ABC hosted what host-with-the-most Ryan Seacrest referred to as a huge "three-hour party"
On the program's huge, gleaming new set. The party was over for six eliminated singers by the conclusion of the third hour,
Though, after Ryan called on each semifinalist to perform as the top 26 were reduced to the top 20.
Two of my personal favorites were among those eliminated, and there were two others who I knew would rank highly among Americans.
Emma Busse, a legendary theater diva, was one of those two surprises. Last week,
Emma performed a masterful Sam Smith cover that left judge Katy Perry gushing about her ability to sing
"All those hidden colors between all those colors of the rainbow, those notes we don't even know exist"