12. Hunter Metts and Jewel- I hate to do this, but this was the weakest duet of the night. Even if Hannah’s wasn’t as vocally impressive, she at least seemed to have fun doing it. Hunter didn’t seem to be enjoying himself at all. He seemed so out of his element, which was really upsetting to see. He has the potential, but this is the first time I truly thought he was struggling to keep up with the rest of the pack. He’s slipping, and he’ll need a good top 16 song to make it to the top 12 (assuming he’s enough of a fan favorite to stick around past this round that is). Jewel was good though!
11. Hannah Everhart and Jason Aldean- I liked this better than her solo, but again, I just don’t think her vocals stack up to her stage presence. It was fun, it was fine, but ultimately, it was pretty forgettable.
10. Chayce Beckham and Brandon Boyd- I didn’t love this duet. Again, I think Chayce is starting to sound a bit the same in each song, and this particular duet didn’t allow him to truly stretch his range. He’s got a good enough tone to keep him around, but this was really weak in my opinion.
9. Liahona Olayan and PJ Morton- This was a nice laid back duet that I think allowed Liahona to shine as a vocalist. But in the grand scheme, it might’ve been a tad TOO low-key to stand out at the end of the day. Knowing her potential for a really good duet (like we saw in auditions with her brother), this was a tad disappointing.
8. Caleb Kennedy and Jason Aldean- Caleb was good. Jason was good. It’s country, you either love it or hate it. There were elements of other duets that just stood out a bit more for me.
7. Madison Watkins and Tori Kelly- Here’s the thing. Madison sounded good on her own, but next to Tori, she really seemed overshadowed. And it’s not a Ryan Tedder scenario where I felt like Tori was actively trying to overshadow her (see Colin’s write up a few spots higher on the list), I just don’t think Madison could physically reach Tori’s heights. Tori murdered this song, which is why it’s as high as it is…but considering I have to take Madison into account here, that’s why it’s as low as it is.
6. Jason Warrior and PJ Morton- This didn’t hit the heights of Jason’s solo, but I do think he and PJ had a really great vibe going with this song. Some of the riffs and runs didn’t completely line up with one another, but overall, a solid duet.
5. Casey Bishop and Brandon Boyd- I honestly think Casey held back a tad with this duet. It was good, but considering she had just popped off with that amazing solo, this honestly felt a tad underwhelming. It was still great because Casey herself is so good (and Brandon is also good!), but she needs to lean into the “Decode”ness if she wants to win. She very well could.
4. Colin Jamieson and Tori Kelly- This was a complete turn-around for Colin. He went from someone I didn’t even have on my radar to a true FRONT runner (at least for tonight). He rocked it. Tori was giving it her all, and Colin matched her level. He knew the stakes, and he rose to the occasion. I am willing to forgive his solo because this was flat out awesome.
3. Mary Jo Young and Jewel- I swear this is a new Mary Jo this week. She absolutely crushed it with this duet, holding her own with Jewel. It was clear in the pre-video package that she wasn’t on Jewel’s musical level in terms of knowing what “unison” meant or something like that…but she sure sang like she did. She sang with such power and really impressed me with the harmonies as well. She could be a star, especially after her two performances tonight.
2. Ava August and Josh Groban- Josh Groban snags the top two spots. Best duet partner ever? I think so. This duet of “Both Sides Now” was incredibly heartfelt and really blew me away. It was like a bundle of magic, and really swept me up. Their harmonies and all were just mesmerizing. One of the best of the night, only outdone by ANOTHER Josh Groban duet…
1. Beane and Josh Groban- I know everyone will be talking about the Ava duet, and they honestly should…but this was my PERSONAL favorite duet of the day. There was such a great honesty and storytelling from both of them (like Ava), and I have to commend Josh for shining on his own but allowing for the Idol contestants to be the star as well. Beane really stood out here, with some smooth soulful runs and riffs, and an amazing sincerity. It was a beautiful duet that I’ll always remember, second only to Willie’s from the night before.
This group was all in all weaker than group one. I think there are at least 7 people who could be eliminated: Madison Watkins, Hannah Everhart, Chayce Beckham, Colin Jamieson, Liahona Olayan, Caleb Kennedy, and Hunter Metts. Who does this mean in terms of who is SAFE? Easy: Beane, Ava August, Casey Bishop, Mary Jo Young, and Jason Warrior should be safe with no ifs, ands, or buts. As for the remaining three slots, I think Hunter and Chayce are both enough of favorites to make it through, despite being slightly underwhelming (or in Hunter’s case, severely underwhelming). As for who definitely goes home, I think it’s safe to say we won’t see Hannah or Liahona in the next round. So between Madison, Colin, and Caleb, I have to go with the person who I think is going to resonate the most with audiences, and I sincerely believe COLIN won many people over with that duet.
PREDICTIONS:
Going Home- Hannah Everhart, Liahona Olayan, Madison Watkins, and Caleb Kennedy
Going Into the Top 16- Beane, Ava August, Casey Bishop, Mary Jo Young, Jason Warrior, Hunter Metts, Chayce Beckham, and Colin Jamieson
GROUP TWO DUETS: