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  3. 'American Idol': Scotty and Lauren's Journeys to the Finals

'American Idol': Scotty and Lauren's Journeys to the Finals

From Steven Tyler's ''Hell fire'' verse to ''The Climb,'' key moments for this pair on the way to the top 2
By Kate Ward and Adam B. Vary Updated May 24, 2011 at 10:00 AM EDT
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Scotty tells us to lock them doors (for the first time)

Scotty McCreery | The sight — and, really, the sound — of this fresh-faced (then) 16-year-old singing Josh Turner's ''Your Man'' with a deep, deep baritone earned Scotty…

The sight — and, really, the sound — of this fresh-faced (then) 16-year-old singing Josh Turner's ''Your Man'' with a deep, deep baritone earned Scotty one of the most memorable first auditions in Idol history, if only because it provoked this colorful response from Steven Tyler: ''Well, hellfire, save matches, f--- a duck and see what hatches!''

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A double dose of drama during Hollywood Week

Scotty McCreery | At first, Scotty — with his old-school country sound and uncommonly low-pitched voice — couldn't find anyone who would accept him into their group. He…

At first, Scotty — with his old-school country sound and uncommonly low-pitched voice — couldn't find anyone who would accept him into their group. He finally found one with early standouts Clint Jun Gamboa and Jacee Badeaux. But then Scotty's group kicked poor Jacee out. When the judges asked them why the next day, a remorseful Scotty spoke up: ''I just want to go on the record and say for me personally, I apologize for not sticking up for him, because I love all y'all, but Jacee's the best kid in this whole competition.'' Awww.

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We've got a friend in Scotty

Scotty McCreery | McCreery's lovely restrained rendition of the Carole King song showed unexpected range and a different tone than usual. It also had an opening that AI…
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

The 17-year-old's performances in the Idoldome have been among the show's most consistent and uniform this season, from his sweetly low-key semifinal performance of John Michael Montgomery's ''Letters from Home'' to his lively take on Montgomery Gentry's ''Gone'': Not too many high highs, but no massive missteps, either. Ironically, his least countrified performance also remains arguably his best of the season: his soulful rendition of Carole King's ''You've Got a Friend.''

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Scotty, meet Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga, Scotty McCreery, ... | Guest mentor Lady Gaga's advice to Scotty for Leiber & Stoller Week was hilariously blunt. In an attempt to get him to keep his mouth…

Guest mentor Lady Gaga's advice to Scotty for Leiber & Stoller Week was hilariously blunt. In an attempt to get him to keep his mouth closer to the mic, she told him, ''That [mic] is your girlfriend, and she says to you, 'If you don't stick your tongue down my throat, we're through.''' Scotty took that in stride — ''Better have a good-lookin' microphone!'' — but his overall impression of Gaga left him kissing his cross and saying, ''Lord, this is not my doing.'' (His reaction could've been influenced by the phallic heels Gaga wore that day that were too risqué to be featured on broadcast TV.)

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A hero's welcome home brings on the tears

Scotty McCreery | Scotty's emotions have remained remarkably even-keeled throughout his Idol journey — until his trip back home to Garner, N.C. Looking out of his limo at…

Scotty's emotions have remained remarkably even-keeled throughout his Idol journey — until his trip back home to Garner, N.C. Looking out of his limo at the sea of people waiting alongside the road to cheer him on, Scotty dissolved into what Oprah would call the ugly cry. It was a bracing and refreshing reminder that though he remains the favorite to win, he's still just a teenage kid.

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A little bit country, a little bit rock & roll

American Idol, Lauren Alaina | Auditioning in Nashville with Tim McGraw's ''Like We Never Loved at All,'' Lauren Alaina proved she had all the tools to become a front-runner: a…

Auditioning in Nashville with Tim McGraw's ''Like We Never Loved at All,'' Lauren Alaina proved she had all the tools to become a front-runner: a perky attitude, a big voice, and a sob story (her cousin Holly had been diagnosed with, and survived, a brain tumor). But she was just getting started. After receiving her golden ticket, she quickly transformed into Idol's golden child following a duet with the series' resident rock star, Steven Tyler. Suddenly, teens countrywide were tied to their TV sets, not wanting to miss a thing from the country star in the making.

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Turn up the TV

American Idol | We know, we know, she's been aggressively foreordained for Idol glory ever since she sang Aerosmith with Steven Tyler. But in her top 24 performance,…
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Fox/PictureGroup

Anyone who suspected that Lauren's audition was a fluke was immediately silenced hearing her perform Reba McEntire's ''Turn on the Radio'' during the series' semifinal round. Armed with powerful vocals and impressive courage for a 16-year-old, Lauren knocked the country hit out of the park, and Randy even compared her to previous Idol winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. If ''Turn on the Radio'' didn't get you to turn up the TV, that sound bite certainly did.

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A nice performance for the mean girls

Lauren Alaina | This competition's D.J. Tanner won't let her naysayers bring her down. Set her free, why don't you, bully? I enjoyed Lauren's Motown performance and somehow…
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

Believe it or not, kids, the Internet is a mean place. At least, that's what Lauren learned immediately after Idol placed her in the spotlight. So Lauren got the best revenge she knew how: She rocked ''You Keep Me Hangin' On'' by the Supremes during the Top 11's Motown night. Said Lauren, ''I have people constantly saying things about me that aren't exactly nice. And at first I didn't deal with it well, but now I'm kinda at the point that I realized I am who I am.'' And who she is, a Top 2 finisher, ain't too bad.

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'Climb'ing back on top

American Idol | The Miley Cyrus song was a perfect fit for Alaina, so it made sense that judge Steven Tyler said that he loved what the song…
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

After two weeks of middling performances, Lauren roared back into front-runner status with a song that she claimed ''just screams Idol.'' Indeed, The Hannah Montana Movie hit was a smart choice. Not only did it show off Lauren's refined vocals but it also drove Jimmy Iovine to tell the contestant, ''You're a much, much stronger singer than Miley Cyrus.'' A great piece of feedback...

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Stars in her eyes

American Idol | ...until Miley herself showed up the next week. But, surprisingly, the moment was hardly awkward. Instead, Miley simply told Lauren, ''I listen to your music…

...until Miley herself showed up the next week. But, surprisingly, the moment was hardly awkward. Instead, Miley simply told Lauren, ''I listen to your music all the time. You're awesome,'' and gave the Idol contestant advice on ignoring the negative chatter surrounding her. Miley must have helped Lauren spread her wings: The contestant followed up her run-in with the teen star with a stellar performance of Sara Evans? ''Born to Fly.''

Watch it here.

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    1 of 10 Scotty tells us to lock them doors (for the first time)
    2 of 10 A double dose of drama during Hollywood Week
    3 of 10 We've got a friend in Scotty
    4 of 10 Scotty, meet Lady Gaga
    5 of 10 A hero's welcome home brings on the tears
    6 of 10 A little bit country, a little bit rock & roll
    7 of 10 Turn up the TV
    8 of 10 A nice performance for the mean girls
    9 of 10 'Climb'ing back on top
    10 of 10 Stars in her eyes

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    'American Idol': Scotty and Lauren's Journeys to the Finals
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