Ethan Jones Does It For Dad on American Idol
American Idol contestants really put Steven Tyler through the emotional ringer last night.
First, Reis Kloeckener brought the Aerosmith frontman to tears due to his story of overcoming high school bullying.
Then, Ethan Jones moved the rocker by talking about his father, who used to lead the family band until he was overcome by drugs and alcohol and is currently in a rehab facility. That's something to which Tyler can definitely relate.
But Jones has more than a gripping tale; he also has a strong voice. Watch him put it to use now during a rendition of Edwin McCain's "I'll Be."
Ethan is off to Hollywood, one of 255 total Golden Ticket recipients. He'll compete with Lauren Gray, another strong St. Louis performer, when he arrived in California.
Lauren Gray on American Idol: The One and Only?
Lauren Gray delivered a black-and-white audition on American Idol last night, leaving little for the judges and viewers to even debate.
She was awesome!
This Arkansas native - who works in her family's one-stop wedding business by day, and sings in her family's rock band at night - did Adele proud by covering her single "One and Only." The look on Jennifer Lopez's face in the following video really says it all about this crooner, as does J. Lo's appropriate response when Lauren says "This is the biggest thing that's ever happened in my life."
"It won't be the biggest thing ever."
Gray is off to Hollywood, and so are two other standouts from St. Louis: Johnny Keyser and Reis Kloeckener.
Reis Kloeckener Makes Steven Tyler Cry
Reis Kloeckener is like a character on Glee come to life.
Equipped with a Justin Bieber haircut, the American Idol hopeful tried out in St. Louis last night and explained how he attended a 152-student Lutheran middle school... before entering a much larger high school and getting bullied non-stop.
He considered dropping out, until a teacher overheard Reis singing in the hall one day and asked him to join choir. From there, he made friends and found a niche for himself.
The story, combined with Kloeckener's take on "Lean on Me," was too much for Steven Tyler. The singer/judge welled up and quickly gave this aspiring artist a Golden Ticket to Hollywood. See if you have the same reaction now:
Among Kloeckener's strongest competitors in St. Louis? Johnny Keyser.
Johnny Keyser on American Idol: FTW!
Based on the last few years' worth of voting results, Johnny Keyser has the look of an American Idol champion. He's young, white and male.
But does he have the sound?
Yes, based on this 22-year old's audition in St. Louis last night, the last stop for the Fox juggernaut before it finally showcases contestants to Hollywood.
With his family watching, and following Johnny's tale of growing up without a mother, Keyser received nothing but praise from the judges and unanimous Golden Ticket approval. Does this waterskiing waiter from Pompano, Florida really have a chance of going far? We think so. Listen for yourself:
Adam Levine: Shame on Randy Jackson!
The brewing feud between American Idol and The Voice, which returns for a second season after the Super Bowl Sunday night, shows no signs of simmering down.
Coach/judge Adam Levine is taking Idol's Randy Jackson to task for saying NBC’s upstart singing competition is more for “second chance people” than true stars.
“The winner of The Voice, I will remind you,” Jackson noted at the TCAs, “is an artist who had a deal at Capitol Records for several years, a failed contract.”
Levine's response, in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres:
“Shame on Randy Jackson for saying that,” Levine said. “He, of anybody, should know that if you’re in this business you need second, third, fourth and fifth chances."
"So we love and embrace having that being part of the show.”
Levine, who was joined by fellow The Voice coaches Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton, does credit Jackson for being “a working musician [who's] had a lot of success,” but he contends Jackson’s comments were “irresponsible.”
Do you agree? And which show do you like better?
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Brittany Zika on American Idol: Better Than She Looks?
Do not judge a book by its cover. Or an American Idol contestant by her glasses.
That's the back-handed compliment of a message Randy Jackson sent to viewers and Brittany Zika last night, telling the aspiring singer - following a great rendition of Brandi Carlile's "The Story" - that she looks "nothing like what you sound."
Meaning, we can only presume, that someone with a terrific voice ought to look more like Carrie Underwood and less like your local librarian?
Either way, Zika is off to Hollywood. Watch her audition now:
Along with Brittany, two other Portland-based hopefuls stood out this week:
- Britnee Kellogg, who is taking her two sons with her to Hollywood, but not her cheating ex-husband.
- Romeo Diahn, who spent most of his childhood in a refugee camp after fleeing from war torn Liberia.
Britnee Kellogg on American Idol: Take This, Ex-Husband!
Britnee Kellogg auditioned for American Idol in Portland last night and the backstory she shared with us shed a great deal of light on Jennifer Lopez's divorce from Marc Anthony.
Wait... what?!?
The 27-year old hopeful told the judges she was married for a long time to a basketball player, giving up her dreams so that he could follow his own... only for him to then cheat on her and tear their family apart. Cue to a close-up of J. Lo and a comment from her later on of "I am feeling you!"
Are you feeling Kellogg's cover of "You're Bo Good?" Does she deserve a spot in Hollywood? View now:
Keep an eye on Britnee in Hollywood, along with refugee camp survivor Romeo Diahn. He has an amazing story.
Romeo Diahn on American Idol: From Refugee Camp to Hollywood
A total of 45 Golden Tickets were handed out in Portland last night, as American Idol made its first-ever stop in this Pacific Northwest city.
But one contestant made an impression above all others who were granted access to Hollywood: Romeo Diahn, a Liberia native who fled that country in the 1990s during its civil war and ended up in a refugee camp in Ghana.
As Steven Tyler notes in the following audition, Diahn literally sang for his life during his time there, and the result - as J. Lo puts it - is a unique "vibe and flavor" unlike anyone else the judges have seen.
It's an incredible story and we'll be keeping our eye on Romeo in Hollywood.
American Idol to President Obama & Al Green: Sing For Us!
If you haven't seen the video of President Obama singing Al Green at a fundraiser at New York City's legendary Apollo Theater last week, you need to.
No matter what you think of his views, the Prez proved with his riff on "Let's Stay Together" that he's got pipes! And we weren't the only ones impressed.
Friday, American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe Tweeted an official offer to the Commander in Chief that he can't refuse. Or at least he shouldn't:
"@BarackObama we loved your vocal performance so much we'd love to invite you on to #AmericanIdol this Season for a duet with Al Green."
Now that would be the DVR moment of the decade.
We're gonna guess that Obama will cite scheduling conflicts and pass, but if you think about it, what better way to win over voters in an election year?
Okay, perhaps a robust economy would be a bigger ballot box boost, but you get the idea. The guy's vocal chops are legit and deserve a wider audience.
President Obama in 2012?
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Baylie Brown American Idol Auditions: Then and Now
Baylie Brown enjoyed a triumphant return to American Idol last night.
Five years after her initial appearance on the show - during which she advanced to Hollywood, was paired with uncooperative teammates ere and then forgot the lyrics on stage - this 21-year old Texan showed off a new hair color and a great voice yesterday as one of the 54 Golden Ticket recipients (along with Kristine Osorio and Ramiro Garcia) to make it out of The Lone Star State.
Watch her first try out below, lament how much we miss Simon Cowell by watching him once again in action, and then compare it to her version of "Bed of Roses" from this week's audition.
