American Idol determined its Top 19 contestants after 12 of the fifteenth season's Top 24 hopefuls performed duets with superstars from Idol's past.

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During Thursday night's two-hour broadcast, 12 contestants performed duets with either Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Fantasia Barrino, Caleb Johnson, Ruben Studdard or Nick Fradiani.

Idol judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. then deliberated which seven contestants should advance in the competition and which five artists should go home.

The judges chose to keep the following singers on the show: Mackenzie Bourg, a 23-year-old musician from Lafayette, LA; Jeneve Rose Mitchell, a 15-year-old student from Crawford, CO; Sonika Vaid, a 20-year-old student from Martha's Vineyard, MA; Gianna Isabella, a 15-year-old student from Jackson, NJ; Avalon Young, a 21-year-old server from San Diego, CA; Thomas Stringfellow, a 17-year-old student from Bentonville, AR; and La'Porsha Renae, a 22-year-old call representative from McComb, MS.

Although it was a very difficult decision, Lopez, Urban and Connick chose to eliminate Stephany Negrete, a 21-year-old student from San Diego, CA; Jenna Renae, a 23-year-old musician from Williamson, NY; James Dawson VIII, a 24-year-old musician from Provo, UT; Emily Brooke, a 17-year-old student from Wellington, FL; and Jordan Sasser, a 27-year-old worship leader from Raleigh, NC.

Bourg sang "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack and the judges called it a sweet and really strong performance. Urban teased Bourg about how Alaina had a big crush on him.

Mitchell performed McCreery's "Gone" with him and the judges assured her they'd focus on her solo song because it was too bizarre. Her unique, quirky package could be both a blessing and a curse in this competition because she is in such a narrow lane of what she can sing.

Vaid took the stage with Johnson and sang "Skyfall" by Adele. Connick could tell she was nervous but she still performed incredibly and has great potential to be the next "American Idol."

Isabella sang Fradiani's "Beautiful Life" and the judges gushed about her incredible voice. Lopez noted it was the perfect song for the two of them to sing together.

Young performed the soulful hit "Flying Without Wings" with Studdard. They were equally matched and truly sounded like a duet. The judges really felt the performance and Connick complimented young for her amazing instrument.

Stringfellow and Fradiani performed "Man In The Mirror" together by Michael Jackson. He struggled a little bit with the melody since he's know for his original songs and switching things up, so the judges said they'd just remember his great rendition of "Creep."

La'Porsha wowed the judges with her performance of "I Believe" with Fantasia. Their duet brought tears to Lopez's eyes and she did such a great job matching the former Idol winner, which was no easy task. It seemed like everyone's favorite duet of the night.

Next Wednesday night, 12 more American Idol contestants will sing solos, and then the following night, those same singers will take the stage with a show superstar for a memorable duet. Five more contestants will be eliminated after the two rounds of competition, determining Season 15's Top 14 artists.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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