Idols' Idols

It was the night of the standing ovations! The Top 9 took the stage Wednesday night, singing songs by their own personal idols, including Miranda Lambert, Beyonce, and Led Zeppelin, and the judges stood up a record five times.

Colton Dixon was up first, and guest mentor Stevie Nicks said that she totally related to his decision not to mess with his hair last week. "Don't ever cut your hair off," she told him. "When you said it's your baby, I'm like, I so understand. It's like, 'Back off!'"

Colton sang Lifehouse's "Everything" — his favorite worship song — and Jimmy thought he had a "real shot" at making his prediction from last week come true: that Colton would be "the third dark horse." He was right: the judges loved it.

"You are a dream come true for a judge on Idol," Steven raved. "You sing a song like it should be sung, with perfect pitch, and you got that star quality which just puts you right over the top." Jennifer agreed, saying, "What a way to start the show! I was moved. You sang it beautifully with so much emotion but still with composure and control." Randy added that Colton has the "believability" factor. "I feel your heart and passion in everything you do," Randy told Colton. "I think I could be looking at a contender for the title!"

Skylar Laine performed next, singing her idol Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder and Lead." Stevie coached her to remember that she's "telling a story," and she pulled it off.

"This is what I like about the Skylar part of the show: unbridled, can't-keep-it-in-the-can energy — that's what you bring," Jennifer said. Steven called the performance "beautiful," and Randy loved it, admiring how Skylar showed her range at the end. "You are a powerhouse singer," he said.

In the first trio performance of the night, Colton, Elise Testone, and Phillip Phillips sang three of Stevie Nicks' songs, and Steven said that they "nailed 'em."

Back to the competition: Heejun was next in line, and he had a lot to prove after being called out last week for not taking the competition seriously. This week, he chose to sing "A Song for You" by Donny Hathaway, and Stevie called it "beautiful . . . it was effortless." Jimmy was also impressed, saying, "In rehearsal we got a Hee-new-jun. He came in with a spanking-new attitude. He's a sensitive guy — a lot of times people put up a front. I think he was doing that." Stevie added, "I think in his heart he doesn't want to be hurt if he doesn't win." In the end, Heejun received a standing ovation from the judges.

"Hee-man, you did it, you turned it around!" Steven said. "I think someone like you is such a natural — you don't even know how good you sing, so that's why you weren't taking it so seriously. But just now you let that song sing you." Jennifer added, "You don't make it this far by mistake. He is here because we know he can sing that way." And Randy pointed out that while "a couple of notes weren't perfect, that Heejun we selected came back to us tonight."

Hollie Cavanagh chose to sing Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel," and Stevie wanted more emotion from her. "My mom just died two months ago. I want to hear your heart come out of you. If you don't, it's not gonna transfer," she said.

The judges were mixed on Hollie's performance. "It's always interesting taking on those songs from Idol winners," Randy said. "I think you did a really good job. I don't think it was perfect. There were a coupla pitchy moments." Jennifer disagreed with Randy, telling Hollie, "To me, that was one of your best." Jennifer added, "It was the first time I really felt like she connected with the song." Steven was more in line with Randy, saying, "I heard emotion, I just wished you sang a different song. It was just OK for me too. I didn't hear the full range of your voice in that song."

DeAndre was also recovering from a rough week last week, and Stevie joked that she once had his haircut (it was a perm). DeAndre sang Eric Benet's "Sometimes I Cry," and Stevie urged him to slow it down. He wound up getting a standing ovation.

"One hundred percent passion, that's what your voice was made to do," Steven said. "That was beautiful. The passion it took to do those runs, you gave Prince a run for his money." Jennifer agreed, saying, "To me, you have one of the most special voices in the competition, hands down." Randy declared, "Heejun's back. Guess who else is back: DeAndre!"

Next, Jessica Sanchez sang Beyonce's "Sweet Dreams." Stevie said that she liked the way Jessica slowed it down into a ballad. So did Jennifer.

"It was a really, really beautiful rendition of it," Jennifer said. "You left us wanting more — in a good way." Steven told Jessica, "You did it again tonight! I like how you held it back a little bit. You still got some more great in you. It was delicious, it was beauty." Randy admired Jessica's innate talent, saying, "You are one of the best singers I've heard in many years. I love the resolve not to go there with the big notes every week. This girl wants it too, she wants it!"

Next, DeAndre, Heejun, and Joshua Ledet sang a trio of Michael Jackson songs. Jennifer said that their performance was "perfect," but she joked that it was a good thing they aren't contestants on "So You Think You Can Dance."

Next, Phillip Phillips sang Jonny Lang's "Still Rainin,'" and Stevie had some kind words. "I think he's going to be very famous — he has a certain magic." She told Phillip, "Had you been Lindsay's and my friend in 1975, Fleetwood would have said, 'I want all three of you to join Fleetwood Mac.'" And one more thing about Phillip: "He's gorgeous," she said.

Phillip wound up getting a standing ovation from the judges. Jennifer told him, "When you sing, you always are saying you want the music to come first. I feel that when you're performing. Amazing, great performance." Steven said that he felt the same way: "Every song you sing you own, and it's in your body and soul." Randy agreed, saying that Jonny Lang would be proud. "I love you, I love the artist you are, your individuality," Randy told Phillip. "You got big things in front of you."

Joshua followed with Mariah Carey's version of "Without You," which Jimmy described as "one of the most challenging five songs in popular music." Nevertheless, he earned another one of the standing ovations from the judges Wednesday night.

Randy said Mariah would be proud, telling Joshua, "Dude, I love your voice. I think that was flawless. It was emotional for you; that's what the audience feels — brilliant." Steven said that Joshua pushed himself so far he had an "emotional breakdown." And Jennifer called him an "an absolute angel from heaven. That voice is just God-sent."

Then the final trio — Hollie, Skylar, and Jessica — performed a medley of Madonna songs. Randy called their performance "very fun."

Finally, it was time for the last performance of the night: Elise singing Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love." Jimmy thought that she "murdered it," and Stevie was surprised, "because it's not easy to sing Led Zeppelin." She even said that she felt a kindred spirit with Elise. "If I needed a singer, I'd hire her in a second," she said.

Elise wound up getting the last standing ovation of the night."I didn't want to get up — you made me!" Jennifer said. "That was some real rock star stuff, it was crazy." Steven was also impressed. "I wasn't sure you were gonna pull that off, because nobody could pull that off," he told Elise. "You made Robert Plant proud." And Randy called it "the hardest song in the world to sing," adding, "Dude, you did an amazing job. Congrats!"

In the end, the judges couldn't name even one contestant who's in danger, because, as Randy put it, "They were all so good." Steven called it "a magical mystery tour of over-the-top talent and emotion," and Jennifer said that she "couldn't sit in her chair," describing the evening as "one of the best nights ever."

Coming up on Thursday night are your voting results, plus performances from Nicki Minaj and Scotty McCreery!