There were some strong performances as the final eight battled
it out in a Detroit-themed evening, which celebrated the music
of the Motor City.
Motown Legend Smokey Robinson was in attendance - giving each contestant a one-to-one lesson.
Despite being a favourite with the judges Amber Holcomb was in the bottom three last week.
Scroll down for video
But she went from bottom three to ‘Ooh wee’ - gaining all-out admiration from the great Smokey himself.
‘Ooh wee baby,’ sighed the musical icon as he listed to her sing in rehearsals.
‘What a voice,’ added the Cruisn’ singer, who said it was ‘ridiculous’ that Amber was landed at the bottom of the pile last week.
The Texas-based teen looked stunning in a white dress and she nailed her performance of Lately by Stevie Wonder.
‘That was a tour de force darlings, does anyone know what that means?’ said Mariah as the whole panel gave Amber a standing ovation.
Usually the most critical judge Randy yelled out with enthusiasm, punching the air: ‘The best performance of the night,’ he bellowed.
First to hit the stage was soulful administrative assistant Candice Glover, 23.
The shy South Carolina gal got a confidence boost when Smokey told her that she’d brought him to tears when she sang Whitney Houston’s, I Have Nothing, during the top ten heats.
‘You made me cry, I’m sitting in my living room watching you…and I’m crying,’ said the R&B king, 73, she impressed on Marvin Gaye's Heard It Through the Grapevine.
Kree Harrison and Janelle Arthur teamed-up to do the 1980s Madonna classic, Like a Prayer, with a country music twist.
Nicki was quite harsh on Janelle, but said Kree looked like a pro: ‘You know how much I love you Janelle but Miss Kree-dum – you almost looked like you flew in to do a song with an Idol contestant today,’ she said as the crowd booed.
Next up was chronic stutterer Lazaro Arbos, who was under pressure to redeem himself after a substandard performance last week with Once in my Life by Stevie Wonder.
He didn't exactly manage it but Nicki offered words of encouragement.
Next up was Zumba instructor Janelle for an altered version of Keep Me Hangin On by The Supremes.
‘Janelle at her finest,’ raved Mariah.
Randy loved his falsettos while Mariah called it ‘flawless’ except for one thing: ‘I would have liked to hear a few ‘ohh baby, babies,’ from you,’ she said.
Amber, Angie and Candice formed a flirty trio to sing The Supremes I’m Gonna Make You Love me.
‘Hash tag pow,’ said Mariah calling all three of their voices ‘A+ amazing’
Then unemployed Louisiana teenager Burnell Taylor chose My Cherie Amour, recorded by Stevie Wonder when he was just 14.
‘Looking like a sexy doctor in all white,’ congratulated Nicki, calling his voice ‘rich and soulful’.
Angie Miller went for Shop Around, the first million selling record for the Motown label, written by Smokey Robinson himself.
The 18-year-old from Beverly, Massachusetts flashed her long legs in a skintight blue mini for a shaky performance with rock band backing.
Randy said her pitch was off: ‘I don’t know what was going on, you are usually so right on and that was not right on. Not great.’
‘I don’t know what that was, but I’m going to act like I didn’t see it or hear it,’ she scolded.
Kree Harrison took on the Queen of Soul with her solo of Aretha Franklin’s Don't Play That Song.
Smokey was delighted to hear her sing the track by, ‘his oldest friend who is still alive’.
‘I’m gonna call Aretha and tell her to watch the show,’ he purred in appreciation backstage.
Motown Legend Smokey Robinson was in attendance - giving each contestant a one-to-one lesson.
Despite being a favourite with the judges Amber Holcomb was in the bottom three last week.
Scroll down for video
She's
back in the game: After hitting the bottom three, Amber Holcomb scaled
the heights this week and earned a standing ovation from all four judges
But she went from bottom three to ‘Ooh wee’ - gaining all-out admiration from the great Smokey himself.
‘Ooh wee baby,’ sighed the musical icon as he listed to her sing in rehearsals.
‘What a voice,’ added the Cruisn’ singer, who said it was ‘ridiculous’ that Amber was landed at the bottom of the pile last week.
The Texas-based teen looked stunning in a white dress and she nailed her performance of Lately by Stevie Wonder.
‘That was a tour de force darlings, does anyone know what that means?’ said Mariah as the whole panel gave Amber a standing ovation.
On their feet: The judges leapt up for Amber tonight and Randy declared it the best performance of the night
One
to watch: Amber had the judges all in agreement about her brilliance,
and the legendary Smokey Robinson calls himself a fan, too
Delivering a classic: Amber performed well with her choice of Stevie Wonder's Lately
Usually the most critical judge Randy yelled out with enthusiasm, punching the air: ‘The best performance of the night,’ he bellowed.
First to hit the stage was soulful administrative assistant Candice Glover, 23.
The shy South Carolina gal got a confidence boost when Smokey told her that she’d brought him to tears when she sang Whitney Houston’s, I Have Nothing, during the top ten heats.
‘You made me cry, I’m sitting in my living room watching you…and I’m crying,’ said the R&B king, 73, she impressed on Marvin Gaye's Heard It Through the Grapevine.
Kree Harrison and Janelle Arthur teamed-up to do the 1980s Madonna classic, Like a Prayer, with a country music twist.
Thing
of wonder: Amber sounded and looked the part as she showed off her
figure in a stunning white dress, here she laughs with host Ryan
Seacrest
You heard it through the grapevine... this gal is good: Candice Glover impressed with the Marvin Gaye classic
Red rage: Nicki risked Mariah's wrath by wearing exactly the same colour as the diva... and on her birthday, too
Nicki was quite harsh on Janelle, but said Kree looked like a pro: ‘You know how much I love you Janelle but Miss Kree-dum – you almost looked like you flew in to do a song with an Idol contestant today,’ she said as the crowd booed.
Next up was chronic stutterer Lazaro Arbos, who was under pressure to redeem himself after a substandard performance last week with Once in my Life by Stevie Wonder.
He didn't exactly manage it but Nicki offered words of encouragement.
Next up was Zumba instructor Janelle for an altered version of Keep Me Hangin On by The Supremes.
‘Janelle at her finest,’ raved Mariah.
Mad
for Madge: Janelle and Kree were blanked by Mariah when they wished her
a Happy Birthday but their rendition of Like A Prayer went down well
Having a ball: Janelle ignored Nicki's criticisms
Like A Pro: Nicki rated Kree much more highly, Mariah seemed to love them both
Chicago teen Devin Velez bravely chose to sing The Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles.Randy loved his falsettos while Mariah called it ‘flawless’ except for one thing: ‘I would have liked to hear a few ‘ohh baby, babies,’ from you,’ she said.
Amber, Angie and Candice formed a flirty trio to sing The Supremes I’m Gonna Make You Love me.
‘Hash tag pow,’ said Mariah calling all three of their voices ‘A+ amazing’
Then unemployed Louisiana teenager Burnell Taylor chose My Cherie Amour, recorded by Stevie Wonder when he was just 14.
Brave: Delvin Galvez performed The Tracks of My Tears in front of the man who made it a hit
Big moment: After his performance, Delvin got to spend time with Smokey
‘Looking like a sexy doctor in all white,’ congratulated Nicki, calling his voice ‘rich and soulful’.
Angie Miller went for Shop Around, the first million selling record for the Motown label, written by Smokey Robinson himself.
The 18-year-old from Beverly, Massachusetts flashed her long legs in a skintight blue mini for a shaky performance with rock band backing.
Randy said her pitch was off: ‘I don’t know what was going on, you are usually so right on and that was not right on. Not great.’
Belting her heart out: Angie Miller gave it her all
Smart: Burnell Taylor sang Ma Cherie Amour
Good effort: Lazaro Arbos didn't quite make it on For Once in My Life but he tried
Burnell, Devin and Lazaro formed a trio for Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch by The Temptations – a performance that horrified Nicki.‘I don’t know what that was, but I’m going to act like I didn’t see it or hear it,’ she scolded.
Kree Harrison took on the Queen of Soul with her solo of Aretha Franklin’s Don't Play That Song.
Smokey was delighted to hear her sing the track by, ‘his oldest friend who is still alive’.
‘I’m gonna call Aretha and tell her to watch the show,’ he purred in appreciation backstage.