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Puerto Rican Stars Back 'Idol' Finalist Nunez

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The Associated Press

Published: March 5, 2009

NEW YORK - Other than making it to the top 13, the best thing that happened to Jorge Nunez so far in his "American Idol" adventure was getting feedback from Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez.

Nunez, 21, an ebullient college student from Cidra, Puerto Rico, says hearing from the Latin superstar couple has been the highlight of his journey on the Fox competition show. Ryan Seacrest read Nunez a text message by Anthony on his radio show Thursday morning, in which Anthony said Nunez's performance brought the pair to tears.

"They are so famous here, so imagine how big they are (in) Puerto Rico. ... I'm like, 'Oh my God, they know who I am!'"

Nunez, who is putting his studies on hold for "Idol," isn't shy about showing emotion. He let the tears flow while reacting joyfully — in both English and Spanish — when judges praised his passionate performance of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."

Nunez joined Lil Rounds and Scott MacIntyre, picked by viewers this week for the show's top 12, in a teleconference Thursday.

MacIntyre, the humble 23-year-old piano player from Scottsdale, Ariz., is the first-ever legally blind contender. He said he holds nothing against Seacrest for unintentionally creating an awkward moment during audition rounds by holding up his hand to give MacIntyre a high five; MacIntyre drew laughs on Tuesday's performance show by asking Seacrest for a five, calling himself a "stationary target."

"I'm the last person that would ever be offended by that, and I thought it was so funny because that's happened to me my whole life," he said.

MacIntyre, who is inspired by singer-songwriters Ben Folds, John Mayer and Gavin DeGraw, is not worried that his blindness will prevent him from learning the choreography for the required group singalongs.

"It definitely makes it more challenging for me, but I'm so up for rising to the occasion as I have in every other challenge I've had to face in my life," he said.

Rounds, the 23-year-old mother of three from Memphis, Tenn., has been on Simon Cowell's good side from the beginning — and she hopes it stays that way.

"I feel like as long as I continue to keep going out there and doing my best, he'll continue to hopefully tell me 'good job,'" she said.

Nunez, MacIntyre and Rounds join fellow finalists Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace and Michael Sarver. Thursday night they were joined by Jasmine Murray, Megan Corkrey, Matt Giraud and Anoop Desai.

Beginning next week, the show's ultimate top 13 start competing, with one singer sent packing each Wednesday.

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