'Idol' pair

'Idol' pair
By MATT GLEASON World Scene Writer
2/18/2007

Oklahomans have two 'American Idol' competitors to watch

"American Idol" judge Simon Cowell kissed Melinda Doolittle on the cheek after the show's toughest critic told the former Tulsan she had earned a slot among the Top 24 performers, in an episode that aired Wednesday evening.

"You may be surprised when I tell you you're good enough to stand at the front of the stage and you're through to the next round," Cowell told the professional backup singer who lives in Tennessee.

He then told Doolittle, "You are no longer a backup singer. Got that?"

She did.

It wasn't the first time Cowell praised the singer, who attended both Union High School and the University of Tulsa.

During her Memphis, Tenn. audition, Cowell said, "Melinda, we have a lot of people who come in here with a lot of attitude and a lot of confidence, and they're not very good.

"You walk in with no confidence, no attitude, and yet you are a brilliant singer -- a brilliant singer, seriously. . . . You are in the top 2 percent of good singers this year."

As for Phil Stacey, he has family ties to Shawnee and is the father of two children, including a new baby girl.

He's also a Navy petty serves as a Navy singer in Jacksonville, Fla.

"Idol" judge Randy Jackson let Stacey know he had made it into the Top 24 when he said, "Dude, you made it. You're through to the next. You're on the show, baby."

Both Doolittle and Stacey share a deep Christian faith, and are both 29, making them the two oldest contestants on the show.

Stacey battles the other male singers Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on Fox. Doolittle competes Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

The first live results show, when two men and two women are eliminated, is Thursday night at 7 p.m.

Here's a look into their personalities, thanks to video interviews on the "American Idol" Web site, www.americanidol.com