'American Idol 2011' Top 13 Contestants Revealed
Along with the top ten contestants chosen by America, the judges have selected Naima Adedapo, Ashthon Jones and Stefano Langone as wild cards.
"American Idol 2011" Top 13 contestants
March 3, 2011
Tonight, "American Idol" revealed this season's Top 13 finalists: Casey Abrams, Naima Adedapo, Lauren Alaina, James Durbin, Ashthon Jones, Stefano Langone, Jacob Lusk, Scotty McCreery, Paul McDonald, Thia Megia, Haley Reinhart, Karen Rodriguez and Pia Toscano. After America's votes for the Top 10 were revealed, judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler chose Naima Adedapo, Ashthon Jones and Stefano Langone as wild cards.
On Wednesday, March 9 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), America's Top 13 will take the stage to perform songs by their favorite artists. Tune in the following night, Thursday, March 10 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), to the live results show to see performances by Adam Lambert and Diddy-Dirty Money with Skylar Grey and to find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who is sent home.
Additionally, Season Seven "American Idol" winner David Cook has recorded the farewell song for the show's 10th season. The song, chosen by "American Idol" creator and executive producer Simon Fuller, is a remake of Simple Minds' 1985 smash hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and will air each week as contestants are eliminated on the Thursday results shows.
The "American Idol 2011" Top 13 finalists are:
Casey Abrams
Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois
Currently Resides: Idyllwild, California
Age: 20
Abrams was born in Austin, Texas. He has been playing musical instruments for as long as he can remember, including the electric bass, keyboards, guitar, clarinet, guitar and accordion.
www.twitter.com/CAbramsAI10 (@CAbramsAI10)
www.facebook.com/CAbramsAI10
www.myspace.com/CAbramsAI10
Naima Adedapo
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Currently Resides: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Age: 26
Adedapo graduated with honors with a BFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She has been studying and teaching African dance and hip hop for the last 14 years. She also performs in a Reggae band.
www.twitter.com/NAdedapoAI10 (@NAdedapoAI10)
www.facebook.com/NAdedapoAI10
www.myspace.com/NAdedapoAI10
Lauren Alaina
Hometown: Rossville, Georgia
Currently Resides: Rossville, Georgia
Age: 16
Alaina is a sophomore at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School in her home state of Georgia. She began singing when she was very young and also enjoys cheerleading.
www.twitter.com/LAlainaAI10 (@LAlainaAI10)
www.facebook.com/LAlainaAI10
www.myspace.com/LAlainaAI10
James Durbin
Hometown: Santa Cruz, California
Currently Resides: Santa Cruz, California
Age: 22
Durbin lives with his fiancée, Heidi, and their 22-month-old son, Hunter. Durbin was inspired to start singing by his older sister. He plays guitar and piano, and also enjoys drawing.
www.twitter.com/JDurbinAI10 (@JDurbinAI10)
www.facebook.com/JDurbinAI10
www.myspace.com/JDurbinAI10
Ashthon Jones
Hometown: Valdosta, Georgia
Currently Resides: Nashville, Tennessee
Age: 24
Jones was raised singing in the youth choir at church and has continued to perform in various venues in Nashville. She enjoys drawing portraits and writing songs.
www.twitter.com/AJonesAI10 (@AJonesAI10)
www.facebook.com/AJonesAI10
www.myspace.com/AJonesAI10
Stefano Langone
Hometown: Kent, Washington
Currently Resides: Kent, Washington
Age: 21
Langone graduated from Kentwood High School. He has been singing and playing piano for most of his life. He also enjoys sports and songwriting.
www.twitter.com/SLangoneAI10 (@SLangoneAI10)
www.facebook.com/SLangoneAI10
www.myspace.com/SLangoneAI10
Jacob Lusk
Hometown: Compton, California
Currently Resides: Compton, California
Age: 23
Lusk serves as a minister of music at his church, and he also works as a spa concierge. He began singing when he was 4 years old. He also enjoys acting and playing the piano.
www.twitter.com/JLuskAI10 (@JLuskAI10)
www.facebook.com/JLuskAI10
www.myspace.com/JLuskAI10
Scotty McCreery
Hometown: Garner, North Carolina
Currently Resides: Garner, North Carolina
Age: 17
McCreery is a junior at Garner Magnet High School in North Carolina. He began playing guitar in the fifth grade. He loves playing baseball, and is the pitcher on his high school team. He credits his deep voice to impersonating Elvis Presley as a child.
www.twitter.com/SMcCreeryAI10 (@SMcCreeryAI10)
www.facebook.com/SMcCreeryAI10
www.myspace.com/SMcCreeryAI10
Paul McDonald
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama
Currently Resides: Nashville, Tennessee
Age: 26
McDonald was born in Auburn, Alabama, and attended Auburn University for biomedical sciences. He has been singing since he was in the sixth grade. He also plays guitar, piano and mandolin.
www.twitter.com/PMcDonaldAI10 (@PMcDonaldAI10)
www.facebook.com/PMcDonaldAI10
www.myspace.com/PMcDonaldAI10
Thia Megia
Hometown: Hayward, California
Currently Resides: Mountain House, California
Age: 16
Megia is a sophomore in high school. She plays the guitar and the piano, and has a Chihuahua named Lucky who likes to sing along with her.
www.twitter.com/TMegiaAI10 (@TMegiaAI10)
www.facebook.com/TMegiaAI10
www.myspace.com/TMegiaAI10
Haley Reinhart
Hometown: Wheeling, Illinois
Currently Resides: Wheeling, Illinois
Age: 20
Reinhart is in her sophomore year at Harper College in Chicago. She began performing when she was 8 years old. She enjoys writing music and poetry and doing improv.
www.twitter.com/HReinhartAI10 (@HReinhartAI10)
www.facebook.com/HReinhartAI10
www.myspace.com/HReinhartAI10
Karen Rodriguez
Hometown: New York, New York
Currently Resides: New York, New York
Age: 21
Rodriguez is a student at the Berklee College of Music. She can speak fluent Spanish, and enjoys acting and songwriting.
www.twitter.com/KRodriguezAI10 (@KRodriguezAI10)
www.facebook.com/KRodriguezAI10
www.myspace.com/KRodriguezAI10
Pia Toscano
Hometown: Howard Beach, New York
Currently Resides: Howard Beach, New York
Age: 22
Toscano began her vocal training at age 12. She is a graduate of the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She can sing in Italian, and is the lead singer in a cover band. She also works as a freelance makeup artist.
www.twitter.com/PToscanoAI10 (@PToscanoAI10)
www.facebook.com/PToscanoAI10
www.myspace.com/PToscanoAI10
Emmy Award-winning "American Idol" is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, Founder, 19 Entertainment, a division of CKX, Inc; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; and Nigel Lythgoe, President, Big Red 2 Entertainment. "American Idol" has been No. 1 among Adults 18-49 for the past seven consecutive seasons and currently ranks as the No. 1 television show of the 2010-11 season.
On Wednesday, March 9 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), America's Top 13 will take the stage to perform songs by their favorite artists. Tune in the following night, Thursday, March 10 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), to the live results show to see performances by Adam Lambert and Diddy-Dirty Money with Skylar Grey and to find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who is sent home.
Additionally, Season Seven "American Idol" winner David Cook has recorded the farewell song for the show's 10th season. The song, chosen by "American Idol" creator and executive producer Simon Fuller, is a remake of Simple Minds' 1985 smash hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and will air each week as contestants are eliminated on the Thursday results shows.
The "American Idol 2011" Top 13 finalists are:
Casey Abrams
Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois
Currently Resides: Idyllwild, California
Age: 20
Abrams was born in Austin, Texas. He has been playing musical instruments for as long as he can remember, including the electric bass, keyboards, guitar, clarinet, guitar and accordion.
www.twitter.com/CAbramsAI10 (@CAbramsAI10)
www.facebook.com/CAbramsAI10
www.myspace.com/CAbramsAI10
Naima Adedapo
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Currently Resides: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Age: 26
Adedapo graduated with honors with a BFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She has been studying and teaching African dance and hip hop for the last 14 years. She also performs in a Reggae band.
www.twitter.com/NAdedapoAI10 (@NAdedapoAI10)
www.facebook.com/NAdedapoAI10
www.myspace.com/NAdedapoAI10
Lauren Alaina
Hometown: Rossville, Georgia
Currently Resides: Rossville, Georgia
Age: 16
Alaina is a sophomore at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School in her home state of Georgia. She began singing when she was very young and also enjoys cheerleading.
www.twitter.com/LAlainaAI10 (@LAlainaAI10)
www.facebook.com/LAlainaAI10
www.myspace.com/LAlainaAI10
James Durbin
Hometown: Santa Cruz, California
Currently Resides: Santa Cruz, California
Age: 22
Durbin lives with his fiancée, Heidi, and their 22-month-old son, Hunter. Durbin was inspired to start singing by his older sister. He plays guitar and piano, and also enjoys drawing.
www.twitter.com/JDurbinAI10 (@JDurbinAI10)
www.facebook.com/JDurbinAI10
www.myspace.com/JDurbinAI10
Ashthon Jones
Hometown: Valdosta, Georgia
Currently Resides: Nashville, Tennessee
Age: 24
Jones was raised singing in the youth choir at church and has continued to perform in various venues in Nashville. She enjoys drawing portraits and writing songs.
www.twitter.com/AJonesAI10 (@AJonesAI10)
www.facebook.com/AJonesAI10
www.myspace.com/AJonesAI10
Stefano Langone
Hometown: Kent, Washington
Currently Resides: Kent, Washington
Age: 21
Langone graduated from Kentwood High School. He has been singing and playing piano for most of his life. He also enjoys sports and songwriting.
www.twitter.com/SLangoneAI10 (@SLangoneAI10)
www.facebook.com/SLangoneAI10
www.myspace.com/SLangoneAI10
Jacob Lusk
Hometown: Compton, California
Currently Resides: Compton, California
Age: 23
Lusk serves as a minister of music at his church, and he also works as a spa concierge. He began singing when he was 4 years old. He also enjoys acting and playing the piano.
www.twitter.com/JLuskAI10 (@JLuskAI10)
www.facebook.com/JLuskAI10
www.myspace.com/JLuskAI10
Scotty McCreery
Hometown: Garner, North Carolina
Currently Resides: Garner, North Carolina
Age: 17
McCreery is a junior at Garner Magnet High School in North Carolina. He began playing guitar in the fifth grade. He loves playing baseball, and is the pitcher on his high school team. He credits his deep voice to impersonating Elvis Presley as a child.
www.twitter.com/SMcCreeryAI10 (@SMcCreeryAI10)
www.facebook.com/SMcCreeryAI10
www.myspace.com/SMcCreeryAI10
Paul McDonald
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama
Currently Resides: Nashville, Tennessee
Age: 26
McDonald was born in Auburn, Alabama, and attended Auburn University for biomedical sciences. He has been singing since he was in the sixth grade. He also plays guitar, piano and mandolin.
www.twitter.com/PMcDonaldAI10 (@PMcDonaldAI10)
www.facebook.com/PMcDonaldAI10
www.myspace.com/PMcDonaldAI10
Thia Megia
Hometown: Hayward, California
Currently Resides: Mountain House, California
Age: 16
Megia is a sophomore in high school. She plays the guitar and the piano, and has a Chihuahua named Lucky who likes to sing along with her.
www.twitter.com/TMegiaAI10 (@TMegiaAI10)
www.facebook.com/TMegiaAI10
www.myspace.com/TMegiaAI10
Haley Reinhart
Hometown: Wheeling, Illinois
Currently Resides: Wheeling, Illinois
Age: 20
Reinhart is in her sophomore year at Harper College in Chicago. She began performing when she was 8 years old. She enjoys writing music and poetry and doing improv.
www.twitter.com/HReinhartAI10 (@HReinhartAI10)
www.facebook.com/HReinhartAI10
www.myspace.com/HReinhartAI10
Karen Rodriguez
Hometown: New York, New York
Currently Resides: New York, New York
Age: 21
Rodriguez is a student at the Berklee College of Music. She can speak fluent Spanish, and enjoys acting and songwriting.
www.twitter.com/KRodriguezAI10 (@KRodriguezAI10)
www.facebook.com/KRodriguezAI10
www.myspace.com/KRodriguezAI10
Pia Toscano
Hometown: Howard Beach, New York
Currently Resides: Howard Beach, New York
Age: 22
Toscano began her vocal training at age 12. She is a graduate of the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She can sing in Italian, and is the lead singer in a cover band. She also works as a freelance makeup artist.
www.twitter.com/PToscanoAI10 (@PToscanoAI10)
www.facebook.com/PToscanoAI10
www.myspace.com/PToscanoAI10
Emmy Award-winning "American Idol" is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, Founder, 19 Entertainment, a division of CKX, Inc; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; and Nigel Lythgoe, President, Big Red 2 Entertainment. "American Idol" has been No. 1 among Adults 18-49 for the past seven consecutive seasons and currently ranks as the No. 1 television show of the 2010-11 season.
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