Tag Archives: Joshua Ledet

‘American Idol’ Top Two: Did Joshua Ledet Deserve To Be Eliminated?

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It happens every year. By the time you drill down to the top three on “American Idol,” tears are shed and teeth are gnashed when host Ryan Seacrest announces the third-place finisher.

After coming so far, climbing so high and landing within one episode of the show’s finale, whatever beloved singer makes it to the precipice of potential fame is sent to the sidelines to watch the final showdown and his/her fans are left dejected.

That’s the general mood of Joshua Ledet‘s followers after the soul-stirring 20-year-old Westlake, Louisiana throwback singer was sent packing on Thursday night’s elimination show
, paving the way for pocket diva Jessica Sanchez and (be)low key pawn shop worker Phillip Phillips to battle it out next week.

“They sabotaged Joshua and Jessica,” raged reader Rienell John Llevado in a comment on an MTV News story in which Ledet called his elimination
 a “relief.”

“Jessica got lucky she has the support she needed to go on. They will do the same thing again this Tuesday. They are giving their golden boy the best to bring him on top. After all, isn’t ‘American Idol‘ loves white guys with guitar only? Don’t worry Josh, you’re right when you said you could still have a successful career even if you don’t win ‘Idol.’”

Another reader, Keish, claimed that the voting was rigged because after always getting a message that their vote was counted before, there was no such message Thursday night. “I voted so many times still got nothing! Josh you are the winner!!!”

Khan lamented that Ledet — who was touted by the judges as one of the best singers
 to ever grace the “Idol” stage — should not have been eliminated, because, “someone with that kind of voice should never be voted off a singing competition.” A number agreed and added that Joshua is probably better in the long run because his singing style has a timeless quality and, besides, the recent track record
 of WGWG (white guys with guitars) has been pretty dismal anyway.

“American did not vote based on the talent,” opined Lamran2010. “How come Joshua was voted off … it is not fair.” Interestingly, given the shrieks of joy Phillips often elicits on the show, a number of the comments derided his meat-and-potatoes singing style and predicted that voters would turn out in force for Sanchez next week.

“Wow , how can America get it so hopelessly wrong year after year” wondered Muzz W. “Go Jessica, Phil Phillips should have gone weeks ago.” Then again, Koo was not having it, bidding “good riddents [sic] Joshua” and proclaiming the singer a “drama mama.”

Amid the sometimes nasty back-and-forth, writer Barry made a plea for peace, saying, “All three have sooo much talent!!! America has voted and unfortunately Joshua goes home. But don’t take anything away from Jessica and Phil now!! The finale is all about the songs they sing and how they sing them. It’s also about stage presence!!” His pick: Sanchez.

As many eagle-eyed “Idol” watchers are aware, it’s not always the winners who end up winning, which is why LaNell was just fine with Ledet going home early. “Joshua became a winner the moment he stepped on the stage,” she wrote. “He got the exposure he needed to get his career started … he will go far because of his talent,” adding that she figured a younger generation might not totally get his “good ole Motown sound.”

Do you think Joshua Ledet deserved a spot in the “American Idol” finale? Leave your comment below!

‘American Idol’ Report Card: Joshua Ledet Brings ‘Drama,’ But Will Jessica Be ‘There’?

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You can understand if the contestants on “American Idol” make some bad song choices when left to their own devices. But on Wednesday night’s
 triple-play episode, in which Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet had to sing a judge’s choice, a tune picked by mentor Jimmy Iovine and one of their own, the selections were … bizarre.
With only two songs from the current millennium, the top three reached back, sometimes way back on a night when it became clear that Sanchez is too green, Ledet is just the right shade of blue(s) and Phillips is, well, whatever he wants to be because he’s probably going to win no matter what happens.

So, who made it thisclose, but is probably headed home tonight and who can get their big boy pants pressed for the finale? Read on to find out!

Joshua Ledet: Randy Jackson picked the Etta James song “I’d Rather Be Blind” for Josh, who busted out the retro mic and some sleepy soul for a performance that simmered but took way too long to boil. It was solid, but even Jennifer Lopez seemed a tad bored with it and it didn’t push him any closer to this century. (It was cute, though, how a Kraft commercial using THE SAME SONG aired right after Ledet performed. Synergy!)

Josh went big with his choice, John Lennon’s “Imagine.” And because he’s a preacher’s kid, he skipped the “no religion too” verse. The pageant-y, 1970s AM lite radio arrangement flattened out the song’s emotion, which Ledet tried to pump back in courtesy of some swooping gospel moments. It was a heartstring-tugging layup, but if you really listened it sounded like coasting, or, as JLo politely deemed it, “pulled back and controlled.”

Jimmy hit Josh in his sweet spot with Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama.” Someone knows what they’re doing. From the manic bouncing to the nearly out-of-control, bedazzled jacket-dropping spazz at the end, Josh murdered it. That alone made up for the other two tame performances and locked him into next week’s finale. A-

Phillip Phillips: Steven Tyler was going for melody with “Beggin’” by Madcon. But what he likely did was send tens of millions of “Idol” watchers to Google to find out … who the hell Madcon is? So, a 2008 cover of a 1967 Four Seasons hit by an obscure Norwegian dance duo? Wouldn’t you know it, strummy P managed to make it sound like, oh man, do I even need to say it? (Rhymes with Shave It Bath Hues.) The jammy, vanilla soul frat party rocker is exactly what I expect a P Phil album to sound like. “New Springsteen?” Really Steven?

The sexy sax player was back for Phil’s choice, “Disease” by Matchbox 20. Yeah, that Matchbox 20. It was moody, conga-y, mid-tempo and so intense he had to sit down on some road cases just to contain the, um, intensity? Like Ledet’s “Imagine,” this one felt too easy, like a sprinter pulling up in the final 20 yards to avoid injury after looking over his shoulder and realizing he’s got it. In a rare bit of real talk from the panel, Lopez called it “easy flowing” and said it lacked the “wow performance” element.

Phil’s dad loved Jimmy’s choice of Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight,” and Iovine dared the pawn shop worker to ignore the 1978 hit’s melody. Without his guitar, Phil was forced to awkwardly stroke and caress his thigh as he muscled through the heartland ballad. Between the sappy strings and the suggesting hand fidgeting Phillips looked like he was waiting out the clock in detention. Randy, of course, called it the “perfect song” and Phil’s best performance. So, now all you have to do to win this thing is sing the melody of the song and not worry about actually hitting the notes correctly? I give up. You can have him, America. Remember how awesome that nighty-night song was when you don’t buy his album in December. B

Jessica Sanchez: Lopez aimed for Sanchez’s sweet spot with Mariah Carey’s “My All,” but ended up trapping the singer in a breathy lower register that made Jessica’s powerhouse voice sound weak and pitchy. The snoozy lullaby robbed the high schooler of a big moment and may have punched her card home. Did Randy mention he’s worked with Mariah? Well, if he thought that was one of the best renditions of a Carey song ever on TV, Carey should lose his number.

In the ultimate brown noser move, BeBe chose Aerosmith’s power anthem “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.” I kept waiting for girls in swimsuits or evening gowns to start parading around her, but this kind of Velveeta ballad is her sweet spot and while she didn’t move the bar any higher, it’s exactly what America wanted to hear. But, ugh, that last shouty note was as off as Jennifer’s pink pantsuit.

Iovine went retro with 1970′s “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5, which despite what he argued, didn’t really make Sanchez seem contemporary, and dropped her back down into that lower range that doesn’t do her favors. When she kept it up high, Sanchez sounded strong and confident, but the lazy tempo didn’t provide the rocket fuel she needed to lock in a spot next week. B-

Who do you think nailed it last night? Who deserves to go home? Let us know in comments below.

Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

‘American Idol’ Finale: Phillip Phillips Vs. Jessica Sanchez

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The “American Idol” finale is set, and Joshua Ledet didn’t get an invite.

Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez will compete in next week’s season finale after Ledet was voted off the show Thursday (May 17). Ledet, the 20-year-old from Westlake, Louisiana, who was continually praised as one of the best contestants to ever grace the “Idol” stage, received the lowest number of votes from the 90 million votes cast, according to “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest.

Ledet set a record for standing ovations from the judges this season on “Idol”; barely a week went by when he didn’t get the judges on their feet after one of his stellar performances. Ledet performed James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” at the close of the show Thursday, repeating a song that became one of his signature moments.

Show mentor Jimmy Iovine took partial blame for Ledet’s performance Wednesday, saying by choosing Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama,” he didn’t give him a song with enough of a melody to captivate the audience and generate votes. “There was something missing, and I know it was the material. In fairness, I gave him a song that didn’t have enough melody. Joshua needs melody, [and] I take 100 percent responsibility for that,” Iovine said.

Still, he thought Ledet deserved to compete for the “Idol” crown next week. “Does Joshua belong in this finale? 100 percent, he should be in anyone’s finale,” he said.

Ledet’s elimination gives Sanchez a shot at being the first female “Idol” winner since Jordin Sparks back in season six. At the onset of the season, it was said to be the women’s year on “Idol,” and four of the top six contestants were female. But three women were picked off in a row — Elise Testone, then Skylar Laine, then Hollie Cavanagh — threatening the show’s girl-power contingent. Now Sanchez is carrying the torch for the ladies.

Iovine, in summing up Wednesday’s performances, also blamed himself for picking a bad song for Sanchez, but said Phillips won the night with his version of Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight.” “Hands down, it was the best performance he’s done in the entire contest,” he said, calling it “flawless.” (In fairness, Iovine also said Phillips’ version of Matchbox Twenty’s “Disease” was “a total snooze-fest.”

Regarding Sanchez, Iovine said, “She has to have the most magical moment she’s had so far” in order to win it all. “If she gets in the finale,” he said, “It’s about the songs.”

Before Ledet’s elimination, Jackson said the final contestants were “three of the best we’ve ever had” and said all three have “big careers” ahead of them.

Also on Thursday’s show, Adam Lambert dropped by to perform “Never Close Our Eyes,” and Lisa Marie Presley (huh?) performed her new single “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet.”

What did you think of “Idol” on Thursday? Did the right contestants make the finale? Let us know in the comments!

Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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‘American Idol’ Top Three Battle For Ticket To Finale

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With “We’ve Got Tonight,” Phillip Phillips may have punched his ticket to next week’s “American Idol” finale.

Phillips’ performance at the close of Wednesday’s (May 16) episode stole the show and earned a standing ovation from the judges. All night, Randy Jackson spoke of having big “moments,” and Phillips’ gentle take on the Bob Seger classic definitely qualified as one of those performances.

“That was the perfect song at the perfect time and your best performance on the show ever!” Jackson told Phillips after the song. Jennifer Lopez said it was like a “lullaby,” and Steven Tyler said he “nailed it” and praised him for his passion during the song.

Phillips’ “We’ve Got Tonight” came at the end of a two-hour show that saw the contestants visiting their hometowns and being treated like returning heroes. The episode also saw Joshua Ledet retain his momentum, while Jessica Sanchez slipped a bit, proving it may be tough for her to make it to the final two.

Contestants sang three songs each: One chosen by the judges, one of their own choosing and one picked by Jimmy Iovine.

Ledet opened the show with Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind,” which also earned a standing ovation from the judges. (Not surprising, they picked the song.) “Out of 70,000, there’s only one American Idol. And you sang like that one tonight,” Tyler told Ledet after the song. He followed it with John Lennon’s “Imagine,” dubbed “brilliant” (by Jackson) and “controlled” (by Lopez) and finished with Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama,” his suggestion from Iovine. It was another hit.

“You have this perfect marriage of knowing exactly what you’re doing and letting completely go at the same time,” Lopez told him after his unkempt performance, which saw him dramatically remove his jacket, as well as his in-ear monitors. “There’s spontaneity, you don’t know what’s going to happen, but you know it’s going to be out of this world.”

Sanchez’s up-and-down night was typified by Jackson’s critiques: He called her version of Mariah Carey’s “My All” “one of the best times a Mariah song has ever been performed on TV,” but later said her version of Jackson Five’s “I’ll Be There” — also once memorably performed by Mariah — was only “OK.” “There was never a moment-moment. It’s like, you know, I mean, it needed like a moment-moment-moment.” (In Jackson-speak, that means she didn’t quite deliver.)

Sandwiched between the two, she took on Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” which is more than a little familiar to one of the three judges. Tyler rose to his feet afterwards, telling her she “took a great song and made it greater,” while Lopez called it “crazy” (in a good way). And Jackson? “Dude, you delivered, man, yo, whoa, I’m like yo, all right, all right.” Our thoughts exactly, Randy.

Phillips closed so strong it hardly mattered what came before. (Voters have short attention spans, you see.) After his first song, Madcon’s “Beggin’,” Tyler said Phillips “could be a new Springsteen,” while Jackson commented he felt he was at a Phil Phillips concert. All three judges agreed his middle performance of Matchbox Twenty’s “Disease” was underwhelming, but by his home-run song was a performance all but forgotten.

One of the performers is headed home — this time not in a good way — on Thursday’s episode, which is also set to feature a performance by Adam Lambert.

What did you think of “Idol” on Wednesday? Let us know in the comments!

Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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‘American Idol’ Producer ‘Thrilled’ By Final Three

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And then there were three. The final trio of contestants will face off this week on “American Idol,” and if you think you know who might win, “Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe points out that there’s really no way to predict the winner.

With it all down to Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez and judge-favorite Joshua Ledet, the chances of predicting who will be the season 11 champion is nearly impossible, especially given the show’s history.

“I guess I was shocked at Colton [Dixon] going so early. I thought he might even make the final. We’ve had very talented singers all this season. I’m thrilled with the three people who are left,” he told MTV News at an event announcing Fox’s fall lineup on Monday. “I can’t even begin to think who the final is going to be between.

“And then whichever combination you look: If Joshua is sent home, where does Joshua’s votes go to, Jessica or to Phillip? Where does Jessica’s votes go, if she’s sent home? Where do Phillip’s votes [go]?” he continued about any final combinations ahead of the May 23 finale. “So… I still don’t know with the combination of just moving it around who is going to win.”

That being said, Lythgoe must have some gut feeling about who will join the ranks of Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Kris Allen as the “Idol” victor this time around? “I don’t have to use my gut,” he said. “I know the results every week and nobody has won two weeks on the run. It’s so dependent, I think, on song choice now and how they do. The judges can critique, America makes its own decision at the end of the day.”

Do you think you can predict the next American Idol? Leave your comment below!

‘Idol’ Finalist Jessica Sanchez Gets Props From Philippine President

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U.S. presidents have typically stayed out of the “who is going to win ‘American Idol’” fray in the past in order to avoid upsetting any voting blocs. But that doesn’t mean that foreign dignitaries can’t offer up their two cents.

That might explain why on the eve of the penultimate performance night on “Idol,” the Associated Press reported that Philippine president Benigno Aquino III has wholeheartedly endorsed his choice for next week’s finale: Jessica Sanchez.

“Hopefully, she really reaches the top,” Aquino said of the 16-year-old top three finalists from Chula Vista, California, who is of Filipino and Latin heritage.

The President isn’t the only one who has co-signed the pixie-size diva. She’s gotten shout-outs and love from everyone from “Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine and his music industry pal Tommy Mottola to former “Idol” champ Kris Allen. Onetime contestants Jennifer Hudson and Haley Reinhart, as well as singers Billy Joel, Beyoncé, India.Arie and Colbie Caillat have all sung Sanchez’s praises.

In an interview, Allen said, “I said that Jessica Sanchez was my favorite, and I hate saying that to be honest with you because I remember being on the show and other people being fans of other people on the show that were not me. But I think that she is my favorite to win the show. … I think it’s time for a girl to win, to be honest with you.”

While a girl has indeed not won since season six, Sanchez isn’t the only one getting props from famous admirers.

Leading contender Phillip Phillips has been feeling the love on his Twitter account, where he’s gotten shout-outs from past “Idol” contestants including Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina, Naima Adedapo and James Durbin, who said Phil reminds him of (shocker) Dave Matthews. Also offering praise over the months: rocker Jonny Lang, new Twitter bestie and Dave Matthews bassist Stefan Lessard, fake crush Julianne Hough and the folks at his favorite hometown restaurant, El Coyote Café.

The other male left in the competition, soul sensation Joshua Ledet, is no slouch, either. In fact, over the past four months he’s turned into the celeb-crush object of the moment, chatting up former “Idol” finalists Pia Toscano, Alaina and Melinda Doolittle, as well as “X Factor” finalist Stacy Francis. “Idol” champ Allen had high praise writing, “I think @JLedetAI11 is the best singer that’s ever been on the show.”

Hudson sent a note to Ledet in February that he later said brought tears to his eyes, writing, “Joshua Ledet did an amazing performance of ‘You Pulled Me Through’ on @AmericanIdol last night. Gave me goosebumps!”

Show executive producer Nigel Lythgoe sent along a note from the legendary Percy Sledge that said how much he enjoyed Ledet’s version of “When a Man Loves a Woman.” Oh, and did we mention that Mariah Carey tweeted him? “Joshua, thank you for your kind words and your beautiful performance,” she wrote on March 29 after he sang her version of “Without You.” “I’m honored you chose to sing my version of the song. God bless.”

And Rihanna too? “Joshua Ledet!!!!!!! I’m your #1 fan,” she gushed. Not to mention Mary J. Blige herself, who wrote on May 10, “I just voted for @JLedetAI11 on #Idol. He slayed his performances.”

Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

‘American Idol’ Race To Finale: What Should They Sing?

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The “American Idol” season 11 top three have a lot to prove as we head into Wednesday night’s (May 16) second-to-last lap.

Likely winner Phillip Phillips has skated through virtually unscathed by pretty much doing a season-long homage to Dave Matthews, while Joshua Ledet has thrilled us with his gritty soul shouting but failed to show much personality along the way (unless you count that one week he wore a flower in his lapel). And Jessica Sanchez? Well, the 16-year-old definitely has powerful pipes and is a diva in the waiting, but she’s still not quite ready for prime time.

All three will be tested this week when they have to sing three songs: a judges’ choice, a tune picked by mentor Jimmy Iovine and, finally, one of their own choosing. Though the track record of MTV News’ resident “Idol” experts has been a bit spotty to date (OK, James, we get it, you have gotten it right four more times than Gil), that hasn’t stopped Gil Kaufman and James Montgomery from posting their last set of secret-ballot picks before next week’s finale.

Phillip Phillips
He threw us for a curve last week when he went for Damien Rice’s “Volcano,” and he’s already done a DMB cover, so chances are, Phil will steer clear of anything too obvious. I suspect the judges will pick something firmly in his wheelhouse, though, maybe Counting Crows’ “Mr. Jones.” Iovine has a deep understanding of music and knows that the girls want their hearts melted, so he might opt for something in the classic-rock mode like the Allman Brothers’ “Melissa.” After the Rice-bomb last week, it’s anyone’s guess what P-Phunk will choose, so, what the hell, let’s go with David Gray’s appropriately vanilla 2000 breakthrough smash “Babylon.” — Kaufman

It’s nice of him to take time off from his “Idol” crown fittings (Scotty McCreery was a 7 and three-eighths, BTW) to grace us with his presence this week. I suspect he’ll reward us with more of the same anyway. The judges should just have him do a medley of the past four champs’ singles — including Lee DeWyze’s latest, “Can I Borrow, Like, Five Dollars?” — just to let America realize what they’ve done, but, of course, they won’t. Instead, I’ll say they stick him with one of Steven Tyler‘s songs; maybe they have him do “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing”? As for Iovine’s pick, I’m thinking he gives him Santana and Rob Thomas’ “Smooth,” because Jimmy’s mad old, or maybe John Mayer’s “Your Body Is a Wonderland,” since it will make his female fanbase spontaneously combust. And as for his personal pick? Dude, he’s already gone deep-cut twice (with DMB and Rice), so who’s to say he doesn’t just cover Phish’s “Icarus” and call it a day. Regardless, the judges will praise his “uniqueness.” — Montgomery

Jessica Sanchez
It’s gonna be an uphill battle for JSanch to shimmy her way into the finale. Aside from the curse of near-elimination and the fact that a girl hasn’t won since season six, she’s been somewhat erratic lately and her go-to big ballads have landed as often as her uptempos have flopped. The judges want to see her shine, so they will surely gift her with a big, fat ballad along the lines of Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love.” Jimmy knows she needs to show she can be a contemporary star, which is why he’ll opt for Rihanna’s “California King Bed.” As for what BeBe will pick for herself, well, she’s proven a tough one to nail down. She’s already hit on Whitney, Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson and Alicia Keys but has been light on songs by Pink, so I’m gonna suggest “Don’t Let Me Get Me” or “Glitter in the Air,” which will allow her to show her rough and smooth sides. Bottom line: She needs three grand slams to make it to next week. — Kaufman

Six weeks ago, I would have penned an impassioned plea for her to win the season 11 crown. Now? Eh. She’s never really recovered from her (near) elimination, and in her struggles, one glaring weakness keeps rearing its ugly head: Sure, she can sing, but she can’t connect to a song to save her life. Simply put, she’s not ready. In fact, she’s yet to graduate beyond talent-show-standout status. And everyone knows this, which is why I see the judges sticking her with Adele’s “Someone Like You” (since it’s like the de facto emotional song of our times, and if you can’t connect to it then you’re almost assuredly a replicant) and Iovine stuffing something from the Interscope stable down her throat (maybe Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry” or a Gaga tune). For her own pick? Well, she already did “Dance With My Father,” so maybe she stays in the same vein and does Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s in the Cradle.” Or maybe she’ll just do Beyoncé again. — Montgomery

Joshua Ledet
He may not inspire backflips or have the stagecraft of an Usher or Chris Brown, but Ledet has just the kind of big, showy voice “Idol” viewers love (to vote for just enough to secure second place). The judges can’t get enough of his old-school soul thing, so they’ll go retro with Al Green’s “Take Me to the River.” Jimmy knows Josh has the chops but not the sound radio is looking for, so he has to convince us there’s a record in there somewhere, which means he’ll dip into the Usher vault for something smooth like “Confessions Part II” or “Papers.” Josh has made some odd choices in the past (Josh Groban?) but has shown a proclivity for songs by divas (both male and female), and he hasn’t tried a single tune by Otis Redding yet. Is that possible? In that case, he’s got plenty of options, including “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember,” “These Arms of Mine” or “That’s How Strong My Love Is.” — Kaufman

In a perfect world, he’d win “Idol.” After all, he’s not only the most-talented singer, but the best performer too. But we all know he’s going up against a toothy white guy, so second place is about the best Joshua can hope for. The judges, being the myopic bunch they are, will keep him in the retro-soul box and give him something like Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” (come to think of it, that would be pretty good). Iovine will be trying to keep him current, so why not Usher’s “Climax”? And for his own pick, I have no idea, but if he wants to win, maybe he does fun.’s “We Are Young.” After all, graduation is nearly here, and everyone’s looking for an anthem. — Montgomery

Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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‘American Idol’ Report Card: Joshua Ledet ‘Man’s’ Up, Jessica Sanchez Stands Tall

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Wednesday night’s episode of “American Idol”
 offered definitive proof of what happens when you give the kids the keys to the Lambo: they crash and burn.

On an evening when the themes were as vague as any we can recall (California Dreamin? Songs You Wish You’d Written?), the top four
 either went obscure or doubled-down on the most obvious choices possible, which made for an uneven night.

A few things became crystal clear, though: based on the girl squeals, Phillip Phillips could win this thing in a walk-off without singing another note as long as he loses his razor, smiles and keeps clothes shopping at J.C. Penny. Similarly, Joshua Ledet pretty much has it in the bag, while Hollie Cavanagh has run out of luck and Jessica Sanchez should perfect her third-place finisher pageant smile and wave.

It’s also pretty clear at this point that the dream is over for some and just about to come true for others. But who will be packing up their clear heels and headed home and who should prep their awkward bro hug posture? Read on to find out!

Joshua Ledet: Of the thousands, maybe tens of thousands of “California Dreamin‘” songs Josh could have picked, he picked a song that is the musical equivalent of a cardboard and mayonnaise sandwich: Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up.” It felt overwrought, over serious, overcooked and just no fun. The kid can sing, but by the end I was just over it.

He more than made up for it with James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” Yeah, it’s another dusty, nearly 50-year-old oldie, but it’s dead-center in his lane and his voice was made for this kind of gritty, throwback soul. We asked last week if that’s what people really want to hear in 2012, but at the very least Ledet put on a showcase for his powerhouse soul simmer and shout. He sang it and he sold it. Sorry girls, it’s gonna be Josh and Phil facing off in two weeks.A-

Phillip Phillips: It’s always dicey when Phil puts down the guitar. Just like he doesn’t know how to dress like anything other than the guy fixing your HVAC system, the pawn shop kid can’t figure out what to do with his hands. His surf bum take on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” was … fine. It felt kind of like something you’d see in a San Diego beach bar on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The judges, as usual, were charmed, which makes me think he has incriminating photos or something. Hey, Randy, smiling isn’t singing.

I’ve been writing about music longer than Jessica Sanchez has been alive and I can honestly say I’ve never heard of “Volcano” by Damien Rice. That’s the song you wish you’d written, Phil? Frankly, it sounded like everything Phillips sings to me, which is to say that it came off like a pretty decent Dave Matthews cover. The grit and passion were there, but the song never achieved lift-off. Can you really imagine being mesmerized by scruff and a smile for 90 minutes? B-

Jessica Sanchez: Talk about overcorrecting. Sanchez was like a long-haul trucker snapping up out of deep sleep after hitting a guardrail and almost jackknifing the rig. She went from too sexy and grown up last week to just … too old. Her cover of Etta James’ “Steal Away” was, as the late, lamented Simon Cowell would say, “cabaret.” The Cirque du Soleil-worthy two-tone pantsuit was weird and the song just made her seem like she was singing to her extended family in the living room while trying to make granny proud. The old soul and bluesy heart were there, but it felt more like an off-Broadway musical revue than a concert.

And, c’mon, Jessica. The “‘Idol’ slayer?” We should have added Jennifer Holliday’s “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” to our list of songs that must be retired from the “Idol” repertoire. Jennifer Hudson crushed it in “Dreamgirls,” Tamyra Gray and LaKisha Jones also made it their you-know what on the show. Despite all that, BeBe Chez gave it her all and did a good, but not great, job of it. She hit the notes, served up the emotion and got all angry with it, but it just felt a bit, well, obvious.B-

Hollie Cavanagh: The kid knows how to suck up to the judges, that’s for sure. Picking Journey’s “Faithfully” was a guarantee that Randy would be on board. Too bad HCav face-planted on the melody, losing the spark she showed last week and looking as bored and lost as we felt. The big notes at the end almost saved her. Almost. Jennifer called the performance “laid back,” but to me it just felt like she was laid out. The bottom line is you can make someone look like a star, but you can’t make them act like one.

You know what can make Hollie seem like a cool, contemporary star? A 22-year-old song by Bonnie Raitt! Between the baggy black Chicos pantsuit and the violins, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” was another off-the-Vegas-Strip snoozer that most surely punched her ticket home. And the crocodile tears near the end were whatever the opposite of a nice touch is. Pip pip, little one! D

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Hollie Cavanagh Runs Out Of Time On ‘American Idol’

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Phillip Phillips was given his first taste of the bottom two, but it was Hollie Cavanagh who was eliminated from “American Idol” on Thursday (May 10).

Cavanagh, the 18-year-old from McKinney, Texas, received the lowest number of votes from the nearly 70 million votes cast, according to host Ryan Seacrest. Cavanagh received harsh marks for her performance of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” on Wednesday’s performance episode; Randy Jackson called it “the wrong choice at the wrong time.”

Cavanagh just missed a trip back to Texas as part of the top three “Hometown Heroes” visits, which happen on next week’s show.

The Liverpudlian kept it together while singing Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” at the close of the show, though her close friend Joshua Ledet was shown tearing up nearby onstage.

Mentor Jimmy Iovine had all but written off Cavanagh after “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” “I assumed she understood the core of the song. Evidently, she did not,” Iovine said in his weekly roundup of the week’s performances. “She did not have the personal experience or the professional experience to take on this song. When the chorus came in, she hit the opera button. And at that moment, I felt she crashed and burned and lost out to those other three singers.”

He had high praise for the others. He said Phillip Phillips “finally delivered on the promise that we’ve been looking for all year” with his version of Damien Rice’s “Volcano”; Jessica Sanchez “murdered” her performance of the “Dreamgirls” hit “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going, “referring to it as “shock and awe”; and Ledet “created a piece of magic that is very rarely seen on the “American Idol” stage” with his take on James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” “I’ve seen Prince, I’ve seen Bruce Springsteen do that, but I’ve never seen that on ‘American Idol,’ ” Iovine said. “It was so, so captivating. I want to see it again and again and again.”

Iovine added that he thinks the competition is up for grabs. “Last year, I knew Scotty was gonna win the whole thing. This year, I haven’t got a clue who’s going to get into the final,” he said. “Any one of them, with the right song and the right note, can steal the show. It’s up to them and, eventually, America’s vote.”

When the results were read, Sanchez was the first one told she made the top three, followed by Ledet.

Also on the show, seventh-season “Idol” winner David Cook dropped by to perform “The Last Song I’ll Write for You,” and Jennifer Lopez turned in a performance of her song “Dance Again.”

What did you think of “Idol” on Thursday? Let us know in the comments!

Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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‘American Idol’ Leaves Hollie Cavanagh With ‘Nowhere To Go’

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It’s Joshua Ledet‘s Ledet’s Ledet’s World.

The “American Idol” frontrunner soared higher than ever while Hollie Cavanagh may have sealed her fate on Wednesday’s (May 9) performance episode, which saw the contestants battling for the hometown visits that await the top three finalists.

The evening saw the final four taking on two songs apiece — one with ties to the state of California and one song the contestants wished they’d written themselves. (The categories were some of the loosest in “Idol” history, but hey, they can’t all be winners.)

Joshua Ledet stepped out with Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up” (his California song — Grobes hails from L.A.) and James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” the latter of which earned Ledet his latest in a long line of standing ovations and had the judges singing his praises, saying Ledet was second coming of the Godfather of Soul himself.

“Neither a man nor a woman has ever sang that good with that much compassion on this show ever!” Steven Tyler said following the performance. “I can go home right now. I never heard anything like that in my life!”

Jennifer Lopez said, “I think people at home maybe thought, like I did, that they had seen everything you had to give and how you can interpret a song. We hadn’t.” She then started speaking in Spanish. “You’re making me speak different languages now!” she said, calling his song “sickening.”

Randy Jackson put the cherry on top, calling it “one of the best performances in the history of any singing show, including ours, any show, any show, yo!” Yo indeed, Randy.

Jessica Sanchez was no slouch herself, turning in a “crazy, crazy, crazy” (per J. Lo) rendition of Etta James’ “Steal Away,” washing it down with a stunning “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” the “Dreamgirls” staple that she delivered with the fierceness of Jennifer Hudson. The performance earned her the night’s other standing O from the judges. “It was a real moment,” Lopez told her, while Jackson complimented her by telling her, “Dude, you are phenomenal.” (It’s always extra special when Jackson refers to females as “dudes.”)

Phillip Phillips, who’s been living in his own personal version of “Contagion” all season long, managed to fight his sickness enough to deliver a strong version of John Fogerty’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” (making two Fogerty songs in two weeks for “Idol”) and a splendid version of Damien Rice’s “Volcano.” Continuing with the hyperbole that has been tossed around like a Frisbee on the judge’s panel the last several weeks, Lopez said after “Volcano,” “After watching the show for many, many years and now being here for two years, it was one of the most beautiful, poignant moments a contestant has ever had.” Jackson followed by saying, “So yo, that’s wassup right there!” and calling it one of the best performances of the season.

Poor Hollie Cavanagh, who has barely avoided elimination the last few weeks, may have met her end following her versions of Journey’s “Faithfully” and Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Her first song received good marks — both J. Lo and Steven Tyler called it “beautiful” (but when don’t they say that?) — but her Raitt song was slammed for being distant. “I thought it fell a little short,” said Tyler, and Lopez said the emotions of the song — or the emotions she thought she had to deliver with the song — got the better of her. Jackson was even harsher. “It gave you nowhere to go,” he said. “There were no moments for me. For me, it was the wrong choice at the wrong time.”

The two-hour episode was padded with bonus performances, including duets between Phillips and Ledet (Maroon 5′s “This Love”), Cavanagh and Sanchez (the Bangles’ “Eternal Flame”) and a performance of Foreigner’s “Waiting for a Girl Like You” tied to the upcoming “Rock of Ages,” which gobbled up a healthy amount of promotional time during the show.

One of the four singers will be eliminated on Thursday’s episode, which is also set to feature performances by David Cook and — hey, would you look at that? — Jennifer Lopez. How’d she manage that gig?

Who do you think is getting eliminated from “Idol” on Thursday? Let us know in the comments!
Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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