Upbeat hasn’t necessarily been a big part of Haven Madison’s repertoire during her time on American Idol, but her performance on Sunday night (April 16) was evidence that she possesses a well-rounded star power.
Now that the judges—artists Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie—have whittled the American Idol hopefuls down to a Top 26, it’s America’s turn. Voting is officially open for the season and the sixteen-year-old Clarksville, Tennessee native did not let the opportunity to wow viewers go by.
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Madison took the stage for a high-energy cover of the 2018 pop hit “The Middle” by Maren Morris, Zedd, and Grey. Typically one for ballads she’s penned herself, Madison stepped out of her comfort zone for the night. However, she donned center stage with confidence and moves. While belting the tune, she also broke out in a shuffling dance.
The judges were intrigued by her showcase, nodding to each other in some kind of shared understanding. Her voice may not be the strongest of her competitors, but she has a natural presence on stage and what she lacks in vocal power, she makes up for in heart and expert songwriting. Will that be enough for her to continue on in the competition?
Check out her performance below.
Madison has been a favorite since the beginning when she auditioned with a stunning original song, titled “Fifteen,” a display that had the judges ready to cut her song.
“You can be anything you want to be right now,” Richie told her in her audition. “It’s believable. Artist, voice, songwriting. Check. Check. Check. I don’t see anything wrong now, except the world doesn’t know anything about you, but they will.”
She only cemented their belief in her during Hollywood week when she brought down the house with another original tune, called “Still Need You,” a tearjerking song she wrote about her brother’s struggle with depression
“I convinced myself I didn’t have anybody to talk to,” she explained how the song was born, “so I talked to my piano.”
ABC/Eric McCandless
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