Katie interviews Melissa's husband Rick, who acknowledges that it's been kind of crazy since she's gone. However, this is a dream come true and what the family has been praying for and hoping for for a long time. Rick says that she deserves it. After popping out all those damn kids she sure deserves something. Her youngest son has been busily discovering his own ear during this little audience interview. Oooh! And for her second mini-song, Melissa is singing "Landslide." Starting at the chorus. She does a good job with the 20 seconds she's been given. John Rich tells Melissa to get her nerves under control, because he's worried that they might get the best of her. He says she's by far the best singer on the show, but it's not all about being a singer -- it's about being a star. He adds that she was excellent.

The next contestant to move on is Shawn Mayer. She'll be singing "Breathe" by Faith Hill. In her video, Shawn is ecstatic to see her family. John Rich has an itch on his face, which the editors want us to believe is a tear. Nice try. John thinks it's time for America to see the girl side of Shawn Mayer. Quoi? Is it just me who thinks she's always a total sex bomb? Shawn debates between singing "Imagine" and "Breathe." She runs it by her sister who thinks that "Breathe" is the natural choice. John and the rest of Shawn's family agree. We see Shawn getting a pedicure. Girly! And giggling at the musicians. Girly! And twirling around in her pretty green dress. Girly! Okay, we get it. Shawn sings and overall she sounds pretty good. She sure brings the emotion. And she looks so pretty... and girly! I do like her a whole lot. Jewel tells Shawn that she's always liked her raw emotionality. Is emotionality actually a word? I have a hard time believing it. ["I had a hard time believing it too... but spell check and m-w.com seem to deem it a word." -- Angel] Jewel says that Shawn should work on her phrasing, because she's running out of breath. Jeffrey disagrees with Jewel, saying that he likes when Shawn runs out of breath because her voice gets smaller and less ambitious. It's true that she really overdoes it. Jeffrey thinks that she has a lot to work on, but did a good job this week. John Rich asks Shawn if she thinks she's been improving. Shawn thinks she has been. John says that they'll find out. He was impressed by the performance, but is worried because 1) the competition is stiff; 2) Shawn's kind of an emotional wreck. He adds that he was shocked at how well that came off.