Wheeling's 'Idol' hopeful squeaks into next round
Haley Reinhart will live to see another week on “American Idol” — but just barely. The Wheeling resident was one of the bottom three vote getters and spent much of Thursday's live show standing onstage along side Ashthon Jones and Karen Rodriguez, who also had low vote totals.
In the end Jones was sent packing and the “Idol” judges declined to use their one save to keep her around. Wilmette native Casey Abrams was absent from Thursday's show after his “With a Little Help From My Friends” performance was picked as one of the top performances on Wednesday. Host Ryan Seacrest said Abrams was sick and in the hospital and offered no other details.
Before the elimination, the judges told Haley to find her own voice next week. Jennifer Lopez pictured a young Stevie Nicks when she saw Haley's ripped jeans, long feather earrings and flowing top on Thursday.
“One week you do Alicia Keys and the next week you do LeAnn Rimes, but who are you really?” said Randy Jackson. “You have that husky tone that I love. You can do almost anything.”
While Haley's future on “Idol” was in doubt for much of the show, her two biggest fans weren't the least bit worried.
“She nailed it,” said her dad, Harry Reinhart, on Thursday. “But all the kids are great on that show. Really a wonderful group.”
Harry and Haley's mom, Patti, are longtime Wheeling residents who are in a band together called Midnight. The band has been together since 1978 and have a loyal following across the suburbs. Thursday, the Reinharts watched “Idol” at one of their favorite Wheeling pubs.
Earlier in the week, Haley, 20, preformed “Blue” by Rimes — a song she's been singing since she was 8 years old, Harry Reinhart said.
“To me, that song is her childhood,” he said. “It's the song Haley would sing when she'd come on gigs with us.”
More than 30 million votes were cast between Wednesday night and Thursday. The 12 remaining contestants will preform again next Wednesday, March 16. One more singer will be voted off the following day.