Only 5 ‘American Idol’ contestants left. Did the lone SC singer make the cut?
“American Idol” viewers selected the top FIVE performers for this season Sunday night and South Carolina’s Warren Peay did not make the cut.
Selected were Colin Stough, 18, from Mississippi; Iam Tongi, 18, from Hawaii; Megan Danielle, 20, from Georgia; Wé Ani, 23, from New York and Zachariah Smith, 20, from Mississippi.
Coincidentally, Stough and Smith are from the same part of Mississippi — Stough from Gattman and Smith from Amory, about 16 miles away.
Besides Peay, those going home were Oliver Steele, 25, who was cut by viewers but saved by judge Katy Perry last week, and Haven Madison, 17, from Tennessee, whose father is part of a Christian band.
Perry and fellow judge Lionel Perry were in London for King Charles III coronation, but appeared several times. In a pre-taped segment, King Charles and Queen Camilla joined them, with Charles jokingly asking how much longer they’d need the room in Windsor Castle.
The two Americans had performed in a coronation concert earlier in the evening.
Standing in for Perry and Richie were Alanis Morissette and Ed Sheeran. Morissette also served as a mentor for the eight singers.
The top eight performers sang either a song recorded by Morissette or Sheeran.
Peay chose “All I Really Want,” a Morissette song.
He told her he wanted to sing without the protective barrier of his guitar to improve his stage presence.
She suggested he start with a small voice and grow stronger as the song progressed.
He did both, moving around the stage, even going onto the catwalk.
When he was done, Morissette said, “I love that you applied what we talked about.”
She said she had never heard the song sung the way he did.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
Judge Luke Bryan said it has been fun to watch his growth as a singer.
Peay’s Idol journey began with him talking about growing up in Bamberg, a town “where everybody talks about leaving but nobody does.”
He is a worship leader for Colston Branch Baptist Church and was shown performing at the church. His pastor said, “God bless this young man.”
During his Idol run he got engaged to his longtime girlfriend.
On that show, he sang “To the Table,” a Christian song, and accompanied himself on the guitar.
Perry told him he looked like a country singer with his long hair and beard and cowboy hat and she was happy to see he sounded like one too.
“You’re authentic,” she said.
Richie predicted he’d be in the top 10. He did one better, making it to the top seven.
“I believe the world has lost a repairman,” he said.
Next Sunday, the top five will perform from Disneyland Resort. Idol fans online are already guessing who Perry will dress up as. Last year, she was Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.”
In previous years, she’s dressed as Tinker Bell, Mrs. Jumbo, Ursula, Snow White and Cinderella.
The show airs at 8 p.m. on ABC.
