AMERICAN IDOL Season 9 Top 24 Contestant Photos

Tonight another Top 24 contestants have finally been chosen to compete in Season 9 of AMERICAN IDOL

They are are: (females) Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Lacey Brown, Michelle Delamor, Katelyn Epperly, Siobhan Magnus, Paige Miles, Ashley Rodriguez, Lilly Scott, Katie Stevens, Haeley Vaughn and Janell Wheeler; (males) Lee Dewyze, Andrew Garcia, Tyler Grady, Todrick Hall, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Alex Lambert, Michael Lynche, Joe Muñoz, John Park, Jermaine Sellers and Tim Urban.

Oh and if you’re wondering what Tim Urban is doing on that list, well turns out once again a contestant has been determined ineligible to continue in the competition, that person would be Chris Golightly, although it’s yet not clear why. As a result, Tim Urban has been chosen to replace him as part of the Top 24.

Next week, the Top 24 will be split into two groups – 12 females and 12 males – and each contestant will perform a Top 10 hit from the Hot 100 chart.
The 12 female semifinalists will perform Tuesday, Feb. 23 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), and the 12 male semifinalists will perform Wednesday, Feb. 24 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.
At the end of each performance show, you will once again be asked to vote for your favorite.
The results show will air on Thursday, Feb. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) during which two guys and two girls will be eliminated.

But for now, it’s time to meet the new Top 24 of American Idol Season 9:

Top 12 Females:

Didi Benami

Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 23

Benami’s mother inspired her passion for music by singing to her when she was a little girl. She is currently pursuing a career in music in Los Angeles while learning to play the guitar and writing songs.

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Crystal Bowersox

Hometown: Elliston, OH
Currently Resides: Toledo, OH
Age: 24

Bowersox grew up on a farm in Northwest Ohio and has been playing music since she was 10 years old. She enjoys playing the piano and harmonica and spending time with her son.

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Lacey Brown

Hometown: Amarillo, TX
Currently Resides: Amarillo, TX
Age: 24

Brown began singing when she was 12 years old at churches and holiday parties. Before auditioning for IDOL, she was teaching classes at her parents’ church in Amarillo, TX.

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Michelle Delamor

Hometown: Miami, FL
Currently Resides: Miami, FL
Age: 22

Delamor was born in Miami, FL, and began singing at age 5 in church. Prior to her IDOL experience, Delamor was working in retail and conducting a children’s choir.

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Katelyn Epperly

Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
Currently Resides: West Des Moines, IA
Age: 19

Epperly was born in Iowa City, IA, and has been singing since she was 2 years old. She is a sophomore at Millikin University in Decatur, IL, and enjoys playing the piano.

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Siobhan Magnus

Hometown: Cape Cod, MA
Currently Resides: Marstons Mills, MA
Age: 20

Magnus currently lives in Marston Mills, MA, and graduated from Barnstable High School in 2008. She has been singing since age 9, and counts glassblowing as one of her hobbies.

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Paige Miles

Hometown: Naples, FL
Currently Resides: Houston, TX
Age: 24

Miles lives in the Houston, TX, area and started singing in church when she was 5 years old. During high school, she was a competitive cheerleader and an after-school tutor.

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Ashley Rodriguez

Hometown: Chelsea, MA
Currently Resides: Chelsea, MA
Age: 22

Rodriguez has been singing since she was 5 years old. She recently graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she majored in music business.

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Lilly Scott

Hometown: Littleton, CO
Currently Resides: Denver, CO
Age: 20

Scott was born in Houston, TX, and grew up in Littleton, CO. Prior to auditioning for IDOL, she was playing music locally and was the lead singer of a band called “Varlet.”

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Katie Stevens

Hometown: Middlebury, CT
Currently Resides: Middlebury, CT
Age: 17

Stevens was born in Waterbury, CT, and has been singing since she was 3 years old. She enjoys playing the guitar, piano, flute and cello, and is a senior at Pomperaug High School.

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Haeley Vaughn

Hometown: Fort Collins, CO
Currently Resides: Fort Collins, CO
Age: 16

Vaughn currently lives in Fort Collins, CO, and is a junior at Poudre High School. In addition to playing the guitar, she is a member of the cheerleading squad.

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Janell Wheeler

Hometown: Tampa, FL
Currently Resides: Tampa, FL
Age: 24

Wheeler began singing and songwriting in second grade. She graduated from the University of Florida at Gainesville in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in theatre. She also enjoys playing the guitar and writing music.

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Top 12 Males:

Lee Dewyze

Hometown: Mount Prospect, IL
Currently Resides: Mount Prospect, IL
Age: 23

Dewyze has been performing music since age 16. He graduated from Mount Prospect High School and enjoys playing the guitar and scuba diving.

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Andrew Garcia

Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA
Currently Resides: Moreno Valley, CA
Age: 24

Garcia was born in Compton, CA, and has been singing since he was 18 years old. He also enjoys playing the guitar and spending time with his son.

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Tyler Grady

Hometown: Nazareth, PA
Currently Resides: Nazareth, PA
Age: 20

Grady is currently a sophomore at Temple University in Philadelphia. He plays the drums and is the lead singer of a band.

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Todrick Hall

Hometown: Arlington, TX
Currently Resides: Arlington, TX
Age: 24

Hall grew up in Plainview, TX, and has been singing since age 10. After graduating from Bowie High School in 2003, he went on to perform on cruise ships and in theme parks.

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Casey James

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Currently Resides: Fort Worth, TX
Age: 27

James has been singing since before he could speak. He enjoys playing the guitar and mandolin, and has been a full-time musician for the past 10 years.

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Aaron Kelly

Hometown: Sonestown, PA
Currently Resides: Sonestown, PA
Age: 16

Kelly lives in Sonestown, PA, and is currently a senior at the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. He also enjoys songwriting and photography.

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Alex Lambert

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Currently Resides: North Richland Hills, TX
Age: 19

Lambert was born in Fort Worth, TX, and has been singing since he was 9 years old. He is currently a senior at Richland High School.

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Michael Lynche

Hometown: Astoria, NY
Currently Resides: Astoria, NY
Age: 26

Lynche grew up in St. Petersburg, FL, and has been singing since he was in junior high. He played football for the University of Central Florida, and currently works as a personal trainer.

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Joe Muñoz

Hometown: Huntington Park, CA
Currently Resides: Huntington Park, CA
Age: 20

Muñoz has been singing since age 12. In addition to playing the guitar, he is fluent in both Spanish and English.

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John Park

Hometown: Northbrook, IL
Currently Resides: Evanston, IL
Age: 21

Park began singing in the seventh grade. He is fluent in Korean, and is currently an undergraduate at Northwestern University. He also plays the piano, guitar and drums.

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Jermaine Sellers

Hometown: Joliet, IL
Currently Resides: Joliet, IL
Age: 27

Sellers lives in his hometown of Joliet, IL, and began singing at age 7. Before auditioning for IDOL, he was singing in his local church and helping take care of his mother.

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Tim Urban

Hometown: Duncanville, TX
Currently Resides: Duncanville, TX
Age: 20

Urban was born and raised in Duncanville, TX, and has been singing and playing the guitar since he was 13 years old. He and his nine siblings were homeschooled by his mother.

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You will find some more photos further below. You can also check out a couple of videos from the photos shoots of the Top 24. The first video features the Top 12 Girls and the second one the Top 12 Boys.