Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The American Idol Season 19 hopefuls return Sunday night, and it’s been dubbed Disney night.

After all, the Top 9 were whisked off to Disney after their last performance and they’ll be asked to sing a song from the Disney songbook this week.

Of course, the Top 9 will become a Top 10 after the winner of the Comeback Special is announced.

Arthur Gunn, last year’s runner-up, will likely join the Top 9 to make it a Top 10.

Though if there’s any justice in Idol land, that spot will go to Mikayla Phillips, who delivered what was easily the best performance from any of the 10 comeback artists.

Oh, and you might say there’s a lot at stake Sunday. Three singers head home at the end of the night as Idol advances a Top 7.

Here are my new rankings heading into Disney Night.

And, yep, I’ve bumped a new single into the number one spot, Hunter Metts.

Let’s not forget, he was performing a wonderful cover of “Falling Slowly” before messing up the lyrics on the April 18 episode.

And his tearful reaction to that mess-up showed a vulnerability that’s likely to endear him to fans.

Check back Sunday night. I’ll be live blogging again with song by song grades.

See also …
Song by song grades for the Top 12 (with videos)
Song by song grades for the Comeback Special (with videos)

Editor’s Note: The number is parenthesis is the singers’ previous ranking.

1. Hunter Metts (3), 22, Franklin, Tenn.

2. Chayce Beckham (1), 24, Apple Valley, Calif.

3. Cassandra Coleman (4), 24, Columbia, Tenn.

4. Alyssa Wray (5), 18, Perryville, Kentucky

5. Grace Kinstler (6), 20, Chicago, Ill.

6. Willie Spence (11), 21, Douglas, Ga.

7. Deshawn Goncalves (7), 19, Cleveland, Ohio

8. Casey Bishop (10), 15, Estero, Fla.

9. Caleb Kennedy (12), 16, Roebuck, S.C.