USA TODAY International Edition
These five could thrive on ‘American Idol’
Noah Davis will need to find another way to buy that alpaca farm.
The wig-snatching viral star was eliminated during last week's American Idol, which narrowed the singing competition from 50 to 24 contestants. The ABC revival (Sundays and Mondays, 8 ET/PT) begins its next round of solo performances and celebrity duets, before starting live shows and trimming the field of competitors April 22. Who do we think will wow viewers, as well as judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan? We're putting our money on any of these five.
Jurnee
Initially, the most memorable thing about the Denver native was her sweet back story: coming out to her parents in high school and marrying her now-Army wife. But her stunning, emotional performance of Never Enough from The Greatest Showman proved that she has some of the best pipes in the competition.
Caleb Lee Hutchinson
The Dallas teen is one of the most polished performers of the pack, with near-flawless performances of songs by country hit-makers Chris Stapleton and Josh Turner, and a smoky voice that sounds like it belongs to someone twice his age. If he can show some versatility and a bit more personality, he could take it all.
Effie Passero
The mohawked, tattooed powerhouse has no trouble standing out. Her unique look combined with timeless, towering vocals make her a dark-horse favorite.
Maddie Poppe
The Sara Bareilles-style singer-songwriter faces no shortage of competition from similar competitors Alyssa Raghu and Catie Turner. But her heartfelt performance of an original song about the pains of growing up proved that she has all the tools to go far.
Jonny Brenns
Fitting directly in the mold of past winners Scotty McCreery and Phillip Phillips, Brenns has already attracted a minor following on social media among young women, despite having one of the weakest voices in the competition. But his performance of Sam Smith's Lay Me Down showed some improvement, and he has charm to spare.