Elise Testone, a 28-year-old teacher from Charleston, South Carolina, and Jen Hirsh, a 25-year-old singer from Agoura Hills, California, both sang the same Adele tune on ‘American Idol’ during Wednesday’s performances from the top 12 female semifinalists.
Both of them impressed the judges. Jen Hirsh performed “One and Only” first, and judge Randy Jackson told her she was “one of the greatest singers in the competition this year.”
Elise Testone was seated behind a piano as she closed the show with her rendition. Jackson told her that she has “one of the best voices in the competition.”
18-year-old Skylar Laine says her family is struggling to keep their Brandon, Miss., business from closing. Sixteen-year-old Jessica Sanchez has been battling swollen vocal cords. Both delivered great performances.
Skylar sang a countrified version of the Faces’ “Stay With Me.” Jennifer Lopez compared her to a young Tina Turner, while Steven Tyler called her “a pistol.”
Jessica Sanchez performed Jennifer Hudson’s “Love You I Do,” which earned a standing ovation from the judges.
23-year-old Stokesdale, North Carolina native Chelsea Sorrell took on ‘Idol’ alum Carrie Underwood‘s ‘Cowboy Casanova.’ Randy Jackson told her, ”You definitely can sing. You’ve got a huge big voice, and you showed it with that big note at the end.”
But, he questioned Chelsea’s song choice, pointing out that they’ve already seen the Carrie Underwood thing done in the past, and this round was really about setting herself apart from everyone else.
Erika Van Pelt scored with her rocking version of Heart’s “What About Love.”
Baylie Brown tried to deliver Lone Star’s “Amazed,” but received the overall least-positive critique of the night.
Haley Johnson butchered the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams.” Randy told her, “It was a bit of a nightmare for me instead of a dream…It was kind of pitchy all over the place. It’s harder to do Annie Lennox than it sounds. Her intricacies are spot-on and yours weren’t-spot on…I was like, ‘Wow were are we going? I’m a little dizzy.’”
The top 13 finalists will be revealed tonight.
