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DeAndre Brackensick was an American Idol wild card from the beginning.
But the falsetto-voiced contestant is self-aware: he knows he’s polarizing and aims to grow from his Idol experience. Brackensick, the Fox show’s latest casualty, spoke with THR correspondent — and season 9 alumna — Didi Benami following his ouster Thursday, saying he had a feeling he would go home that night.
“Either you hate it or you love it,” he said of his throwback R&B style. “It’s just really not popular nowadways.”
VIDEO: Watch ‘Idol Hangover’ Episode 5
In Brackensick’s corner: Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson, all fans of the 17-year-old performer. But mentor Jimmy Iovine, “The New Simon,” was less than impressed by his take on DeBarge’s “I Like It” during Wednesday’s ’80s Night performances. After he sang for his life, reprising his cover of Stevie Wonder‘s “Master Blaster,” his biggest fan — Lopez — pleaded with her co-judges to use their “save” privilege to keep him on the show. She was outnumbered.
“I just wanted to end up on a happy note, just on a feel-good vibe,” he said. “I didn’t want it t be a sad moment.” As for Iovine’s criticism, Brackensick said he respected the Interscope Geffen exec’s honesty and that “you don’t grow from” only positive criticism.
Brackensick’s exit narrows the field to seven finalists including frontrunners Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips.
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