Your Top 24 Idol Semifinalists!

ALAINA WHITAKER
Age: 16
Hometown/
Residency: Tulsa, OK
Audition City: Dallas
Audition Song: "Stronger" by Faith Hill
Background: Born and raised in Tulsa, Whitaker began singing at age 4. Currently a junior at Metro Christian Academy, she has performed at festivals throughout Oklahoma and at school functions.

Watch video of Alaina Whitaker audition:


ALEXANDREA LUSHINGTON
Age: 17
Hometown/
Residency: Douglasville, GA
Audition City: Atlanta
Audition Song:
"My Funny Valentine"
Background: Lushington began singing in her grandfather’s church when she was just 2 years old. She is currently a junior at Douglas County High School, where she sings in the school choir and is a member of the drama club. Lushington also plays the piano.

Watch video of Alexandrea Lushington audition:


AMANDA OVERMYER
Age: 23
Hometown/
Residency: Frankfurt, IN
Audition City: Atlanta
Audition Song:
"Mean Woman" by Janis Joplin and "Traveling Band" by CCR
Background: Raised in Mulberry, IN, Overmyer is a respiration-therapist nurse and is earning a bachelor’s degree in business management. She was lead singer for the band Steeleto. In her spare time, Overmyer loves riding her motorcycle.

Watch video of Amanda Overmyer audition:


AMY DAVIS
Age: 25
Hometown/
Residency: Cedar Lake-Lowell, IN
Audition City: Dallas
Audition Song:
"Blue Bayou" by Linda Ronstadt
Background: Was raised in Lowell, IN. Davis is a graduate student at Purdue University where she previously earned a B.S. in horticulture. She began singing for her family at age 5 and has since performed with numerous groups, including with two members of Survivor, the Amy Davis Trio and Echoes of Pompeii, a Pink Floyd tribute band. She is also a professional model and was a Round 2 qualifier for 2007’s Nashville Star.

Watch video of Amy Davis audition:


ASIA'H EPPERSON
Age: 19
Hometown/
Residency: Atlanta, GA / Joplin, MO
Audition City: Atlanta
Audition Song:
"How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes
Background: Born and raised in Joplin, MO, Epperson has been singing since she was 3 years old. Before "Idol," she was a waitress at two restaurants in Joplin. In her spare time, Epperson enjoys dancing and acting and also has a passion for makeup and fashion.

Watch video of Asia'h Epperson audition:


BROOKE WHITE
Age: 24
Hometown/
Residency: Mesa, AZ / Van Nuys, CA
Audition City: Philadelphia
Audition Song: "Like a Star" by Corinne Bailey Rae
Background: Before auditioning for "Idol," White was a nanny. She has performed as a solo artist with a backup band. White began singing at age 15 and also plays the piano and guitar. She opened for Phil Vassar on one of his recent tours.

Watch video of Brooke White audition:


CARLY SMITHSON
Age: 24
Hometown/
Residency: Dublin, Ireland / San Diego, CA
Audition City: San Diego
Audition Song: "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Kahn
Background: Also known as Carly Hennessy, Smithson made her singing debut in "Les Misérables" at the Olympic Theatre in Dublin. She moved to Los Angeles at age 13 to pursue her singing career. She recorded an album for RCA that sold very poorly in the U.S. One of the songwriters on her album has also written songs for Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken. She tried out a couple of seasons ago, but was expelled due to visa issues. Recently, she's been working in a bar and running a tattoo shop with her husband.

Watch video of Carly Smithson audition:


CHIKEZIE EZE
Age: 22
Hometown/
Residency:
Inglewood, CA
Audition City:
San Diego
Audition Song:
"All the Woman I Need"
Background: Eze began singing when he was 13 years old. Before auditioning for "Idol," he was a Transportation Security Administration screener and a cashier. He also studied singing at Santa Monica College.

Watch video of Chikezie Eze audition:


COLTON BERRY
Age: 18
Hometown/
Residency: Fisherville, VA / Staunton, VA
Audition City: Charleston
Background: Berry is a senior at Wilson Memorial High School. He began singing in church when he was 5 years old. Active in community theater, he also mentors children in a music class at a local elementary school.

DANNY NORIEGA
Age: 18
Hometown/
Residency: Azusa, CA
Audition City: San Diego
Audition Song: "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner
Background: Noriega has been singing his entire life. He recently graduated from high school. In his spare time he likes to dance and make people laugh. He also loves animals.

Watch video of Danny Noriega audition:


DAVID ARCHULETA
Age: 17
Hometown/
Residency: Miami, FL / Murray, UT
Audition City: San Diego
Audition Song: "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer
Background: Born in Miami, but grew up in Murray, Utah. Archuleta began singing at age 7. Currently a junior at Murray High School, he has performed with an cappella choir group and plays the piano. He won "Star Search" when he was 12, and during Idol's first season, he met all of the finalists and even sang with Kelly Clarkson. A few days later, David met with a host of record labels and producers with connections to the show.

Watch video of David Archuleta audition:


DAVID HERNANDEZ
Age: 24
Hometown/
Residency: Glendale, AZ
Audition City: San Diego
Audition Song:
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations
Background: Hernandez began singing at age 6. He has performed at Urban Network Events, "Arizona Idol" and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade. He has been a member of the bands Tribét and Straight Up.

Watch video of David Hernandez audition (San Diego and Hollywood):


DAVID COOK
Age: 25
Hometown/
Residency:
Blue Springs, MO / Tulsa, OK
Audition City: Omaha
Audition Song:
"Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi
Background: Currently lives in Tulsa, but grew up in Blue Springs, Mo. Cook was born in Houston and graduated from Central Missouri State University in 2006. He has been singing since he was in the 2nd grade and also plays the guitar. Cook was a member of two bands, Axium and MWK.

Watch video of David Cook audition:


GARRETT HALEY
Age: 17
Hometown/
Residency: Elida, OH
Audition City: San Diego
Background: Spent his early years in Alamosa, CO. Haley is a junior at Elida High School. He began singing in elementary school and has performed in local talent shows and high school musicals.

JASON CASTRO
Age: 20
Hometown/
Residency: Dallas TX / Rowlett, TX / Rockwall, TX
Audition City: Dallas
Background: Currently lives in Rockwall, but was born in Dallas and raised in Rowlett, TX. Castro grew up playing drums and played in a band called Keeping Lions. Before auditioning for "Idol," Castro was majoring in construction science at Texas A&M University. Castro was on the television show "Cheyenne" and played the love interest of the main character.

JASON YEAGER
Age: 28
Hometown/
Residency: Grand Prairie, TX /Branson, MO
Audition City: Dallas
Background: Currently resides in Branson, although his hometown is Grand Prairie, Texas. Yeager began singing when he was 2 years old. He was a member of a boy band called True This. Yeager was a top 25 finalist on "Making the Band." He also plays guitar, piano and drums.

JOANNE BORGELLA
Age: 25
Hometown/
Residency: Hoboken NJ, New York
Audition City: Philadelphia
Audition Song:
"I Love You" by Celine Dion
Background: Currently lives in Hoboken, N.J., although she was born and raised in New York. Borgella has been singing since she was 3 years old. She is a plus-size model and won the televised beauty pageant Mo’Nique’s Fat Chance in 2005. In her spare time she makes jewelry and designs clothes. She has sung with Patti Labelle Mary Mary, and American Idol's own Bo Bice for a Christmas special. Joanne also appeared on the "Tyra Banks Show," "Good Morning America," and Hot 97 with Miss Jones.

Watch video of Joanne Borgella audition:


KADY MALLOY
Age: 18
Hometown/
Residency: Houston-Katy, TX
Audition City: Dallas
Audition Songs:
"I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" by Britney Spears, "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood, "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers
Background: Born and raised in Houston . Malloy started singing as soon as she could talk. Before auditioning for "Idol," she was singing in local restaurants and attending community college. Malloy has a knack for vocal impressions and also plays the tambourine. She recorded an album with help from famed record producer Nick Trevisick, who has also worked with Mandy Moore and Natalie Imbruglia. Her record has disappeared from AmieStreet since her audition appeared on Idol.

Watch video of Kady Malloy audition:


KRISTY LEE COOK
Age: 24
Hometown/
Residency: Seattle, WA / Dallas-Fort Worth, TX / Selma, OR
Audition City: Philadelphia
Audition Song: "Amazing Grace"
Background: Currently lives in Selma, Ore., but was born in Seattle, Wash. Cook has sung for crowds since she was 13 years old. Prior to auditioning for "Idol," Cook raised and trained horses. She plays the piano and was a member of the band Sixshooter. She had a record deal with Arista Nashville a few years back, had Britney Spears lined up to appear in her debut video in 2001, and is managed by Marty Rendleman, who previously managed Leann Rimes. She also apparently loves to alienate most of America by singing in front of a Confederate flag in a video. She released a CD titled "Devoted."

Watch video of Kristy Lee Cook audition:


LUKE MENARD
Age: 29
Hometown/
Residency: Crawfordsville, IN / Branson, MO
Audition City: Atlanta
Background: Menard began singing when he was a freshman in high school. He earned a B.A. in Communications from Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., and worked for a finance company in Chicago. After realizing that was not the job for him, Menard began touring with an a cappella group called Chapter 6.

MICHAEL JOHNS
Age: 29
Hometown/
Residency: Perth, Western Australia / Los Angeles, CA
Audition City: San Diego
Audition Song:
"I've Been Loving You Too Long" by Otis Redding
Background: Also known as Michael Lee, Johns moved from Australia to the U.S. in 1998 to attend Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College in Tifton, Ga., then moved to Buckhead, Ga. outside of Atlanta to pursue singing. Johns began singing at the age of 5 and also plays the guitar. This Aussie has been the frontman for two different bands, both having recorded albums. He had a major falling out with his last band, and he was accused of stealing songs upon his departure.

Watch video of Michael Johns audition:


RAMIELE MALUBAY
Age: 20
Hometown/
Residency: Kendall-Miramar, FL
Audition City: Miami
Audition Song:
"Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin
Background: Malubay was born in Saudi Arabia and spent her early years in the Philippines. She has been singing since she was 12 years old. Before "Idol," she was attending school and was a hostess at a local sushi restaurant. She also plays the piano and guitar.

Watch video of Ramiele Malubay audition:


ROBBIE CARRICO
Age: 26
Birthdate: November 13th, 1981
Hometown/Residency: Melbourne, FL
Audition City: Miami
Audition Song:
"Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Background: Carrico began singing at age 16. He has been a member of two bands: the boy band Boyz IV Girlz, which opened for Britney Spears and LFO and made a couple albums that were a failure, before disbanding; and Missing Picket, a rock band for which he is the lead singer. Reportedly, he was also one of Britney Spears' first boyfriends. That looked a lot better on the resume a few years ago. Before auditioning for "Idol," he was working as a painter with his father. In his spare time, Carrico enjoys racing cars.

See video of Robbie Carrico audition:


SYESHA MERCADO
Age: 21
Hometown/
Residency: Sarasota, FL / Miami, FL
Audition City: Miami
Audition Songs:
"Listen" by Beyoncé and "Think" by Aretha Franklin
Background: Currently lives in Miami, although she grew up in Sarasota, Fla. Mercado was a member of The Drum Studio All-Stars band and has a strong background in theatre and dancing. She began singing when she was 3 years old. She is the daughter of a Motown backup singer and was a contestant on the 2006 ABC talent show "The One."

Watch video of Syesha Mercado audition:


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