American Idol featured standout performances from four of the 10 female semifinalists during Tuesday night's live Fox broadcast of the twelfth season's Top 10 girls semifinals performance show.
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American Idol judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, and Randy Jackson deemed Candice Glover, a 23-year-old from St. Helena Island, SC; Kree Harrison, a 22-year-old from Nashville, TN; Amber Holcomb, an 18-year-old from Houston, TX; and Angela Miller, an 18-year-old from Beverly, MA, the best performers of the night.
"That was beautiful... the guys were all standing... because they know they are watching a true artist. Beautiful baby," Urban told Miller after she performed former eleventh-season Idol finalist Colton Dixon's "Never Gone" on Tuesday night's show.
"The trumpets should sound when you walk in the room, little girl. It's safe to say that there is one vote that is already counted for, as far as the five girls going through, after that performance," Minaj added.
"The fact you have your own signature sound already, I mean, can I just get your album? [Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe], [Fox reality chief] Mike Darnell -- can you just let her off of Idol so I can go get this album? I want an acoustic album, it's incredible Angela! I love what you do and I love that you do not stray too far from who you are."
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Jackson and Carey certainly agreed.
"America, a star is born on that stage right there! This Angie girl... Angie is what they say, 'She's going places,'" Jackson gushed. "It's like I was at your show already. You're 18, mad talented... I just love the honesty through which your delivery is and it just seems effortless. You were born to be doing what you're doing."
"I was so happy to hear you back at the piano... This was such a great choice. All of us, I think, were blown away by what you do and what you've done on all of these performances. So good!" Carey said.
Holcomb sang a rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Believe In You and Me."
"Amber, what a perfect song for you in my opinion. You had no shortage of confidence and rightly so. Your voice is beautiful," Urban told the singer. "Your tone is exquisite and I got a feeling I'm going to be hearing a lot more of that though."
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"AM-BER! That was a 10 billion katrillion badillion. Amber, I'm so happy that you're showing your personality now. I know you're not only legs, but sweetheart, your vocals are surpassing even this competition. I mean, I'm being honest. Nothing that came before you is even on that level... How do you get up there [and sing Whitney] with that smile on your face, don't bust a sweat, don't gotta move... and just sing so effortlessly?! I am a fan!" Minaj gushed.
"I do believe ya'll, fellow judges, Amber is definitely in it to win it right here! Yes, yes, yes! So listen, you take on the late great Whitney, one of the greatest ever, and dude, you work it out! I'm so proud of you man. You have no fear... that girl believes right there! She believes!" Jackson explained.
"Miss Amber, I've been waiting to hear you sing all night because you are one of my favorite, favorite people in this whole competition... I loved you tonight. I love you every night... You're 18-years-old and you can sing your behind off and I'm so happy that you're in this competition -- that America gets to vote for you!" Carey told her.
Harrison took the stage and performed "Stronger" by Faith Hill.
"The first two words in Idol are 'I' and 'do' and I do love to hear you sing. It is beautiful... You did it effortlessly as you always do," Urban said.
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"Well, you already know that you're my wife and your sexiness level went up another notch tonight again... I really am obsessed with you. There's nothing that you can do to make that go away. You look beautiful and your tone is so rich and so beautiful. It's my favorite tone out of all the girls because there's just something so soothing, so relaxing, even when you go out -- it never feels abrasive. It's just always nice and smooth. I'm obsessed," Minaj explained.
"I think we got another right here that's in it to win it right here! Kree, you're just such a natural and you've got such a natural gift... I didn't know your range was that big... you can really sing. Congratulations," Jackson told the contestant.
"I mean, how can you top that?... Seriously, it's every single time we see you, you give us a true experience as an audience... I'm being surprised by what you do, the choices you make vocally... I just feel like there is an undeniable thing that you have and I just hope you continue to own it no matter what happens. I know everybody's going to love you!" Carey said.
Glover closed out the night by singing "Ordinary People" by John Legend.
"What I love about you more than anything is I love your blend. You have this old soul thing but you make it so now, so current. And tonight was superb baby, beautiful," Urban said.
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Minaj then saluted the singer, saying, "That's it. That's my comment."
"That was ridiculous because you sang notes that people don't even understand how they could fit into a chord. I'm learning listening to you and I love that. You're one of the best singers in this whole competition," Jackson explained. "I love you."
"Thank you for that performance and sharing your gift with us and with everybody watching, because you know, it's amazing. You hear it's amazing yourself, so imagine how everybody else felt between the goosebumps -- continue," Carey insisted.
The judges agreed the girls had an incredible night and the competition will be very fierce going forward.
"I've been saying it all season since we started the auditions, [Ryan Seacrest]. I mean, the girls definitely have the edge. I think it's a girl's season to lose, which is hard to say because we haven't said that in a long time, you know?" Jackson explained during last night's episode.
In fact, the caliber of talent was so high, Jackson suggested the judges might need to be given a "Wild Card" pick although this season's format is supposed to only allow Top 10 finalists based upon America's vote.
"I'll tell you what ya'll, I don't know how we're keeping five. With America voting for five, [they] have their work cut out for them. We got to talk to the producers. We might need a 'Wild Card' here. We have so many great singers tonight. I don't know what's going to happen!" Jackson said following Glover's performance.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski