Idols prove themselves

Chris Daughtry, 26, McLeansville, N.C.: Simon took all the credit for Daughtry's rendition of "What a Wonderful World" — shocking, considering he takes credit for everything good in the known universe.

Paris Bennett, 17, Fayetteville, Ga.: Bennett continued to put the pressure on the singers to follow with a surprisingly strong rendition of "These Foolish Things."

Taylor Hicks, 29, Birmingham, Ala.: Hicks had an impossible task: to perform Sam Cooke's "You Send Me" without sounding like he was playing at someone's Sweet 16 party.

Elliott Yamin, 27, Richmond, Va.: Yamin sang "It Had to Be You," and it was the Elliott Yamin "American Idol" experience in a nutshell.

Kellie Pickler, 19, Albemarle, N.C.: Pickler's hopes hinge on her personality, because her performance of "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" was bad, brutal and barbaric.

Ace Young, 25, Denver, Colo.: It was like Young has heard all the comments that he's only in this competition because of his looks and decided to change up his image.

Katharine McPhee, 21, Los Angeles: McPhee sang "Someone to Watch Over Me" like she'd spent a lifetime practicing the classics. Oh, wait. Her mom is a voice teacher.

Read more about American Idol on MSNBC

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