Bluffton's Lee Jean makes American Idol's Top 51
For the second week in a row, "American Idol" hopeful Lee Jean of Bluffton made an appearance on the reality show and competition, and what an appearance it was.
Jean performed a soulful "Stitches" by Shawn Mendes to an audience filled mostly with family members and friends of the contestants.
Jean, 16, has been making regular appearances on the reality show and competition since Jan. 27 when its infamous "Hollywood Week" started.
Last week, he was passed through the grueling "Group Rounds" in which contestants were placed into small groups then eliminated through a sudden-death-style format.
As part of Wednesday night's "Hollywood Week Round No. 3 -- Solo Round," Jean and his fellow performers were given the task of learning a song in the space of one evening then performing that song with a full band backing them.
As Jean strolled out onto the stage by himself Wednesday night, Harry Connick Jr. turned to Jennifer Lopez and said, "He should be really good on this."
As part of the solo round, contenders received no immediate feedback but were to learn of their fate at the end of the show.
And Jean was not alone Wednesday night.
While contenders waited to go on, Jean could be seen hanging with new friend, fellow "Idol" contestant Sara Sturm.
In fact, in what seemed to be an almost stream-of-conscious aside to the cameras, Jean said he and Sturm had "so much in common."
"She's funny. ... And I feel like we have a lot in common. She's so down to earth ... Oh my God," he said as if laughing at himself.
Was this to be a budding romance happening right before our eyes?
But, alas, the two may just be good pals.
"Me and Lee are just friends," said Sturm, laughing. "He's three years younger than me. He's like my little brother."
So how did the pair do?
Both were told in separate rooms they were in the Top 51.
To find out who makes the show's top 24, Jean fans will have to tune in Thursday night for the "Final Judgment -- Showcase Round."
American Idol airs from 8-9 p.m. on Wednesdays and 8-10 p.m. on Thursdays on Fox.
Follow reporter Mindy Lucas on Twitter at twitter.com/MindyatIPBG.
Related content:
- Lucas: Bluffton 'Idol" hopeful Lee Jean enters second week in Hollywood with parents, school behind him, Feb. 2, 2016
- Lucas: Look for Bluffton's Lee Jean on 'Hollywood Week' this week, Jan. 26, 2016
This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 10:04 PM with the headline "Bluffton's Lee Jean makes American Idol's Top 51."