American Idol: Ranking The Top 15 Women Heading Into The Live Shows

By Michael Slezak Feb. 18, 2014 4:26 pm EST

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15. Malaya Watson Adorable, tuba-playing teen has tons of personality, but her final Hollywood Week solo of "I Believe" showed she's got miles to go before Fantasia loses any sleep.

15. Malaya Watson

Adorable, tuba-playing teen has tons of personality, but her final Hollywood Week solo of "I Believe" showed she's got miles to go before Fantasia loses any sleep.

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14. Kristen O’Connor Pretty nurse with a pretty voice, but hasn't made much impact with limited screen time. Facing an uphill battle.

14. Kristen O'Connor

Pretty nurse with a pretty voice, but hasn't made much impact with limited screen time. Facing an uphill battle.

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13. Bria Anai Everything prior to her Hollywood solo of "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" lacked subtlety and dynamics. Kindest thing judges can do is cut her before she performs -- and ask her to come back in two years.

13. Bria Anai

Everything prior to her Hollywood solo of "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" lacked subtlety and dynamics. Kindest thing judges can do is cut her before she performs — and ask her to come back in two years.

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12. Marrialle Sellars Idoloonies suspect she's a producer fave based on their decision to run her audition not once, but twice, but the fact that her wobbly "Wrecking Ball" fell short of Miley's original makes us wonder if she's more style than substance.

12. Marrialle Sellars

Idoloonies suspect she's a producer fave based on their decision to run her audition not once, but twice, but the fact that her wobbly "Wrecking Ball" fell short of Miley's original makes us wonder if she's more style than substance.

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11. Emily Piriz Has suffered from a screen-time deficit to date, but her lengthy rendition of "Stars" that kicked off the "Green Mile" episode created enough buzz to make her a potential dark horse.

11. Emily Piriz

Has suffered from a screen-time deficit to date, but her lengthy rendition of "Stars" that kicked off the "Green Mile" episode created enough buzz to make her a potential dark horse.

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10. Andrina Brogden Like Emily, you might find her image on the side of the proverbial Idol milk carton, but her stellar upgrade of Ellie Goulding's "Burn" in Hollywood hinted at a performer confident enough to shake up the pre-ordained pecking order. (That is, if the judges let her perform at all.)

10. Andrina Brogden

Like Emily, you might find her image on the side of the proverbial Idol milk carton, but her stellar upgrade of Ellie Goulding's "Burn" in Hollywood hinted at a performer confident enough to shake up the pre-ordained pecking order. (That is, if the judges let her perform at all.)

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9. Brandy Neelly Hasn't exhibited the undeniable charisma of a Janelle Arthur or a Skylar Laine, but the veteran auditioner wound up being the only straight-up country female in the Season 13 lineup, so if she's good on Tuesday, she's got a voting bloc all to herself.

9. Brandy Neelly

Hasn't exhibited the undeniable charisma of a Janelle Arthur or a Skylar Laine, but the veteran auditioner wound up being the only straight-up country female in the Season 13 lineup, so if she's good on Tuesday, she's got a voting bloc all to herself.

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8. Jillian Jensen X Factor vet has exhibited a raspy tone and a winning musicality, but her penchant for tearful outbursts have made her a "love her or hate her" kind of contestant. Which is still better than making no impression at all.

8. Jillian Jensen

X Factor vet has exhibited a raspy tone and a winning musicality, but her penchant for tearful outbursts have made her a "love her or hate her" kind of contestant. Which is still better than making no impression at all.

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7. Austin Wolfe Idol fans love it when a singer sneaks up on 'em, rather than having one shoved down their throats. So while Austin hasn't been as heavily showcased as some of those ranked above her, she's got a decent shot at Top 13 status if she can deliver a performance as slick and soulful as her "Radioactive" cover.

7. Austin Wolfe

Idol fans love it when a singer sneaks up on 'em, rather than having one shoved down their throats. So while Austin hasn't been as heavily showcased as some of those ranked above her, she's got a decent shot at Top 13 status if she can deliver a performance as slick and soulful as her "Radioactive" cover.

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6. Jessica Meuse Unquestionably got the "Mean Girl" edit throughout Hollywood Week, but her Stevie Nicks-ian warble and intriguing songwriting skills have been equally -- if not more -- memorable. Not to be underestimated.

6. Jessica Meuse

Unquestionably got the "Mean Girl" edit throughout Hollywood Week, but her Stevie Nicks-ian warble and intriguing songwriting skills have been equally — if not more — memorable. Not to be underestimated.

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5. MK Nobilette Idol's first ever openly gay contestant has a quiet, deeply understated style that could either: A. Be drowned out by "Bandzilla" or B. Allow her to stand out in a sea of diva theatrics. We're betting on the latter.

5. MK Nobilette

Idol's first ever openly gay contestant has a quiet, deeply understated style that could either: A. Be drowned out by "Bandzilla" or B. Allow her to stand out in a sea of diva theatrics. We're betting on the latter.

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4. Kenzie Hall Her final Hollywood solo on "Your Song" was iffy at best, but her prior performance -- a spiffy, acoustic Macklemore cover -- was one of the season's most memorable moments. If she aims for that kind of creativity in the live shows, she could be a serious contender.

4. Kenzie Hall

Her final Hollywood solo on "Your Song" was iffy at best, but her prior performance — a spiffy, acoustic Macklemore cover — was one of the season's most memorable moments. If she aims for that kind of creativity in the live shows, she could be a serious contender.

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3. Briana Oakley Big hair, big smile and even bigger vocals. This Season 12 Hollywood evictee has come roaring back a year later without making a single vocal misstep. As long as she doesn't get bogged down with a clichéd song choice, she's got a serious Top 13 shot.

3. Briana Oakley

Big hair, big smile and even bigger vocals. This Season 12 Hollywood evictee has come roaring back a year later without making a single vocal misstep. As long as she doesn't get bogged down with a clichéd song choice, she's got a serious Top 13 shot.

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2. Jena Asciutto Her original track "Unbreakable Me" (which I just bought on iTunes) was the highlight of Season 13 Hollywood Week (if not the entire calendar year 2014). Harry Connick Jr. called her a "sleeper"; we're calling her "front-runner."

2. Jena Asciutto

Her original track "Unbreakable Me" (which I just bought on iTunes) was the highlight of Season 13 Hollywood Week (if not the entire calendar year 2014). Harry Connick Jr. called her a "sleeper"; we're calling her "front-runner."

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1. Majesty Rose We're still reeling from the effortless artistry and passion she showcased while covering Coldplay in her audition and Feist in her initial Hollywood solo. Yeah, she flubbed the words to "Stars" in her last Hell Week moment, but it's good to get your mistakes out of the way early, no?

1. Majesty Rose

We're still reeling from the effortless artistry and passion she showcased while covering Coldplay in her audition and Feist in her initial Hollywood solo. Yeah, she flubbed the words to "Stars" in her last Hell Week moment, but it's good to get your mistakes out of the way early, no?