23-year-old Janelle Arthur reached outside of her comfort zone on 'American Idol' Wednesday night (April 3), singing Billy Joel's 'You May Be Right' to the effusive praise of the judges -- even though the song might not have been a perfect fit.

The aspiring country singer has been a very solid contender all season, but has performed especially well in recent weeks, delivering several very intimate performances that make her stand out from some of the other power-singing contestants. Wednesday night she threw that to the wind and strode the stage like a rock star, delivering a polished, energetic rendition of a song that wouldn't have been an obvious pick to showcase her strengths.

"I love how you work the stage," Keith Urban said, noting that it really wasn't the best song choice for her, but that she gets better every week. "You're such a contender."

Nicki Minaj praised Arthur's relatability, saying, "It's safe to say Middle America is home voting for you."

Randy Jackson agreed, calling her performance "authenticity at its best."

Mariah Carey also praised Arthur. The young performer will find out whether she's moving on to another round on the results show on Thursday (April 4).

Watch Janelle Arthur Perform 'You May Be Right' on 'American Idol'

Janelle Arthur - You May Be Right - American... by IdolxMuzic

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