LaKisha Jones ignites “American Idol”
One week after making the cut to the final 24 contestants, the Flint native garnered another round of rave reviews from the popular Fox talent show’s celebrity judges.
Lakisha Jones, 27, a single mother who works as a bank clerk, was the last of the 12 
women to perform for viewers’ votes Wednesday night. She belted out “And I’m Telling You” from the film “Dreamgirls” – sung on the soundtrack by Oscar nominee Jennifer Hudson, who was voted off “American Idol” in 2004.
“I do love you,” enthused judge Randy Jackson. “You laid it out on that stage. Jennifer Hudson, watch out!”
Added judge Paula Abdul, “This is where you belong, honey, this is where you belong!” Addressing the audience, Abdul said, “You just watched an amazing performance, you really did.”
Jones’ most effusive praise might have come from the usually cranky Simon Cowell: “I am very tempted to say to 23 people, `Book your plane tickets home.’”
Of the 24 semifinalists vying for this year’s title and a record contract, Cowell told host Ryan Seacrest that “there are three, four people in a different league, and the lady standing next to you now has basically thrown down the gauntlet.”
Jones admitted being nervous, though it didn’t show during her performance. She mentioned that Wednesday was her daughter Brionne’s fourth birthday.
Jones’ profile on the “Idol” Web site lists her hometown as Fort Meade, Md., but she was born and raised in Flint, said her 89-year-old grandmother, Ruth Morris.
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2 responses so far ↓
1 trapt1 // Feb 22, 2007 at 2:37 am
OOPS! Error on my part in my last comment–didn’t realize there was a “Jennifer Hudson” who recently re-did this song. The original version is from Jennifer Holiday from abt 1978-79.
2 trapt1 // Feb 22, 2007 at 3:35 am
Judges tend to judge contestants based upon the orginal artist(s) that did the song before rather than taking the performance unto itself or making the song their own. Most remakes are not as good as the original.
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