Didi Benami
Didi Benami
Knoxville native Didi Benami is gearing up for her first chance to sing for the voting public on the next installment of “American Idol” (8 p.m. Tuesday, WTNZ, Channel 43).
Tuesday’s lineup will be only the women who made it into the top 24. It will also be the first time the public can vote on their favorite singers.
And on Thursday, she’ll know the results. Though an early favorite of fans and judges, she won’t dismiss the idea she could be sent home on any given week — including this one.
“If I am voted out this week, I’ll be OK,” Benami, 23, said during a phone interview today. “I obviously don’t want to be voted off.
“I’d be grateful to move on to the next stage of the competition ... but if I am voted off then I will move to the next (stage) of my career.
“But I don’t want to do home. I really don’t.”
She couldn’t reveal what song she’ll do on Tuesday’s show, but the theme for the night will be hits from Billboard magazine’s Hot 100. Benami says she’s very happy with the choice she’s made.
She wowed judges when she performed “Terrified,” a tune written by “Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi. A risky choice for an audition, Benami’s instincts in selecting that song paid off.
She’s winning praise among critics and fans for her performances.
USA Today reported on Benami: “Katharine McPhee needs to write Didi Benami a thank-you note. As a result of Didi’s performance of ‘Terrified’ ... downloads of Katharine’s track increased by nearly 10,000 percent, from a couple hundred the week before to nearly 20,000.”
BuddyTV.com says, “My favorite from the last batch has to be Didi Benami, she who auditioned in memory of her last BFF. She was emotional but it probably helped her — her take on ‘Hey Jude’ was jazzy, upbeat and very unique. She does remind me of Megan Joy, only without the quirkiness that would turn off an ordinary fan. (Nope, she doesn’t dance the Corkrey.) They have similar singing style, but Didi is far more accessible.”
The Houston Chronicle gave her the highest praise — that she’s a prime candidate to win the title this season.
But Benami knows its far too early for that.
“I just want to concentrate on what’s coming,” she says.
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 1
DidiFan writes:
Go Didi! You are a star!
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