Now that’s really a shock to us! LOL! Anyway, the very talented “Fantasia-meets-Mary J. Blige” singer related to MTV that she’s quite happy to have Simon Cowell in her side. Lil Rounds shared, “With Simon, I feel like he’s an honest person, and I think so far, I’ve been staying consistent as far as going out there and putting my best foot forward and singing with heart and with feeling. What comes from the heart reaches the heart — and Simon Cowell has a heart!” Surprise y’all! Hehe!

Lil Rounds continued, “I feel like as long as I continue to keep going out there and doing my best, he’ll [Simon] continue to hopefully keep telling me good things. But if a day comes when he’s like, “Lil, that wasn’t too hot,” then I’ll understand. He’s gonna give his opinion regardless.” As for a celebrity mentor she would love to work with on American Idol, Lil Rounds related: “Stevie Wonder. I would just love to see him out there and have him even give me a couple pointers, if he wouldn’t mind. I find him to be a really inspirational and inspiring man.”

AccessHollywood.com’s Laura Saltman, caught up with “Idol” judges Paula Abdul and Kara DioGuardi at the “American Idol” top 13 party at AREA in Los Angeles and the pretty judges gave out wise advices to the AI hopefuls. They both stressed that PICKING THE RIGHT SONG is the best advice they can give. Paula Abdul further explained, “(It) falls into the elite arena of knowing who you are as an artist. When you know who you are, you know what’s your arsenal to pull from. Some just aren’t comfortable with knowing who they are, yet but they’re still talented.”

New judge Kara DioGuardi agrees with Paula and elaborated, “You have to know at the core who you are as an artist. Choose songs that accentuate your strengths and not your weaknesses. Could you imagine Rihanna singing a country song?” As for the addition of an extra contestant, Paula Abdul said it’s a bittersweet decision. She revealed, “It’s like putting (us) through torture because two will go home next week.” OH NO!! =( Well, here’s me hoping that my fave finalists will pick the right songs!

The decision-making was so damn hard for the four Idol judges that they just chose 4 (instead of 3) from the 8 Wild Card contestants — that’s how talented season 8 singers are! This should be an amazing American Idol season to watch! Simon Cowell revealed, “We decided — recently — we’re going to make this a top 13.” And that previously unannounced 13th spot went to the talented Anoop Desai. Lucky guy! Anyway, without further much ado, here are your first-ever Top 13 finalists of the American Idol!

-Kris Allen
-Danny Gokey
-Alexis Grace
-Allison Iraheta
-Adam Lambert
-Michael Sarver
-Scott MacIntyre
-Jorge Nunez
-Lil Rounds
-Jasmine Murray
-Megan Corkrey
-Matt Giraud
-Anoop Desai

The 13 finalists will start competing next Tuesday — with one singer sent packing each Wednesday. So America, don’t dare forget to vote! These guys are just oozing with so much talent that it will a shame if we won’t support them! GO VOTE!!!

The last 3 finalists for this season have been named and 8 lucky semifinalists got included in the Wild Card Round for another chance to be included in American Idol season 8 finals. Who were the lucky singers?

CLICK HERE AND FIND OUT! =)

Hands down, last night’s performances were the best bunch out of the 36 semifinalists. It’s just sad that only 3 of them will go into American Idol season 8 finals. Performers last night were Alex Wagner-Trugman, Arianna Afsar, Felicia Barton, Jorge Nuñez, Ju’Not Joyner, Kendall Beard, Kristen McNamara, Lil Rounds, Nathaniel Marshall, Scott MacIntyre, Taylor Vaifanua and Von Smith. So whose performances got the 4 American Idol judges raving?

WATCH American Idol season 8 episode 16 HERE!

Of all the six finalists (so far) in American Idol season 8, the musical-theater vet is the most vivacious. Adam Lambert brought his Broadway flair to the AI stage and the judges plus the voters have been liking it! His last performance (the over-the-top cover of Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction) got him in this year’s top 12. So, how did he feel when Simon Cowell said voters would either love or hate his performance? Adam Lambert shared,

I responded on air, and I just kinda said, “Well, I guess that’s kind of music in general — you either love it or you don’t love it.” Obviously, I’m a risk-taker. I’m not easy listening, you know? I’m not going to always be the most digestible thing for everybody across the board. I’m specific, and I kind of like to blow it out the box. And either you like it, or you don’t.

As for the music career that Adam Lambert would most like to emulate, he revealed: “I think David Bowie has been a really, really, really, really cool artist, just considering that he’s reinvented himself. He took a ton of risks, both visually, lyrically and musically. Obviously, vocally we are very different, but I think that along those other lines, we have some similarities, and someone like that is a great model for me.”

25 million Americans voted and they chose 16-year-old firecracker Allison Iraheta, surprise pick Kris Allen and self-styled Broadway rocker Adam Lambert. Obviously the voters weren’t by comedian Nick “Norman/Normund Gentle” Mitchell and pretty single mom Megan Joy Corkrey. Sultry Minnesota singer Jesse Langseth and welder Matt Breitzke were the first to be sent packing after Ms. Iraheta reprised her glorious version of Heart’s “Alone.” I still have goosebumps hearing her sing that, she was beyond awesome really! And to think she just came out of nowhere — no previous American Idol exposure at all.

Next group up for elimination were Megan Joy Corkrey and Kris Allen (sang Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” which got mixed reviews), Matt Giraud (berated for his performance of Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida”) and the leggy bartender Jeanine Vailes. She was quickly eliminated, followed by Giraud and, in the night’s biggest shocker, Ms. Corkrey who looked a bit mad! LOL! The final group included Mishavonna Henson, Kai Kalama, Jasmine Murray, Nick Mitchell and Adam Lambert. The first three were quickly dispatched. And then Simon Cowell’s prayers were answered — Mitchell was out and Lambert was in!