2 SC singers wow ‘American Idol’ judges with raspy soul and a surprising song. Now America votes

The two South Carolina residents still in the “American Idol” competition performed Sunday night, but don’t get your hopes up about learning how they did.

This is the point in the contest where America votes for their favorites, but the results won’t be revealed until the top 20 are announced next week.

So that means six contestants will be voted off by then.

On Sunday, Mariah Faith and Warren Peay were among the 13 singers who performed and 13 will be shown Monday night. The show begins at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Voting for the Sunday group ended at 6 a.m. Eastern time Monday. Monday’s group voting will end at the same time Tuesday.

The competition is being held at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii..

Faith of Conway was shown with her baby sister, fixing her hair (Mariah is a hairdresser) and makeup just so. Faith said her sister looks up to her, especially as a performer, so she has that for motivation.

She sang the Chris Stapleton song “You Should Probably Leave” with so much soul and grit, each one of the judges mentioned it.

Judge Lionel Richie said, “That rasp is the signature to your success.”

It’s her vibe, something every singer needs to make them stand out, he said.

Judge Katy Perry said, “You have true grit about you, girl.”

Judge Luke Bryan said she had a “bluesy, soulful, raspy thing.”

Host Ryan Seacrest described Peay’s choice of song and presentation as “an unexpected performance.”

The country singer chose a song by Adele, “Set Fire to the Rain.”

Peay said he chose it to show a “slightly different side of me.”

So different, that when he started singing Perry said, “Is this Adele?”

Bryan said, “We didn’t see that coming.”

He said surprise is “part of this game.”

The mentor for the night was soul and rhythm and blues singer Allen Stone. He didn’t have a lot to say about Peay’s vocals but did suggest at a certain part of the song, Peay take off his cowboy hat, hold it over his heart for a bit then throw it into the audience.

They practiced it. Several times. Each time Peay’s throw was slightly unenthusiastic. Halfhearted even.

Then when Peay performed, he took the hat off, held it over his heart and then put it back on his head.

Seacrest came out wearing a sort of goofy looking black cowboy hat and gave it to Peay to throw, which he did.

Peay of Bamberg said his hat was his good luck charm. He’d worn it for every performance. And moreover he had a picture of his girlfriend inside.

As he did with each contestant, Stone met Peay backstage and quickly asked to see the picture.

It is tucked into a little pocket.

A true good luck charm.