2011 Top Two 'American Idols': A Little Bit Country
95 million fans decided that Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery should face off in the season ten finale of "American Idol." Looks like "Idol" has gone country. Rossville, Georgia and Garner, North Carolina -- Lauren and Scotty's hometowns respectively -- are no doubt celebrating today. The two country artists have been strong performers on "Idol" all season.
Lauren (16) and Scotty (17) are the youngest duo ever to reach the finale spot. They are also the only country twosome to vie for the coveted win. They were up against stiff competition in an "American Idol" season that turned out some of its best talent to date. Viewers were surprised when favorites such as Pia Toscano, James Durbin and Casey Abrams were voted off all too soon.
Lauren Alaina was known for her insecurity on stage, but she seems to have lost that along the way. Her voice is pure, honest and powerful. She was on top of her game Tuesday singing Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance." (Watch it here.) With such strong vocals at this young age, she no doubt is headed for a successful career.
Scotty McCreery has been a fan favorite since day one. His signature low notes and unassuming manner make him a strong audience draw. Scotty may follow in "Idol" alum, Carrie Underwood's, footsteps, landing at the Country Music Awards. He impressed the judges on Tuesday, singing Thompson Square's "Are You Gonna' Kiss Me or Not?" You can see it here.
Haley Reinhart, the remaining member of the top three, couldn't make a comeback this time. Haley wowed the crowd on Tuesday with her impressive rendition of Led Zeppelin's "What Is and What Should Never Be," (watch it here) but it wasn't enough to land her in the finale. She appeared stunned when the announcement was first made, but she quickly snapped back to watch her exit video and sing her farewell song without shedding a tear.
Alaina and McCreery will take their last shots next Tuesday at winning over fans. They'll both no doubt walk away with new cars from Ford, but one of them will also land a recording contract when the winner is announced on Wednesday.
Sources
"American Idol"; FOX Television; May 19, 2011
www.americanidol.com
Lauren (16) and Scotty (17) are the youngest duo ever to reach the finale spot. They are also the only country twosome to vie for the coveted win. They were up against stiff competition in an "American Idol" season that turned out some of its best talent to date. Viewers were surprised when favorites such as Pia Toscano, James Durbin and Casey Abrams were voted off all too soon.
Lauren Alaina was known for her insecurity on stage, but she seems to have lost that along the way. Her voice is pure, honest and powerful. She was on top of her game Tuesday singing Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance." (Watch it here.) With such strong vocals at this young age, she no doubt is headed for a successful career.
Scotty McCreery has been a fan favorite since day one. His signature low notes and unassuming manner make him a strong audience draw. Scotty may follow in "Idol" alum, Carrie Underwood's, footsteps, landing at the Country Music Awards. He impressed the judges on Tuesday, singing Thompson Square's "Are You Gonna' Kiss Me or Not?" You can see it here.
Haley Reinhart, the remaining member of the top three, couldn't make a comeback this time. Haley wowed the crowd on Tuesday with her impressive rendition of Led Zeppelin's "What Is and What Should Never Be," (watch it here) but it wasn't enough to land her in the finale. She appeared stunned when the announcement was first made, but she quickly snapped back to watch her exit video and sing her farewell song without shedding a tear.
Alaina and McCreery will take their last shots next Tuesday at winning over fans. They'll both no doubt walk away with new cars from Ford, but one of them will also land a recording contract when the winner is announced on Wednesday.
Sources
"American Idol"; FOX Television; May 19, 2011
www.americanidol.com
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Published by Karen LoBello - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Based in Nevada, Karen taught middle school math and English, computer education and elementary school. She has been involved in various facets of the education field. Additionally, she performed and toured... View profile
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30 Comments
Post a CommentI love your recaps. You seem to really love this show.
I loved the finale and was highly entertained with all the fabulous talent they showcased! great write up here :)
Great, thanks Karen!
Missed this. Thanks for the recap.
Great recap! Scotty has been the most consistent vocalist throughout the competition. I think he has the edge over Lauren.
This should be one of the best finals in recent years. Great recap, thanks!
Thank you for a great recap,(keeping me informed)
Thanks for the recap. I no longer have time to watch AI and look forward to just reading the "Karen notes" instead. =-)
Wonderful recap.
I really enjoy your reviews of AI; they're always exactly on point. Scotty and Lauren are talented kids, but as I felt from the beginning (when it seemed like only you and I did), Haley has something special. It just came together a bit too late. There is no doubt that her cover of Led Zeppelin's "What Is and What Should Never Be" was absolutely amazing. I easily put it in the top performances I've ever seen on AI. The song allowed her to showcase all of her best attributes: blues rock vocals; sultriness; femme fatale persona, devil-may-care dancing. Her father did a terrific job with those wicked guitar riffs too. If she would have stuck to the Blues rock genre all along, she may have been able to develop a big enough base to contend with the country singers. The country vote, though, is just so loyal and powerful.