Two Qualify For Next Week American Idol Competition

Bamberg and Hartsville, South Carolina – Warren Peay, a refrigerator repairman and worship leader for Colston Branch Baptist Church, and Preston Duffee, a country singer from Hartsville, have advanced to the next round of the popular television singing competition, “American Idol.”

The talented duo impressed judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie with their duets during Monday night’s episode.

Peay sang the Tim McGraw classic “It’s Your Love” alongside Hannah Nicolaisen, a Houston native with a varied background in sciences, volleyball, and singing.

Judge Luke Bryan praised the pair for taking an old song and making it their own, while Perry described Peay as “authentic.”

Duffee, on the other hand, performed “Buy Dirt” with Jon Wayne Hatfield, who unfortunately did not make it to the next round. Despite the setback, Hatfield wished Duffee nothing but the best.

Mariah Faith of Conway, who was selected to continue on Sunday night’s episode, did not perform on Monday.

Next week, the remaining 54 contestants will compete in the Showstopper round on Sunday and face final judgment on Monday, with the field being reduced to 26.

Filmed in December with only other contestants in the audience, next week’s episodes at the Los Angeles Theater will feature a studio audience.

Public voting will begin on the April 16 episode at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii, with contestants being eliminated until only three are left for the finale on May 21.

Other South Carolina singers who made it to Hollywood Week were Aiden Adair of Clover, Tripp Taylor of Florence, Janora Brown of Lake City, Brayden Philips of Lancaster, and Ophrah Kablan of Clio.