When Angie Miller was eliminated from the Top 3 on American Idol 2013 this past Wednesday, it’s a safe bet that many viewers were if not shocked, then certainly taken by surprise. AmericanIdolNet.com, in part based on its polling, has been predicting since the Top 10 was announced that Angie would eventually be crowned the winner of American Idol Season 13.
Not even Angie Miller herself anticipated being eliminated and talked about it an interview shortly after learning her fate. She told reporters “I did feel confident that I was going to make it” and “I definitely thought that with the whole hometown visit and how huge social media has been, I did feel kind of confident that I was going to make it”.
When Ryan announced her elimination, her smile momentarily faltered, but Angie, ever aware of the camera’s presence, immediately recovered and enthusiastically congratulated Kree Harrison and Candice Glover. The judges, who have taken criticism all season for “pimping” certain contestants, including Kree, looked equally surprised by the final outcome of the voting.
Given the fact that Angie had never once been voted into the bottom 3 during Season 12 and the legions of followers she had accumulated on Twitter and Facebook, it seemed to be a given that she would be competing in the finale. Angie told reporters “I did feel confident in performances and everything honestly that I did. I was hoping and dreaming to be a part of that finale and I really wanted it”. Theories put forth since Thursday’s shocking elimination have blamed a faulty American Idol app that would not allow votes to go through as well as a Boston Bruins playoff game that distracted her viewers from voting. Angie’s decision not to play the piano during her final performances and the personal struggles of Kree Harrison revealed in her hometown visit video have also been cited as possible factors in Angie’s elimination.
In post-show interviews, in reference to Candice Glover and Kree Harrison, Angie stated “They’re both incredible; it’ll be an amazing night” (referring to next week’s finale). Angie gives the judge’s credit for bringing her to this point and said “They all said, this is not over. You’re going to do incredible things”.
Twitter was flooded with comments from Angie’s fellow Top 10 Contestants from Season 12 as well as from previous seasons of American Idol. Colton Dixon who was eliminated during the finals on Season 11 and is now well on his way to a successful career tweeted “Wow. I’m shocked. Keep your head up! Just the start of your career!” American Idol Judge Mariah Carey tweeted “Angie, this is only the beginning. Keep singing, keep writing!”
As far as the future is concerned, Angie said she is looking forward to her original song, “Set Me Free” being recorded and released as a single. She is also looking forward to performing full versions of songs during the finale and during the American Idol 2013 Summer Tour without the added pressure of being critiqued by a panel of judges.
Will Angie go on to a successful music career despite the voter’s choice to send her home? Does Angie’s elimination support the popular belief that the contestant with the most social media followers will ultimately be eliminated?