American Idol revealed seven girls and five guys that are semifinalists and official members of the thirteenth season's Top 30 contestants during Wednesday night's broadcast on Fox.
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In addition, American Idol judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. allowed America to vote to determine the fifteenth guy and final Top 30 contestant -- Ben Briley, a 24-year-old from Gallatin, TN, or Neco Starr, a 22-year-old from Atlanta, GA. The voting results will be revealed next Tuesday night at 8PM ET/PT on Fox.
The female singers who made the Top 15 girls during last night's show are as follows: Marrialle Sellars, an 18-year-old from Indianapolis, IN; Jena Irene, a 17-year-old from Farmington Hills, MI; Majesty Rose, a 21-year-old from Goldsboro, NC; Briana Oakley, a 17-year-old from Antioch, CA; Brandy Neelly, a 19-year-old from Louisville, KY; Kenzi Hall, a 17-year-old from Draper, UT; Austin Wolfe, a 17-year-old from Park City, UT.
The male singers who made the Top 15 guys last night are: C.J. Harris, a 23-year-old from Jasper, AL; Casey Thrasher, a 23-year-old from Tuscaloosa, AL; Briston Maroney, a 16-year-old from Knoxville, TN; Caleb Johnson, a 22-year-old from Asheville, NC; and Ethan Harris, a 20-year-old from Garrattsville, NY.
Harris and Thrasher had both survived the sing-off the Idol judges required them to participate in before learning their "Final Judgment Day" fate. As for Johnson, he made it to the same point in the reality singing competition back in Season 11 but had been cut.
The girls who advanced will join previously-revealed Top 15 members Bria Anai, a 16-year-old from Lithonia, GA; Andrina Brogden, a 19-year-old from Fargo, ND; Jillian Jensen, a 21-year-old from Rochester, MA; Jessica Meuse, a 23-year-old from Slapout, AL; MK Nobilette, a 20-year-old from San Francisco, CA; Kristen O'Connor, a 24-year-old from Sebastian, FL; Emily Piriz, an 18-year-old from Orlando, FL; and Malaya Watson, a 16-year-old from Southfield, MI.
The guys who advanced will join previously-announced Top 15 members Malcolm Allen, a 21-year-old from Wrightsville, AR; Jordan Brisbane, a 16-year-old from Savannah, GA; Spencer Lloyd, a 19-year-old from Bryant, AR; George Lovett, a 24-year-old from Baltimore, MD; Alex Preston, a 20-year-old from Mont Vernon, NH; Dexter Roberts, a 22-year-old from Fayette, AL; Maurice Townsend, a 26-year-old from Grand Rapids, MI; Sam Woolf, a 17-year-old from Bradenton, FL; and Emmanuel Zidor, a 24-year-old from Miami, FL.
Either Briley or Starr will also eventually become a part of the Top 30 -- and the fifteenth member of the Top 15 guys -- based on the home viewer voting results.
Some of the contestants shown getting cut last night were Sarina Joi Crowe, Nalani Quintello, David Oliver Willis, Savion Wright, and Sandie Lee.
Next week, American Idol will introduce its new "Rush Week," which will feature two nights of live performances and the thirteenth season's first results show. In a new twist, not all 30 singers will get to perform, as the judges will select only whom they believe are definitely worthy of America's vote.
On Tuesday, February 18 from 8-10PM ET/PT, former Idol judge Randy Jackson will return as the new in-house mentor and the Top 15 girls will take the stage. Then, on Wednesday, February 19 from 8-10PM ET/PT, the Top 15 guys will perform.
Idol's first thirteenth-season results show will air on Thursday, February 20 from 8-9PM ET/PT and the Top 10 finalists -- the five girls and five guys determined by America -- will be revealed. Lopez, Urban and Connick Jr. will also be afforded one "Wild Card" pick each, making the Top 10 a Top 13.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
