Well, I’ve had a full day to grasp what happened on American Idol last night, when Mindy Doo was voted off to the shock and dismay of thousands of people (this figure comes from the countless posts I’ve ran across on news sites, personal blogs, etc.)
Is it fair? Most certainly not. Was it justified? Probably not. Will it matter in the long term. Not really.
Let me explain. Melinda Doolittle was perhaps the most vocally correct, musically-trained contestant to perform on Idol this season; and perhaps the best one ever in the history of the show. She was humble and shy to the point of turning off many people with her personality; and, to boot, she was a Christian who never compromised on her faith. All of this combined probably spelled doom for her to make it to the finals.
The overwhelming feedback on her ouster last night is pro-Melinda, and anti-Idol; many have vowed to never watch the show again, and the finale will probably garner the lowest ratings for this season. That’s nothing against Blake Lewis or Jordin Sparks, who have some talent…but they were NOT in the league that Melinda was in. It was sort of like watching a major league pitcher mow down Little League batters.
And, one has to remember that, through all of this shocking news, God ultimately has a bigger plan for Melinda. That is why she is no longer on AI. The Lord is moving her on, helping her overcome this loss with a brighter path ahead; one that will honor and glorify Him through her musical gifts and talents.
So, in the end, Idol loses big…and Melinda wins big through Christ. She will garner a huge recording contract with little or no ties to the Idol franchise, and sell platinum and multi-platinum CD’s throughout her lifetime. She’s this season’s Chris Daughtry, who has already shown that one doesn’t need to make it to the finale to have a successful recording career.
Congrats to you, Melinda. Thanks for being an inspiration to those of us who sing (sort of) and for being a Light for Christ in this crooked and perverse world. May God bless you as you embark on the beginning of your new life as a lead (not backup anymore!) singer. Be blessed.