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American Idol Season 9 Favorites: Hollywood Week

Updated on April 8, 2011

After the first two nights of Hollywood Week on Season 9 of American Idol, some obvious favorites have emerged. From hippie chick to blues guitar player to songwriter extraordinaire, these contestants grabbed my attention with their amazing auditions in Hollywood. See if you agree!

Crystal Bowersox

Crystal Bowersox is a woman on a mission - to give her son a better life. This single mom sang "Natural Woman" and played her along on her guitar - by the end of the song, the whole audience was signing along. She has a natural charm and ease about her that immediately engages the audience. She not only has a great voice, but a great energy. She channels both Kelly Clarkson AND Jason Castro with her velvety voice and long dreadlocks. Her unique sound and her personal style set her apart from the crowd and should take her a long way past Hollywood Week. I can't wait to watch more of her compelling story as American Idol progresses this year - my favorite!

Andrew Garcia

At first glance, Andrew Garcia comes across as a suck for choosing "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul, but as soon as his first note hits the air, you know he is the real deal. A professional musician, he is likely to be the David Cook of Season 9, putting his own flair and arrangement on American classics. He stood this song on its head, giving the audience a fresh look at a pop song. His natural voice talent will take him far in this competition because his voice would suit a wide range of styles. If his version of "Straight Up" was on iTunes right now, I would buy it!

Casey James

This shirtless looker is my hometown favorite because he is from Fort Worth. One downside - he just may be too good looking. But, his penchant for the blues guitar is matched only by his soulful sound. Once you look past the good looks, you can tell that Casey James is a true musical talent, singing his own original version of the Ray Charles song, I Don't Need No Doctor, during Round 1 of Hollywood Week. Usually, the judges don't like originals, but this one was a crowd pleaser. He should stick around than most of the other heartthrobs in season past.

Katie Stevens

The youngest contestant in my top five early favorites, she has the confidence and voice control of artists twice her age and experience. While she might not have the most distinctive sound, her voice is strong and soothing, which will lend itself to a variety of styles. With so many people with outrageous styles and unique voices, it is hard for her to be memorable. My prediction is that she will not win, but will have a successful long term career. Her backstory about her taking care of her grandmother shows that she is a grounded young girl who will go far in the music industry.

Didi Benami

If you close your eyes and listen to each of the five contestants here, Didi probably has my favorite straight up voice. Her sound reminds me of Colby Caillet with a little bit of Regina Spektor thrown in and she should go very far in this competition. She could sing the dictionary and I would probably be entranced. This girl embodies what American Idol is all about, just like Simon said - she is a struggling waitress with a beautiful voice looking to make it in the tough world of the music biz. Not to mention that she is very attractive and I'm sure will have husbands around the country finally interested in watching American Idol.

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