Adriana Latonio Nails Aretha Franklin’s ‘Ain’t No Way’ on ‘American Idol’

Alaska native Adriana Latonio rocked the stage of ‘American Idol’ tonight (Feb. 20) with her delivery of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Ain’t No Way.’ She’s barely five feet tall, but what she lacks in height, she more than makes up for in her powerful voice and onstage presence.

“Now the night has started,” remarked a very impressed Keith Urban. “Your emotions and everything completely belied your age and I feel like you were just channeling into all the soul that song requires.”

“Within two seconds of you walking out, this is what I wrote down: ‘Little tiny thing but commands the stage from the second she walks out,’” praised ‘Idol’ judge Nicki Minaj. “There is no fear … I did not see one ounce of fear in you. Apart from the vocal being great, I think that you’re poised and ready. You almost feel like you’ve already been doing this.” Randy Jackson agreed, saying, “This girl is born to do it.”

“That’s Aretha Franklin, okay? That’s the queen of soul who sings that song,” Mariah Carey pointed out. But she was also sure to mention that the young singer embraced the tune and made it her own. “I really loved how you came through with your version of the song. I think you worked it out ... Really nice.”

The small but mighty Filipino even won over the heart of ‘Idol’ host Ryan Seacrest. “At five feet, you and I can see eye to eye!” he joked.

After receiving a well-deserved green light from the panelists, Latonio is moving on in the competition. What do you think? Does she have what it takes to win this thing?