Lauren Alaina Suddeth
photo by FOX
What impressed Lauren Alaina Suddeth the most after her well-received cover of the Miley Cyrus smash hit “The Climb” on Wednesday’s American Idol tribute to the movies?
It wasn’t Idol record producer Jimmy Iovine telling Rossville’s most famous teenager that she was a stronger singer than Hannah Montana’s portrayer Ms. Cyrus during rehearsals.
Instead it was “The most beautiful woman in the world told me I did a good job,” she exclaimed referring to Idol judge Jennifer Lopez receiving the coveted 2011 title earlier in the day by People Magazine.
“I love the tear in your voice when you sang it,” Ms. Lopez said. “You don’t need to steal votes” referring to last week’s surprising elimination of Pia Toscano who was a perceived frontrunner for the Idol title.
Iovine told Ms. Suddeth there would be a slew of Pia votes up for grabs and that she needed to “invite them in” with her performance.
Ms. Lopez’s Idol counterpart Steven Tyler also used the tear analogy – again – and also reminded viewers that Ms. Suddeth was the first serious Idol contender after her Nashville audition last August.
“You were the first Idol we thought of,” the Aerosmith front man remarked. “You move me beyond tears.”
Randy Jackson proclaimed, “The Lauren we first saw in Nashville is roaring back.”
Ms. Suddeth, who was the second performer among the eight, chose “The Climb” because it mirrors her Idol journey.
“It’s the perfect song for what I’m feeling,” she said. “It screams Idol.”
Nashville’s Paul McDonald opened the competition with his rendition of the Bob Seger classic “Ol’ Time Rock and Roll” from the Tom Cruise smash Risky Business. McDonald, the son of UTC professor Susan McDonald, was attired in his Porter Wagoner inspired black suit embroidered with red roses and gold leaves.
He generated positive feedback from the judges, but some early Idol polls indicate that he may be in danger of being the first male voted off on Thursday night.
The original American Idol, Kelly Clarkson who won the title nine seasons ago in 2002, and country rocker Jason Aldean will be among the guest performers on the telecast that starts at 8 ET on Fox 61.
Paul McDonald
photo by FOX