Last night the live performances began on American Idol Season Eight. Because there are 36 semifinalists instead of 24 this season, only the top three vote-getters of each of three semifinal rounds advance. The other nine either go home or wait for the wild-card round that decides the last three spots. That meant that standing out was even more important for the lucky 12 who got to sing the first heat on Tuesday.

Danny Gokey 28, sang Mariah Carey's "Hero" as the final number of the night Tuesday as the first 12 singers out of 36 semifinalists took the stage on the popular Fox show. Performing "Hero" and adding Gokey's personal story of performing out of inspiration from his wife who passed away a short time back, it seems he is a shoo-in for making it to the round of 12 finalists. After he sang the song, new judge Kara DioGuardi screamed out, "You are the hero, man. You give us all hope. You were great."

Alexis Grace, Anoop Desai and Ricky Braddy are also among the sensations of Tuesday’s evening. Alexis Grace's got that something and sang the blues like a woman who's lived 'em, leading Simon to trot out the highest form of Idol praise: a Kelly Clarkson comparison.

Anoop's promise to bring the fury nightly a la his "My Perogrative" had everybody thinking he could be this year's Chikeze, albeit with a better voice - until he unleashed Monica's blah "Angel of Mine." Even in ballad mode, he was great. Paula said: "You've got that Brian McKnight quality to your voice."

The judges directed their harshest criticism at Stephen Fowler, Casey Carlson and Stevie Wright, who Simon Cowell said had "zero" chance of advancing to the next round.