Janell Wheeler admits she might have made a strategic mistake during the first round of the ladies’ semifinals on American Idol.
She had tried to inject a country flavor into Heart’s “What About Love,” but felt like the song lost its edge.
So she performed more of a rock version of the song Tuesday night.
It didn’t go over all that well. Certainly not with the judges.
And her Idol journey ended when she was eliminated Thursday night.
“In order for me to really have secured a place next week, I should have gone ahead and brought the guitar out and performed a top 40 hit like ‘American Boy’ (her audition song), which I was definitely planning to do next week.
“As I progress in my career, I will be sticking with the style that I do best, which is close to my audition.”
Have no mistake, the 24-year-old Tampa, Fla., resident who calls herself Sunshine Cowgirl plans to pursue a career in the music business. She says she’s doubtful she’ll return to a job in wine sales.
Prior to Idol, she had dabbled in a variety of genres, from musical theater to hip-hop, but said she always came back to country music.
And that’s where she thinks her future lies, saying “hopefully, I’m Nashville bound.”
Not that she wouldn’t like to stir up country music “with a little refreshing take, (but) nothing too over the top.
“I would love to infuse a couple of different styles to make it my own and really put my stamp on it.”
As for her elimination on Idol, it didn’t really come as a shock, Janell said.
“I am a very hopeful person, but that day, for some reason, I had this feeling. I even called my parents and said, ‘Be prepared. I don’t have a good feeling about today,'” she said in a conference call with the media Friday afternoon.
“I don’t think I was particularly the worst, but I wasn’t the best. I was in that danger zone.”
Related Posts
-
-
-
April 1, 2025 American Idol Hollywood Week photo gallery
Featured Music
Daddy's Mugshot
Laci Kaye Booth, Top 5 on American Idol Season 17, dropped a new single Friday. And if you somehow missed her 2024 album, "Loneliest Girl in the World," do yourself a favor and check it out!
Aaron Rizzo Adam David Alanna Lynise Angie Rey Ari Camille BDII (Brian Darden) Braxton Garza Britton Moore Carlos Santiago Conor JamesMORE BELOW
The Voice Season 27 Profiles
The Voice Season 27 Profiles
Darius J.
Dennis Lorenzo
Dimitrius Graham
Ethan Eckenroad
Fran
Hailey Wright
Iris Herrera
Jacquelyn George
Jaelen Johnston
Jay Ammo
Jayden Cree (Olesen)
Jessica Manalo
Lucia Flores-Wiseman
Naomi Soleil
Nell Simmons
Olivia Kuper Harris
Page Mackenzie
Ricardo Moreno
Robert Hunter
Simone Marijic
Tatum Scott
Tori Templet
Trevon Dawson
American Idol Season 19 Profiles
Featured Music
'Treasure' indeed
Laci Kaye Booth, Top 5 on American Idol Season 17, dropped her debut album Aug. 6. Her debut single, the ridiculously addictive "Treasure," heads to country radio in mid-September.
Archives
-
-
Could The Voice avoid montages? Of course, if they cared
April 3, 2025 By Mark Franklin -
Former American Idol standout Will Moseley drops new single
April 2, 2025 By Mark Franklin -
American Idol Hollywood Week photo gallery
April 1, 2025 By Mark Franklin -
Angie Rey, Kolby Cordell nab steals on The Voice
March 31, 2025 By Mark Franklin
-
Song by song grades for the Top 8 on American Idol
April 29, 2024 By Mark Franklin -
Iam Tongi scores an Apple Music hit for American Idol
May 19, 2023 By Mark Franklin -
Song by song grades for the Top 12 on The Voice
December 4, 2023 By Mark Franklin -
Song by song grades for the Top 14 on American Idol
April 21, 2024 By Mark Franklin -
Song by song grades for American Idol’s Top 24, Group 2
April 8, 2024 By Mark Franklin
-
-
We haven’t heard the last from David Archuleta
February 21, 2011 By Mark Franklin -
Meet American Idol contestant Hollie Cavanagh
January 30, 2012 By Mark Franklin -
Meet American Idol contestant Jessica Sanchez
February 5, 2012 By Mark Franklin -
Meet American Idol contestant Phillip Phillips
January 19, 2012 By Mark Franklin
Post-Voice Music
Recent Voice Views Interviews
-
-
Could The Voice avoid montages? Of course, if they cared
April 3, 2025 By Mark Franklin -
Former American Idol standout Will Moseley drops new single
April 2, 2025 By Mark Franklin
-
Song by song grades for the Top 8 on American Idol
April 29, 2024 By Mark Franklin -
Iam Tongi scores an Apple Music hit for American Idol
May 19, 2023 By Mark Franklin -
Song by song grades for the Top 12 on The Voice
December 4, 2023 By Mark Franklin
-
-
We haven’t heard the last from David Archuleta
February 21, 2011 By Mark Franklin -
Meet American Idol contestant Hollie Cavanagh
January 30, 2012 By Mark Franklin
Leave a reply