Arena Anthem Night on "American Idol" propelled East Brunswick's Jax into the show's top five and onto the summer tour.

Jax after her first performance on Wednesday's "American Idol"
Jax after her first performance on Wednesday's "American Idol" (YouTube)
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With the show's season finale a month away, Jax opened  Wednesday night's show: with Jet's  "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" (which she changed to "guy") wearing a white T-shirt, black fringe jacket and short-shorts and high-fiving her fans.

"Wow! That's how you open a show!" gushed judge Keith Urban, who said it took her a bit to get "loosened up."

Jennifer Lopez was equally pleased, telling Jax,"You have a perfect combination of being aware of the audience and having a good time. That was really great to open the show."

Harry Connick Jr. said the performance gave a preview of what a Jax solo tour might sound like. "I'd have a hell of a time at the show. That was strong,” he said of her performance.

Jax's second performance of the night found her in a white dress behind the piano for a a calm, quiet "White Flag" by British artist Dido which Urban said was a "great song" for her to do that had him "riveted."  Lopez continued to heap praise with her approval of the song. "That just tells me your instincts as an artist and everything about you is so perfectly ready to be in this business...That was so beautiful for you.” Connick Jr. called it a "phenomenal" performance.

"I love my top 5 family. I wouldn't have it any other way. The talent is unreal..And the love is like no other❤️ Can't wait to tour with them," tweeted Jax after the show.

More of Jax's background was revealed in an emotional segment in which she says her parents were told she was going to be a boy and had already painted her bedroom blue. The closeness with her father John was solidified with her first words: "Da da" and she said that he will always be her "number one special guy."

The American Idol tour opens on July 7 in Clearwater, Florida and will make three New Jersey stops: the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown on July 22, Caesar's in Atlantic City on August 1 and at the Count Basie in Red Bank on August 2, which is a 45 minute drive from Jax's East Brunswick home. Jax remembers seeing the season 5 tour and her favorite from that season, runner up Katharine McPhee, when she was age 6 or 7.  Mandisa, who toured with the season 5 contestants tweeted "ugh" at the Jax's age.

Not joining Jax on the "Idol" tour is Quentin Alexander who lost the night's Twitter challenge to Rayvon Owen.

Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan of the US Women's National soccer team helped "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest announce that the "Idol" winner will perform the official anthem of Fox Sports' World Cup coverage.

The Jax Pack will have a chance to watch the show and vote as a group for the first time at the Gusto Grill on Route 18 in East Brunswick a family favorite restaurant according to MyCentralJersey.com, for next week's show.

There are three ways left to vote for Jax by noon on Tuesday.

  • Super Vote via the American Idol app
  • Facebook
  • Search “American Idol Vote” on Google

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