"American Idol" season 10 top 24 revealed
(CBS/AP) After rounds of auditions and much deliberation, judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson revealed the remaining of the top 24 semifinalists on "American Idol" Thursday night.
The singers who advanced, split evenly between males and females, are mostly in their early 20s. A handful of 16-and-17-year-olds did get the nod from the judges, including deep-voiced country crooner Scotty McCreery, 17, from Garner, N.C.; Robbie Rosen, 17, from Merrick, N.Y., who Lopez dubbed as one of the best singers in the group; and the shy Thia Megia, 16, from Mountain House, Calif.
The Fox talent show opened the door this season for 15-year-olds to audition, but none made it into the semifinals.
For round-faced charmer Jacee Badeaux, 15, of Lafayette, La., that means the music stopped Thursday, but he earned a comforting hug from Lopez. Badeaux learned his fate at the close of the show alongside rocker Colton Dixon and the petite curly-haired Brett Loewenstern, who was eventually picked to advance.
The remaining male semifinalists include Casey Abrams, 20, of Idyllwild, Calif.; Jovany Barreto, 23, Harvey, La.; Jordan Dorsey, 21, Donaldsville, La.; James Durbin, 22, Santa Cruz, Calif.; Clint Jun Gamboa, 26, Long Beach, Calif., and Tim Halperin, 23, Fort Worth, Texas.
Others are Stefano Langone, 21, Kent, Wash., and Jacob Lusk, 23, Compton, Calif.
The females semifinalists include Naima Adedapo, 26, Milwaukee, Wisc.; Lauren Alaina, 16, Rossville, Ga.; Kendra Chantelle, 22, Nashville, Tenn.; Ashthon Jones, 24, Nashville, Tenn.; and Haley Reinhart, 20, Wheeling, Ill.
Others are Karen Rodriguez, 21, New York; Pia Toscano, 22, Howard Beach, N.Y.; Lauren Turner, 24, Slidell, La.; Tatynisa Wilson, 20, Aurora, Ill.; Julie Zorrilla, 20, Los Angeles and Rachel Zevita, 23, New York.
Next week, only about half will make it to the finals after the men perform on Tuesday and the women on Wednesday. The results of audience voting will be announced Thursday. And for the first time, viewers will be able to vote online through Facebook as well as by phone and text message.