Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The American Idol Top 5 of Michael J. Woodard, Cade Foehner, Gabby Barrett, Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Maddie Poppe. (ABC Photo)

Just a month ago, American Idol had selected a Top 14.

Now we’re just one show away from the Season 16 finale.

The Top 5 of Cade Foehner, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Gabby Barrett, Maddie Poppe and Michael J. Woodard will once again perform twice Sunday night.

Once, they’ll perform a song recorded by Carrie Underwood. Once, they’ll perform a song that has something to do with Mother’s Day.

At the end of the night, we’ll learn who the Season 16 finalists will be.

Here are my rankings entering Sunday’s show. And there’s been lots of shifting following the elimination of Catie Turner and Jurnee.

1. Gabby Barrett, 18, Pittsburgh, Pa. (1): Gabby delivered another reminder of why she’s the most ready for prime time contestant on Sunday when she covered Prince’s “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore.” Next up: Carrie Underwood Week. That should prove a snap for a country gal who had to be prodded to sing something other than a Carrie song at her Idol audition. My only criticism: Whoever was responsible for song choices like “The Climb” and “I Hope You Dance” needs to stop it. Like pronto. Gabby’s a special talent and viewers aren’t going to see that by having her cover songs that have already been done to death on singing shows.

2. Maddie Poppe 20, Clarkesville, Iowa (6): Gotta say, I’m sorta proud of American Idol viewers for recognizing Maddie’s talent and voting her into the Top 5. Female singer-songwriter types are often underappreciated on Idol. Maddie makes the big jump this week simply because she’s delivered two of the best performances we’ve seen since the Top 14 were announced — her covers of “Homeward Bound” and, on Sunday, “Nothing Compares to U.” But having bumped her up in the rankings, I must add that I think she’ll need to be dazzling this week to advance again.

3. Caleb Lee Hutchinson, 19, Dallas, Ga. (4): Every week, we’ve been able to count on Caleb stepping on stage and delivering a solid performance. Problem is, most of those performances haven’t transcended solid and been memorable. Well, Caleb delivered memorable near the end of Sunday’s show, covering Prince’s “When Doves Cry.” For crying out loud, who could have envisioned that? Combine this week’s Carrie Underwood theme and another performance like that, and Caleb might very well find himself in the finals.

4. Cade Foehner, 22, Shelbyville, Texas (2): Look, Cade simply needs to get back to covering rock-and-roll classics like he did in such superb fashion on nearly every show before Top 10 night. But the themes would seem to be working against him this week. Carrie Underwood? Mother’s Day? My advice to Cade: Make it the most rocking Mother’s Day tribute we could ever imagine. And find a Carrie song to rock out on as well. Perhaps Gabby can offer up some suggestions.

5. Michael J. Woodard, 20, Los Angeles, Calif.: I admit, I don’t get Michael’s appeal. Nor do I understand how he fits the judges’ search for the total package. He tried to show more stage presence last week, and his vocal suffered. He took on an ambitious song choice in Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” and the only thing Top 5 worthy was the glory note at the end. There are at least five members of the Top 14 I’d rather see in this spot.

Michael J. Woodard and Carrie Underwood during their American Idol mentoring session. (ABC Photo)

Cade Foehner and Carrie Underwood during their American Idol mentoring session. (ABC Photo)

Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Carrie Underwood during their mentoring session. (ABC Photo)

Maddie Poppe and Carrie Underwood during their mentoring session. (ABC Photo)

Gabby Barrett and Carrie Underwood during their mentoring session. (ABC Photo)

See also …
Songs we’ll hear Sunday
American Idol social media leaders
Jurnee, Catie Turner exit interview
American Idol summer tour