Everyone, including myself, has already proclaimed a winner this year in Melinda Doolittle. Well, I’m thinking, not so fast. There is someone else who might just sneak in and steal the victory right from under her. Jordin Sparks.

When the season began it looked mighty dreary and to some it still does. But as for the Idolhead, it’s looking better and better each week. Finally Gina did what she is capable of. Melinda keeps on being flawless. Actually, nobody is sucking bad. No not even Sanny. But the one real Spark (pun intended) to this season is Jordin Sparks.

While Jordin started off the top 24 pretty well, a few other girls started out unbelievable and have yet to really slow down. Which is probably not as good for them as you would think. When you start out on top, there is only one way to move if you move, and that is down. While Melinda and Lakisha are standing steady, the attention is quickly going to Jordin Sparks because she is on the rise every week.

This week she chose a song (Hey Baby) I didn’t know and it wasn’t a very good singer’s song. But Jordin made it work. Like Gwen said, she made it more musical than it was. She also proved once and for all, as Randy said, she can sing anything.

She has poise and presence way beyond her 17 years. This is not the first televised stage she has been on. Jordin auditioned for American Juniors and didn’t make the cut. You want to talk about a blessing in disguise. I think the rules were if you made the cut you could not try out for Idol. Jordin also competed in “America’s Most Talented Kid” as did former Idol Diana DeGarmo. But looking at her now, it is hard to believe that someone at any age could beat her in that competition. This is a clip of Tori Kelly who did beat Jordin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tELqwVwSTSI&eurl Jordin also toured for two years as a backup singer with Christian singer Michael W. Smith. So I guess we actually had three backup singers in the competition this season. Quite a résumé for a 17 year old wouldn’t you say?

We now have 9 contestants left and of the 9 five have never been I the bottom three. One of those; Jordin. Of the five who have not been in the bottom 3 only two have not received bad critiques from the judges; Melinda and Jordin. There is no question that Melinda is already there as a singer and whether she wins or not her career is getting ready to take off like the space shuttle. Chances are she will win but, Jordin is perfectly poised to catch and maybe pass her. Jordin has the larger range and bigger voice. Melinda has the package. But before season’s end, Jordin too may have “the package”.

This week Tone Bennett is helping the Idols in what should surely be a great show. It was the best of last season on Canadian Idol. All nine should do a great job. Sanjaya and Haley, still the weakest by far of the contestants, have a chance to hang in another week with this theme. I would say Gina may have the toughest time but I don’t think she will. I look for Melinda, Jordin and Lakisha to pull off some real magic. This is also a theme that Jordin can make a move with or stumble badly. I’m bettin’ on the move. Jordin would be a good money bet right now at 6/1; $1 gets you $6. That put me in a bettin’ mood how about you?

Is it Tuesday yet?

Idolhead Ed