As American Idol's Randy Jackson vehemently proclaimed on Wednesday's performance show, the remaining five contestants are "in it to win it."
And while the five — Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery, James Durbin and Jacob Lusk (though not so much) — delivered strong performances, no one's drive was more evident than Haley Reinhart.
For Idol's 'Then and Now' theme week — where contestants sang one current hit and one from the 1960s, Reinhart, 20, opted to belt an unreleased Lady Gaga track, "You and Me," for her first outing.
Judge Jennifer Lopez praised her routine, but wondered if the audience would connect with an unfamiliar track, which Gaga gave her blessing to Reinhart to sing. Randy Jackson agreed with Lopez, telling Reinhart that the song didn't do her any favors.
Steven Tyler, on the other hand, had a feeling Reinhart was stepping up her game.
"I think you're just one perfect song away from being the American Idol," he told her.
Arguably, that song was Reinhart's second of the night, "House of the Rising Sun." Delivering a "quintessential Haley" performance, Reinhart had the judges singing a different tune.
"You blossomed," enthused Jackson. Added Tyler: "Sweet and sour, raspy; I can really relate to that and that really sells a song. You sold everybody tonight."
As the top five become the top four Thursday, tell Us: Does Haley have what it takes to become season 10's American Idol?
By Allison Corneau for UsMagazine.com. For more Channel Surfing, click here.
