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TAYLOR HICKS So the gray-haired 29-year-old looks and sounds more like he's 49. No matter, Taylor's disarming Joe Cocker-meets-Ray Charles chops make him the underdog pick of the season. And did we mention he plays a mean harmonica?

MANDISA The history of music is filled with great Plus-size Pipestresses. Mandi, take your place among 'em. Kudos for dropping that superfluous last name (as EW suggested) and womanhandling Simon without the use of a harmonica.


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Posted Feb 24, 2006 | Published in issue #866 Mar 03, 2006 | Order Article Reprints