It won't be Fantasia and LaToya or Fantasia and Jennifer facing off (I would have been happy with any two of the "Three Divas"), but for those who think Diana and Fantasia are comparable vocally and in terms of performance, it will certainly be a face-off of two VERY different styles.
It was nice to see that Jasmine got the total Kahuna treatment in Hawaii. I mean, the governor of Hawaii making it Jasmine Trias Day! No wonder two weeks ago she got 1.3 million votes from Hawaii, which has a population of 1.2 million--and 5 million calls tried to get through. Too bad she couldn't have done Elton John's "Island Girl" as her tribute song, but "Inseparable" was her best song, IMO, and really suited her voice. Oddly, though, in comparing this with my tape of the first time she sang it, she had more pitch problems tonight. I'd have to listen to all Jasmine's performances in chronological order to see if this actually happened or if I'm just imagining it, but it seems as if her problems with pitch got worse as the weeks went on. As others have noted, she usually or at least often hits the big notes on key; it's the lyrics in between she would have trouble with. Maybe it was vocal fatigue? (I'm asking). But it seems that would affect her big notes. Do girls' voices change with puberty? I know, at 16 she was probably well past the age of menarche, but just getting your period doesn't mean "Puberty, out."
Rgal, I know you stopped watching, but in terms of singing in general, can you give my enquiring mind some help? Others who have taught singing are of course welcome to answer. As Henry Higgins might say, "Why did Jasmine have so many problems with pitch?"
And talk about contrasting styles, how about Honolulu compared to Fantasia's return to her home town of High Point, North Carolina! That is DEEP FRIED SOUTHERN SMALL TOWN LIVING, which is what they will be renaming MARTHA STEWART'S LIVING.

Not too many town like that left, where a manufacturing industry like furniture making is virtually the entire economy of the town.
Another difference was that Fantasia was the only one of the three finalists who did not have a high school where she could make a "triumphant return." Good for her for telling the assembly at her former elementary school, "Stay in school and do your work." The question I wonder about is: Will America allow an unwed mother who got pregnant at 15 or 16 be its "American Idol"? It doesn't matter to this American, but I know it matters to a lot of others.
Diana's visit home was almost as swanky as Jasmine's, and boy, did Diana's accent come back thick when she got home, lol--which is not a diss, in case anybody might think so. Having been home with a lot of people who grew up with strong regional accents, it's as if all they have to do is breathe the air and the accent is in it.
I liked the Australian Idol, Guy Sebastian--beautiful pop tenor voice and definitely his own man. I wish we could hear more of the other "world" idols. The first World Idol winner, who is from Finland, IIRC (or is it the Netherlands?), has a gorgeous voice and I haven't heard anything about him. I'd love to see a special of all the past and current AI winners and successful non-winners, ie, Clay Aiken, Kim Locke, Tamyra Grey. Anybody know when the original British version of Idol, whatever it's called, first started? I must agree with Clive Davis that pop music, though I'm not a fan of the overall genre--except pure Detroit Motown, was dead by the early '90s and that the popularity of "Idol" has had a lot to do with reviving it.
Verrry interrresting that Tamyra Grey has co-written the song that both Diana and Fantasia will be singing as at least one song in the final and then that will be the song the winner will release as her first single. I remember some people saying that Tamyra would probably get a better deal having been kicked off too early than had she made it to the final two, even had she won. They may have been right. For somebody who hasn't been pounding the club and small venue scene for years, singing her own songs (I wonder if she writes music and lyrics or just lyrics?) releasing her first album as entirely self-written is very unusual these days in pop. It's what hip-hop is all about, but not pop. I liked her first song, "Star," but thought her second song, "Rain on Your Face" was just so-so. Tamyra was virtually a pro during AI-1, but you can really see how the experience she's had over the last two years, and no doubt a lot of hard work, has improved everything about her singing and performance. It's definitely taking a chance writing all your own songs, but more power to her. If she can carry it off, she'll have ALL the money. And more importantly (okay, all the money is very important, lol), creative control.
I saw an interview with LaToya London on the l0pm NY Fox News. They did the interview walking along the street and a lot of people stopped her and said, "You wuz wobbed!" LaToya said she's not at all unhappy with not making it to the final because she achieved her goal, which was to get herself seen and heard by millions of people, including producers. She said she's actually more interested in acting, which I thought was interesting since I felt the only weak thing about her singing was her inability to emotionally tell the story of the song and connect with the audience, which involves acting. LaToya also said she thinks that by not winning AI she'll have more control over her career and be able to do a greater variety of entertainment work. The last thing she said is that she plans to release her first album at the beginning of next year.
I just hope Jennifer is able to put her momentum to good use. I thought she was really on the right track and improving every week when she was voted off. But I don't think she or the people around her know how to work the business. Hopefully, going on the AI tour will help her learn how to do that.
But for my own selfish reasons, I still wish we could have had a final three show with Fantasia, Jennifer, and LaToya. Ah, well. Time to move on...
Rgirl