MANILA, Philippines -- A day before this week's crucial "American Idol" performance night, which will determine the final two contestants, Jessica Sanchez has been struck with the sore throat.
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In her official Twitter account, Sanchez said on Tuesday that she's "drinking tea. Throat isnt feeling at its best."
Her fans immediately showed their support for the Filipino-Mexican-American contestant using the hashtag #GetWellSoonJessica.
"I pray for your health and winning! I believe you go through Top 2 Jessica Sanchez," said Twitter user Antonius Quinn.
"Try a little tenderness," said Tom Janoski, referring to the Otis Redding song, which Sanchez performed on the hit US talent search.
"Sorry for flooding your timeline with #PrayforJessica #GetWellsoonJessica feeds. We're just too worried about her for tomorrow's show," her fan club Worldwide BluJays wrote.
The remaining three "Idol" contestants are set to perform three songs on Wednesday night (Thursday morning in Manila) -- judges' choice, record producer and mentor Jimmy Iovine's choice and contestant's choice.
The Top 2 vote-getters will advance to the finals next week.
Last woman standing
Sanchez made the Top 3 along with Phillip Phillips and Joshua Ledet after Hollie Cavanagh was eliminated last week, making her the only female contestant left in the contest.
Since the start of the season, "Idol" has been constantly reminding viewers that there hasn't been a female winner since Jordin Sparks won in Season 6.
But even before she made the Top 3, many "Idol" observers have been predicting that Sanchez could be the one to break the winning streak of the so-called "white guys with guitars."
For four consecutive seasons, "Idol" has crowned guitar-playing male contestants starting with David Cook in Season 7, followed by Kris Allen, Lee Dewyze and last year's winner Scotty McCreery.
On Tuesday night, national newspaper USA Today predicted Sanchez to come out on top on Wednesday's performance night.
USA Today said it has come up with a formula based on song choice, performance order, judges' verdicts and online buzz.
It said Sanchez could win if "she combines a crowd-pleasing ballad upon which to unleash all of her bounteous vocal gifts (think last week's 'And I Am Telling You') with one of her rare but memorable re-imaginings (think Beyoncé's 'Sweet Dreams')."
The newspaper also advised her to avoid songs by classic R&B singers "three times her age or more."
"Tina Turner and Etta James should be off-limits, although Aretha Franklin could work. Better to play it safe with more contemporary material, though," it said.
Parallels
Still, USA Today noted that the composition of the Top 3 can also favor Phillips, noting how Taylor Hicks won over Katharine McPhee and Elliot Yamin in Season 5.
Like that season, the newspaper also said this season's Top 3 is "an unpredictable showdown between the two best pure singers and an eccentric stylist."
Other "Idol" observers, however, believe that in terms of parallels, Season 11 shares more in common with Season 6, the year Sparks won.
That season's Top 3 had Sparks, beat-boxer Blake Lewis and R&B singer Melinda Doolittle.
Like Lewis, Phillips has shown great creativity in terms of re-interpreting popular songs, while Ledet, like Doolittle, comes from a more classical R&B background.
Despite receiving generous praise from the judges all season long, Doolittle was eliminated during Top 3, leaving Lewis and Sparks to duke it out during the finals -- which, many "Idol" followers, believe was a lop-sided contest between, what USA Today may call, a "pure singer" and an "eccentric stylist."
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