American Idol Results: Haley in, Pia Out

Haley Reinhart glided Thursday night to the next round on American
Idol, where she was named among the season’s eight final contestants.

Reinhart, a Harper College student and graduate of Wheeling High School, sang Janis Joplin’s “Piece of my heart” Wednesday. She said she chose the song because American Idol’s judges have compared her voice to Joplin’s.

Her choice paid off with support from Idol voters and rave reviews.

“That’s the Haley that we love,” Randy Jackson said.

“You’re showing everybody that you’re a contender,” Jennifer Lopez
told Reinhart.

“Haley, I couldn’t find nothing wrong with that,” Steven Tyler said,
adding that “Janis gave the voice to rock and roll” in 1968, and
Reinhart had brought it back.

“It was the biggest compliment I could have got,” Reinhart said. “It
was awesome.”

Pia Toscano, who seemed to be a favorite early on in the competition,  was eliminated Thursday in what Ryan Seacrest described as a shock. Finishing in the bottom three, but avoiding elimination were Stefano Langone and Jacob Lusk.

Reinhart studied Jazz at Harper College and performed with the college's Jazz ensemble and Jazz lab in 2009 and 2010.

Reinhart and the seven other remaining contestants will perform again at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Fox.