The next American Idol is going to be male

First it was Amanda Overmeyer, then Ramiele Malubay, then Kristy Lee Cook, then Carly Smithson, then Brooke White, and final Syesha Mercado. Syesha Raquel Mercado, the last woman standing, has been voted off of American Idol, giving her third place and joining Kimberley Locke as the female contestant in the top 3 to allow the top 2 male contestants to compete in the finale. The season 7 finale would be head to head between David Cook and David Archuleta. Archuleta's father has been banned from backstage for bullying.

Meanwhile, American Idol season 6 runner-up Blake Lewis called the season 6 finale unfair, because the producers gave him unfair restrictions. He was not allowed to be creative, while his winner Jordin Sparks was allowed to be creative.

Syesha Raquel Mercado was born on January 3, 1987, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She was raised in Sarasota, Florida. Her mother Zelda Mercado is African-American, but her father José is Hispanic. She attended Daughtry Elementary School in Manatee County, Florida. She graduated from Booker High School in 2005, where she was in the Theater Visual Performing and Arts department. As of now, she attends Florida International University in Miami, Florida.
Mercado auditioned for American Idol Season 7 in Miami, Florida, singing "Think", recorded by Aretha Franklin, where all three judges (Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul), unanimously said "Yes" to her and granted her entry to Hollywood. When she entered Hollywood, she temporarily lost her voice and went on vocal rest. She then communicated through handwriting. She sang "Chain of Fools" and was accepted into the semifinals. She was the only female in the top 3 and was voted off on this day, locking in the gender of the next American Idol winner to male, thus leaving two male contestants David Archuleta and David Cook to compete in the finale. Despite positive reviews from the judges, Mercado was in the bottom two or three five times, evading elimination. Some commentators, including American Idol judge Simon Cowell, believed that her singing style is more suited for broadway than pop music. I myself believe that her style is also suited for R&B.

According to AmericanIdol.com, her musical influences are Whitney Houston (ex-wife of New Edition member Bobby Brown), Etta James, Alicia Keys (princess of Neo Soul), Zap Mama, Lauryn Hill, and Aretha Franklin (the queen of soul).

Mercado is currently engaged to actor and producer Hess Wesley.