After the commercial we hear Bret Michaels sing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." Someone in the audience has an awesome picture they drew of Bret.
We're down to our last two finalists, and I'm so shocked that it's Erika Jo and Tamika Tyler. Both of them are two of the people I thought would be in the final four. What a shame.
LeAnn: (to Erika Jo) "Ok, Erika Jo, now this is the first time you've been in the final two. How are you holding up right now?"
Erika Jo: I am. I am... very, very... nervous. I am. Thank you. I couldn't get it out. This is weird for me, cuz I'm never nervous. But I knew it was going to happen sometime, if I got to stay.
LeAnn: "Well, Tamika. This has been a rough, rough week for you. Is there anything you would have done differently?"
Tamika: "I wouldn't have called a prayer meeting.. That's what I wouldn't have done. No, I would have called a prayer meeting. That was a good thing."
LeAnn reads the name from the envelope. The person with the lowest number of votes is Tamika Tyler, which means Erika Jo will sing tonight.
LeAnn: "Tamika, don't go anywhere. Come back, come back. Tell me what's goin' on in your mind?"
Tamika: "My gosh. I've had fun. I've had a lot of fun, guys. It's been great. It really has."
LeAnn: "Anything you want to say to America, out there?"
Tamika: "I just, I would just like to thank everybody that did support me and encourage me the whole way. And I've just had a wonderful time and a wonderful experience. Thank you so much."
LeAnn: "It's been wonderful getting to know you. Good luck."
In Erika Jo's pre-recorded message she says: "The name of the song I'm singing tonight is "He Don't Care." It's kind of a play on words. He doesn't care about any other woman in the world. He doesn't care about nothin' but me. I haven't had a lot of experience in the dating / love field. I'm not very seasoned in that, I guess. But to me, a singer's job is to take a song and convey a feeling. That's when you're doing your job. Reba McEntire wasn't a hooker down south, but she made you believe it. You know?"
See my Rankings for Episode 5
LeAnn: "Oh, you can breathe now."
Erika Jo: "I can breathe."
LeAnn: "Let me ask you this. I asked Tamika this last week, and now she's gone. Do you think a woman can win Nashville Star?"
Erika Jo: "I definitely think a woman can win Nashville Star?"
LeAnn: "Do you think you're the right one?"
Erika Jo: "Excuse me?"
LeAnn: "Do you think you're the right one?"
Erika Jo: "You know what? We'll see. I hope you guys think so, but we'll see."
LeAnn: "Alright. Let's see what the judges have to say."
Bret: "First of all, what do you mean Reba McEntire isn't a hooker? You ruined my fantasy. Second, let me get to the most important thing. Well, that was the most important thing. You rocked it tonight, the song was great. All that stuff. I just can't believe it came down to Tamika and you. You both have such great voices. I am blown away that Tamika's gone bye bye. What the hell is going on?"
Erika Jo: "Dude, I have no idea."
Bret: "But, you were great. I mean, it's just mine boggling. Ok, someone else. Shut me up."
Anastasia: "Man, I don't know. You surprised me. Cause I haven't really felt you yet. I mean, not literally. I mean you're so great. The song's kind of average. But you were great. You complete me."
Phil: "It was a great performance. It was your best performance to me. Tamika's awesome too. You're one of the front runner's I guess, I don't know."
Next week Nashville Star goes back to its roots as first season Nashville Star winner Buddy Jewell will perform on the show.
