lauren alaina

This year's cast include pop stars, political spokespeople and athletes.

Between debut LPs from Kehlani and Sevyn Streeter, pop has got some early contenders for 2017.

Though she didn't win 'American Idol' season, 16-year-old runner-up Lauren Alaina is apparently used to rejection. The Rossville, GA, native revealed Thursday on 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno' that she had previously tried out twice for 'America's Got Talent,' and was shown the door both times.

After a record-setting 122.4 million votes, it was country crooner Scotty McCreery who was named the winner of 'American Idol' season 10. The 17-year-old from Garner, NC, beat out 16-year-old Lauren Alaina to become the youngest 'American Idol' winner ever. He's also the fourth-consecutive male to win the reality-competition series, following David Cook, Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze. (The last female

Last nights elimination on American Idol left a lot of people, myself included, baffled. The top 2 American Idol contestants are both country acts...?!? I found myself at a loss a week ago when James Durbin was eliminated, and then last night Haley Reinhart was sent home by the American voters...

Though she put on an impeccable show Wednesday night, America ultimately decided they didn't want to see Haley Reinhart in the next week's finals. The 20-year-old Wheeling, IL, native was booted from 'American Idol' late Thursday night, leaving Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina to battle it out for the season 10 crown.

The top 5 performed each performed two songs last night, one from the '60's and one "newer" song. Watch them all again or for the first time before America sends one home tonight.

The final 6 took the stage last night to perform songs by Carole King. Check out the all 6 performances right here.