Hey Idol fans, can you believe it's down to three? Four seemed like so many, but the Top 3 seems like it came on so suddenly. Maybe I'm just still in shock that James isn't around to enjoy the week where the judges choose a song for the contestants, they choose a song for themselves, and Jimmy Iovine (the REAL judge) chooses a song for them. The show is going back to two hours on Wednesday.

We've got SPOILERS! Joe's Place has revealed the judges' picks for the Top 3 and I'm somewhat underwhelmed. Let's discuss, then move on to a few speculations about what we think they might choose, or what Jimmy might choose for them, then what I would choose for them if I was important.

Lauren Alaina
Judges' Choice: "I Hope You Dance" by Leann Womack
Okay, this song is totally appropriate for Lauren Alaina. It's country/pop and it's inspirational and not the least bit vulgar or "evil." Let's just hope she does better with the song than Scotty McCreery and Ta-Tynisa Wilson did in the end of the Hollywood Round (remember "nuts of wonder"?). Ahhhh, let's re-live that moment:


Never lose the wonder of your senses, Lauren. Also, NEVER take advantage of this broken.

I never know what Jimmy Iovine will choose for the contestants but I feel like between Jimmy and Lauren, she will end up singing some more Carrie Underwood. Maybe "Jesus Take the Wheel"?

I would choose: "Fancy" by Reba McEntire.
Come on, this song is so great. Is it wrong that I just want to hear more Reba?

Scotty McCreery
Judges' Choice: "She Believes in Me" by Kenny Rogers
This is the perfect choice to woo America. It's all sweet and humble and romantic and it will utilize Scotty's rich lower register. If you aren't familiar with the song and want to give it a listen, make sure you listen to the original and not the re-recorded version. It's much easier to imagine Scotty sounding like Young Kenny.

I'm not sure I know enough about country music to even predict what Jimmy or Scotty might choose for this episode.

I would choose: "Little Moments" by Brad Paisley
I'm surprised Brad Paisley hasn't made an appearance yet. It seems like a good fit, but I wonder if Scotty might end up choosing something like "When I Get Where I'm Going" with another overt message. Is that okay? Is he allowed to do that?

Haley Reinhart
Judges' Choice: "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette
The song is fine, I guess, but I'm surprised. The judges have said "Stevie Nicks" so many times, I thought for sure they would choose a Fleetwood Mac song. "Landslide" would be so pretty. "Rhiannon" maybe? I guess they wanted to choose an up-tempo song just to mix it up, though? There's a light conspiracy theory flying around that the judges are too hard on Haley because they want her out. I don't know if I believe that, but this song choice plays into that in an interesting way.

Maybe Jimmy will have Haley sing some Stevie Nicks, or maybe Haley will do it herself. Either way, it has to happen. Maybe they're waiting for the finale. You know, the one that Stevie Nicks is performing on?

I would choose: "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles
I have been wanting Haley to sing "Black Velvet" from the beginning. She missed a golden opportunity to sing it on "The Year You Were Born" week. It seems like such an obvious home run to me, or maybe my love for the song has clouded my judgment?

UPDATE:
We have all three of Haley Reinhart's songs, courtesy of Idol Blog:
In addition to singing "You Oughta Know," Haley will sing Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" (oh yeah, nailed it) as the producers' pick, and she has chosen "What Should Never Be" by Led Zepplin for herself.

What do you think of the judges' choices for the contestants? What would YOU choose for them?

(Image courtesy of FOX)