Hollie Cavanagh

Hollie Jessica Cavanagh{{cite web |url=https://en.twitter.com/CavanaghAI11/status/180892807655997440 |title=Twitter / CavanaghAI11: @Eben_Rocks jessica ( |publisher=En.twitter.com |access-date=19 March 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121129125938/https://en.twitter.com/CavanaghAI11/status/180892807655997440 |archive-date=29 November 2012 |url-status=dead }} was born in Liverpool on 5 July 1993, the daughter of Lorraine and Peter Cavanagh.{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/television/headlines/20120303-mckinney-resident-hollie-cavanagh-talk-about-american-idol-success.ece |title=McKinney resident Hollie Cavanagh talk about 'American Idol' success |date=3 March 2012 |access-date=5 March 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/03/hollie-cavanagh-on-american-idol-the-female-favorite/ |title=Hollie Cavanagh on American Idol: The Female Favorite? |date=1 March 2012 |access-date=5 March 2012}} She has two older brothers named Luke and Aaron. She grew up in the Allerton suburb of Liverpool, and moved with her family in 2002 to McKinney, Texas.{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/in-the-mix/2012/02/28/liverpool-born-american-idol-singer-hollie-cavanagh-makes-it-into-the-top-24-finalists-100252-30419501/|title=Liverpool-born American Idol singer Hollie Cavanagh makes it into the top 24 finalists|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|last=Miles|first=Tina|date=28 February 2012|access-date=9 March 2012}} She started singing when she was 15 and had been singing for a few years before she joined American Idol. She attended St Austin's Primary School in the Aigburth suburb of Liverpool and later graduated from McKinney Boyd High School, in 2011.

Cavanagh originally auditioned for season 10 in Austin, Texas, but was cut in the Green Mile Round. However, Jennifer Lopez told Hollie that she could win the competition next season by practicing and improving her singing.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollie-pops.com/?page_id=28 |title=About Hollie Cavanagh | Hollie Cavanagh |publisher=Hollie-pops.com |access-date=19 March 2013}} Next year, Cavanagh got a second chance for season 11 and auditioned in Houston, Texas, but was not given a lot of screen time compared to the previous season.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} She was only shown in the Las Vegas Round performing a medley of "Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes and "Please Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes with Naomi Gillies and Marissa Pontecorvo and in the Green Mile Round with fellow American Idol contestants, Shelby Tweten and Ariel Sprague.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} She sang "Change" by Carrie Underwood in the Sing for Your Life Round and was given nice feedback by the judges.{{cite web|author=Jenny McGrath |url=http://www.wetpaint.com/american-idol/video/watch-hollie-cavanagh-sing-change-in-american-idol-2012-final-judgment-part-2-on-february-23-2012 |title=Watch Hollie Cavanagh Sing "Change" in American Idol 2012 Final Judgment, Part 2 on February 23, 2012 – Video – American Idol |publisher=Wetpaint.com |date=23 February 2012 |access-date=19 March 2013}} She advanced to the next round.

In the semi-finals, she sang "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera. Her performance received praise from the judges, with Lopez saying that Hollie could win the show, while Steven Tyler wanted her to let her hair down, but called her performance beautiful. Amy Sciaretto from PopCrush wrote that "She's a frontrunner, and she attempted to slay a pretty big dragon, since Xtina is so difficult to emulate due to her range. While there were some slightly off parts, Cavanagh still handled it like a diva-in-training."{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/hollie-cavanagh-reflection-american-idol/ |title=Hollie Cavanagh Finds Her 'Reflection' During 'American Idol' Live Performance |publisher=Popcrush.com |date=29 February 2012 |access-date=21 April 2012}} Cavanagh was advanced to the following week by voters, and during the Top 13 performance show, she sang Whitney Houston's version of "All the Man That I Need". Randy Jackson and Tyler told her that she nailed Houston's song, while Lopez lauded her saying,

"That's the Hollie that I know. You're the one. We might have a sing off between two girls in the finale, and that's what I want!"{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/american-idol-hollie-cavanagh-all-the-man-i-need/ |title='American Idol' Contestant Hollie Cavanagh Proves She Is All the Idol We Need |publisher=Popcrush.com |date=8 March 2012 |access-date=21 April 2012}}

For the Top 11 performance show, Cavanagh once again earned praise singing Celine Dion's "The Power of Love". In her mentoring session with will.i.am and Jimmy Iovine, will.i.am and Iovine were both extremely impressed with Cavanagh's range, saying "Where's all that power coming from? [...] You got amplifiers in your pockets?"{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/hollie-cavanagh-power-of-love-american-idol/ |title=Hollie Cavanagh Proves 'The Power of Love' on 'American Idol' |publisher=Popcrush.com |date=14 March 2012 |access-date=21 April 2012}} Tyler commented "I don't know where your voice comes from. It's heaven above", while Jackson and Lopez, while praising the performance, pointed out minor pitch issues, though Jackson said that she blew the song out of the box. Brian Mansfield from USA Today commented that "She knows she hasn't made a safe choice, but she says now's not the time to play safe. Lots of big ballads tonight, but I think Hollie's may be the best."{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2012/03/hollie-cavanagh-the-power-of-love/1#.T5PEx6sV3js |title=Hollie Cavanagh: 'The Power of Love' |publisher=Content.usatoday.com |date=15 March 2012 |access-date=21 April 2012}}

Having been voted through to the next round once again, Cavanagh sang Billy Joel's "Honesty" at the Top 10 performance show. The judges' reactions to the performance were mixed, saying that she was over-thinking it.{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2012/03/hollie-cavanagh-honesty/1#.T5PHv6sV3js |title=Hollie Cavanagh: 'Honesty' |publisher=Content.usatoday.com |date=21 March 2012 |access-date=21 April 2012}} Prior to the performance, Iovine and the show's stylist Tommy Hilfiger had changed the way Cavanagh dressed, pointing out fashion as her only weakness. At the Top 9 performance show, she sang "Jesus, Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. Jackson said that she had problems with her lower range register, while Lopez said it was one of her best performances in terms of connecting with the song. Tyler stated that the song choice was wrong.{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2012/03/hollie-cavanagh-jesus-take-the-wheel/1#.T5PHXKsV3js |title=Hollie Cavanagh: 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' |publisher=Content.usatoday.com |date=28 March 2012 |access-date=21 April 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/american-idol-hollie-cavanagh-jesus-take-the-wheel/ |title='American Idol' Hopeful Hollie Cavanagh Lets 'Jesus Take the Wheel' |date=29 March 2012 |publisher=Popcrush.com |access-date=21 April 2012}} For the first time, Cavanagh fell to the bottom 3, but was sent to safety when Heejun Han was eliminated.{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/heejun-han-eliminated-on-american-idol/ |title=Heejun Han Eliminated on 'American Idol' |date=30 March 2012 |publisher=Popcrush.com |access-date=21 April 2012}} Cavanagh was once again in the bottom 3 after her performance of "Flashdance... What a Feeling" at the Top 8 performance show. Tyler said that her pitch was all over the place, but she arrived at the end. Like previous performances, all judges agreed that she was over-thinking it.{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/hollie-cavanagh-what-a-feeling-flashdance-american-idol/ |title='American Idol' Hopeful Hollie Cavanagh Sings 'What a Feeling' From 'Flashdance' |date=5 April 2012 |publisher=Popcrush.com |access-date=21 April 2012}} She was again sent to the bottom 3, but was declared safe first as DeAndre Brackensick was eliminated.

At the Top 7 performance show, Cavanagh sang "Perfect" by Pink receiving mixed feedback from the judges. The judges all agreed that it wasn't quite perfect.{{cite web|url=http://snarkfood.com/american-idol-2012-top-7-hollie-cavanagh-perfect-by-pink/314561/ |title=American Idol 2012 Top 7: Hollie Cavanagh – 'Perfect' by Pink (VIDEO) |publisher=Snark Food |date=11 April 2012 |access-date=19 March 2013}} However, many people disagreed with the judges and thought their comments were unfair.{{cite web|url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/04/american-idol-did-hollie-cavanagh-deserve-the-judges-wrath-for-perfect.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715010059/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/04/american-idol-did-hollie-cavanagh-deserve-the-judges-wrath-for-perfect.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title='American Idol': Did Hollie Cavanagh deserve the judges' wrath for 'Perfect'? – Zap2it |publisher=Zap2it |date=12 April 2012 |access-date=19 March 2013}} On results night, she was declared safe as Jessica Sanchez was eliminated, but then saved by the judges.{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-idol-jessica-sanchez-saved-by-judges-on-crazy-crazy-night/ | work=CBS News | title="American Idol": Jessica Sanchez saved by judges on crazy, crazy night}}

At the second Top 7 performance night (as the judges had saved Jessica the previous week, resulting in a repeat of the Top 7) Cavanagh sang Adele's "Rolling in the Deep". The performance, which began in a cappella, received praise from the judges, who highlighted improvement compared to previous weeks, but didn't say it was perfect.{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2012/04/hollie-cavanagh/1#.T5PL46sV3js |title=Hollie Cavanagh: 'Rolling in the Deep' |publisher=Content.usatoday.com |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=21 April 2012}} For her second performance, she sang "Son of a Preacher Man" by Dusty Springfield which earned even more positive feedback from the judges than her first.{{cite web |url=http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/american-idol-host-ryan-seacrest-honors-mentor-dick-clark-0 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730073409/http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/american-idol-host-ryan-seacrest-honors-mentor-dick-clark-0 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2012 |title=American Idol Host Seacrest Honors Mentor, Dick Clark |publisher=Alaska Dispatch |access-date=21 April 2012 }} While ending up in the bottom 3 again, she was safe while Colton Dixon was eliminated.{{cite news|last=Miles |first=Tina |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2012/04/21/liverpool-born-hollie-cavanagh-makes-in-final-six-of-american-idol-after-a-message-from-lfc-100252-30804482/ |title=Liverpool-born Hollie Cavanagh makes in final six of American Idol after a message from LFC – Liverpool Local News – News |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |access-date=21 April 2012}} On the top 6 performance show, Cavanagh sang Queen's "Save Me" and received mixed feedback from the judges. Her rendition of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" (which was her initial audition song in season 10) earned her a standing ovation from the judges.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/american-idol-1.811965/hollie-cavanagh-jessica-sanchez-and-skylar-laine-top-mediocore-american-idol-1.3682793 |title=Hollie Cavanagh, Jessica Sanchez and Skylar Laine top mediocore 'American Idol' |publisher=Newsday.com |date=25 April 2012 |access-date=19 March 2013}} She ended up in the bottom 3 again, but was safe as Elise Testone was eliminated. On the Top 5 performance show, Cavanagh sang Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep – Mountain High" and earned a standing ovation from two thirds of the judges. TVLine.com's Michael Slezak also thought positively of the performance saying, "[...] "River Deep, Mountain High" was a study in sublime power vocals, without any unnecessary embellishments. [...] Hollie held back on the melisma and the vibrato and the riffing, delivering a classic melody with heart and soul, [...] The "I love you, baby" breakdown was one of my favorite musical moments of the season, and you can't really argue with a little flirty interplay with the bongo drummer, either."{{cite news|last=Slezak |first=Michael |url=http://tvline.com/2012/05/01/idology-american-idol-top-6-week-queen-recap-slezak-doolittle/ |title=Idology: Hollie Cavanagh Rises! Plus: Decoding J.Lo's Subtext! |work=TVLine |date=1 May 2012 |access-date=19 March 2013}} Later that night, Cavanagh performed "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis which garnered her more positive feedback. Lopez commented on how it was beautiful and intimate, while Jackson said she was peaking at the right time.{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2012/05/02/american-idol-hollie-cavanagh-peaking-at-right-time/ |title='American Idol': Hollie Cavanagh peaking at right time – Orlando Sentinel |publisher=Articles.orlandosentinel.com |date=2 May 2012 |access-date=19 March 2013}} On the results show, she ended up in the bottom 2 with Skylar Laine, but was safe as Skylar was eliminated.{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/04/american-idol-skylar-laine-eliminated_n_1476478.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Jaimie | last=Etkin | title='American Idol's' Toughest Elimination Yet | date=4 May 2012}}

On the Top 4 performance show, Cavanagh performed "Faithfully" by Journey. The performance earned her positive reviews from the judges repeating that she was peaking at the right time.{{cite web|url=http://showbiz-trend.blogspot.com/2012/05/hollie-cavanagh-faithfully-video.html |title=Now Trending: Hollie Cavanagh Faithfully American idol top 4 Video |publisher=Showbiz-trend.blogspot.com |date=9 May 2012 |access-date=19 March 2013}} For her second performance, Cavanagh performed Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me". The judges gave her negative reviews stating that she did not connect with the song. On results night, she was eliminated and her final song was "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus.

On the season eleven finale, Cavanagh performed "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the musical Carousel alongside Jordin Sparks.''

• {{note|1|Note 1}} When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Cavanagh was among the Bottom 3, but declared safe second, as Heejun Han was eliminated.
• {{note|2|Note 2}} When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Cavanagh was among the Bottom 3, but declared safe first.
• {{note|3|Note 3}} Due to the judges using their one save on Jessica Sanchez, the Top 7 remained intact for another week.
• {{note|4|Note 4}} When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Cavanagh was among the Bottom 3, but declared safe second, as Colton Dixon was eliminated.
• {{note|5|Note 5}} When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Cavanagh was among the bottom 3, but declared safe second, as Elise Testone was eliminated.
• {{note|6|Note 6}} When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Cavanagh was in the bottom 2, but declared safe, as Skylar Laine was eliminated.

Cavanagh took part in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2012, which began 6 July 2012 and ran until 21 September 2012.[http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2012/07/american-idol-live-tour-kicks-off-in-detroit/1 American Idol Live tour kicks off in Detroit]. Content.usatoday.com (8 July 2012). Retrieved on 19 July 2013. Cavanagh performed two solo songs, "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele and "Give Your Heart a Break" by Demi Lovato.

Her debut single, "Outer Limit", was released on 15 July 2013.[https://music.apple.com/us/album/outer-limit-single/672567081 iTunes – Music – Outer Limit – Single by Hollie Cavanagh]. Itunes.apple.com (15 July 2013). Retrieved on 19 July 2013. Cavanagh released her second single, "Girlfriend", on 25 November 2013.{{Citation needed|date=August 2016}}

Cavanagh's musical influences include Adele, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston.{{cite web |url=http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season_11/hollie_cavanagh/ |title=Hollie Cavanagh |work=americanidol.com }}

Cavanagh is a fan of her hometown football team Liverpool FC, and named her dog Shankly after Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.{{cite web |url=http://townsquarebuzz.com/ams/40147/mckinneys-hollie-cavanagh-top-10-vote-getter-american-idol/0/ams/40147 |title=McKinney's Hollie Cavanagh a Top-10 Vote Getter on American Idol! |date=1 March 2012 |access-date=5 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304163130/http://townsquarebuzz.com/ams/40147/mckinneys-hollie-cavanagh-top-10-vote-getter-american-idol/0/ams/40147 |archive-date=4 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}

{{Reflist|35em}}

• [http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season_11/hollie_cavanagh/ Hollie Cavanagh] on American Idol
• {{IMDb name|4353105|Hollie Cavanagh}}

{{American Idol 11}}

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Category:1993 births

Category:American child singers

Category:American Idol participants

Category:American women pop singers

Category:English child singers

Category:English emigrants to the United States

Category:English people of Irish descent

Category:English women pop singers

Category:Living people

Category:Singers from Liverpool

Category:Singers from Texas

Category:21st-century American singers

Category:21st-century American women singers

Category:21st-century English singers

Category:21st-century English women singers

Category:People from McKinney, Texas