'You could be the one to beat' Cowell tells DeWyze

Simon Cowell was once again singing Lee DeWyze's praises Tuesday night.

Cowell's reaction to the Mount Prospect "American Idol" contestant?

"You may be the one to beat in this competition," Cowell said. "You are the best singer and you are head and shoulders above everyone else."

DeWyze took on Hinder's "Lips of an Angel" and though he admitted to struggling with nerves and pitch, all four judges loved the performance.

"I could hear you on the radio," Judge Kara Dioguardi told him. "Your voice has a very commercial sound to it."

Still, DeWyze said he wasn't comfortable on stage.

"I've never performed with a mic stand before," he said.

But the judges agreed if he gets his nerves together, he's a very strong contender.

Looks like the producers might agree, placing DeWyze in final slot of the evening in what's commonly referred to as the "pimp spot."

The news wasn't as good for the two other contestants with Chicago connections.

Northbrook's John Park performed John Mayer's "Gravity" and had a rough go of it.

"After that I think Purple Haze might be getting its lead singer back this week" Cowell said, referencing the Northwestern a cappella group Park belongs to.

Jermiane Sellers, the church singer from Joliet, fared even worse. His cover of "What's Going On" was not well received.

The men were originally slated to perform tonight, but female contestant Crystal Bowersox was rushed to the hospital Tuesday and the guys got pushed up a day.

Two guys and two girls go home Thursday night.