Summary "American Idol" - Auditions #2 - Jan. 17, 2013

It's time to head to Chicago for more auditions.

First up is MacKenzie Wasner whose dad Pete Wasner is a pianist and singer-songwriter, and plays with Vince Gill. She is a country singer and sings Vince's "Whenever You Come Around." She's very sweet and the judges clearly love her. That's four yeses and a golden ticket.

Next up is Austin Earles who does "Fantasy" by Mariah, who laughs at him and cuts him off. That's a no.

Next up is Kiara Lanier who recently sang for President Obama at a birthday fundraiser. She loves Mariah. She sings "The Prayer" by Celine Dion. She is beautiful and has a nice sense of dynamics. That's four yeses and a golden ticket.

Next up is Stephanie Schimel who sings "Dream a Little Dream of Me." She has a girlish, jazzy style that Blake Shelton would love. Keith loves her light. Nicki wasn't wowed even though she thinks her voice is pretty. Three yeses and a golden ticket. Nicki said no. Stephanie says she doesn't like her any less. Than everyone starts talking at once. Randy tells her to run away to Hollywood.

Nicki and Mariah start bickering over Keith who looks exasperated and there is a contestant waiting to sing. Keith starts banging his head on the table and says he feels like a scratching post.

Next up is Melissa Bush a quiet, massage therapist who shows up in a sparkly pink suit. She brings Randy a t-shirt says "Get Down Dawg." She sings "Downtown" by Petula Clark. She is mediocre but sweet. They all sort of just say okay. Keith asks for the check. They all say no. Mariah calls the other judges awful and vulgar.

Haley Reinhart has shown up to give the contestants a pep talk.

We also get a look at the "small town Idol bus tour." In Iowa City they found Gabe Brown and invited him to audition. He arrives with cookies that he baked himself. He sings "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones. He launches in at the highest end of his range. He's screaming it like a metal song. He certainly has passion. Keith asks if he has something with volume. Mariah asks him to do something mellower. He then he does "We All Die Young," at a lower intensity, and sounds much better but still not really great and then he starts screaming again. That's four yeses and a golden ticket.

Next up is Kevin Nabity who says he loves Vanilla Ice and the Ninja Turtles and martial arts and dancing. He is clearly one of those guys they've picked just to be terrible. He sings "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies. And then "Come Sail Away" by Styx. And he is. That's a no.

We then get a montage of no's and people begging for another chance and Nicki hugging people and telling them they're special.

Next up is Isabelle Parell. She sings "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and she hands Keith notes so he can sing the guy's part. She's very sweet and husky and jazzy and cute. And Keith is totally game and great. Mariah mouths along. That's three yeses and a golden ticket. Randy said no.

Next up we see Keith skedaddling to make a show. Randy is in the middle of the women now.

We get a montage of Nicki leering at male contestants.

Next up is Griffin Peterson who doesn't have a girlfriend and Nicki is happy about that. He sings "Washed by the Water" by NeedtoBreathe. The song doesn't have much range but he sounds okay. Nicki thinks he's a star. Randy didn't get it. Nicki argues with him. It's two yeses--Nicki and Mariah-- and a no from Randy and a golden ticket.

Next up is Curtis Finch, Jr. who is a tutor at charter school. He's very excited. His friend wants to meet Mariah. He sings "God is Able" by Smokie Norful. Curtis is a gospel singer and he sounds mostly great, clearly raised up in the church. He's got sweet sprit. They love him, three yeses and a golden ticket. He brings his friend in to meet Mariah.

Nicki talks about how monumental it was the first time she met Mariah. Mariah thanks her, but not before she says Nicki didn't like her when they met.

Next up is Mariah[ Pulice/b] who has had a rough couple of years after battling anorexia. We hear her story about anorexia and depression before she sings. But she's getting better and says music saved her life. Then she sings "Let it Be" by the Beatles. She is heartfelt and in tune. It's three yeses and a golden ticket. She cries and is embraced by her family who, delightfully, brought confetti to throw over her head. Nicki and Mariah are very teary.

Day two in Chicago.

First up is Brandy Neelly who had a rough early life and was put up for adoption and was taken in by her aunt. She loves Keith. She sings "Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams. She's got a nice country quiver and some good power and nice confidence. That's four yeses and a golden ticket.

Next up is Josh Holiday who gets four yeses and a golden ticket for his take on Brian McKnight's "Back at One."

Then it's a double up of four yeses for Courtney Williams, Andrew Jones.

Next up is the interesting case of Clifton Duffin whose parents, who are with him, have never heard him sing. He says he didn't feel confident to sing in front of them. Ryan sneaks his parents into the audition room to hear from the first time. He sings "Superstar" by Luther Vandross, one of his mom's favorite. Fortunately, he can indeed sing. It's sweet watching his parents watch him. That's four yeses and a golden ticket.

We get a montage of contestants talking about how much they love Mariah.

Next up is Ieshia Cotton who is a professional dancer which is good since she isn't much of a singer, which she proves by performing "Thank U" by Ashanti. Mariah tells her to stick with dancing. Randy says she's tone deaf. That's a no.

Next up is returning contestant Johnny Keyser the hot guy who sang Sam Cooke last year. This year he sings "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding with the same kind of results. Four yeses and a golden ticket.

Next up is Kez Ban who asks if she's destined for the bloopers reel in a way that will embarrass her family, she wants to know so she can leave. She's a street performer who makes balloon animals and plays with fire. She says it isn't her dream to win but she wants to go to Hollywood. She sings "Pinocchio" and she's got a husky, groovy alto and a snappy style. She performs an original with her guitar and it's got a nice melody and swing. She's pretty great actually. They let her sing the whole thing. She's not typical "Idol' but she's got her own style. That's four yeses and a golden ticket. She hops out jauntily. She is in total shock she says. She thought it might be possible but thought she might be too bizarre.

Now it's a montage of the truly awful and the angry people swearing and batting at the camera edited together and called "The Miserables."

Next up is musical theatre major Ashley Curry. She sings "Mama Knows Best" by Jessie J. She way overdoes it and sounds strident and rough. She tries again. Oof. Mariah actually walks away laughing. They all erupt into giggles. That's a no. Randy says somebody should have told her before. Nicki and Mariah start improv-ing and Mariah makes Nicki the "evil sister." Ashley is confused and starts singing again. It's a train wreck. Security escorts her out. She is confused by this reaction.

The final contestant of the night Lazaro Arbos who is Cuban and moved to Florida when he was 10. He has a very severe stutter which started at age 6 and has made his life difficult. No therapy has seemed to help. He's very sweet as he tells a hard story. But oh, when he sings "Bridge Over Troubled Water," he's pretty great. The judges are not only moved by his story but can legitimately put him through on his voice. Four yeses and a golden ticket.

We get a montage of some of the other 46 yeses from Chicago.

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