‘American Idol’: Upstate NY singer Madison VanDenburg makes top 8

Madison VanDenburg

Madison VanDenburg is a 17-year-old high school student from Cohoes, N.Y., competing on "American Idol."

An Upstate New York singer has advanced to the top 8 on “American Idol."

Madison VanDenburg, a 17-year-old high school student from Cohoes, N.Y., continued to impress during Disney night Sunday, performing “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana.” She hit a “stratosphere of notes,” judge Lionel Richie said.

VanDenburg made the cut, reaching the top 8 alongside Alejandro Aranda, Laci Kaye Booth, Walker Burroughs, Wade Cota, Laine Hardy, Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, and Alyssa Raghu. Uché and Dimitrius Graham were eliminated Sunday after making the top 10 last week.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, VanDenburg and the rest of the elite eight will be safe on Monday’s episode, which will be a clip show recapping the season so far. Competition will resume Sunday.

VanDenberg has previously drawn comparisons to Kelly Clarkson, the original “American Idol” winner, with her powerful voice on performances of songs like “Speechless” (Dan + Shay), “Already Gone” (Clarkson), “All I Ask” (Adele) and “Who’s Lovin’ You” (The Jackson 5). Judge Katy Perry, who dressed up as “The Little Mermaid" villain Ursula for Disney night, has already called VanDenburg a “star.”

VanDenburg, who auditioned in Buffalo last fall, uses the same vocal coach as another Upstate NY singer, Moriah Formica, who appeared on “The Voice” in 2017 and “Idol” in 2018. Both Vandenburg and Formica attended Shaker High School in Latham, less than 10 miles outside of Albany.

“American Idol,” in its second season on ABC, airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m.

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