Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Since the Season 12 finals started, Candice Glover and Kree Harrison have gone head to head 15 times on the American Idol stage.

On 12 of those occasions, I graded Candice’s performance higher than Kree’s.

Does that mean Candice is a lock for the Season 12 crown?

Candice Glover and Kree Harrison square off Wednesday in the American Idol finale. (FOX Photo)

Not necessarily. Especially not if Kree delivers three strong performances Wednesday night.

Check out the performances below. There’s not a clunker among them.

And in most cases, the grades for Candice and Kree were incredibly close.

Only once did I grade either singer below a B–, and that was more a result of song choice than anything.

It came last week, when Kree was forced to sing Pink’s “Perfect” (Jimmy Iovine’s pick), not exactly a tune in her wheelhouse.

Kree has two other factors going for her heading into Wednesday’s finale.

1. Idol has a strong country fan base. Think back just two years when those fans placed both Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina in the finals.

2. The finalist whose first name would fall second alphabetically has never lost an Idol finale. Seriously. Check it out.

And, alphabetically, Kree falls behind Candice.

I could add a number three. Kree is a darn fine singer. In fact, I had her ranked first among the contestants through the first three weeks of the finals.

Now, a look back at the Season 12 performances from Candice and Kree since those finals began.

Also, head here for my picks for the top 10 Idol performances from Season 12 and here for my grades for the Idol judges.

Top 10

Candice Glover — “I Who Have Nothing” — B+

Kree Harrison — “Crying” — B

Top 9

Kree Harrison — “With a Little Help from My Friends” — A-

Candice Glover — “Come Together” — B+

Top 8

Candice Glover — “Head it Through the Grapevine” — A

Kree Harrison — “Don’t Play That Song” — A–

Top 7

Candice Glover — “Satisfaction” — B+

Kree Harrison — “Piece of My Heart” — B

Top 6, Round 1

Candice Glover — “Don’t Make Me Over” — B+

Kree Harrison — “What the World Needs Now” — B

Top 6, Round 2

Candice Glover — “Lovesong” — A

Kree Harrison — “Help Me Make it Through the Night” — B+

Top 5, Round 1

Kree Harrison — “She Talks to Angels” — A–

Candice Glover — “Straight Up” — B+

Top 5, Round 2

Candice Glover — “When You Believe” — B+

Kree Harrison — “Have You Ever Been in Love” — B–

Top 4 Night 1, Round 1

Candice Glover — “Find Your Love” — B+

Kree Harrison — “Hurts So Bad” — B–

Top 4 Night 1, Round 2

Kree Harrison — “Whiter Shade of Pale” — B

Candice Glover — “Emotion” — B–

Top 4, Night 1, Round 1

Candice Glover — “When I Was Your Man” — A–

Kree Harrison — “See You Again” — B

Top 4, Night 2, Round 2

Candice Glover — “You’ve Changed” — A–

Kree Harrison — “Stormy Weather” — B

Top 3, Round 1

Candice Glover — “One” — B

Kree Harrison — “Perfect” — C+

Top 3, Round 2

Candice Glover — “Next to Me” — B

Kree Harrison — “Here Comes Goodbye” — B–

Top 3, Round 3

Candice Glover — “Somewhere” — A–

Kree Harrison — “Better Dig Two” — B–