Michael Yarish/ FOXAfter the flurry of headlines generated in recent days after word leaked that American Idol producers had considered replacing Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj on the judges' panel, tonight's results show put the focus back where it arguably belongs: on the four remaining female contestants. In the hour's "big twist," Kree Harrison, Angie Miller, Amber Holcomb and Candice Glover were rewarded for their talent—and the lack of a judges' save this season—by all being declared safe for another week.
Still, that didn't keep executive producer Nigel Lythgoe from having a little fun at the girls' expense during the commercial break right before the announcement. "Nigel came up to me and Kree and was like, 'So, the band knows your 'save song,' right?' Angie told us backstage after the show.
"But he didn't come to me and Amber," chimed in Candice, who turned out to be in the Bottom 2, "and I was like, 'Whatever, he's trying to throw us off!'"
And it worked, at least where Kree was concerned. The bluesy country singer told us she was so freaked by what Lythgoe said that "I was practicing my farewell song! I was singing it out loud" onstage during the commercial break.
While all the ladies were thrilled to be sticking around as a foursome for another week, Candice was especially excited backstage, which was completely understandable given she'd just gotten a surprise on-air visit from Drake! "I could not believe that happened," she told us of the singer's drop-by during the show, which Nicki had helped arrange after Candice covered his hit, "Find Your Love," Wednesday night. "Like, I think I was too strung out to even cry. I didn't know what was going on! I was like, 'what do I do?'"
Evidently just stand there and let one of the music industry's hottest stars whisper sweet nothings into your ear. Which is exactly what happened during another commercial break, and Candice was only too happy to share what he'd said: "He just thanked me for doing his song, and he said I'm doing a really good job and to stay true to who I am. And he said that he really loves me! And that he's going to watch for me, and that he hopes that I can sing with him on tour one day."
If this whole Idol thing doesn't work out, that sounds like a pretty good backup plan, no?