Going into the elimination round of the Top Four last evening on American Idol, I had no clue who might be heading out the door.
Well, that’s not entirely true; I knew Adam “Screaming Mimi” Lambert wouldn’t be. He was the only contestant who seemed completely safe based on his performances in both the solo and the duet the night before.
But as soon as Ryan Seacrest began reading the synopsis for each contestant with Kris Allen being the first name called to advance to the Top Three, I stated aloud: “That means Red’s outta there.” Deep down I figured Allison “Red” Iraheta would be the ousted in the end. And, ultimately, she was.
But there were other signs she might be going. Hindsight being what it is, some of those signs manifested themselves way before the elimination round even came about. For example, Chris Daughtry was performing on this particular show. And it was just a few years ago Daughtry was in the exact same spot Allison was in, enmeshed in a Top Four housing Elliot Yamin, Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks with Daughtry ultimately getting a surprising heave-ho. A sign Allison was a target for being eighty-sixed? Some could have surely read it that way.
Add to that the fact American Idol has historically turned its back on female singers in the rock category and you have another piece of that “Who’s Going Home?” puzzle. The fact isn’t lost Red went further than any other rock-flavored female contestant to date. She was the darling of the judges from the get-go with her miles-beyond-teendom vocals and appeal. And she was a fine addition to what some claim to be the strongest Top Four in American Idol history.
Red doesn’t have anything to worry about should she continue to pursue a singing vocation, however. Whereas she didn’t receive enough of those 64 million fan votes to stay afloat, she should be comforted in the fact Chris Daughtry has done swimmingly well with his career. (Four million units of Daughtry’s debut effort is nothing to sneeze at for someone ousted early from Idol.) And Good Gordness: Even lesser contestants such as Bucky Covington have gone on to fame and fandom! Red’s got nothing to worry about.
Now … let’s see what “The Boys Club” can do to mix it up….
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on May 07, 2009 @ 15:00 EST5EDT
I would not consider Bucky Covington a “lesser” Idol at all! I consider it a blessing that Bucky went home when he did because he was quickly scooped up by Nashville and has been going non-stop since then. Straight to the top is where he is going.
Thanks for mentioning Bucky Covington. As a matter of fact, Bucky has become quite successful! He has had three top ten hits! Bucky has a brand new album coming out in September and currently he’s got a new single out called, “I Want My Life Back.” This single has only been out about 3 weeks and it’s already at number 41 on the charts. I’d say he’s doing pretty darn good for being a “lesser idol.”
It’ll be an interesting finale!
Glad you found a niche here…good post!
I voted like a crazy person to keep Allison in there. My finger still hurts. But I am happy that she has escaped the 19 machine.
I had decided I was not going to vote anymore but I’m inspired to vote against the Elvis Action Figure. What’s the world coming to when an action figure wins? Creepy.
Oh…….. the advertizement? Global warming? I’m going to do nothing because I damn near froze to death this past winter. I could use a little global warming.