American Idol’s Top 3 of John Foster, Breanna Nix and Jamal Roberts with the show’s judges. (ABC Photo)
The stage is set for Sunday’s three-hour finale on American Idol.
And for finalists the show will feature three artists who would all be deserving winners of the show.
Most seasons, I have a strong hunch as to who will triumph. This season, I’m really not so sure.
Guitar-slinging country males have always resonated with the show’s voters. John Foster sure fits the bill.
I don’t think Idol could have used AI to create a contestant more relatable than Breanna Nix, whose voice soars effortlessly every time she takes the stage.
Then there’s Jamal Roberts, who’s charisma and passion on stage are undeniable.
Here’s how Idol Chatter is ranking the Top 3. But this is a season where if the order was reversed, I’d applaud just the same.
See also …
Idol’s Top 3 react
Song by song grades for the Top 5
Mattie, Gabby, Slater and Thunderstorm on their Idol eliminations
1. Jamal Roberts, 26, Meridian, Miss.: He’s on the verge of becoming the first Black male to win American Idol since Ruben Studdard in Season 2, some 22 years ago. And given the popularity of his performance videos on YouTube, he appears to enter the finale as a slight favorite. His vocals have made him a fan favorite in Season 27. But it’s also the passion with which Jamal performs that makes him so special. His performance of Fantasia’s “I Believe” on Idol Icons Night would make anyone a believer in his talent.
2. John Foster, 18, Addis, La.: Idol has had a country male in the finals every season since the show moved to ABC. But don’t use that as a reason to underestimate John. He’s displayed a great country voice. The original he performed — “Tell That Angel I Love Her” — was one of the best and most moving we heard in Season 27. Most of all, he’s incredibly comfortable on the Idol stage. Didn’t anyone tell him how much pressure he should be feeling? He performs more like a veteran musican with 18 years of experience than an 18-year-old.
3. Breanna Nix, 25, Denton, Texas: When I ranked the Top 14 a month ago, I wrote that Breanna might very well be the last female standing in Season 27. A stay-at-home mom who struggled with self-esteem issues, she auditions for American Idol, not expecting “it to go anywhere” and winds up in the finals. How do you not root for Breanna? Early in the season, I kept waiting for her to falter. She never did. And she’s been at her best lately, especially in Sunday’s show. A Breanna victory would be the capper on one heck of a Cinderella story.
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