‘American Idol’ judges praise performance by Kent’s Stefano Langone; viewers vote to advance him to top 12

“American Idol” judges voiced their support for Kent’s Stefano Langone on the Wednesday night show. Langone found out Thursday night he also had support of the votes by viewers to advance him to the top 12.

Ashton Jones had the fewest votes from viewers and was sent home on Thursday night’s show on Fox. The remaining 12 will return next week for another elimination round.

Jones, Lauren Alaina and Haley Reinhart were in the bottom three based on votes received.

Langone, 21, a former Kentwood High School and Bellevue College student, gave an inspiring rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately” on Wednesday’s show.

“You know you pulled it off,” judge Steven Tyler said. “It built from the beginning to the end and by the time it ended, it was soaring like a volcano. That was beautiful, so well done.”

Judge Jennifer Lopez also praised Langone, whose parents and brother were in the audience for the show and received a quick on-air shot.

“You had me dancing there for a minute, baby,” Lopez said. “It’s not easy to take a classic song like that that’s so known to be the ballad that it is and do the dance remix. But it wasn’t just a remix. It was really you and that’s what I loved about it. You sounded great.”

Randy Jackson liked the performance as well.

“It started out a little rocky,” Jackson said. “It is so hard to sing Stevie because Stevie is probably one of the greatest male singers ever in life. And dude, let me tell you what, he’d be proud of this because you slayed it. By the middle of the song, you were soaring. Very nicely done.”

Host Ryan Seacrest asked Langone about his reaction when judges picked  him last week for one of three wild-card berths in the top 13. The viewers picked the top 10.

“They gave me a second chance, I was so pumped up,” Langone said. “I knew I had to bring it all out and let America feel my soul or I wasn’t going to get there. I really came out and did it.”