Next week the live shows begin on "American Idol." This means that this week, the judges were dealt the task of revealing the top 24 contestants. There were 42 hopefuls that moved through the various rounds, and sadly half of them were sent home. Last year, Jennifer Lopez had an emotional time at this point when sending Chris Medina home. As the contestants are being named and put through, there are a few that stand out in fans' mind. These are the "American Idol" hopefuls that will likely make it to the top 12.
Haley Johnsen
This girl was amazing and consistent throughout the entire competition. She automatically got three "yes" votes during her audition in Portland. There were no arguments about her talent, and she sailed straight through. It will be interesting to see how well the live shows go for her, and whether or not she can place in the top 12.
Reed Grimm
Reed has had some rough spots throughout his journey. His audition in Pittsburgh was excellent, but Hollywood week tested him. At one point he was really doubting himself. He pulled it together and got through all the rounds, and you can bet on seeing him stick around for a while.
Baylie Brown
Baylie auditioned for "American Idol" five years ago, but didn't make the cut. The judges encouraged her to fine tune her voice and come back. She did just that, and now we will be seeing more of her! There needs to be some improvement on her vocals and consistency, but all in all, she is one to watch this season!
Heejun Han
His charisma is something that some of the other contestants lack. This guy has tried his hardest and put forth amazing effort towards making his dream come true. His singing voice is also one of the best in the group of men, so it is very likely we will be seeing him stick around longer than many initially expected.
Skylar Lane
She is the country star fans are already comparing to Lauren Alaina from last year. In fact, the judges even dubbed her "a young Reba." She has incredible vocals, and she will be one that will be hard to beat.
It seems that country singers thrive on "American Idol." This year, there are a handful of contestants that are going in that direction. These five have the best shot of outlasting the others in the competition, and they are favored by fans already. It will be interesting to see which contestant will be crowned the winner in May, and the next few weeks will be intense.
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