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May 23, 2013
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'American Idol' Reveals Its Top 2: Who Went Home? (VIDEO)

by Jason Hughes, posted May 20th 2011 12:08AM

Top Three, 'American Idol'It's been a long season, and in the end it's come down to two teenage country singers and one bluesy girl with a rocker heart on 'American Idol' (Thu., 8PM ET on FOX). All three of them got to visit their hometowns and sing their hearts out on three songs last night.

FOX was so excited about the record number of votes they recorded for this stage of the competition that they put out a press release touting it Thursday morning, which stole a little thunder from Ryan Seacrest's announcement that 'Idol' pulled in 95 million votes.

Of course, with the addition of online voting this season, shouldn't they be expected to reach new records each week in the voting? But it's not how many votes they racked up that mattered. It's who got the most votes. Which two move on to next week's finalists?

'American Idol' airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8PM ET on FOX.

!!SPOILER ALERT!!

It was a virtual no-brainer when Seacrest announced that Scotty McCreery was the first one moving into next week's Finals. It was then down to Lauren and Haley, and he didn't even make them sit through another commercial break to find out. Lauren was in, and Haley was out.

Poor Haley didn't look like she took the news too well, but she blew us away with her exit performance of Elton John's 'Benny and the Jets.' We're pretty sure that finishing third isn't going to hurt her chances at a career at all. And with her family performing behind her during her hometown visit, we wouldn't be surprised to see a Reinhart Family album.

Were you surprised by the results? Who do you want to win out of Scotty and Lauren in this Teen Country Idol finale?

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dodi0420

It's time for american Idol to pack its bags! The Voice, is the new great singing show (hence the word singing). Half of the American Idol top 12 will not even be able to top these contestants!! Go The Voice, a true talent seeking show!

May 22 2011 at 11:56 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
Victoria

This season has been the best by far. I lost interest in American Idol not too long ago and I decided to get back into it this year and I am glad that I did. I love Scotty. Just like others have said, Scotty has the whole package.

I don't see how people think Haley has an attitude; she was just standing up for herself against the judges when she disagreed with them. She couldn't be all timid stating her opinion against the judges; she had to be assertive.

I liked Lauren but she sounds like a lot of the other country singers, and I thought Pia had a strong voice but if I heard her on the radio I don't think I'd be able to tell that it was her.

James was good but he screamed a lot, too.

I liked Jacob as well. Jacob had a huge range in his voice, he was just forced to sing songs that didn't really fit him.

All in all, this has been a great season and I loved the new judges, too. They chose the best of the best and it was our fault who went home after that. There were no extremely negative comments about the contestants, and I liked that. My least favorite part of the show is Hollywood Week because of all the drama, and somewhat the auditions because some people just want attention or get laughed off.

May 22 2011 at 5:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
webda

Funny how everyone gets their panties in an uproar, when their favorite is eliminated.....

The judging has been a joke this year without Simon, plain and simple.......Randy is about the only one who gave "honest" criticisms of performances....but they were few and far between....

Tyler was more "entertaining" than acting like a judge....JLo obviously favored the girls, but she brought nothing to the table......would be VERY SURPRISED to see these 3 back together next season....

This is a singing contest....I laugh when people vote against people because of their "attitude".....how many singers out there don't have them? It's a part of them and helps give them their "drive"...

I would love to see a rule change.....instead of voting for your favorite, vote for the person who should go home......but then the "numbers" that Seacrest spouts each week, would be down.....

In 9 seasons, only Clarkson and Underwood have been huge successes....the other 7 winners have not.....there have been several who were not winners who have shown more success, than those 7 winners...

The show is the American dream in a nutshell.....that someone out of nowhere, can rise to the top and win it all....doesn't guarantee anything though.....

Every season, there are those who are eliminated too soon......this year.....Pia..... James.....

It will be interesting to see who goes far in this season's group.......but I don't think it will be either of the finalists, this year....Scotty has that "low range' going for him....but he has no upper range, and he doesn't finish his vocals with any strength......Lauren, is a pure singer, but at this time has no real stage presense......when she sings a song "straight", she nails it....but when she tries to "make it her own", she comes up short.....

All the singers had various weaknesses, so I don't want to sound like I am picking on just the finalists......Facts is, every week everyone was "wonderful"....at least that's what the judges kept telling us...

Maybe "Idol" has finally run it's course.....

May 21 2011 at 9:13 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
webda

Funny how everyone gets their panties in an uproar, when their favorite is eliminated.....

The judging has been a joke this year without Simon, plain and simple.......Randy is about the only one who gave "honest" criticisms of performances....but they were few and far between....

Tyler was more "entertaining" than acting like a judge....JLo obviously favored the girls, but she brought nothing to the table......would be VERY SURPRISED to see these 3 back together next season....

This is a singing contest....I laugh when people vote against people because of their "attitude".....how many singers out there don't have them? It's a part of them and helps give them their "drive"...

I would love to see a rule change.....instead of voting for your favorite, vote for the person who should go home......but then the "numbers" that Seacrest spouts each week, would be down.....

In 9 seasons, only Clarkson and Underwood have been huge successes....the other 7 winners have not.....there have been several who were not winners who have shown more success, than those 7 winners...

The show is the American dream in a nutshell.....that someone out of nowhere, can rise to the top and win it all....doesn't guarantee anything though.....

Every season, there are those who are eliminated too soon......this year.....Pia..... James.....

It will be interesting to see who goes far in this season's group.......but I don't think it will be either of the finalists, this year....Scotty has that "low range' going for him....but he has no upper range, and he doesn't finish his vocals with any strength......Lauren, is a pure singer, but at this time has no real stage presense......when she sings a song "straight", she nails it....but when she tries to "make it her own", she comes up short.....

All the singers had various weaknesses, so I don't want to sound like I am picking on just the finalists......Facts is, every week everyone was "wonderful"....at least that's what the judges kept telling us...

Maybe "Idol" has finally run it's course.....

May 21 2011 at 9:10 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to webda's comment
rad1959

I hope it has run its course for a reality show it isn"t very real.

May 21 2011 at 8:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
scorpiascorpio

I agree with some of what you said, at least as far as the judges are concerned. But I disagree largely about what you said about the other 7 Idol winners not being successful. Many of them are largely successful in other avenues of the [entertainment] industry such as Fantasia Burrino and Taylor Hicks; both have found major success on Broadway, and in Burrino’s case, she also has a reality show and has been moving around the TV circuit quite a bit. She has just as much success selling records as Clarkson and Underwood…and she acts! So winning Idol doesn’t mean that winners are limited to one platform in the entertainment industry; there’s more to it than just standing there and singing. And speaking of that…

…I thought it took too long for Pia to leave. Just as you say that Lauren has to work on her stage presence, so does Pia…I agree that Lauren needs work (and needs to grow up), but she has way more presence than Pia has. It is agreed that James should not have been eliminated, but neither should Casey. My picks for the top 3 were Casey, James, and Haley. I am not happy with the final 2 and don’t care who wins at this point. Scotty is one-note and Lauren has plucked my nerves since the audition phase of this show…

This season had promise…until it didn’t. I love Steven Tyler but I don’t think he had a negative comment for anyone, and don’t get me started on the self-serving, big-headed Jennifer Lopez. She can’t judge a ham sandwich in my book because every contestant this season (except maybe Naima) can out-sing her in a heartbeat at any given moment. She is so full of herself and if she comes back next season, I definitely will not watch, though I probably won’t be watching anyway. And Randy…no comment.

Overall, this show has long since run its course, and I as a musician myself, never cared/believed in the concept of this show to begin with. But it is time to move on to something different. But if they insist on carrying-on, perhaps they ought to change the name of the show to something like, “American Popularity Contest” or “If You Were an American Tweenaged-Girl, Who Would You Vote For?” People should know by now that this show is not about talent and musicality because I hate to say it, but the vast majority of the public has no ear and eye for talent (hello, Casey!). People are voting just for how well someone sings, how good they look, or both. Well it takes a lot more than singing ability and looks (despite what people think); looks don’t matter and never should. I guarantee Casey could outsell Pia any day…marketing is a major part of being successful; talent is the rest…

May 22 2011 at 6:03 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to scorpiascorpio's comment
ftbrjb

scorpiascorpio, You really , really need a life. All we hear from you is your rambling on and on and on, it never stops, you need to give us all a break. I would bet from hear you head right to the soaps to again ramble on and on again. Try getting out more often, or get a job, anything that might make you useful. Themn you won't have that big disapointment you see when you look in the mirror every morning. Yes. it would scare all of us too.

May 23 2011 at 9:22 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down
barbqt

This is the best Idol season yet. I expected to miss Simon; but, I hardly noticed he was gone. The talent this season is just so exceptional that I'm surprised the judges have so few really negative comments. I love Scotty! I really like Lauren too; but, I expected the final to be James and Scotty. I never expected Haley to make it this far. She has had some good shows; but, I do not think she was equal to Scotty, James and Lauren. I also didn't like her attitude. She was so full of herself. I've never seen a contestant as rude as I believe she was to the judges and other contestants. I'm ashamed to admit that it did my heart good to see how shocked she was when she got eliminated. And, I saw the anger at denying her something she appeared to believe was in the bag. It's a good thing to have self confidence; but, she carried it a little far. Go Scotty!

May 21 2011 at 12:06 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to barbqt's comment
colona1505

I am disappointed too. Lauren is a good singer but lacks stage presence. Hailey should be in the top two, not Lauren, in spite of her attitude. Hailey has stage presence and brings creativity and variety to her performances which are two things that a successful artist should have. And this is why I am sure she will make it far. She is a true artist and in spite of all the nasty comments about her and her attitude I still would've loved to see her compete against Scotty. The show next week would've been more exciting. Now what we will see is two people with almost the same style of music competing next week. Nothing to really be saying "who do I want to see win". I guess now I'll vote for Scotty.

May 20 2011 at 2:32 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to colona1505's comment
ftbrjb

Haley was a victem of her own demise. America watched as she did scream/screech on her songs and many times off key, we all seen that. Still she had good stage presence. But no matter how you sing or your stage presence her dis-respect to the judges and back talk and her poor attitude was not overlooked by Americas Voters. She didn't make it last year either as she was sent home early by the judges because of her screaming while singing.I would have thought that she would have learned that from last year and changed it. All in all, America got it right with Scotty. Here is a young man only 17 and is cleqan cut, respectful, humble, and religious. He will be an American Idol that our young adults can look up to and admire and there aren't many of them around today, sorry to say. Scotty has the whole package and Americas vote.

May 21 2011 at 12:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to ftbrjb's comment
rad1959

SHE was the victim of holier than thou judgementalpeople I agree with colona 1505 Haley had a strong voice stage presence and bring a new sound to the stage with a blend of jazz blues and rock .Thats creativity none of the rest had.

May 21 2011 at 8:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down
scorpiascorpio

Vomit

May 22 2011 at 6:08 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down
yacoth

They were all very talented contestants, it was very hard for me to vote for, however I am sure they will do very well in the future.
I will be looking forward to buy their reccords. I wish them all the very best. This year they had the best talent

May 20 2011 at 2:25 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
muzzlelodr20011

go scotty and i too was like others who watch and what really jerked my cord was when the voters kicked PIA off and kept stefano and haley oh well at least 2 country singers are IN IT TO WIN IT

May 20 2011 at 1:44 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
sspirit1961

I think that James should have been in the top 2. He can sing anything. When they elimated he I lost interest in the show. I think that Scotty is the same way he is able to sing anything. He deserves to win. Go Scotty Go !!!

May 20 2011 at 1:29 PM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
Susan

Does no one see what a nasty attitude Haley has?? Did you see her reaction when Ryan announced Lauren would go on?? Do you think the other two would have treated her like that? She was an ok singer, but can you imagine the people that will have to work with her in the business in the future....Lauren and Scotty have big hearts and a great attitude and they really deserve the chance, I think Lauren with professional training can have better stage presence, but Haley can't do anything about her nasty attitude. She's kind that won't be grateful for people buying her CD's, she'll think she's owed..Good luck to Lauren and Scotty!!!!

May 20 2011 at 12:54 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Susan's comment
Kelsey

OK, look. there's an easy way to explain that so-called attitude.
She was SO CLOSE to achieving her dream and then it just got taken away from her by a less-deserving 16 year old crappy teen Country singer. Lauren and Scotty didn't even bother to comfort her. They just hugged each other and acted like snobs.
Haley has stage presence and a fantastic voice. Lauren needs help with her stage presence and her emotions. Scotty needs to be more versatile. Haley is one of the only people on IDOL of whom I would buy and album of. James, Casey and PIa as well.
Haley doesn't HAVE an attitude. she'll be more successful than Lauren and Scotty combined.

May 21 2011 at 6:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Kelsey's comment
rad1959

I agree. She is a kid for gosh sakes and yes it obvious to most that she was knocked out by 2 less talented especially Lauen. I'm not so sure Lauren is the sweet heart everyone thinks she is.Haley is very competeive and was shocked frankly so was I so get over expressions. I will bet everyone passing judgement on Haley has had expressions of shock, disappointment ,and disbeleif in their life there justr wasnt millions wathing you on TV and waiting to judge you for something wrong.Get off the kids back you holy than thou judgesLauren should have been gone 2 weeks ago.

May 21 2011 at 8:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down

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