Oliver Springs’ Janelle Arthur won this week’s Tennessee “primary” vote on American Idol as she, along with Nashville’s Kree Harrison and Palmersville’s Paul Jolley, advanced to the top nine on Thursday night.
Curtis Finch, Jr. was the first of the top 10 to be eliminated after he failed to convince the judges to use their singular season save on him following his performance of “I Believe I Can Fly.” The three Tennesseans in the top nine means there is a one in three chance that a state resident will finally win the Idol title when the show’s 12th season concludes in May.
For the first time since Idol made its debut in 2002, host Ryan Seacrest is revealing the rankings of the finalists each week with the exception of the top three whose finish will remain a secret. Ms. Harrison was among the top three while Ms. Arthur was sixth and Mr. Jolley in eighth place.
The competition continues next Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on FOX61 with the results revealed on Thursday.