American Idol picks Top 14

Plagued by diminishing viewership and lackluster contestants, American Idol (AI) had no choice but to go off the air for keeps. But this turned out to be not for long. A scant two years later, it was back on the air in revival mode over a new channel. And what a return it is turning out to be. As the cliché goes, this is one with a vengeance. The talent show is now bigger than ever.

I say that American Idol just needed the break. This was to allow a new crop of talents to develop into the potential stars that the show is in search of. Take note that what AI can be really proud of is that it has discovered and nurtured to stardom some of today’s biggest names. This is something that other talent shows still have to accomplish. In American Idol, winners or not, stars come out of the woodwork. Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barino, Adam Lambert are but a few.

 Well, it looks like this 16th season will yield a truly bountiful harvest. The auditionees are so good, so young and so promising. I was honestly sad to see some of them go.  It must have been very difficult for judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan to cut down hundreds into only 14 finalists. But they did it and we will now be able to watch these newcomers do battle with music. 

I say music, not just singing because most of the finalists in this year’s batch are also very good songwriters.  This change was an unheralded development that is most welcome. It was probably because all three judges this season are also excellent songwriters. So American Idol allowed the auditionees to perform their own originals and they also turned out to be very good. 

So here they are, the 14 finalists. One of them will be the next American Idol:

Catie Turner, 17, from Pennsylvania. This girl is a true breath of fresh air. Effortless with both rock and soft ballads, She might turn out to be Idol’s first fun, quirky and utterly adorable winner.

Dennis Lorenzo, 26, from Philadelphia. He was formerly homeless. He plays a guitar with a hole. He is also a great soul vocalist with gorgeous tones.

Michelle Sussett, 22. She is a sassy refugee from Venezuela who is a Jennifer Lopez in the making. Fantastic singer and dancer, she is set to be American Idol’s first Latino champ.

Michael J. Woodard, 20, from Philadelphia, too. A bowling alley attendant who is one of AI’s biggest surprises.  He rocks with everything, rock soul and even show tunes and has a sunshine personality.

Clockwise from upper left: Dennis Lorenzo, Garrett Jacobs, Jurnee, Marcio Donaldson, Jonny Brenns, Gabby Barrett

Jonny Brenns, 18, from Florida. This guy is American Idol’s heartthrob of the moment with his big manly tones, a dazzling smile and impeccable manners.

Cade Foehner, 21, from Texas. This is the sexy rocker who came to Idol complete with the long hair and piercing scream. This early, he already sounds and looks like he can take command of a huge arena.

Gabby Barrett, 17, also from Pennsylvania. Young, very pretty and with big, powerful vocals. A future country star in the footsteps of Idol’s own Carrie Underwood. 

Garrett Jacobs, just turned 18 from Louisiana. This is AI’s bet for pop idol success. The kid who is also quite cute brings pop mode to both the likes of James Brown and Shawn Mendes.

Maddie Poppe, 20, from Iowa. She not only sings. She also plays the ukulele, guitar and keyboard. She is also a songwriter who has released her own album of originals.

Adam ‘Ada Vox’ Sanders, 24, from Texas. Ada first auditioned for Idol and reached Hollywood Week last Season 12. He is now back as his alter ego, Ada Vox and this glamorous drag Queen is ready for the most difficult competitors.

Caleb Lee Hutchinson, 19, from Georgia. There is much talk about these days about Caleb’s 70-pound weight loss.  But expect that to change once he gets those big, big country vocals singing through the season.

Marcio Donaldson, 28, from California. This guy has already stolen everybody’s heart with his life story. I am afraid he is out to get their votes as well. It does not seem fair to the others, but with the way he has been singing, he has already been picked as the winner. 

 Mara Justine, 16, from New Jersey. She is one of the youngest finalists in Idol history but she is also the power diva in the making as she takes on show tunes and Whitney Houston.

Jurnee, 18, from Colorado is the girl with the pitch-perfect tones which sound good with anything. She is also strong in name recall and is another proof that American Idol is pro-LGBT all the way.