The first three “American Idol” finalists were announced, with Alexis Grace, a 21-year-old single mother from Memphis, Tennessee, Michael Sarver, a 27-year-old oil rig worker from Jasper, Texas, and Danny Gokey, a 28-year-old church music director from Milwaukee having been the ones that the viewers favored this eighth season.

Next week, another twelve finalists are scheduled to compete for three spots among the show’s final 12 contestants, while after the first nine are chosen by the audience at home, the judges will decide who the last three finalists will be following the wild card round, which is set to take place on March 5.

On the first night of live performances of this season of “American Idol,” Alexis Grace dazzled the audience and the four-judge panel with her rendition of Aretha Franklin’s „I Never Loved a Man,” which prompted Simon Cowell to say that she could be one of the show’s winners and also compare her with Kelly Clarkson.

At the end of the broadcast, Dariny Gokey, 28, also performed exquisitely with a cover of Mariah Carey’s „Hero,” judge Randy Jackson having called her the redeemer of the night.

Another contestant who earned the judges’ praise was Ricky Braddy, 26, who chose to sing a version of Leon Russell’s „Song for You.”

Nevertheless, contestants like Stephen Fowler, 26, and Anoop Desai, 22, managed to disappoint the jury with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You,” and Monica’s „Angel of Mine,” respectively.