American Idol: Season 8 Top 18 Women

What would American Idol be without controversy. The enormously successful show has managed to have high profile controversies every season. In the past there have been accusations of inappropriate behavior between judges and contestants. This year we have the disqualification of Joanna Pacitti for having a business relationship with Idol reps. The strangest part was the judges making a point of telling Joanna on camera that though she'd had record deals in the past, this would be her time. Then came the disqualification.

So now we have our top 36 American Idol hopefuls. There are 18 guys and 18 girls that will be split into 3 groups to perform for votes from America. This is another new rule for Season 8, maybe a lesson learned from a few mis-picks by the judges the last few seasons.

Now let's take a look at the Top 18 ladies of American Idol: Season 8.

Alexis Grace: (21) Memphis, TN
This is Alexis' third time trying out for American Idol. She was 16 the first time, and 3 months pregnant with her daughter the second time. This time she says she is ready and her voice is very strong. She does a funny impersonation of Celine Dion on her Idol video too.

Allison Araheta: (16) Los Angeles, CA
Allison is a self assured young lady who seems to have a lot of style. She, and the other very young competitors, may have issues finding their own sound on the show. Her favorite music is soul, but her favorite singer is Pink. Seems like a bit of an odd combination.

Anna Marie Boscovich: (22) Nashville, TN
Anna Marie is a nice girl and humble too. So far anyway. Talk about a good impersonation, she does Britney Spears to a tee. I hope she can go far in this competion. There is an air of maturity about her that I like.

Arianna Afsar: (16) San Diego, CA
I really like Arianna and hope she goes far in the competition. She seems like the girl next door. Far from many of the pretentious teens on American Idol, Arianna appears to be well grounded. After winning an American Idol singing contest, she fast tracked to the top 18.

Casey Carlson: (20) Minneapolis, MN
Casey is a college student at the University of Minesota. Another well rounded young lady that appears ready for the hoopla of American Idol fame. Casey has been, um, seen before...she did a benefit calendar clad in a teeny bikini. That certainly won't hurt her in this competition.

Felicia Barton: (26) Virginia Beach, VA
Certainly one of the most mature ladies of the competition, Felicia Barton has been married for seven years. Maturity may play a huge role in this years Idol with the huge swing of ages. Felicia was chosen by producers to replace the disqualified Joanna Pacitti. It is still unknown as to why she was chosen instead of one of the sing-off losers. It may be that she was still in town while others had left.

Jackie Tohn: (27) Silver Lake, CA
Hopefully Jackie will be a nice surprise for American Idol fans. She claims to have been "pounding the pavement" for a long time. Idol became an option for her last year with inclusion of instruments. Jackie plays guitar and has a whiskey rasp to her voice. She seems full of self confidence and will need every ounce as one of the oldest contestants.

Jasmine Murray: (16) Starkville, MS
What a gorgeous young lady is Jasmine Murray. At 16 years old she has the self assuredness of an old soul. Her giddiness over Justin Timberlake helps bring her back to a realistic teen. By no means is Jasmine the best vocalist in the group. Her youth shows in a nasal tone that comes out on high notes. The AI trainers should be able to get her past that, hopefully.

Jeanine Vailes: (27) Sherman Oaks, CA
Yet another returning contender is Jeanine Vailes. After being denied last year, she returned on the request of her friends and family. She seems like a fun person and comfortable with herself. As an older contestant it should be easier to stay true to herself. We have seen very little of Jasmine so far, hopefully that is good news.

Jesse Langseth: (25) Minneapolis, MN
Jesse got through to the top 18 after a sing-off win that surprised her as much as it did me. The judges did not care for either singer, and made no bones about Jesse's chances of winning AI. Jesse has a brush with greatness; her brother is Grammy winner Johnny Lang. Who knows how this will play out on stage.

Kendall Beard: (23) Austin, TX
I really like Kendall for this season. Another down to earth young lady, Kendall says her biggest influence is her mom. Her favorite music is country and Louisiana blues. Kendall is part of the 'already discovered' American Idol crowd this year. She was actually discovered by Grammy winning producer Jeffrey Weber. We'll see how she stacks up against the younger talent.

Kristen McNamara: (22) Napa Valley, CA
Kristen has a bit of a resume already. She too has been on the show Nashville Star (Season 4) where she placed 6th. She has worked with Chris Trevett (producer of N'Sync and Britney Spears). I am not a big fan yet, but she may easily win the male vote (if there is one).

Lil Rounds: (23) Memphis, TN
I have to admit that Lil is my favorite of all the AI Season 8 ladies. Lil Rounds just seems to have the voice and strength of character needed to win. She has so far taken on Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder and done beautifully. I think you better keep an eye on Lil for this season.

Megan Corkrey: (22) Sandy, UT
Megan is a dark horse for this season. While she is a decent enough singer, she has not shown the runs or highs of other competitors. Megan has continued to understate her performances. I fear the audience will have a hard time remembering her after a night filled with big voices.

Mishavonna Henson: (18) Irvine, CA
Alright, now we are talking plant. Michavonna has been on the Nickolodean show "Unfabulous" as well as a guest appearance on Frasier. She has her own website (as many Idol contenders do) boasting of her numerous claims to fame including local radio shows. Luckily she is talented. Sadly it's another misstep by American Idol producers.

Stevie Wright: (16) Phelan, CA
She wowed all who watched her perform her first audition in Phoenix, AZ (Etta James' "At Last") and never looked back. Stevie (named after Stevie Nicks) has raw natural talent that is a pleasure to hear. She appears to have no previous resume to back her, and doesn't need one.

Tatiana Nicole Del Toro: (24) San Juan, PR
There is no reason for Tatiana Del Toro to have made the cut except for the constant drama she provides. Tatiana has a bit of a manic/depressive personality. She is either giddy with shrill laughter or literally in a puddle shrieking in agony. Simon has yet to really have any interaction with her other than to say settle down. This should be interesting.

Taylor Vaifanua: (16) Hurricane, UT
Taylor has already done a bit of work at her young age. She was a backup dancer for High School Musical 2 and took part in a local group formation for TV (the group was called 4Real).

There are the Top 18 ladies of American Idol: Season 8. Remember how this started out to be a search for the most talented undiscovered entertainer. The advances of YouTube.com and the Internet have made that virtually impossible. Now talent is being hand picked out of their bedrooms in Cameron, MO before mom and dad can say,"Turn that crap down!"

There are some obvious advantages to the competitiveness of the new American Idol. Not nearly as many Sanjayahs. Now we only have to deal with the mental wrecks (Tatiana Del Toro) the judges throw at us.

Good luck to all and remember to check out the Top 18 guys of American Idol: Season 8. We will follow the groups of 12 as they progress forward. The first group will air Feb. 17, group 2 will air Feb. 25, the last group on March 3. Then a wild card to get us to the Top 12.