7:45 PM – And here we are, ready for American Idol season 9 auditions from Orlando. The auditions were held last July, and I can’t wait to see if as many kooks and crazies show as as in Chicago.
Tonight is going to be great: the guest judge is Kristen Chenowith! I love her! Loved her on “Pushing Daisies” (just one thing on her long resume – she’s also on “Glee”? I don’t watch the show, but I’m glad after “Pushing Daisies” she’s back on TV). Did you know Kristen Chenowith is also a Christian recording artist? In fact, rumor was that the character of Harriet Hayes on “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” was based on her.
And while we’re waiting, here’s another bit of news: new Republican Senator Scott Brown’s daughter Alya was a Top 16 finalist on season 5 of American Idol. We should play 6 Degrees of American Idol with the headlines.
We kick the show off with 22 year old cosmotologist Theo … don’t know his last name because I can’t read my own handwriting, LOL. He has aspirations to own hair salons, along with his quest for fame. The glitz and flamboyance got him a no, for sure, but he gets a little love from Kara as he gets lost trying to leave the room.
Coming up, some good sob stories! But first a montage of Kara and Kristen having some girlfriend fun, and grating on Simon’s headache.

First ticket of the night is Seth Rollins from Lakeland, FL. He’s 28, married, with two kids, one of which has autism. Seth sings “Someone To Watch Over Me.” He’s got a lovely voice and it was four yeses with no hesitation.
Jermaine Purifory is back for another audition. The telecommunications student auditioned in season 7 and didn’t make the show. Jermaine says he wasn’t surprised; he wasn’t ready. Well, he is now. After singing a Tony Bennett song, he’s through to Hollywood.
Up next is Shelby Dressel. She was born with a nerve problem and has never been able to move the right side of her face. But the 18 year old just graduated from high school and her friends talked her into performing. She sings Norah Jones’ “Turn Me On” and she has a nice voice. I think the fact that she can’t move her whole mouth was a little intimidating for the judges, but when she forgets the words and utters a curse, and then slaps her hands over her mouth, everyone laughs and the ice is broken. Simon says yes “with a small y” while Randy says yes with all big letters. Shelby is through to Hollywood.
At the end of day one, 18 contestants are through to Hollywood. (That’s more than all of Chicago.)
Day 2, Kristen had to go back to New York, so there’s no guest judge.
Up first is Jay Stone, who Kara called the Human Drum Machine. Jay beat boxed and sang Come Together. I thought he was great especially when he sang a straight song – “Ain’t No Sunshine”. Kara and Randy did some background beat boxing for him. Simon said no, Randy wasn’t going to say yes, but Kara convinced him to let Jay through. I think that was a great move.
We see some quick peeks at three more girls – Janell Wheeler, Brittany Starr James, and Kasi Bedford – before we get to Cornelius Edwards, who not only sings, but dances, a talent he learned from some friends who … er … dance for money. While singing Tina Turner’s “Rollin” he drops down into a split and literally rips his pants wide open. Talk about “pants on the ground.” Simon says he made such a sacrifice he has to go to Hollywood.
Sisters Bernadette and Amanda Disimone bring some Jersey attitude and sisterly love along with their talent. Kara thinks they could bring something to the show, and with Kara and Randy’s yeses they’re both through; Simon said he would have said yes to Bernadette and no to Amanda.
Up next is Jared Morell, who makes an attempt to sing “Amazing Grace”; I know the Bible says to make a joyful noise, but I wonder if the angels got out their earplugs for this performance. The judges say no, no, no, but Jared won’t take no for an answer. Security needs to intervene, and Jared is escorted out. In handcuffs.
The last contestant of Orlando is Matt Lawrence, a 25 year old from Starke, FL who manages his dad’s trucking company. Matt’s story: at 15, he robbed a bank with a BB gun and spent the next four years behind bars. He wants to win American Idol to make his parents proud and make up for all of the tears and trouble he brought to them. He’s hands down one of the best we’ve heard so far. Simon says that it was “brilliant” and adds, “It feels like you could have written that song”, it felt so authentic. Randy and Kara agreed, and Matt was the 31st contestant from Orlando through to Hollywood. Kara predicted Matt would make the Top 12; we’ll see!
In total, 31 golden tickets were handed out, from 10,000 who auditioned. Next week, we’re in LA with guest judge Katy Perry.
RELATED POSTS:
American Idol contestant Justin Williams was also a Season 8 contestant
Boston Auditions – blogging live play-by-play
Boston Auditions – recap
Atlanta audtions – Blogging live play-by-play
Auditions Recap – Vanessa Wolf, Jermaine Sellers, Holly Harden, Miriam Lemnouni, Noel Reese, and Pants on the Ground
Chicago auditions – Blogging live
American Idol Season 9 Chicago auditions recap – Angela Martin, Charity Vance, Katelyn Epperly, John Park and boob boxing
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