- For more on her biography/career, see Elise Testone/Personal.
Elise Nicole Testone (born July 29, 1983)[1] was a contestant on Season 11 of American Idol.
Audition[]
Elise auditioned in Savannah. She sang "Get It While You Can" by Howard Tate, as covered by Janis Joplin. It's unknown how the judges voted, but at least two of them voted "yes", sending her to the next round.
Hollywood Round[]
Elise was shown in the first part of Hollywood Week, singing "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai—during the same 'Lines of Ten' montage as Baylie Brown and Hallie Day. All three advanced, albeit from different lines. After her untelevised second round group and third round solo performances ("Some Kind of Wonderful" by Grand Funk Railroad and "Georgia on My Mind" by Ray Charles, respectively), she was placed in the first deliberation room, along with Hallie Day, Jermaine Jones, Erika Van Pelt, Colton Dixon, Joshua Ledet, Naomi Gillies, Cortez Shaw, Adam Lee Decker, Amber Holcomb, Devan Jones, Adam Brock, Jen Hirsh, Scott Dangerfield, Lauren Gray, Aaron Marcellus, Johnny Keyser, Candice Glover, Chase Likens, Tenna Torres, Creighton Fraker, and David Leathers, Jr.; where it was revealed that everyone in the room had advanced.[2]
Las Vegas Round[]
For the 1950s stage, Elise was shown in a group with Reed Grimm, Haley Johnsen, and Eben Franckewitz, singing "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" by Bobby Vee. Everyone in her group advanced. For her final solo performance, she sang "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown. At the Final Judgment, the judges told her that she did enough to become a Top 25 finalist.
Top 25[]
Elise sang "One and Only" by Adele in the semifinals—the second person that same night to sing it, following Jen Hirsh. She received enough votes to place amongst the Top 5 Girls, making her a Top 13 finalist.
Top 13[]
For the Whitney Houston/Stevie Wonder theme, Elise sang "I'm Your Baby Tonight" by Houston. On results night, it was revealed that America's votes landed her in the Bottom 3 of Women (in a split-gendered Bottom 6). It was thereafter announced that she received the least amount on the female side, while Jeremy Rosado received the least amount of votes amongst the males, placing them both in jeopardy. In a twist, the judges were allotted a one-time obligatory save. They opted to save Elise, thus eliminating Jeremy from the competition.
Top 11[]
For the Year You Were Born theme, Elise sang "Let's Stay Together" via Tina Turner (originally by Al Green). On results night, it was revealed that America's votes landed her in the Bottom 3. However, she was the first contestant sent back to safety.
Top 10[]
For the Billy Joel theme, Elise sang "Vienna". On results night, it was revealed that she received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 9[]
For the Personal Idols theme, Elise sang "Whole Lotta Love" by her idols, Led Zeppelin. She, Colton Dixon, and Phillip Phillips also performed a medley as a trio, in a tribute to Stevie Nicks (originally from Fleetwood Mac, who also served as guest mentor for that week), singing: "Landslide", "Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White-Winged Dove)", and "Don't Stop". On results night, it was revealed that she received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 8[]
For the 1980s theme, Elise sang "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner. She also paired up again with Phillip Phillips for a duet, singing "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" by Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. On results night, it was revealed that America's votes landed her in the Bottom 3. However, she was declared safe last, while DeAndre Brackensick was eliminated.
Top 7[]
For the 2010s theme, Elise sang "Yoü and I" by Lady Gaga. She did another duet with Phillip Phillips, singing "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye ft. Kimbra. On results night, it was revealed that America's votes landed her in the Bottom 3. However, she was declared safe last, while Jessica Sanchez was in danger of elimination—but eventually saved. Due to the Judges' Save being utilized on Jessica, the Top 7 remained intact for another week.
Top 7 Redux[]
For the Now & Then theme, Elise sang "No One" by Alicia Keys, as her song for the former; and "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye, as her song for the latter. On results night, it was revealed that America's votes landed her in the Bottom 3. However, she was the first contestant sent back to safety.
Top 6[]
For the Queen theme, Elise sang "I Want It All". For the free choice round, she sang "Bold as Love" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The Top 6 also performed a medley of Queen hits with Brian May and Roger Taylor. On results night, it was revealed that she did not receive enough votes from America that week, and thus was eliminated in sixth place.
List of Performances[]
Stage | Song | Artist | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Audition | "Get It While You Can" | Janis Joplin | Advanced |
Hollywood | "Virtual Insanity" | Jamiroquai | Advanced |
"Some Kind of Wonderful" (w/ |
Grand Funk Railroad | Advanced | |
"Georgia on My Mind" (N/A)* | Ray Charles | Advanced | |
Las Vegas | "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" (w/ Reed Grimm, Haley Johnsen, & Eben Franckewitz) |
Bobby Vee | Advanced |
Final Judgment | "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" | James Brown | Top 25 |
Top 25 (Girls) | "One and Only" | Adele | Top 13 |
Top 13 | "I'm Your Baby Tonight" | Whitney Houston | Saved |
Top 11 | "Let's Stay Together" | Al Green | Bottom 3 |
Top 10 | "Vienna" | Billy Joel | Safe |
Top 9 | "Landslide" / "Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White-Winged Dove)" / "Don't Stop" [medley] (w/ Colton Dixon & Phillip Phillips) |
Stevie Nicks / Fleetwood Mac |
Safe |
"Whole Lotta Love" | Led Zeppelin | ||
Top 8 | "I Want to Know What Love Is" | Foreigner | Bottom 2 |
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (w/ Phillip Phillips) |
Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | ||
Top 7A | "Somebody That I Used to Know" (w/ Phillip Phillips) |
Gotye (ft. Kimbra) | Bottom 2 |
"Yoü and I" | Lady Gaga | ||
Top 7B | "No One" | Alicia Keys | Bottom 3 |
"Let's Get It On" | Marvin Gaye | ||
Top 6 | "Fat-Bottomed Girls" / "Another One Bites the Dust" / "We Will Rock You" / "We Are the Champions" [medley] (w/ Hollie Cavanagh, Jessica Sanchez, Skylar Laine, Joshua Ledet, & Phillip Phillips) |
Queen | Eliminated |
"I Want It All" | |||
"Bold as Love" | The Jimi Hendrix Experience |
Trivia[]
- Prior to relocating to the Charleston music scene, Elise grew up in Kinnelon, New Jersey.[3]
Quick Links[]
- Elise Testone's Website
- Elise Testone on Facebook
- Elise Testone on Instagram
- Elise Testone on Twitter (X)
- Elise Testone on TikTok
- Elise Testone on Spotify
- Elise Testone on YouTube Music
- Elise Testone on SoundCloud
Season 11 |
Finalists |
·Phillip Phillips ·Jessica Sanchez ·Joshua Ledet ·Hollie Cavanagh ·Skylar Laine ·Elise Testone ·Colton Dixon ·DeAndre Brackensick ·Heejun Han ·Erika Van Pelt ·Shannon Magrane ·Jermaine Jones ·Jeremy Rosado |
Semifinalists |
·Reed Grimm ·Jen Hirsh ·Brielle Von Hugel —— ·Adam Brock ·Baylie Brown ·Hallie Day ·Creighton Fraker ·Eben Franckewitz ·Haley Johnsen ·Chase Likens ·Aaron Marcellus ·Chelsea Sorrell |