Idol Chatter & Voice Views

American Idol introduced viewers to 10 more Hollywood bound contestants Sunday night.

That group included Elijah McCormick, Kellin, Emma Busse, Preston Duffee, Olivia Soli, Bre, Marybeth Byrd, We Ani, Adin Boyer, Tanner Charles and Sarah Beth.

My picks for the night’s Top 5 auditions follow.

One special note, the Oscars air next Sunday on ABC, but American Idol will follow at about 11:35 p.m. with a special audition episode.

Now, that Top 5.

Editor’s Note: If there’s a link by the singer’s name, that means I’ve already posted a profile on the artist. Follow the link and you’ll learn more about the singer and any music he or she has released.

1. Marybeth Byrd, 21, Armorel, Ark.: Wow, did Marybeth sound this great when back on Season 17 of The Voice? I mean, this cover of “If It Hadn’t Been for Love” was just a stellar audition as Marybeth showed off a bit of twang, a bit of rasp, a touch of soul and a touch of what Luke called “the Arkansas blues.” And the vocal acrobatics were so tastefully done. Luke added that Marybeth convinced him with her first note. Katy Perry called her Top 10 material, “for sure.” On Sunday, she was number one in my book.

2. Olivia Soli, 20, Los Angeles, Calif: But this young woman wasn’t far behind. Most impressive was the way she stepped in front of Lionel Richie and made his song “Hello” all her own. And that ending was absolutely brilliant. Lionel said she covered the song to “perfection.” Luke called her audition “one of the best” he’s seen. Katy called her voice “tremendous.” Indeed.

3. Wé Ani, 23, Harlem, N.Y.: Actually, Sunday’s episode of Idol got off to a slow start vocally. Then Wé stepped into the audition room and changed that from the first note of her cover of Demi Lovato’s “Anyone.” She shocked the Idol judges with the transition from her high-pitched speaking voice to her fierce singing voice, but lots of viewers probably remember her as Wé McDonald, who belted her way into the finale of The Voice back in the fall of 2016. The Idol judges reacted with a standing ovation.

4. Elijah McCormick, 21, Raeford, N.C.: Talk about a backstory. Elijah was supposed to audition for Idol back in 2019 after graduating high school. But two hours after his graduation ceremony, he was in a bad car accident. He flat-lined nine times, he told Idol. He spent 29 days in the hospital. Four years later, his Idol audition finally aired. And it was certainly a solid one, as Elijah delivered a heartfelt, big-voiced version of Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road.” Oh, and don’t forget, he’s a platinum ticket recipient, which means he’ll have a leg up on the competition in Hollywood.

5. Keelin, 24, New York (by way or Ireland): She seems like quite the character. Her vocals definitely need work. But she stepped into the audition room with an original called “Don’t Call Me” that sounded like it could be a Top 40 hit. It was catchy enough that the judges were singing it back to Keelin after hearing her sing it just once. Which had her squealing with delight. “That’s a compliment to your songwriting,” Lionel said.

Adin Boyer, 22, of Lake Forrest, Calif., earned his golden ticket on American Idol singing an original song called Predicament. (ABC Photo)

Bre, 27, of Burbank, Calif., got to perform All Night Long with Lionel Richie and earned a golden ticket on American Idol (ABC Photo)

Elijah McCormick, 21, of Raeford, N.C., turned in a moving rendition of Rascal Flatts’ Bless the Broken Road and earned a platinum ticket on American Idol (ABC Photo)

Emma Busse, 20, of Vancouver, British Columbia, earned a golden ticket on American Idol singing Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John. (ABC Photo)

Keelin, 24, from New York, impressed the judges with her original song, Don’t Call Me, to earn a golden ticket on American Idol (ABC Photo)

Marybeth Byrd, 21, of Armorel, Ark., earned a golden ticket performing If It Hadn’t Been for Love by the Steeldrivers on American Idol (ABC Photo)

Olivia Soli, 20, of Los Angeles, dazzled the judges with her cover of Lionel Richie’s Hello on American Idol. (ABC Photo)

Preston Duffee, 21, of Harsville, S.C., earned a gold ticket on American Idol singing an original called Something to Write About (ABC Photo)

Sara Beth, 25, of Roseville, Calif., earned a golden ticket with her version of I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse (ABC Photo)

Tanner Charles, 21 of Broken Arrow, Okla., dedicated an original called Golden Eyes to his girlfriend to earn a golden ticket on American Idol (ABC Photo)

We Ani, a former finalist on The Voice, sang Demi Lovato’s Anyone to earn her golden ticket on American Idol. (ABC Photo)