There might have been a musical milestone tonight (Tuesday, March 17). That was averted, however, when Jorge Nunez was ousted last week from "American Idol."
If Nunez had lasted one more week, he would have faced tonight's country-music theme. "I would have been ... the first Puerto Rican in the history of Puerto Rico to sing country music," he joked by phone.
He had even started picking out a song -- possibly Martina McBride's "Anyway" or Carrie Underwood's "I Know You Won't." Then Nunez and Jasmine Murray were ousted; the country nights (with Randy Travis as mentor).
For a moment, consider the people who were ousted during country week. In orter, they have been: Julia DeMato, Matt Rogers, Anthony Federov, Mandisa, Sanjaya Malukar and Ramielle Malubay. Most of them had roots and homes far from Nashville.
Murray -- who had been pondering several Underwood or LeAnn Rimes songs -- sounded somber. She was upbeat about some things, however, including being with "Idol" when it moved to its larger setting. "That stage is so amazing -- the lights and the audience; it's amazing, all the energy you feel."
As for Nunez, his mood was unvaryingly upbeat.
"I've got lots of text messages saying wonderful things," he said. "That's how my family is and that's how I am."
Before this, he had been comfortably into his final year of college, studying comparative literature and planning to be a lawyer. He had sung with school groups, but little more. When he tried out for "Objetivo Fama" -- sometimes loosely called "the Spanish 'American Idol'" -- he didn't survive the first round of auditions.
In the actual "Idol," however, he reached the final 13 and was praised, via text-message, by Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez.
He'll definitely finish college, he said, but he'll also take advantage of the waves of publicity in Puerto Rico. And yes, he's planning to be there soon. "I can't wait to go back and finally eat some real Puerto Rican food."
For Murray, it will simply be a return to the life she's long known. She's been singing since she was 3 and is a high school junior at the Mississippi School of the Arts; she's also a pageant veteran.
Last year, Murray finished in the top 10 for Miss America's Outstanding Teenager. The year before that, she sang the National Anthem at the Miss America pageant.
By one view, that experience hurt her: Pageants emphasize poise and precision; "Idol" viewers often want something looser and more vibrant.
One judge (Simon Cowell) even called Murray "robotic." She prefers an alternate view: "Paula (Abdul said) I had poise on the stage. I think it's a good thing."