American Idol Recap: Country Music Night Worse than Michael Jackson Night?

photo credit: Autumn Welles

In case you didn’t bother to Tivo last night’s episode of American Idol, we’ve got the highlights/lowlights from the show.

The theme of the night was country music, and the guest mentor was Randy Travis. (Remember him? He was popular in the ’80s…for some reason. “Forever and Ever, Amen“? No. Ok.) Why Travis was this week’s mentor is beyond us. With his nasal singing voice, Travis has one of the most limited singing ranges in country music.

However, since it was Grand Ol’ Opry night, the show was probably trying to gain a little credibility by bringing in an older, hopefully wiser, singer like Travis rather than a youngster like Taylor Swift.

We’re willing to bet that NONE of the contestants had any idea who this cowboy was.

The show featured a wide variety of country cover songs, some good, some bad, but most really, really bad. Of course, it was still better than the horror of last week’s Michael Jackson night.

The best part of 16-year-old Allison Iraheta’s performance was her hair, as always. Meanwhile, fellow rocker Adam Lambert dished out an oddly Arabian version of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” The judges all went crazy over how weird and original Lambert’s interpretation was, but we can’t help thinking that it sounded  remarkably similar to the version of the song performed by Dilana on RockStar: Supernova. (Yeah, we’re busting out the Supernova on you, deal with it.)

Alexis Grace sang a boring version of Dolly Parton’s heartbreaking ballad “Jolene.” Everyone kinda thought the pink-haired Grace would perform the song along the lines of the White Stripes’ popular gritty garage-blues version. Instead, she sang it like any other boring karaoke song. Bummer

The judges are finally turning against blind pianist Scott MacIntyre after yet another boring piano song, this time Martina McBride’s “Wild Angels.” We won’t be sad to see him go.

Danny Gokey sang Carrie Underwood’s ultra-sappy “Jesus Take the Wheel.” This poor guy, the only thing anyone ever remembers about him is that his wife recently died suddenly. He’s getting by thanks to the pity vote, whether he wants it or not. (Although, by picking songs like this, we think he likes the pity vote.)

So, now we know that the Idol contestants stink at Michael Jackson songs and country music. What’s next? Maybe there should be a hip-hop themed night with Kanye West as the special guest mentor.

Or not.

What did you think of country music night on American Idol?

Leave a comment and tell us what you think!