After four weeks of open audition broadcasts and four more episodes that gave viewers a look at the competition's Hollywood Round, American Idol has finally formally announced its Top 24 ninth-season semifinalists.
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One night after it unveiled the first seven, American Idol revealed the identities of its 17 remaining semifinalists during Wednesday night's broadcast on Fox.
Urban was not shown on stage with American Idol host Ryan Seacrest and the rest of the semifinalists at the end of Wednesday night's broadcast but was introduced when they were individually announced while dancing moments later.
Urban is replacing Chris Golightly, who was shown on-stage with rest of the semifinalists but was disqualified after American Idol determined he was ineligible to continue in the competition.
With the selection broadcasts now over, American Idol's semifinals performance shows will now begin the three-week process in which home viewers will determine the identities of the season's Top 12 finalists.
American Idol's ninth-season semifinals will begin on Tuesday, February 23 when the Top 12 female semifinalists perform live for the first time. The Top 12 male semifinalists will follow on Wednesday night, with home viewers casting their votes immediately after each broadcast.
Two male and two female semifinalists will then be eliminated on American Idol's first live ninth-season results show on Thursday, February 25 at 8PM ET/PT.
The following two weeks will continue the same thrice-weekly format and end with a live results show broadcast on Thursday, March 11 that will reveal American Idol's Top 12 ninth-season finalists. Once the finals begin, American Idol's performance shows will air Tuesdays and the results shows will air on Wednesdays.
American Idol's 12 female ninth-season semifinalists -- and their Fox-released biographical information -- are:
Didi Benami, a 23-year-old from Knoxville, TN who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA
Benami's mother inspired her passion for music by singing to her when she was a little girl. She is currently pursuing a career in music in Los Angeles while learning to play the guitar and writing songs.
Crystal Bowersox, a 24-year-old from Elliston, OH who currently resides in Toledo, OH
Bowersox grew up on a farm in Northwest Ohio and has been playing music since she was 10 years old. She enjoys playing the piano and harmonica and spending time with her son.
Brown began singing when she was 12 years old at churches and holiday parties. Before auditioning for Idol, she was teaching classes at her parents' church in Amarillo, TX.
Delamor was born in Miami, FL, and began singing at age 5 in church. Prior to her Idol experience, Delamor was working in retail and conducting a children's choir.
Epperly was born in Iowa City, IA, and has been singing since she was 2 years old. She is a sophomore at Millikin University in Decatur, IL, and enjoys playing the piano.
Siobhan Magnus, a 20-year-old from Cape Cod, MA who currently resides in Marstons Mills, MA
Magnus currently lives in Marston Mills, MA, and graduated from Barnstable High School in 2008. She has been singing since age 9, and counts glassblowing as one of her hobbies.
Paige Miles, a 24-year-old from Naples, FL who currently resides in Houston, TX
Miles lives in the Houston, TX, area and started singing in church when she was 5 years old. During high school, she was a competitive cheerleader and an after-school tutor.
Rodriguez has been singing since she was 5 years old. She recently graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she majored in music business.
Lilly Scott, a 20-year-old Littleton, CO who currently resides in Denver, CO
Scott was born in Houston, TX, and grew up in Littleton, CO. Prior to auditioning for Idol, she was playing music locally and was the lead singer of a band called Varlet.
Stevens was born in Waterbury, CT, and has been singing since she was 3 years old. She enjoys playing the guitar, piano, flute and cello, and is a senior at Pomperaug High School.
Vaughn currently lives in Fort Collins, CO, and is a junior at Poudre High School. In addition to playing the guitar, she is a member of the cheerleading squad.
Wheeler began singing and songwriting in second grade. She graduated from the University of Florida at Gainesville in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in theatre. She also enjoys playing the guitar and writing music.
American Idol's 12 male ninth-season semifinalists -- and their Fox-released biographical information -- are:
Hall grew up in Plainview, TX, and has been singing since age 10. After graduating from Bowie High School in 2003, he went on to perform on cruise ships and in theme parks.
James has been singing since before he could speak. He enjoys playing the guitar and mandolin, and has been a full-time musician for the past 10 years.
Lynche grew up in St. Petersburg, FL, and has been singing since he was in junior high. He played football for the University of Central Florida, and currently works as a personal trainer.
Munoz has been singing since age 12. In addition to playing the guitar, he is fluent in both Spanish and English.
John Park, a 21-year-old from Northbrook, IL who currently resides in Evanston, IL
Park began singing in the seventh grade. He is fluent in Korean, and is currently an undergraduate at Northwestern University. He also plays the piano, guitar and drums.
Sellers lives in his hometown of Joliet, IL, and began singing at age 7. Before auditioning for Idol, he was singing in his local church and helping take care of his mother.
Urban was born and raised in Duncanville, TX, and has been singing and playing the guitar since he was 13 years old. He and his nine siblings were homeschooled by his mother.
(Photo credit Patrick Ecclestein / FOX)
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