Farmington Hills ‘Idol’ contestant Jena Irene in top two
The scene has been set for a showdown between Jena Irene of Farmington Hills and Caleb Johnson of Asheville, N.C., after “American Idol” viewers voted finalist Alex Preston of Nashville, Tenn., off the show.
Preston said Wednesday he believed it could be his last performance on “Idol.” He worked the crowd like never before and even played the drums while singing.
Irene and Johnson will give their final performances Tuesday to determine the winner.
The songs for the three remaining finalists were chosen by vocal coach Randy Jackson, judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr., and the contestants’ hometown fans. Irene grew stronger with each of her three performances Wednesday night. She closed the two-hour performance show with “Creep” by Radiohead, chosen by students at North Farmington High School. Accompanying herself on piano, Irene earned a standing ovation from Lopez and Urban, and clear endorsement from all three.
“You are going to be so hard to beat,” Lopez said. While Connick Jr. called her “brilliant.”
With family and friends cheering, Irene unleashed her characteristic vocals in the first song of the night, “Titanium” by David Guetta, selected by Jackson. He complemented the 17-year-old on her journey to be a polished performer.
“From boot camp until now, dude, I love it, my hat’s off to you. You’re ready,” Jackson said.
Rocker Caleb Johnson, who struggled with voice problems Wednesday night, was a fan favorite until the last few weeks. As Irene’s confidence and stage presence grew, Johnson lost support for using an objectionable word to fans on social media for blasting him with too many song choices. He apologized for the comments, but the controversy continued.
Thursday’s show included clips of Irene’s visit home to Farmington Hills over the weekend. She visited Hercules Coney Island, where she worked as a waitress, and was greeted by thousands of fans at a concert. Irene, 17, hopes to be attend her graduation from Farmington North High School on June 8, and is looking forward to her prom. The senior prom is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, less than a week after the “Idol” finale. She said she hopes to bring fellow finalist Johnson as her date, calling him “one of my very best friends.”
“Idol” host Ryan Seacrest announced just before the results were given Thursday night that Johnson was asked to perform with Kiss.
Also this week, “Idol” celebrated its 500th show in its 13 seasons. The landmark included a huge cake and the return of the top 13 contestants, including Sam Woolfe, who was born in West Bloomfield Township, and Southfield’s Malaya Watson, who traded her braces for a retainer.
The final performance show will be aired live at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, with the new “American Idol” crowned on Wednesday May 21.
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