Going from Michael Jackson to country music is quite a leap, but that's what the Top 11 of American Idol will be doing tonight.  This week's theme is Grand Ole Opry (Randy Travis will act as the mentor), which means the Top 11 will sing songs by members of the Grand Ole Opry.  Thanks to the ravenous samurai over at Vote For The Worst, who leaked the song list that the Top 11 will choose from this week, we have a good idea of who might sing what.  You can check out the full leaked song list below.  Not being well-versed in country music, I had to diligently take a listen to each and every song from the below list (not being a nincompoop, I am familiar with Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and the like, but modern country music may as well be a foreign language).  After listening, I concocted my predictions, which you can view in Slideshow form via the below link. 

American Idol 8: Top 11 Song Predictions - Grand Ole Opry Theme Week
American Idol 8: Top 11 Power Rankings

Comment below with your thoughts and predictions.  It should be an interesting night.

One of the keys for the Top 11, who doesn't count a single pure country singer among them, is to pick songs that can easily be shaped to their particular styles.  Picking a song was probably much easier for the four remaining women, as the the male country songs are almost entirely from deep-singers, while the men in the Top 11 pretty much all have high-ish voices.  I think we'll be seeing a few guys singing songs originally done by women tonight.

Vote For The Worst's Leaked Song List

Alan Jackson - Don't Rock the Jukebox
Alan Jackson - Summertime Blues
Alan Jackson - Chattahoochee
Alison Krauss - When You Say Nothing Ar All
Alison Krauss - Baby Now That I've Found You
Barbara Mandrell - If Loving You Is Wrong I Don't Want to Be Right
Brad Paisley - Celebrity
Brad Paisley - Mud on the Tires
Brad Paisley - When I Get Where I'm Going
Carrie Underwood - Jesus Take the Wheel
Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats
Carrie Underwood - Wasted
Carrie Underwood - So Small
Carrie Underwood - All-American Girl
Carrie Underwood - Last Name
Diamond Rio - Beautiful Mess
Dierks Bentley - What Was Thinkin
Dierks Bentley - Come A Little Closer
Dierks Bentley - Every Mile a Memory
Dierks Bentley - Feel That Fire
Dolly Parton - Jolene
Dolly Patron - I Will Always Love You
Dolly Parton - Here You Come Again
Dolly Parton - 9 to 5
Dolly Parton - Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That
Garth Brooks - Friends in Low Places
Garth Brooks - The Dance
Garth Brooks - Shameless
Garth Brooks - More Than a Memory
George Jones - She Thinks I Still Care
George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today
Hank Williams - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash - I Walk the Line
Josh Turner - Your Man
Josh Turner - Would You Go With Me
Josh Turner - Firecracker
Lorrie Morgan - Watch Me
Martina McBride - Wild Angels
Martina McBride - A Broken Wing
Martina McBride - Anyway
Pam Tillis - Cleopatra, Queen of Denial
Pam Tillis - Maybe It Was Memphis
Patsy Cline - Walkin' After Midnight
Patsy Cline - I Fall to Pieces
Patsy Cline - Crazy
Patty Loveless - Blame On Your Heart
Randy Travis - Forever And Ever Amen
Reba McEntire - Fancy
Reba McEntire - Why Haven't I Heard From You
Ronnie Milsap - It Was Almost Like a Song
Tammy Wynette - Stand By Your Man
Terri Clark - Poor Poor Pitiful Me
Trace Adkins - Honky Tonk Badonkadonk
Trace Adkins - You're Gonna Miss This
Travis Tritt - I'm Gonna Be Somebody
Travis Tritt - T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Travis Tritt - Tell Me I was Dreaming
Travis Tritt - It's a Great Day To Be Alive
Trisha Yearwood - She's In Love With The Boy
Trisha Yearwood - Walkaway Joe
Trisha Yearwood - How Do I Live
Vince Gill - I Still Believe In You


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of FOX)