No, not Joshua Ledet! 

Joshua, a preachers kid, won’t be taking us to church anymore this season after he was voted off last night, leaving Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez to compete for the title.
Ledet received a record number of standing ovations from the panel and has been proclaimed as one of the best contestants in the history of the show.
As usually his character was honestly humble….saying, “I just felt relief.” “As soon as they said Phillip was going on, I felt a lot of pressure came off of me and I was — I’m not going to say I was happy — but it sucks having a lot of pressure on you, knowing that you have to do this and that and this and that.”   He goes on to say that he wishes the others well and that he will be voting for his two friends. 

source:  americanidol.com

Check out one of his final performances on Idol: James Brown This is a Man’s World

Former American Idol alumni Anware Robinson was nearly shot to death during a robbery recently.

At one of his previous shows, Robinson spoke to the audience.

He said that while driving home with his friend Joshua three young men attempted to rob him. In fear for his life he drove off. The three assailants pursued him with guns raised and pointed at the car. He alluded certain death by slamming on his breaks as the thieves sped off into the night. Though he did not tell what night it happened it appears to have happened recentky as he said that he was “thankful to be with us this evening”.

Read more at Elev8

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Congratulations to Scotty McCreery the winner of this years American Idol contest, but what about Kirk Franklin’s performance of “I Smile.” Check it out and with who?

Check out Kirk’s performance of his new hit single with Gladys Knight and American Idol contestant Jacob Lusk.

Following a memorable performance of “God Bless The Child” earlier this season, Lusk graced the ‘Idol‘ stage with a performance of “A House Is Not A Home” (Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick). According to judges including Jennifer Lopez however, Lusk was quite at home on the ‘Idol’ stage.

Lusk is not the first ‘Idol’ hopeful to earn comparisons to R&B and Gospel greats. Both Fantasia and Ruben Studdard received similar praise for their performances in year’s past, with Fantasia winning the title in 2004 and Studdard winning in 2003.

Randy Jackson compared him to  singer Rance Allen (The Rance Allen Group).

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Former “Idol” finalist Mandisa Hundley knows the feeling. The two-time Grammy nominee finished in the top 10 the year Taylor Hicks won and is now planning to release her third gospel album April 5, called “What If We Were Real.”

But as it turns out, her biggest life change came after the show. She embarked on an emotional weight loss journey two years ago and has since lost 90 pounds.

Mandisa’s struggles fueled her new music.

“Where I was at the beginning of this album and where I ended up are two very different places,” “It’s been a process. I will always struggle with my weight. It’s the thorn in my flesh.”

Standing on a scale one morning and seeing a disappointing number prompted Mandisa to finally get real with herself and her fans.

“I had gained weight and was so frustrated at that moment that I said so on Twitter.”   She tweeted: “I’m fed-up and over it.”

“I was feeling embarrassed and ashamed. I realized that I had only talked about how great things were. I never let people in when they were not. It was then that I decided I’d talk about the bad things too,” she said.

The result is what Mandisa calls her most honest record to date.

She began recording “in a very dark place.” The title track and the song “Just Cry” came out of those early sessions. However, by the end of the process, she said she was back to a place of peace and joy, with the song “Lifeline,” about unwavering trust in God, the last track she recorded.

Mandisa is on her way to losing 100 pounds but said she doesn’t have a goal weight. “My only goal is to be healthy physically, spiritually, and emotionally. That is a lifelong journey,” she said.

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According to People.com, Jennifer Lopez is no longer being considered to join the judging panel of “American Idol” because of her escalating demands.

The singer/actress was named alongside Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler as possible replacements for exiting judges Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell. But the offer is now said to be off the table.

“Her demands got out of hand. Fox had just had enough,” a source told People.

Tyler, who has confirmed he has met with TV bosses, has emerged as a strong contender to sit on the panel with existing judge Randy Jackson, while the rest of the line-up remains a mystery.

Source:

Jennifer Lopez

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Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze are the final two competitors on American Idol after last nights show.  The finale will happen next week with it also being Simon Cowell’s last show as well.

VIA:  AOLtelevision.com

Haeley Vaughn shocked American Idol judges with her cute personality and Pop Country singing style.  She is the first black pop country mainstream singer that American Idol has ever seen, and she represents well.  Check out her American Idol audition below:

Simon Cowell was enamored with her right away. “Cute little thing, aren’t you,” he grinned. “What I like about you is you’re different. You’re not coming in and singing Mary J. Blige, therefore you stand out a little bit. You obviously love that kind of music and I think you’re infectious. You’ve got a great smile.”

It’s true Simon Cowell will leave “American Idol” after this season. Will you still watch? Known for his sharp tongue, nasty attitude, and direct remarks, Simon has been a major fixutre to the popular singing show. With all the other changes like Paula Abdul replaced by Ellen DeGeneres, and the declining ratings, many question will this the the show’s last run.