The Final! Who Will Be The American Idol 2019?

This is it. After a very good run and some excellent performances in what everyone agrees has been the best Season of all, one of Madison, Laine and Alejandro will take the prize.

We learn that Walker has already been taken on by Bobby Bones in a group of singers that he has in a comedy performance of some sort. I have also no doubts at all that Demitrius and Uché will find fame on Broadway and in broader entertainment respectively. Someone has to snap up Riley who will make them a fortune, Wade and Laci probably already have people offering them a deal - and there'll be a tour too for the Top 10, I expect.

So let's see what happens with these three.

Lionel Ritchie kicks things off by showing that he's still got it with a smart and quite energetic rendition of Dancing On The Ceiling.

Laine

He does a Marc Broussard number called Home. It's Bayou stuff again which he seems very much at home with. This guy does not make any mistakes. Each performance is him, not a copy. Very good and a great start.

Madison

Shallow by Lady Gaga. She's worked hard with this one and is so much better than last week's efforts. Well done. A tough song but she made it through.

Alejandro

An original number called Millennial Love.
Ding an original in the Final is a risk, surely! But there's no stopping this chap. He probably doesn't really care as long as he gets to do his stuff. This is actually a lovely number and has to be a hit very soon, hopefully here in the UK as well as there.

Laine has a huge party in Louisiana and the Governor says it's a day to have  Hardy Party. This is a lot of voters - I wonder whether what I thought earlier about Laine actually leading the voting is, in fact, the case?

He sings Jambalaya, a great classic and cheerful number that he cannot really go wrong with. It is very natural and I hope that it isn't too easy-going that people forget to vote for him! He has real star quality which, for TV appearance and show managers, Madison and Alejandro don't have.

Madison sings Learn How To Fly. She is still missing notes unfortunately. This is quite weak at the start - every time she's doing this. As the only girl left she might get the the last two as the male vote gets split but she really wouldn't deserve that on her singing today so far.

Alejandro sings another original called Tonight I think. It's a nice number but not quite as obviously vote catching as the Laine number. There is also such a difference in the 'Home-coming' and you can see that, for this guy, the studio is more his 'home' than anywhere else.

It really should be Alejandro and Laine as the final two.

Carrie Underwood is here now and puts on a good show,although she is looking older and less energetic now. She puts on  a great professional performance of a new single but it's not the greatest of tracks. Her writers are getting lazy now because almost everything she does tends to be released and make money. She can do much better than this. Someone sack her writers.

The first vote confirms that it is, indeed, Laine v Alejandro. Good.

Alejandro performs another original track. This one is called 10 Years and wow, this is impressive as he plays with a full orchestra backing him which, I presume, he has also arranged himself. Marvellous talent. Whatever happens, he is the real talent in this Season.

Adam Lambert now comes on stage and sings his new single New Eyes. Someone has to sack his writers too as he is too good for this. This fellow is fabulous and is someone you can totally trust to perform. His notes are perfect but he also has style and is just very, very smart and professional without losing emotion on the way.

Next he does Bohemian Rhapsody and is joined by Demitrius who is very much in his element here. A nice coupling and all credit to the producers for that idea!

Some duo called Dan & Shay do a dated number. It's OK but I have no idea who they are. Madison joins in and does a good job but that makes me wonder what is going on? Only a short while before she was a potential winner and now she's doing one of the 'also-ran' acts. Surely there must have been some rehearsal and was she tipped off in advance? Must have been. Maybe there was that much difference that it was obvious she would be third.

Luke Bryan's turn now and he gives us a jolly Country number. Then the lovely Laci joins in and really does seem to be enjoying herself now the pressure's off. Every Breath You Take is very cool for her and Luke together.

Laine is on now with John Pardi. It's Country style with Night Shift and Dirt On My Boots and you can see how smart this guy is as this must add the massive Country vote to his side o top of the Rock 'n Roll and Bayou votes already bagged. He could win for all the wrong reasons.

Katy P completes the judges' performances on the night with an extraordinarily good Unconditionally in which Jeremiah appears from the background and is fantastically good. That was the performance of the night, actually.

Weezer are now on stage - how many more acts are we going to get? Wade joins in for Africa and Walker helps out with Take On Me and Everybody Wants to Rule The World. Wade sort of hangs around and looks happy.

Alyssa joins someone called Kane Brown. They look good together.

Shay joins Andra Day for Rise Up.

Uché joins Kool & The Gang and has a great time. There is a star, for sure. He looks more at home on the stage than almost everyone else! Great stuff.

All a bit frantic as we get this end-to-end with no ad breaks!

For the final numbers Laine does Bring It On Home To Me which has a not-so-hidden message and, once again, will pull in some fans of Sam Cooke. It is an excellent choice and he sings it really well. He is the star, for sure. He could be the surprise winner of this thing.

Alejandro does a fourth original numberII I don't know the name of this one but I am amazed he's done this. No matter how brilliant they may be, people simply won't 'know' them and that is bound to affect the voting intent a bit. Yes, he is the winner in terms of artistry and sheer talent but it could well be Laine as the 'Idol' this year. Alejandro's song is actually a bit rushed, or seems so to me. I'm really not sure that's going to be enough.

Ryan Seacrest takes the stage at last. Dim the lights . . .

The winner is . . .

Laine Hardy!

Flame is his new single. That deserves to do very well and I very much hope that someone gets him over here. I hope too that we get an Alejandro album here soon. I'll buy that.

The Top 8 : Film Songs and Duets

This is really a very good series of the show - all eight remaining contestants are artists in their own right and none have any particular weakness that would prevent an album from doing really well and I can imagine any of them on stage for several years into the future. Walker and Wade may be the two slightly 'less likely to' but even they have their followers who have brought them to this point already.

Each person will sing a Queen number as well as appear in a duet with another contestant to do a film song.

Walker

A Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Walker seems the exact opposite of Adam Lambert, quirky versus professional, self-conscious v the diva. He is perfectly in tune, great timing, has a natural rhythm but this is still not a great version of the song. People will like him - he makes us smile. But he shouldn't try Queen songs.

Madison

The Show Must Go On
Adam is such a good mentor. Love him. Madison has a great start and is looking the best we've seen her. Here is a potential real star at the outset. She loses it, though, when she starts doing the hand touching thing with the front row and never really recovers. No, she is even sounding off-key in the broadcast but maybe OK in the arena. Luckily the staging and whole backing was all great and may have covered up most of the mistakes. Disappointing, though. She should be better than that.

Laci & Laine

Jackson
Now this is a very nice duo. Great sound, largely dominated by Laci and they do forget to look at each other at the right times. Very smart performance nonetheless. Laci looks fantastic, really comfortable and quite enlivened. Katy suggests that they are 'getting on well'! Interesting.

Jeremiah

Who Wants To Live Forever
More great advice from Adam. A fabulous original, slightly held back version by Jeremiah. Impressive and he makes it his own. First real emotion out of all the performances so far and easily the best. This is the first really Big Moment for a while. Beautiful staging and singing.

Alejandro

Under Pressure
This is a musical artist. He totally reworks the track. I am not sure he really does Freddie Mercury justice but it would be a great album track if not a single. Maybe this is not his best performance but he's still the star and the audience love him. For the first time, though, I've begun to wonder whether he will actually win after all. To date, he has seemed the natural #1. Now, I am not not so sure.

Alyssa & Wade

Ain't No Mountain High Enough
What a weird pairing! And a strange song for Wade too, in particular. They do pretty well actually. It worked well and both show that they are really quite experienced on stage. Alyssa is the little pop star who will surely be in the charts before long.

Jeremiah & Madison

A Million Dreams
I can't imagine many pairings doing this any better. They are truly professional and it is a genuinely excellent performance, Madison making up for the previous effort magnificently and Jeremiah just singing so well.

Laine

Fat Bottom Girls
He is surprisingly reticent but should be able to really set the stage alight. Adam Lambert encourages him and he certainly gets the girls' support, including Katy's from the start. He's good and make a great effort with this track. I still didn't feel he put as much into entertaining us as he could have done, though.

Laci

Love Of My Life
A lesser known track. Beautifully performed and presented by this girl who is beginning to look to melike the winner. On par with Jeremiah for the best performance so far.

Alejandro & Walker

Mrs Robinson
A pretty straight version - it never really comes to life and you have no idea of what the song is about either, as neither of the guys give us anything other than the notes. Really not something I particularly want to listen to again. A pretty little ditty. That's all.

Wade

We Are The Champions
Should be a god choice and Wade can really interpret this track well. I did expect more 'power', though.

Alyssa

Somebody To Love
Adam and Alyssa look good together and she gets all his suggestions straightaway.Aa competent and quite impressive performance. Nice to watch and she is really trying hard, you can see that. It's not bad but I'd like to have seen her try to reach a few higher and stronger notes. The end was also a wasted opportunity.

My rating this week:

1 Laci
2 Jeremiah
3 Laine
4 Madison
5 Alejandro
6 Alyssa

---

7 Wade
8 Walker

In fact it is Alyssa and Walker who go. They have both done well and should find a career from this. I am a little surprised Wade made it through but he does stand out.

No Judges' Save.

Hawaii. The Top 40

Over a few days in sunny Hawaii, the 40 contestants who have made it this far will be cut to just 20. Expect some shocks along the way!

Alyssa Ragou
Excellent performance. She looks like an instantly marketable product. She's not entirely credible, though, and seems to be acting, although she does act incredibly well!

Madison Vandenberg sings Who's Lovin' You Now and has an excellent vocal. She's familiar and comfortable on stage with a strong, if slightly dour, personality. She's pretty professional and sails through with Alyssa.

Myra is the Vietnamese girl who has found a place in many of our hearts. She seems younger and more modern now and much more likely to have success as an artist in the States than I would have expected from earlier auditions. I would say she'd sell much better than the previous two but the judges drop her.

Logan Johnson sings Sorry in Spanish and this goes down really well with the audience! A smart move and this works very well.He looks like a potential winner. Nice job. Sailed through. He just needs to stay off those chemicals.

Nate Walker does Still right in front of the man himself! A good job if a bit over-run as he has been all the way through. I thought he'd make it but he didn't. First major surprise.

Dimitrius Graham is someone who's been pretty under the radar so far. I barely remember him. He seems a totally natural performer, current and confident. A nice voice. You can see how he would have beaten Nate in a future round. However, first we get shown the guy going off in tears after what looked like a 'No. decision. Wrong, he's actually through after all. Odd editing but a deserved Top 20 place.

Ashley Hess does not have one of the best songs and it's all a bit laborious. She has been good but not a star. Maybe she'll be better doing quite things in her own way rather than trying to wow a crowd with dancing or whatever. The judges keep her in. Good.

Drake McCain is one we'll always remember because of the crazy hair brand. Great phrasing in his performance. He's confident and could have been 2019's Mick Hucknell, proving that ugly guys do very well sometimes. But he's rejected, being just a bit below the high standards we've got this year and, although unspoken, I fear he just isn't that easy to package.

Kai The Singer has had a tremendous run so far. She has developed so much in each week. This time she is really quite animated but seems to be natural with it. They remark that she has come right 'out of her shell'. She's a bit breathless and this all does seem quite new to her. Dancing for the first time ever too, I think. If she carries on like this she'll be difficult to beat. Unfortunately, the judges didn't get her technical ability and maybe they're right in that she needs time to get used to all this. I would have taken her into the Top 20 but this was a surprising rejection.

Lacy Kay Booth sings Georgia On My Mind fantastically well. She has an outstanding voice and is different to most of the other girls which makes her memorable. It's a nice personal version of this track, near perfect. She is still just a bit too 'American' for me with her wide open eyes and helicopter mum. But that's not necessarily bad in this show.

I remember thinking that we haven't had any 'Country' yet. The stage is pretty much open to anyone in this genre as things stand at the moment.

Nick Townsend sings Hold Back The River. I am not sure he's that great. It's all very sound, no complaints and you do want to wish him well but I don't see him going much further. He gets rejected.

We then see Clay Page, Kason Lester and Johanna Jones dropped too.

Ryan Hammond comes on and is looking good. He's a strong singer and can entertain the crowd pretty well too. But I'm not sure he fits anywhere and doesn't really stand out. However, he makes it, although I suspect that he was one that might just as easily have not made it had the judges looked at these auditions another day.

Kate Barnette sounds a bit nervous, although she has experience and really ought to know what she's doing.

Evelyn Barmier has been impressive throughout the show so far, an unusual artist but she is definitely an artist with great talent. I am not convinced that either will appeal to a big audience wit votes in the Live Shows but they both make it.

Emma Kleinberg, who I don't remember, looks great but is nothing special. I would have ranked her above Kate, though, but the judges reject her.

Uché is up next. I have major expectations for this guy. He has bags and bags of personality and the crowd love him. His has been the best performance of all and it's something of an Adam Lambert moment. A definite, dead cert Top 20.

Alejandro Aranda gets blessed by some weird woman called Auntie Nettie who gives everyone some chant but gives this guy something more. Having got that out of the way Alejandro gives a beautiful rendition of Yellow. Expect to see him in the final v Uché. Another definite, dead cert Top 20.

Jeremiah Harman is next and he is some emotional singer. He does Landslide which is a superb choice for him at this time. I'm most impressed and there's yet another potential finalist. We now need some girls to compete for the Top 3.

Shayy might have been most people's idea of the perfect candidate. There has been something special about this girl, coping with not being able to see and reaching all our hearts with some superb auditions so far. You really want her to succeed but this is not her best performance at all and I'm not sure how much further she would go if she did reach the Top 20. She'd make good TV for the Live Shows, though,m surely and people adore her. She gets rejected and that is an obvious shock to the other contestants too.

Mica, Patyon and Idalis follow with another three rejections.

Riley Thomson is now on and she is truly excellent and one of what has to be very, very few Country girls making it through this year. She looks amazing at 16. I cannot imagine what she'll be like at 20 or 30. A fabulous performer too. She is the complete package and, so far, the only contender for the female No.1 spot. A genuine American Idol in the making, but, at 16, who knows what life will bring that she may or may not cope with? She has to be though

Raquel Trinidad is not the most likeable person to watch. But she's through so the judges must have seen or heard something I didn't. Shawn Robinson is a good singer and he gets through too from a very brief glimpse of the two auditions. So too does the remarkable Bumbly who is a smart performer who brings a much-needed Latin edge to the show. She deserves to be Top 20.

Wade Cota has never been more than an hour away from home, he tells us. He didn't have a passport but they've got him there somehow. He's quite dumb in a pleasant way and worries that he has no theory of performing or music or anything for that matter. His coach reassures him that sometimes natural atlent will rise above all that stuff. Sure enough, he comes across a likeable lump on stage and stands out because of his size and very natural talent, gravelly old voice and the Hozier song is a good move too! They put him in the Top 20 and he says That's crazy, why?!

Margie Mays and Edie island are both good fun and quite entertaining. It's only Eddie who gets through through. He has a good voice but odd looks. His notes are spot-on. Margie was fun but always a bit average.

Laine Hardy failed at this point last year. He's up with Tyler Mitchell, a remarkably good-looking Country guy. Laine does Come Together pretty damn well and is some performer, standing out as quite unique and making a big effort too. In contrast Tyler strolls easily through his number, reliable, solid and good-looking. But maybe just a bit forgettable. Laine makes it and that is the Top 20 complete.

American Idol XIV Auditions Day 4

New York. Cue Jennifer walking down a street and trying to tell some guy that she used to live there. He has no idea who she is!

Cue Sal Valentinetti. He has the name and the look and the accent. He sounds a bit like Sinatra and plays the part well. Harry is right. he won't go far but he's fun to watch and can sing.

This is an interesting first too as Adam Lambert joins the panel in place of Keith for the day. Adam really has done well since coming 2nd several years ago now. he has been a superb mentor on previous shows but this is the first time a contestant has been a panel member. He is also at the time of writing performing to great reviews with the remaining Queen band members, substituting for the almost impossible to substitute Freddie Mercury.

Next up is someone called J None. Hmmm. He brings on some toy bear. I didn't think he was particularly good but he gets through. Nicer enough chap but lacking a memorable voice and none too sure about the tuning either. I can only guess the panel were distracted by the bear.

Jax is blonde but New York blonde and she is just Jax, no surname. Playing the piano she does a great version of the Beatles' I Wanna Hold Your Hand. She is really original, bags of confident. I like Jennifer's description of her being shy and confident at the same time. The real thing. Definitely one I would like to see more of. 18 going on 28.

New York is certainly bringing some different talent! Johnny Arco is next and very off the wall with a cool track using a violin like a banjo.

Another performer from the underground stations (seem to be getting a few of them this year) is Najah Lewis. Sha says that she makes a decent income singing in the stations already. She's OK. Not brilliant but she's OK. The panel like her and she flies through.

Tion Phillips does Bruno Mars well. Very well.

James Dillian Dunn isn't as good. They both fancy Jennifer Lopez and get through. Adam wasn't sure about James. He was right.

Nervously rushing on to stage is Shi Scott. Just 19 but good and sounds very like Amy Winehouse with an excellent cover of Valleri or Valerie. Harry says it's an Amy impression. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Adam likes her but the panel don't seem to think she's ready. I would say she was a damn sight more ready than the two guys before. Jennifer is very much for her. Nice surprise as Harry actually overturns Adam and takes her through. She's genuine. I like her.

We see Adam turning down a lot of acts. Good job, Finally we get Eric. Now how can Eric get through looking like that and wearing those clothes. He's singing The Show Must Go On. OK. That's going to be another that Adam turns down. Eh? Harry says No. Adam has to choose. Our Eric persuades Adam. Harry says he 'hustled the crap out of Adam'! How did that happen. I don't think we'll see much of him at Hollywood.

Maddie Walker is only 16 but this is her second attempt to get in. Jennifer recognises her. Pretty. Blonde.

Courtney Zahne and Jackie Nese Two more very pretty blondes. All just teenagers. None are really impressive but they can sing and do look good so, yes, they get through. I am not so sure Harry would have put them through.

Qaasim Middleton is fun and pretty talented, doing an amusing but quite smart version of Sir Duke from the Stevie Wonder days. He's also at a jazz school, 'working on his craft' as Harry says. Three very firm and solid yesses for that guy.

Brigette Guerette comes and goes. She gets a minute of fame, I guess. Harry then recalls how Adam must have been a great audition many years ago. He gets Adam to stand up and recreate his audition. We get the old video too, with LA Reid, Paula and Simon Cowell in the background! Oh boy. Those were the days. Adam is amazing. Quite a cool moment.

Adam Ezegelian is another Adam with a big voice and actually he gets some good notes for Born To Be Wild which is not at all an easy song. He admits to taking some of Adam Lambert's ideas there. He does a second track and that's pretty good. This is a podgy looking fellow with 70s frizzy hair. Odd but I quite like the fellow who didn't bother to dress up, sings with his hand in his shorts pocket. He's through. Interesting guy. I doubt he'll get too far.

Katherine Winston is lovely. Just 18 and easily through with a gentle number that is like Country but also with soul. Reminded me of Ella Henderson in UK's X factor. Talent but will she get lost in the crowd at Hollywood? Hope not.

Travis Finlay writes songs and teaches 'Beats' and stuff. he had to save his house in the recent hurricane so missed out on a lot of chances. Nice fellow and great voice. He'll be through for sure and I'd expect to see him get past Hollywood too. Nice audition. I know I can look up who makes the Top 24 and cheat with all these predictions but I am genuinely not doing that and, although I have looked at the list before, I can't remember who's in it. I am not sure he is but the pane; reckon he;s a star so maybe he should be.

Benjamin Farmer. He's a bit annoying to listen to. Great song but he's no good. S we get quite a few bad auditions where people try to stand out. Most fail dreadfully.

Ariana is Yanni G apparently. She does things with a stool and a cup and even has her boyfriend playing guitar with her. Is that what the programme rules allow? If so, everyone should come in with friends. She gets short shrift. Nick Fradiani, her boyfriend, is good. He auditions on his own so all's well after all. He really gets the song across. I don't know what it was but there's something about him that works. He's through but not the girl. I would have given her more of a chance.

Another busker in New York City. These are certainly individuals. The last one today is 22 year old 'Hollywood' Anderson who sings a song he's written himself and it's great. Nice voice, great style. He has to go through. That song is something special. Harry says his audition is possibly the best not only of New York but of the Season so far.

Surely he makes it further than his name.