Kree Harrison Reigns With Aretha Franklin’s ‘Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)’ on ‘American Idol’

Kree Harrison has been going strong ever since her audition for Season 12 of ‘American Idol,’ and her performance tonight (March 27) was no exception. The Texas native made a bold move by singing Aretha Franklin’s ‘Don’t Play That Song (You Lied),’ but with her passionate, genuine spirit and rich vocals, she did the Queen of Soul justice and then some.

The applause that followed Harrison’s performance was deafening, proving that she’s just as revered by the audience as she is by the judges. Although ‘Idol’ panelist Randy Jackson said that her performance tonight wasn’t perfect, he was still blown away and believes that she’s “definitely here to stay.”

Harrison’s voice is pure country at its finest, but Keith Urban pointed out the blues and soul roots that shined through her vocal delivery. He praised her for not trying to be Aretha, but for staying true to herself and simply being Kree. “You’re always so organic and natural in everything you do,” agreed Nicki Minaj, who went on to call Harrison a "Queen" in her own right.

Earlier in the evening, she graced the 'American Idol' stage alongside fellow contestant Janelle Arthur to deliver a country version of Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer.’ Click here to watch a video of their performance.