American Idol: The Search for a Superstar - Season 8 Episode 15

"American Idol" – Next 3 of 12 – Feb. 26, 2009

Seacrest tells us there were 25 million votes.

We get a recap of how this 12 arrived.

Group Sing: "Closer," Ne-Yo. This sounds fine, unremarkable. The most interesting thing about it is that Jeanine is rocking those short shorts again in a kind of Ellie Mae Clampett outfit and that Norman/Nick clearly isn't good with committing to choreography not of his own making.

A recap of last night.

Ryan chats with the contestants. He asks what we can expect from Nick if he doesn't make it through. He says he's looking for employment. Matt says they need to remember to enjoy themselves while they're here. He doesn't regret talking back and tells Simon it's never too late for advice. Ryan asks for a response and Simon says it's too late. Jessie says song selection is very hard and that she picked the right song.Jeanine thinks less would've been more.

Alison Iraheta, Jessie Langseth, and Matt Breitzke are in, out and out respectively. Alison sings again.

Kris Allen, Megan Corkrey, Matt Giraud, and Jeanine Vailes are in and all out respectively. Kris sings again, he's positively beaming, it's very sweet and as with last night, the relief of getting through allows him to sing better.

We get a reprise of the "What a Wonderful World" montage.

Performance: Brooke White is back to sing and tell the contestants not to Google their names. She likes her new single "Hold Up My Heart." She sings it while at the piano. It's a bland adult contemporary, vaguely country ballad. She sounds really nice though.

The final five: Mishavonna Henson, Nick Mitchell, Kai Kalama, Adam Lambert, and Jasmine Murray

In:Adam Lambert. He's really excited and thought Nick was really fun. Adam sings again. Something about the asymmetrical Jonas/Fall Out haircut and the voice make him seem like and Disney cartoon come to life. The guy's a pro, though.