When Kenedi Anderson decided to withdraw from American Idol following her Top 24 performance, fans were stunned that a frontrunner bowed out of the competition so soon. It made sense, though, considering the opportunities that she would be afforded if she got an early start on her journey to potential superstardom.
Many felt Kenedi was a lock to win it all, but now that she's gone, the season 20 crown is wide open for someone to claim. There are many potential winners remaining in one of the most talented pools of contestants in show history, and 10 specifically have a strong chance to win it all.
Five men and five women have emerged as possible frontrunners in a season that could go a number of ways. Some boast incredible range and a wealth of natural talent. Others are self-made artists who have shone through by showing how badly they want to be a star. The judges have been extremely complimentary of all the contestants thus far, which will lead to some tough decisions down the line. Which contestant has what it takes to earn America's vote and beat the rest of the competition to become the American Idol of season 20?
Fritz Hager
Fritz has been up front in acknowledging that he's not the best singer in the competition, but he brings the heat every time he sings. The 22-year-old former security guard pours his emotion into every performance, and his willingness to be so open about his parents' disapproval of him pursuing music has only made him more endearing to the audience. Fritz closed out the second night of Top 24 performances in Hawaii, a nod to the show recognizing he's already one of the favorites. He has the underdog mentality and that should carry him far, if not all the way to the top.
Emyrson Flora
Emyrson has a tone to her voice that can't be taught. At only 16 years old, she's already a frontrunner, especially now that Kenedi, another super-talented young blonde contestant, is out of the competition. In her last performance, she was told that she had what it took to be the next American Idol; at this stage of the competition, judges don't tell just anyone they could win the whole thing.
Christian Guardino
The former America's Got Talent singer has an insane range and is arguably the best singer in the competition. Christian is coming into his own as a performer and developing the confidence necessary to shine on the big stage. His latest performance of "Leave the Door Open" was arguably the best of any of the contestants. If Christian doesn't win, it won't be for lack of ability.
Cadence Baker
Cadence may be a bit of a dark horse in the competition, since her Hollywood Week was lackluster, but she absolutely brought it in the Top 24. The judges were high on Cadence after her audition and believe she has the talent to win the whole thing. If she can continue to get better each week, Cadence has a strong chance to make a deep run in the competition.
Jay Copeland
Jay's audition was off the charts, and he became one of three platinum ticket award recipients. Vocally, he might be the best out of the remaining 23 contestants, but his performances post-audition have thus far fallen short of his potential. If Jay can get more comfortable on stage and deliver a performance that absolutely blows judges and fans away, which he's more than capable of doing, he'll be back in the driver's seat.
Nicolina Bozzo
Nicolina has been as close to perfect as any other competitor still remaining on the show. When the judges were delivering the fates of each potential Top 24 contestant, they didn't even let Nicolina sit down before telling her she made it through to the next round. It was never a question. If Nicolina keeps on the pace she's currently on, no one should be able to beat her. She showed up to the audition ready to win and hasn't wavered since.
Cameron Whitcomb
Cameron is not the most talented singer in the competition and when he's performing he makes viewers anxious that he's going to fall off the stage. Nonetheless, he's incredibly fun to watch, with his high-stepping and backflipping and positive attitude. His voice may not be perfect, but it is, like his personality, one of a kind. Sometimes, more often than not, the best singer doesn't win. Cameron shares some of the goofiness with season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, who made up for a lack of talent with broad fan appeal. Can Cameron backflip his way to the win?
Huntergirl
Like Cameron, Huntergirl is not the best singer in this competition. But she does have a mainstream country sound, which has allowed competitors like Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina — first and second on season 10 — to have success. While other contestants may have a wider range and can sing a broader variety of genres, Huntergirl happens to excel in a genre that is especially popular among American Idol voters. Most importantly, she has the support of the judges, who gave her one of the three platinum tickets.
Jacob Moran
There are a handful of contestants left who could potentially claim that they are the best singer remaining, and Jacob is one of them. He was a past contestant who took time away to improve and he is so much better than before. He can hit notes that few can, and even though his Hollywood Week performances left more to be desired, Jacob absolutely crushed his Top 24 performance. If he keeps getting better, Jacob is one to watch this season.
Leah Marlene
Like her former duet partner Fritz, Leah doesn't have the range of some of the other strong competitors in the competition. But unlike anyone else, Leah knows how to take a popular song and make it completely her own. Leah's rendition of Blondie's "Call Me" was one of the most memorable performances of the Top 24, and it's likely she's going to be hard to forget when fans go to vote. American Idol isn't just about being the best singer; it's about being the best artist. On that front, Leah is leading the pack.
American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8pm EST on ABC.