Entertainment, Music - Air Force Times

Singing sailor safe — until next week

Fans of sailor Phil Stacey can breathe easier — the bald singer will be back for next week’s “American Idol.”

Stacey, a musician third class, took heat Tuesday night for his choice of “I Need You,” a LeAnn Rimes ballad, but viewers apparently decided they needed him right back, voting to keep him on the Fox reality show.

Stacey’s fate was learned within the first quarter-hour of the show. Emcee Ryan Seacrest called the sailor, who covered his shiny head with a knitted newsboy cap, to center stage and kept him in suspense only briefly, asking how he felt (“Nervous.”), if he was worried (“A little worried, yeah.”), and if he wanted to continue in the competition (“I really want to move on, yeah.”) before assuring Stacey he was safe.

The show’s top 12, six men and six women, will perform again in competition Tuesday at 8 p.m. in a two-hour episode featuring the songs of Diana Ross.

Results will be announced Wednesday night at 9.