Crystal Bowersox - Finalist of American Idol 2010
Crystal Dawn Bowersox (born August 4, 1985) is an American singer-songwriter from Elliston, Ohio who is currently a finalist on the ninth season of American Idol. Bowersox was born in Elliston, Ohio. She is a single mother of one son. She also has a fraternal twin brother. Crystal attended Oak Harbor High School in Oak Harbor, Ohio, where she was on the swim team. She later attended the Toledo School for the Arts in Toledo, Ohio.
During her days as a struggling musician, she played as a busker at several train stations, particularly when she lived in Chicago. She also played extensively in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. Before Idol, Crystal performed gospel music at her church.
Bowersox auditioned for American Idol in Chicago, Illinois. She sang "Piece of My Heart." Shania Twain commented that she had "raw natural talent" and Simon Cowell continues to compliment her voice every week.
On March 2, Bowersox was hospitalized because of complications from diabetes, forcing a last minute switch in scheduling to give her extra time to recuperate. Bowersox confirmed the illness on the May 19th results show during an interview with host Seacrest. The men competed that day instead of the women. She sang the next day and impressed all of the judges.
The following week, her strong performance prompted Simon Cowell to state, "Right now, I am the one everyone has to beat."
After Siobhan Magnus's elimination from the top 6 of American Idol, Bowersox became the last remaining female contestant in the competition.
Bowersox is the first female contestant to make it to the finale since Jordin Sparks won the title in 2007. Crystal is also the first contestant in American Idol history to have one of their original songs played on the show, or at least during their hometown package. Crystal's original song "Holy Toledo" was played on the May 19th Top 3 Results show as the background music for her homecoming package - when she returned to Toledo, Ohio and Elliston, Ohio the previous weekend - and segued into her live performance of the same song at "Bowerstock."
On the final performance day, Simon Cowell called her performance of Up to the Mountain "outstanding".
