The tenth season of FOX’s American Idol singing competition is according to veteran judge Randy Jackson, the most talent-heavy season yet. After grueling elimination rounds that sent hundreds of American Idol hopefuls packing, there are only 24 contestants left standing. In that load are three talented Latinos: Julie Zorilla, Jovany Barreto and Karen Rodriguez.
Audiences first met Miss Julie Zorrilla when she stepped before judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson during the San Francisco auditions with a rendition of “Summertime”. And in New Orleans Steven Tyler referred to Jovany Barreto’s audition as “delicious” moving him forward to the Hollywood round. New Yorker Karen Rodriguez also got her golden ticket after she performed Whitney Houston’s “You Give Good Love”.
Get to know Julie, Jovanny and Karen here, and follow their journey as they work towards their dreams of becoming America’s next singing sensation.
Julie Zorilla
Inspiration: “Michael Jackson. My dad introduced me to his stuff when I was like 4 or 5 years old around the same time that I started playing piano, and I just fell in love”.
Favorite American Idol moment: “That Chinese guy about five or six seasons ago. He came in and he was so bad that it was just so funny!”
Why should you be the next American Idol: “Because I doubt that there has ever been someone who has made it as far as I have that has as much passion as I do. My whole life has been about my art. I do this not because I want to be rich or famous. It’s something I do because I love it.”
Jovany Barreto
Inspiration: “Marc Anthony. Artistically, musically, vocally without a shadow of the doubt, it’s Marc Anthony”.
Favorite American Idol moment: “David Archuleta. He has one of the greatest voices I’ve ever hard”.
Why should you be the next American Idol: “Because I want to bring that Latin flow to music and to American culture. There was a time when Latin sensation Marc Anthony was doing the cross over and I want to bring that back”.
Karen Rodriguez
Inspiration: “My mom. She wanted to be a singer by her mom never let her. She always supports and pushes me”.
Favorite American Idol moment: “Carrie Underwood’s audition!”
Why should you be the next American Idol: “I have everything it takes. I want to make a change through music. I want to make an impact in the lives of people, specially Latinos”.
