message of being poor, but feeling rich because of having love. This was the perfect showcase of both the song and for Kristy's talents.

Syesha Mercado took a risk by deciding to interpret I Will Always Love You. Dolly first presented the song in her movie Best Little Whorehouse In Texas where it was a a very sweet and sad farewell song. The world knows the song best as the anthem that Whitney Houston took to #1 for 14 weeks in 1992 from The Bodyguard. Syesha tried to have it both ways by combining the arrangements and for the most part it worked for her. This was probably the best she has done so far in the competition, but it exemplifies her struggle to find an identity. She was better at the beginning and struggled at the end, but it was still a respectable effort.

Michael Johns brought the show to a great ending with his interpretation of It's All Wrong, But It's All Right. He commanded the stage as he performed this song with a bluesy and passionate energy that we have come to expect from him. Nothing wrong - all right.

My predictions for this unpredictable season are very easy this week. Brooke White, Jason Castro and Ramiele Malubay are really starting to stand out as not as good as the others. They should all be in the bottom three and Ramiele should be going home.

The Results - Beatles night - Part 2

Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Neil Diamond have been revealed as the Season Seven American Idol mentors - Quite impressive! Not so impressive was the medley of Beatles songs the top 11 finalists opened the show with.

One by one the finalists were to come center stage and find out if they get to sit comfortably on the couch and make the top 10 or sit in one of the stools reserved for the bottom three. Brooke White made it to the couch while Carly Smithson, in a shocker, had to go sit in the first stool. David Archuleta is safe and so is Michael Johns. David Cook was the next to make the safety of the couch while Kristy Lee Cook had to sit on a stool next to Carly. Jason Castro and Ramiele Malubay also got the good news of being in the top 10.

In Season Five Kellie Pickler was very easily written off as the poor man's Carrie Underwood. She managed to make the top 10 that year despite her limited vocal range and ditzy persona. In the time since then Ms. Pickler has actually released a very good collection of songs on her debut album and has become quite the respectable live performer. She came back to the American Idol stage to sing her crowd pleaser, Red High Heels and while she still doesn't come close to the sales and talents of the Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie, she still pulled off some good entertainment.

Syesha Mercado was the next to find out she is safe followed by Chikieze. That left Amanda Overmyer to join Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook in the bottom three. Carly Smithson was sent back to safety as was Kristy Lee Cook. In an unexpected twist, Amanda Overmyer has ended up as the lowest vote getter of the week and we have seen the last of her Janis Joplin southern rock musical interpretations.

I only got one of my predictions correct this week and while I am disappointed to see Amanda leave too soon, I am glad that Kristy Lee Cook is getting the chance to bring her girl next door persona back for another week. I gotta wonder what is wrong with these voters? Carly Smithson has one of the best voices ever to sing on the American Idol stage and yet people are calling in for Brooke White and Jason Castro. Brooke and Jason both score 10's when it comes to good personalities, but they are sorely lacking in vocal range and stage presence. Who knows what surprises we'll get next week.