'Idol' Worship

Image credit: RJ Helton: Fox

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KELLY CLARKSON
Small-town Texas cutie Kelly may not have shown off all her vocal fireworks with ''Don't Play That Song'' (she sort of sounded like she was doing a number at that Ally McBeal bar), but the judges didn't mind. Randy called her ''brilliant,'' while Paula said she was ''the real deal.'' We agree.
Grade: A-

RJ HELTON
The guy's certainly working it, that's for sure. RJ channeled every ounce of his inner-Stevie to perform a lively, though slow, version of ''Superstition.'' The crowd dug his moves, as did Paula who said, ''This is what I've been waiting for!'' Simon, shock of shocks here, disagreed. ''Boy band, yes,'' he dismissed. ''American Idol, no.''
Grade: C

TAMYRA GRAY
When the increasingly awe-inspiring Tamyra sang ''If I were you I'd never stop loving you,'' she was onto something. We may never stop loving her if she keeps impressing us week after week with her truly remarkable voice. ''If they don't vote you through as the winner of this competition,'' Simon gushed, ''it will be total madness.''
Grade: A+