American Idol revealed Jermaine Jones as the 25th member of the eleventh season's "Top 24" semifinalists during Tuesday night's semifinals performance show.

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"When you got the call, what was your reaction?" American Idol host Ryan Seacrest asked Jones onstage during Tuesday night's Fox broadcast following the announcement that Idol judges Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson had selected him to re-enter the competition after being eliminated in the "Final Judgment" round.

"My reaction was that I was very grateful of course but excited! I was glad that they saw something in me to give me a second chance, so I'm very, very excited and grateful -- overjoyed. The neighbors probably could have heard me and my mom screaming in the house," Jones told Seacrest.

"So she told you, 'Hey somebody's on the phone and they want to talk to you right away?'" Seacrest questioned to confirm.

"Yeah, and I thought that she was playing games with me, but then I thought, 'That would be kind of a crazy joke.' Then I'm like, 'You know mom, you've got to answer calls like this now, you know what I mean?' Because she wasn't going to answer. 'I don't know the number. I aint answering.' So she wasn't going to answer and then she called back and it was the show and they offered me the opportunity to come back," Jones replied.

"And you probably thought about it for awhile -- ehh I'm not sure?" Seacrest joked.

"No, not at all. Send for me now!" Jones, the "gentle giant," said with a laugh.

Jones joined fellow eleventh-season male semifinalists Eban Franckewitz, Deandre Brackensick, Aaron Marcellus, Chase Likens, Adam Brock, Jeremy Rosado, Colton Dixon, Creighton Fraker, Reed Grimm, Heejun Han, Joshua Ledet, and Phillip Phillips -- who all took to the stage and performed one song of their choice for home viewer votes during last night's Idol broadcast.

Jones' return was the season's "dramatic twist" in which the 12 male semifinalists selected by the judges were extended to 13, resulting in a Top 25. The judges opted to have Jones rejoin the competition over fellow previously eliminated contestants David Leathers Jr., Johnny Keyser and Richie Law.

Wednesday night's episode will feature American Idol's 12 eleventh-season female semifinalists performing from 8-10PM ET/PT on Fox. The girls taking to the stage will be Hollie Cavanagh, Hallie Day, Skylar Laine, Shannon Magrane, Baylie Brown, Jen Hirsh, Haley Johnsen, Jessica Sanchez, Chelsea Sorrell, Elise Testone, Erika Van Pelt, and Brielle Von Hugel.

The results show -- which will be a special live, two-hour broadcast -- will then follow on Thursday and air from 8-10PM ET/PT.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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