The top 12 contestants for Season 14 American Idol was revealed on Wednesday in an excitement filled episode as the producers appeared to have changed the format of the talent show this time around, according to E! Online.
The new format entailed the host, Ryan Seacrest, to call on the Idol hopefuls on stage one by one where they were asked to immediately perform on the spot. The tension, excitement, and nervous energy understandably rattled quite a few of the contestants while others held on to their poise. Therefore, all 16 finalists were told to render a song number upon having their names called. However, the contestants had no idea whether they got in the top 12 until after the latter portion of the show.
The contestants who got in the top 10 were identified as those voted by the fans to remain in the show. The list included Sarina-Joi Crowe, 19, from Columbia, Tennessee, Rayvon Owen, 23, from Richmond, Virginia, and Daniel Seavey, 15, from Vancouver Washington. Country singer Maddie Walker, 17, from Ankeny, Iowa got in the top 10 as well. She was joined by 16-year-old Tyanna Jones from Jacksonville, Florida and Nick Fradiani, 29, Guilford, Connecticut who is known for his years of experience in the industry.
The 18-year-old Spanish teacher, Jackie "Jax" Cole, from East Brunswick, New Jersey, who actually has a very solid fan base calling themselves The Jax Pax, unsurprisingly got in along with Qaasim Middleton, 19, from Brooklyn, New York, who is known as the group's showman. The 22-year-old heartthrob from White House, Tennessee, Clark Beckham, also got in the top 10 as well as the 23-year-old Zooey Deschanel lookalike from Woodbridge, Virginia, Joey Cook.
Much to the surprise of the judges, two of the best singers in the bunch were not voted into the top 10 by America. Fortunately, two wild cards could be added to the list which later on became the top 12. Hence, the 21-year-old singer from New Orleans, Louisiana, Quentin Alexander, and the impressively notable 18-year-old from Diamond Bar, California, Adanna Duru, were both chosen by the judges to move on to next week's competition.
The contestants who failed to make it to the top 12 were Alexis Gomez, Adam Ezegelian, Mark Andrew, and Loren Lott.
