Gabby Barrett Shows Soul With Disney’s ‘Colors of the Wind’ on ‘American Idol’
American Idol returned Sunday (April 29) for a special episode which had the Top 10 contestants singing songs with a bit of a twist: all were selected from the Disney catalog.
All contestants were mentored by Idina Menzel, who of course is the famous voice behind Frozen's "Let it Go." And to keep things extra real, judge Katy Perry even dressed up as (a strikingly realistic) Snow White.
The evening turned out to be a surprisingly interesting exercise in seeing how the contestants could move out of their comfort zones, with one particular standout being Gabby Barrett. The teenage singer, known for her firm leanings toward country (and love of Carrie Underwood), set aside her preferred style for a performance of "Colors of the Wind," a moody ballad from Pocahontas. The difference from her previous turns was notable. Looking like a Disney princess herself with flowing gown and locks, Barrett built her performance carefully, concentrating on the soulful aspect of the composition.
It impressed the judges considerably, with all three giving nods to her move out of the familiar lane. Judge Luke Bryan noted that she had "all the tools" to potentially win, while Lionel Richie praised her "star power."
Perry observed: "I think you got that twang, girl-next-door country thing down, but you really brought that pop stardom tonight."
Will Barrett make it through? America will be the ones to decide, as viewer's votes will be the sole deciding factor as to who stays and who goes. Keep checking back as we cover everything you'll need to know as the show gets down to the wire!
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