Dallas

Now that DFW's Idol hopeful Hollie Cavanagh left the show last week, who do you think will win? It's down to the final three contestants who will return to their hometowns for a big welcome-home party.  Vote in my poll.

Tonight's the night DFW! Vote for Hollie Cavanagh, the McKinney teen who's currently in the Top 4 on FOX's American Idol. Your votes tonight are very important. Your votes will help Hollie make it into the Top 3 and get a heroes welcome this Saturday in McKinney! Details are listed on how to vote -- in case you don't already know.

Who do you think will win Idol? Vote in my poll here -- but most importantly, VOTE FOR HOLLIE CAVANAGH TONIGHT from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. CT.

Congratulations Hollie! Now vote, vote, vote everybody!

We know DFW loves Hollie Cavanagh. She's turned out some extraordinary performances the past couple of weeks. Judge Randy Jackson said that she's peaking at just the right time.

Who will win American Idol in 2012? Vote in my poll.

After a stellar performance last night, Hollie Cavanagh advanced to the Top 4 finalists on FOX's American Idol. An amazing 60 million votes were cast last night. Hollie performed "River Deep, Mountain High" for her 60s tune and "Bleeding Love," by Leona Lewis for her British-inspired song.

The judges loved both of Hollie's performances. "You were two for two," Randy Jackson said. Obviously Idol viewers loved them too.

Dim the Lights. Here are the Results.

First Ryan Seacrest singled out Joshua Ledet and told him that he was safe.

Then Phillip Phillips and Hollie Cavanagh were brought to the center of the stage. Hollie was told that she is in the Bottom 2. Phillips was safe. (I check the volume on my TV to make sure I heard that right).

• Jessica Sanchez and Sklyar Laine were the last two contestants remaining. Sanchez was safe and Laine took a seat in the Bottom 2 with Cavanagh.

The Bottom 2:
Hollie Cavanagh was in the bottom 2 along with Skylar Laine. Skylar has been Hollie's roommate and bestie throughout the competition. Unfortunately, it was the end of road for Skylar Laine. But congratulations to Hollie, who will be back again to perform next week in the Top 4!

Don't miss the performance show Wednesday on FOX 4.

Phil, Phil, Phil
I'm a little surprised that Skylar went home tonight -- but not entirely disappointed. I thought she was a little screamy and too rambunctious for my taste. However, I really thought it was Phil Phillips' week to go home. I'm still having a problem with his wardrobe. He dresses like a college boy who scooped up 3 pieces of clothing off his dorm room floor and ran to the studio. Layered tees and flannel shirts have their place in a person's wardrobee -- but wait until you are a rock star to dress like one. Idol's picking up the tab for your wardrobe so venture out and shop somewhere other than Old Navy. (And no offense to Old Navy because I totally love them). Buy rock star clothes while you're still on their tab.

Just over a year ago, DFW was cheering on Tim Halperin, the TCU grad who made the Top 24 on American Idol. Unfortunately, Halperin didn't make it into the top 13, but he has gone on to do great things like releasing a CD, hanging out with Kidd Kraddick all the time, and appearing in commercials for Target.

I emailed Tim last night and he shared the following thoughts about the 18-year-old singer from McKinney.

Best Wishes, Tim Halperin
"I love Hollie. She is so sweet and I had the pleasure of sharing several flights with her and her mother last year during Idol since we both flew out of DFW. She is a genuine person and talent, and I hope the best for her."  - Tim Halperin via e-mail.

Frogs For the Cure
You can catch Tim Halperin this Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 5 p.m. during the TCU vs. New Mexico baseball game. He will sing the National Anthem. Halperin is a Komen National Partner, TCU graduate and American Idol alum.

Be Part of the Cure
Volunteer to help Tim challenge men to take his "Cross That Line" pledge to encourage the women they love to be screened for breast cancer. If you will be at the game and want to assist, email a.louden@tcu.edu by noon Friday. Purchase a $6 General Admission ticket by clicking this link and entering the promo code: KOMEN.

It was a hot one tonight! This week the remaining five Idols were challenged to pick a song from the 60s and also a British-inspired song. Hollie Cavanagh set the tone for the night by bringing out the big guns with "River Deep, Mountain High." She had the look. She had the band. But even more important, she had those big, bluesy vocals and she really delivered.

With only five remaining contestants, every song choice counts. I actually had this song in the back of my mind for Hollie -- thinking it would be great for her range. It's one of my favorite songs from the 60s. She nailed it just fine without any advice from me. I love music but I can't carry a tune in a bucket.

And I think she pretty much blew Steven Tyler out of the water with her performance. "Hollie, that's the first time that I've really heard you step out and use your blues...the blues you can't learn unless it's through experience," the Aerosmith frontman said. "You just did it and you showed me you've got it in you."

Amen to that.

Hollie started off her performance out in the audience -- complete with backup singers and horns. She felt the song and she was the song. Her confidence was mountain high. My. Oh. My.

Jennifer Lopez said, "You were really biting into the words. I could really feel you attacking the song. It was a different type of Hollie out there. I really felt the energy." That's a compliment in Randy-speak.

Randy Jackson added, "I loved it too! You've got to do it like there's nobody's watching." He said, "That second verse...Dude, you wore it out...very nice. Very nice."

Even Ryan Seacrest had some special comments for Hollie. "Something's going on with you," the host said. "You're setting in, huh? And I saw you in rehearsal -- the second song is great too."

The mentor this week was Steven Van Zandt. Little Stevie is best known as a singer and a guitarist from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. He also starred as Silvio Dante from HBO's The Sopranos. When Cavanagh told Van Zandt and Jimmy Iovine what song she would be singing, Steven said "Only the best record of all time!"

Both Cavanagh and Jessica Sanchez selected Ike and Tina Turner songs. Cavanagh definitely turned in the better performance. Randy Jackson agrees with me so I must be right. Let's just hope the voters turned out tonight and voted for Idols-01.

Round One Winner
All three judges agreed that Hollie, Joshua Ledet and Skylar Laine were the overall top performers from Round One.

And on to Round 2
For Hollie's British-inspired song, she chose "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis. In the taped pre-interview, Iovine said, "If you could do what you do here, you should stay in this show Holly. Your voice is an instrument. It's a powerful instrument."

From atop the piano, she delivered it with all the poise and control of a much older, more experienced singer. Remember, she's just 18. Her confidence has really been shining through the past couple of weeks.

Lewis was mentored by former Idol judge Simon Cowell during the 2006 season of that other talent show called The X Factor. The lovely and talented Lewis won the competition and a recording contract. Since then, she's had a string of hit songs on the pop charts.

With the uniqueness that is simply Steven Tyler, the rocker said, "Hollie, I loved it. I loved it, I loved it, I loved it. You nailed it. I don't even know that song." Lopez said Hollie had some breathtaking runs in the song and called it amazing.

Randy Jackson explained who Leona Lewis was (to Tyler) and then said that Hollie was peaking at just the right time -- and that she was two for two on the night. "That was unbelievable. Stay right in there Hollie, you're doing an amazing job," Jackson said.

Tomorrow Night
Coldplay and Carrie Underwood will entertain everyone while the contestants wait for the lights to be dimmed and someone to be sent home. Catch the results show at 7 p.m. on FOX 4.

Do We Love You, My Oh My!
I've been voting for Hollie. At first all the lines are busy. Then I began voting with a cell phone in one hand and my house phone in the other. Keep voting America! Good luck Hollie.

Dim the lights -- it's crunch time North Texas. By now you've probably heard that Hollie Cavanagh from McKinney is representing the great state of Texas in the 2012 season of American Idol.

Tonight is the all-important performance show and Hollie needs your votes to make it through to the next round. She is currently sitting pretty in the Top 5.

Yes She Can!
I spoke to Hollie's vocal coach Chloe Colman on Monday and she gave me some insight about the sweet young singer. Let me just say that her song choices for tonight should blow the judges away! Yes, even the moody Steven Tyler should appreciate her big vocals this evening. "Yes, she can win!" Colman said. "She's a phenomenal singer."  Find out all the details from Chloe here.

So get ready Hollipops! (That's the nickname for Hollie's fans). Charge your cellphone and prepare to text the word "Vote" over and over and over. Or program the toll-free 866-number on your speed dial. You may also vote up to 50 times online at AmericanIdol.com.

Tonight's Watch Party is at the McKinney Performing Arts Center. Good luck Hollie. Catch American Idol on FOX.

Even in Hollywood, Hollie Cavanagh is feeling the pull from North Texas. The teen from McKinney Boyd HS survived another week on the hit show American Idol.

Hollie struggled a bit Wednesday night with her Queen-inspired song "Save Me" -- but knocked it out of the park with her version of "The Climb," made famous by Miley Cyrus. This week the finalists had to perform both a Queen song and a song of their own choosing.

Judge Randy Jackson said, "Yo. Now that's the Hollie Cavanagh we love. That's the one. Hollie is back. That was beautiful -- perfect song for you."

Jennifer Lopez also agreed. "It was perfect; it was perfect for you....the emotion, the notes, the whole thing."

Thursday's Bottom 3 consisted of Cavanagh, Elise Testone and Skylar Laine. The country-girl-next-door Laine was sent to safety and it was down to Cavanagh (who we knew was safe) and Testone. It ended up being the end of the road for Elise, who had a great run with her impressive rock ballads.

Holliepops had a fantastic week last week when she really scored with the fans with Adele's "Running in the Deep." Apparently some fans were surprised that Colton Dixon left the show. I was not at all surprised.

What's Up?
Somehow Phillip Phillips has skated away safely during all this commotion. He performed a Dave Matthews Band song (horribly) and somehow he's been avoiding the Bottom 3. How is this possible? His time is coming.

Stay Tuned
Spoiler alert. I'll have some more special insight about Hollie Cavanagh next week. Be sure to catch the performance show next week on Wednesday on  FOX.

I can't possibly find enough time to do all the things I'd like to do this weekend. You will definitely find me at The Frisco Bar's Crawfish Boil benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Colin County this Saturday.

The Frisco Bar's 4th Annual Crawfish Boil
Time to get your Crawfish on you Cajun seafood lovers! It's an all-day party in the parking lot at Lebanon and Legacy in Frisco with spicy food, rockin' music, kids' activities, and an exotic car show. Last year I won an awesome gift basket with Fire Fly Sweet Tea Vodka, some cute glasses and a beverage dispenser. This year I'm hoping somebody will give this fun-loving media girl a ride in their Lamborghini. Somebody hook a girl up for a photo op! You can't have any more fun than this and help a great cause at the same time. For a $20 donation, you can enjoy $1 beer from noon to 4 p.m., drink specials and eat lots of Crawdaddies. More event details here.

DSM's Rain: A Tribute to The Beatles
Come together for Rain: A Tribute to The Beatles this week from April 24-29. They want to hold your hand, Shake It Up Baby and get down to Fair Park. Get by with a little help from the Dallas Summer Musicals. More event details.

Hug a Tree at Arbor Daze
It's a free festival where you can learn about trees, win a free tree, and delite in food, beverages, arts and crafts and more. The tree giveaway is legendary. That should get you there! two-day event takes place on April 28-29, 2012. City Hall Complex, 201 N. Ector Drive, Euless, TX. More event details.

Let's Go Rangers!
The Texas Ranger are hot off an 8-game winning streak so it's a perfect time to catch some great MLB action at home this weekend against the Rays April 27, 28 and 29. All games start at 7:05 p.m. More details on the Rangers.

Late Night at the DMA
The third Friday night of each month, the Dallas Museum of Art is open until midnight. Admission is $10 or less, DMA members and children under 12 free. Some exhibitions may require an additional ticket. More event details.

(Photo courtesy of The Frisco Bar)

Despite another trip to the Bottom 3, Hollie Cavanagh was declared safe -- making the Top 6 finalists on American Idol.  Cavanagh showed a lot more confidence and knocked it out of the park with her version of "Running in the Deep" by Adele on Wednesday night. The teenage singing sensation is from McKinney Boyd.

The bottom 3 included Elise Testone, Colton Dixon and Hollie.

It was the end of the road for Dixon, who struggled with "Bad Romance," by Lady Gaga (though some of the judges actually liked it). Dixon originally wasn't going to audtion this season, he changed his mind while watching his sister's audtion. Colton also auditioned for the previous season of Idol. Dixon ended the show on his knees, giving thanks with a praise song that he'd performed during a previous week's show.

More on Hollie's performance this week.

She's in it to win it DFW. Keep supporting our home town girl!