Check out all of these pics released by Yahoo’s music team as they shadowed the final five’s practice rounds over the weekend. With such a small group of singers left you can see how they get to relax while working away all day.

Hard to believe we’re just about three weeks away from crowning a new winner of American Idol! Who do you think will be taking home the big prize at the season finale? Share your thoughts below!

Source: Yahoo & Instagram

Going in to the Top 12 week we’ve got Caleb Johnson riding high in first place and with his high-energy, pimp spot performance last week this should be no surprise. Caleb took in 21% of your votes here in our poll last week and I’d wager he won out the official voting as well.

Following Caleb we’ve got Sam Woolf in second place with 10% of your votes, a slight dip from the pre-Top 13 vote at 12%. It wasn’t Sam’s best performance of the season, but it still managed to earn him double digits in your votes. Looks like he’s got a lot of momentum to keep him going even on off-weeks.

Rounding out the Top 3 from your votes we’ve got a tie between Jessica Meuse and Majesty Rose. Both of these ladies saw strong growth in their numbers which gives them the opportunity to grab and stay there in the safe-zone.

Jumping to the other end of the spectrum in our poll we find Ben Briley and the eliminated Kristen O’Connor tied in last with just 3% of the vote. Considering Ben was not part of the official Bottom 3 there’s clearly a disconnect between our votes and the official numbers. The rest of the Bottom 3 goes to a three-way tie between CJ Harris, Dexter Roberts, and MK Nobilette.

MK had climbed a point in the ranks over the previous week, but it wasn’t enough to keep her out of the official Bottom 3 on the show or in our poll. The other two singers sharing the bottom rung here are somewhat surprising. CJ and Dexter had previously been in the first and second spots of our poll, respectively, just the week before. Perhaps a fan club flooded our poll with votes.

Don’t forget to keep supporting your favorites. It’s quick and easy for a high-ranking finalist to fall in to the danger zone so you don’t want to let that happen to the contestants you like the best!

American Idol 2014 Top 13 Week Poll Rankings:

1. Caleb Johnson – 21% – up 16 points from last week
2. Sam Woolf – 10% – down 2 points from last week
3. Jessica Meuse – 9% – up 7 points from last week
4. Majesty Rose – 9% – up 5 points from last week
5. Alex Preston – 7% – up 3 points from last week
6. Emily Piriz – 7% – up 6 points from last week
7. Malaya Watson – 7% – up 2 points from last week
8. Jena Irene – 6% – up 1 point from last week
9. CJ Harris – 4% – down 25 points from last week
10. Dexter Roberts – 4% – down 15 points from last week
11. MK Nobilette – 4% – up 1 point from last week
12. Ben Briley – 3% – up 1 point from last week
13. Kristen O’Connor – 3% – up 1 point from last week – eliminated

When FOX Audio Central spoke with Harry Connick Jr and Keith Urban about the perceived issues both insisted it was more of a learning curve rather than anything actually wrong with the monitors themselves.

Harry Connick Jr: I think it’s a matter of getting used to it. 

When you have in-ear monitors, there’s a lot of different information coming at you – bass, drums, click track, background vocals, your own voice, audience and stuff, and it takes a while to sort of figure that out. And they’ll figure out. 

It’s just a matter of doing it.  It’s just repetition.  They’ll get used to it. 

Some of them are a little bit better at it than others because some of them may have had a little bit more experience.

Keith Urban gave an interesting explanation of the various progression of monitor speakers. Clearly these are developed preferences for a lot of artists. Something these new finalists may not have had time to develop.

Keith Urban: Yeah, I mean this whole, I mean back in the day you used to have speakers on the foot of the stage, that’s how you heard yourself, and now you have these inner ear monitors that you see on everybody. 

Some people use two of them; some people use one with speakers down there or whatever.  Everyone’s got their own mojo with it. 

I like to use one and have speakers because I like to be in the space with the crowd as well, you know. 

But everybody’s got to figure their own style out, and these guys and girls have to do it in record time, you know.  So but that’s what they’ve got to really focus on when they get into rehearsal. 

They’ve got experiment with everything and find their comfort zone.

I feel like we’ve seen this issue come up on a lot of seasons and it really is something that works itself out. Unfortunately time isn’t something most of the American Idol contestants have and those with more stage experience may find themselves at an advantage.

What do you think of the in-ear monitor issues from last week? How would you like to see the challenge addressed by American Idol?

Kristen O’Connor removes her in-ear monitor during performance:

Source: FOX Audio Central

FOX Audio Central (FAC) caught up with Kristen backstage after being eliminated on Thursday night. She opened up on her experience, what she’s taking away from the competition, and what’s next for the nurse turned American Idol contestant.

You know, I really honestly feel like I have gained so much from this whole experience, like from the time of my audition. 

Like, you know, my whole life I’ve been singing, but this has been the first time in my life where I’ve gotten people to be kind of objective with me because people have always just kind of praised me and told me “Oh you did so good” and this is for the first time, you know, I’ve had people that, you know, have made it in the industry and they’re telling me ways that I can improve and, you know, just they’ve given me so much advice.

FAC also asked Kristen what advice the Judges gave her and how she plans on using that in the future.

Yeah, Harry, he was like, “Kristen, you, the way you handled yourself,” he’s like, “I can tell, you know, I can tell you’re going to go far and that shows that you’re really made for this and you’re going to continue on” and stuff like that.

Keith said, you know, to keep singing.  He’s like, you know, “I know,” he’s like “I feel like, you know, I don’t even need to tell you this because I know you’re going to because this is what you’re meant to do, like just keep doing it” and stuff like that, so… 

They were really encouraging and I’m really happy with, you know, the way I left if I had to leave

Apparently no word from JLo though. I wonder if she vanishes the second the show ends and her contractual obligations are met.

What are Kristen’s plans for the future post-American Idol and will she continue on in music?

I just got my nursing license, and but that was always kind of the backup plan for me. 

Music’s always been the first and foremost in my life, and I know that especially now, you know, with all the exposure that this has given me, this is I’m sure going to open up so many doors. 

I’m really excited to see, you know, where this is going to take me, and I’m definitely going to keep pursuing music.

Best of luck to Kristen. She’s a great singer and we’re sure she’ll have a lot of opportunities out there for her if she decides to pursue them.

Big thanks to FOX Audio Central for sharing their interview with Kristen!

Source: FOX Audio Central

O’Connor’s elimination did not come as a surprise to many who were following our predictions, but the results frustrated her fans all the same. Although she’s been cut from the competition Kristen has plenty of opportunities out there ahead of her.

Speaking with FOX Audio Central, Keith Urban gave Kristen this advice:

It’s what you do with this forward, that that’s what matters because I mean there are people that have won this show that haven’t been able to do as much with it as people that didn’t win the show who have gone on to have incredible careers.  So this show gives you this moment and what you do with it after is really what matters.

Harry Connick Jr said told FOX Audio Cental that Kristen didn’t need his advice and that she’s already a great singer and will do fine out there. Harry did mention how impressed he was with her sportsmanship in being Thursday night’s eliminated contestant:

The thing I was most impressed with, I went and gave her a hug afterwards, which is nice because I don’t talk to the contestants because I think its better for me to be impartial, and I gave her a hug and I told her, the way she handled being sent home was with great dignity and class, and that was very impressive to me and it says a lot about who she is.

We’ll miss Kristen on the stage next week but will also look forward to hearing from her on what she does next after American Idol.

Kristen O’Connor’s Journey Ends on American Idol

While we’re sorry to see any of these contestants eliminated that is how the show works, as Harry explains:

It’s sad to see anybody go.  I didn’t really know her that well because it’s so early in the process. 

It’s only the first results show, but she’s a terrific talent and, you know, it’s sad to see her go, but it is a competition and all 13 of those young people know that it’s a possibility that, you know, 12 of them will be sent home over the next few months.

Harry is absolutely right. Kristen is extremely talented, or else she wouldn’t have made it this far, but we can’t crown a winner if we don’t cut twelve singers from the Top 13.

Keith seemed a little disappointed in how the results panned out, but he’s willing to yield to the voters’ decision and we saw that in the judges’ choice to not use the Save this week.

Look, I mean I never know who’s going to end up in that bottom three and I think there was such a mixed array of performances last night that there’s a few ways it could have gone. 

I think Kristen sang really, really well, particularly tonight I think she did really good, but you know, we have to have a majority rule.

Meanwhile Randy reminded us of his first twelve years as a judge on American Idol. “It was tough,” and “you know.” Yep. Good ol’ Randy Jackson sharing his thoughts on Kristen’s elimination:

I think it’s tough, you know.  It’s the first week.  Ryan and I were just saying that it’s hard because people are just getting used to seeing them and they’re just getting used to this format and the stage and everything. 

So it was tough tonight.  I hated to see her go.  It was a rough bottom three for me.

While Randy thought it was a “rough bottom three” I’d love to know more about who he would have personally selected for the bottom three based on their performances this week. Of course we’re never going to get that sort of honesty from the judges as we’ve learned over the years, but it’d be interesting!

What did you think of Kristen O’Connor’s elimination last night on Idol? Was it the right choice or should one of the other three bottom singers been sent home instead? Share your thoughts!

Source: FOX Audio Central

Dim the lights. Here we go with the results of who went home tonight on American Idol 2014 as the Top 12 contestants are revealed through this week’s elimination for Season 13.

While we’ve speculated throughout the day on which contestant would be be sent home tonight when America’s voting was revealed, we’re still waiting on the official results.

As far as we know there is no Judges Save available tonight so whoever ends up in the Bottom 3 tonight and eventually comes out last will be sent home without a chance of redemption. That also likely means that singer won’t be part of the summer tour. Ouch. It’d be great if all of these Top 13 singers got to travel the country though so let’s hope for the best.

Update: Ryan just revealed the Judges Save is back this season and is in play starting tonight but expires after the Top 6! But would the Judges risk using their one and only Save this early on?

Join us on Facebook & Twitter for the latest Idol updates all season long!

American Idol 2014 Top 12 Contestants:

1. Ben Briley
2. Alex Preston
3. Jena Irene
4. Dexter Roberts
5. Majesty Rose
6. Sam Woolf
7. CJ Harris
8. Caleb Johnson
9. Jessica Meuse
10. Emily Piriz
11. MK Nobilette
12. Malaya Watson

Before we get the full set of Top 12 this season the Bottom 3 singers will be revealed. Two of those three will be sent to the safe-zone leaving one contestant behind to sing her swan song and say goodbye.

Top 13’s Bottom 3 Contestants:

1. Malaya Watson – She’s safe!
2. MK Nobilette – She’s safe!
3. Kristen O’Connor

Just one of these three singers will be eliminated from Season 13. Or will they? The Judges Save is back this season so Kristen has to sing one more time and see if it’s enough to win over the Judges and keep her in the competition.

So what’s their decision? No, Kristen got voted off American Idol tonight!

Top 13 – Who Was Eliminated on American Idol Tonight?:

1. Kristen O’Connor

There we go. It’s official. The Top 12 contestants for this season have been confirmed, but there’s no rest for the weary as we have nearly three months to go and eleven more singers to be eliminated before we find out who will will American Idol 2014!

Did your favorite singers survive or were they sent home?

The first finalist is set to be eliminated tonight on American Idol and while the results are yet to be known many predictions point to the departure of Kristen O’Connor.

Last night O’Connor took on the original American Idol winner’s hit “Beautiful Disaster” and things didn’t go so well. Judge Harry Connick Jr. was very supportive of her effort but was sure to point out she was singing off-tune. Keith followed up with lots of praise and so did JLo. So what’s going on?

It seems the viewers and readers here did not agree with the judges. Our poll this week put Kristen solidly at the bottom of the heap with just three percent of all votes cast. If those numbers hold true then O’Connor will hold the dubious honor of becoming the first finalist eliminated on American Idol 2014.

What did you think of Kristen O’Connor’s performance last night? Was it worthy of a Top 12 spot or should she be the contestant eliminated during tonight’s results show?

Which finalist had the best look for their turn on stage? If being a great entertainer is more than just being a great singer then their stage presence will continue to grow and develop for them through the season.

Click the images below to flip through the gallery and view them all in full-size.

Image credit: FOX / Michael Becker

With over a thousand votes in our poll for the best performance of the week we’ve got a decent set of numbers to work with. There are some familiar faces leading again this week so tonight’s show seems unlikely to deliver any blindsides.

No surprise here to find Caleb Johnson rocking the poll with 21% of the vote. He had the pimp spot and delivered a grand performance that clearly left viewers with a great impression of the rocker. He’ll be far beyond safe with the results are revealed tonight on American Idol.

Next up we’ve got Sam Woolf at 10% and Jessice Meuse at 9% to round out the top 3 finalists. Here’s how the rest of the Top 12 predictions breakdown based on your votes here in order of their current ranking at time of publishing:

American Idol 2014: Top 12 predictions

1. Caleb Johnson
2. Sam Woolf
3. Jessica Meuse
4. Majesty Rose
5. Alex Preston
6. Emily Piriz
7. Jena Irene
8. Malaya Watson
9. Dexter Roberts
10. CJ Harris
11. MK Nobilette
12. …

That final coveted seat in the Top 12 has a tied vote in our poll between Ben Briley and Kristen O’Connor. Only one of them can move on while the other will be sent home. So which one do I think it’ll be?

Update: Since publishing we’re seeing Ben climb up a point in the poll which leaves Kristen flying solo in the bottom spot.

American Idol 2014: Top 13 elimination

• Ben Briley
• Kristen O’Connor

Based on performances last night alone I’d say Kristen O’Connor is in trouble. I thought Ben’s performance was great, but if he’s tied at the very bottom in our poll that’s clearly not a widely held opinion. All the same I’m going to go ahead and predict Kristen will be sent home tonight on the American Idol 2014 results show.

Who do you think will be in the Top 12 this week when Ryan Seacrest dims the lights?