'American Idol' Surprise: Top 12 Become 13

Jasmine Murray, Megan Corkrey and Matt Giraud became the final three singers to get the judges' blessing -- that is, until Simon Cowell told Anoop Desai right before the show went off the air: "We decided recently we’re going to make this a Top 13."

So, this season it will be Jasmine, Megan, Matt and Anoop joining Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nuñez, Alexis Grace, Michael Sarver, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert in the Top 13.

Watch as they begin their battle to become the next singing sensation next Tuesday at 8 p.m. on FOX!

During Thursday night’s show, the eight wild-carders each sang for the judges.

Jesse Langseth went first, singing “Tell Me Something Good” by the Chaka Khan band Rufus. Randy Jackson said he wasn’t crazy about the performance, nor was Simon, who called it “indulgent.” On the other hand, Paula Abdul thought Jesse had soul and Kara DioGuardi liked her attitude.

Matt Giraud, sporting a hat and scrarf, found his groove with “Who’s Loving You” by the Jackson 5. “Thank you for bringing back the bluesy soul Matt. You can riff amazingly,” Kara said. “This is the right zone for you,” Paula agreed. “It was again, a billion times better than last week,” Simon conceded, adding, “I hate what you’re wearing.” Randy said, “I don’t care what you wore,” and told Matt he put everyone else in the competition on notice with his great performance.

Megan Corkrey similarly impressed the judges with her take on KT Tunstall’s “Big Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.” “You picked a song that fit your personality,” Paula told her, and Randy and Kara agreed. Simon said, “I think you’re terrific. You are current, and sometimes this show can get a bit karaoke.”

Next, Von Smith took a stab at Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word.” Simon and Randy agreed Von was a bit too moody and serious. “It got very dark,” Kara agreed. “You started thinking too hard,” Paula added.

Jasmine Murray offered her take on Christina Aguilera’s “Reflection.” “I didn’t know you had that big of a voice,” Kara said, impressed. “I still think the song’s a little too big for you,” Randy said, adding that “there were also bright spots.” Paula thought Jasmine did “an overall wonderful job” and Simon called it “pretty special” and “a huge improvement” over her past performances.

Ricky Braddy stepped on a crack trying funky with Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” Simon thought the rendition was “a bit lightweight” and “clumsy.” Randy agreed, saying, “That song was not quite the one for you.” Kara and Paula concurred, though, that Ricky sang well.

Then, the emotional Tatiana del Toro took the stage and sang “Saving All My Love for You” by Whitney Houston. “You started off a little shaky but then you went into your friggin power voice,” Paula said. “There were some good moments and there were some not-so-good moments,” Randy added. Simon simply wondered why she chose to sing the song a second time.

Finally, Anoop Desai hit a homerun with “My Prerogative” by Bobby Brown. “You’re like an enthusiastic dog aren’t you?” Simon teased, adding, “People like you and that’s important.” Randy agreed: “Dog, I think you did better this time than the last time you sang it.” “I wanted to get up and dance,” Kara enthused, and Paula said she liked how Anoop showed “a tremendous amount of personality.”

Published 3/5/09 by