Auditioning for the upcoming season of American Idol in Oklahoma City, 19-year-old Zoanette Johnson gave a very unique rendition of the Nation Anthem. She experimented with an odd musical arrangement, struggled with high notes and ultimately forgot some of the words to the song.
To put it another way, when she hit the famous “free” note, host Keith Urban fell out of his chair.
Despite all of that, Zoanette is still going to Hollywood. That’s right, the judges decided to send her through to the next round anyway.
While many will speculate how in the world she didn’t get four “no” votes, perhaps it was all the heavy praise for President Barack Obama that softened the judges.
“I had a bet with my family, if Obama won, I was going to sing the National Anthem,” she said before her audition.
Then the president came up again following her outlandish performance.
“Obama, if you watching this and you don’t invite me to the White House,” she said. “He better invite me to the White House, shoot. He needs another Barbie in there.”
Then she started dancing wildly for about the third time.
Watch and decide for yourself. Did she perform well enough to make it through to the next round?


























































































































Comments (236)
Mikeramseyjr
Jan. 31, 2013 at 11:02pmIf American Idol is now like the Government and everyone is equal, then how does someone win? let me guess!!! take it from someone that earned it and give it to someone that didn’t!
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muffythetuffy
Feb. 1, 2013 at 12:09amTHE NATIONAL ANTHEM SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO BE USED FOR THE COMPETITION.
The women was black, obese, ugly, and no talent. There are three black judges and someone who were excited about this women and put her through. It was a disgrace. My wife likes the show not me but I have to listen to it.
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Soulfire1975
Feb. 1, 2013 at 11:17amShe really sucked as a singer.
Although this year I am pleased to see people who you don’t think will sing well make it through. I need to stop being prejudiced
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wowjustwow
Feb. 1, 2013 at 12:49pmWhat does black have to do with it? More than 1/2 the country is obese (esp. Red states), and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As for talent, they are always passing people through for humor’s sake. You’re a bigot…we get it…but don’t try to act like it’s not SIMPLY that.
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poetopoet
Feb. 1, 2013 at 1:04pm5 seconds then off, I have not watched that show in 5 years.
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Cemoto78
Feb. 1, 2013 at 1:56pmWhere’s Chuck Berry and the gong when you need it? They should have had a big hook come out and yank her away, what a sham.
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Mil-Dot
Feb. 1, 2013 at 2:20pmWhy does the National Anthem have to be repeatedly junglized? The country western chicks sing it the best, the right way. Well, most of them. At least they know the words and the meanings of them.
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surroundedbymorons
Feb. 1, 2013 at 9:52pmI am a direct descendant of Francis Scott Key my mothers moms maiden name was Key I have been sick of the likes of Rosanne Barr and others mocking and butchering it. I watched the video of this awful women singing it and its just one more to make me sad of what we are becoming. It may mean nothing to them but naturally it means something to me.
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ginger3350
Feb. 1, 2013 at 11:05pmShe is exactly why we quit watching this crappy show after it’s second year. No wonder the ratings are terrible. There are far too many “reality” type competition shows that are so phony that many of us are so turned off of. I would rather watch grass grow.
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katzkiner
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:59pmBeyonce you have competition.
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nzkiwi
Feb. 1, 2013 at 5:59amYeah, I bet Beyonce is crapping herself…
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SmarterThanTheAverageBear
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:57pmThis is the message we are sending to the ghettos of America. Don’t work, don’t study, don’t show respect for your country, and you’re on your way to a singing contract with Idol.
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kryptonite
Feb. 1, 2013 at 2:05amBarack’s message to the ghettos is, “Hate whitey; hate whitey’s America.
Look at Africa. That’s where we’re headed.
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AvengerK
Feb. 1, 2013 at 11:54amCan someone tell me what’s worse? Minaj’s wig or Johnson’s torture of the national anthem?
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1HonestInjun
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:55pmI see no difference in her pathetic rendition of the national anthem and the quality of American today under Obama.
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ArchaicSEAL
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:57pmAnother future ECB recipient! Either way, she wins!
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SUNTZU
Feb. 1, 2013 at 12:14amCheeseinrice
Joe Blowbidens replacement
I think she has been shooten
some skeet too ,or snorting,or just liken it off
the flooo.
God warned us about Idols.
I wish I could get in her pants
cause mine are wet.Dont eat the
yeller snow.
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rickfromthecape
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:54pmHahahah! Yess!
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MignonMallon
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:50pmThis contestant is as qualified to sing on Idol about as much as Niki ‘Menage a trois’ is qualified to be a judge of her on the show. I completely sympathize with Mariah Carey for having to share her well earned “Diva” status on the panel with a pink haired blow up doll.
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desertspeaks
Jan. 31, 2013 at 11:13pmthis woman passing through to the next level is the result of the RACIST lawsuit against american idol.. apparently it doesn’t matter if they have talent, but MUST be put through for being black on a sunny day!
sorta like obama, a talentless empty suit who’s only real accomplishment is capitalizing on racism and STUPIDITY OF VOTERS!
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OlefromMN
Feb. 2, 2013 at 8:31amMariah Carey did not appear to be impressed in the least. She actually may be a closet conservative. It looked like she was forced to go along to get along. Nicki Minaj took the bus and drove it into the cliff by forcing a unanimous “vote”.
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nobull14
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:48pmShe was Terrible as a singer ? . But Flap Jack Jackson put her through anyway .
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Bro. Chuck
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:46pmReally?!?
This is why I don’t watch tv….
They should just give her the prIze now, and tell everybody else- sorrrrrray!
The saddest part?
Child, no one else will tell you, so I will….
You have no self respect-
Or,
No…. Ok I just had a light bulb moment here….
You have such a low ( upside down, actually) level of respect for yourself….
You don’t even realize the mockery they have for you…
But you are the entertainment, I get it.
And yes, with the class you exhibit?
You would fit right in with the folks occupying the white house….
Party down, sistah….
It’s all about you.
Father, help this poor woman see & understand how empty and lost she revealed herself to be…
And on global tv no less…
God, help us all….
Be Bless’d in Yeshua!
Bro. Chuck
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Unix
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:42pmGulp, BIG MAMMA, I think you’d be banned by Mayor Bloomy!
Now THAT I cannot explain, it is beyond comprehension…ya’ll think that lawsuit has had an effect on the judges…BIG MAMMA, the BIG 0 awaits you in the WH, he has the Presidential Medal of Freedom for ya!
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CatB
Feb. 1, 2013 at 12:19amNow if she doesn’t win it’s because America is racist. Heard it all before … not the fact that she CAN’T SING!
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SUNTZU
Feb. 1, 2013 at 12:36amNASCAR,OUR GOVERNMENT
Running in circles for hours just to open
a bottle
I guess that makes me a
RACEST…
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yohannbiimu
Feb. 1, 2013 at 4:08pmI agree CATB If she ever gets voted off, she’ll be on MSNBC complaining that she was discriminated against for being black and an Obama supporter.
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Fitzzz
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:41pmonce again giving a slot to an unqualified person, is stealing from a qualified person
just think how the talanted, well prepared contestans who didn’t get selected must feel
affirmative action needs to be stopped
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Sargon
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:36pmAt least she tried to sing. Beyonce could learn something from her.
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rickfromthecape
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:46pmShe has a voice, but she’s totally off her rocker. She’ll fit right in in Hollywood.
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Wolfgang the Gray
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:48pmI stopped watching this garbage years ago. You all know that the phone in votes do not decide who stays, right?
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netmail
Feb. 1, 2013 at 1:33pmRick, right, she has a voice alright. She just doesn’t have the brains to know how to use it.
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TheGrtDcptn
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:31pmTwo words…
…affirmative action…
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Bonnieblue2A
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:50pmEveryone gets a trophy!
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lassiegirldawn
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:29pmThat is the one of sickest phquing thing I have heard in my life. What a disgrace.
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smokey888x2
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:28pmStalin would be proud of our American followers, especially the American press.
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banjarmon
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:26pmIt is desecration when the National Anthem is not played and sung the way it was written. Shame on people when ruin Our national song!!!
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MisterSarcastic
Feb. 1, 2013 at 12:40amI disagree bang. Check out this version by Madison Rising.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8C7i9kdEf8
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MisterSarcastic
Feb. 1, 2013 at 12:57amMeant Banj, sorry.
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Kumo
Feb. 1, 2013 at 3:58amAgreed Mister. Hendrix also did it quite well too and also mixed in his own style into the piece. That was nearly 44 years ago, but it still stands as one of the most epic non-vocal renditions of our Anthem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcZKkZO7CTI
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Kupo
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:26pmwow, that was absolutely godawful
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Scratchingmyhead
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:26pmNo wonder why their (American Idol) ratings are plummeting.
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semihardrock
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:22pmTHIS IS….. because there is currently a lawsuit for discrimination of black contestants PENDING for ignoring blacks on the show and having private investigators do background checks for people who put they have been arrested in thier past.
Affirmative action …..as applied in the White House…..YOU GET WHAT YOU GET!
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Jake Dog2
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:56pmYou are so right they are tucking their tails between their legs and kowtowing to he PC world and law suits.
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CatB
Feb. 1, 2013 at 12:21amYes and she played her race (Obama) card.
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hannah
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:21pmWell American Idol has sold out to obozo, I will never watch that show again, ever.
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sillyfreshness
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:31pmThis video is a prime example of how blacks bring all their stereotypes upon themselves. No whites need to say a word and you can come to your own conclusion. She acts like a total buffoon which isn’t that unusual in ghetto culture. Then they wonder why they can’t get ahead in society. Hint, it ain’t racism holding you down honey, it’s your own behavior that does it all.
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BODYBAG
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:14pmThis is the stereotypical Barry-cult voter.
Dumb as a rock.
I am seriously considering relocating to another country in the pacific islands
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netmail
Feb. 1, 2013 at 1:29pmPhilippines. Pangasinan Province…(inland)..some awesome communities there. We have a nice place just outside Urdaneta. Full time there in 2 years?? Sure hope so. It’s no good and no fun here anymore.
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BODYBAG
Feb. 1, 2013 at 5:16pm@NETMAIL
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 1:29pm
Philippines. Pangasinan Province…(inland)..some awesome communities there. We have a nice place just outside Urdaneta. Full time there in 2 years?? Sure hope so. It’s no good and no fun here anymore.
———————————————————
We’re on the same wavelength. Spouse is from Bohol.
This thing goes very much further sideways and Im gone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuP1bil-wIg
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mikenleeds
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:13pmshe was a sad joke and i saw it live , American idol has turned into a sad joke and a freak show
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sillyfreshness
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:22pm“If Obama won I’d sing the national anthem” is another way of saying she’s a racist. If a white person said “If Romney won, I’d sing the national anthem” you know that person would be attacked for being a racist. It’s totally okay and acceptable for blacks to be racists though.
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:34pmAt yet America just can’t turn away from the car wreck. Simple, turn it to the Learning Channel, History Channel, Discovery, NatlGeo, or something that teaches you something.
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Southerner01
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:12pmThat was truly painful to watch. They had to pick her as a joke.
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De-Elect
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:05pmMy eyes!!!! My ears!!!! My eyes again!!!!
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gyro
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:05pmkeeping it simple for the blaze
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:07pmNice ayy.
I love Canada, Lake WInnepeg has some of the best fishing in the world.
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brother_ed
Jan. 31, 2013 at 11:43pm@GYRO
I hear it (and sing along) every time the Stars play the Oilers, or Canucks, or Flames, or Maple Leafs, or Sens, or Habs…
Game on!!
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Schteveo
Feb. 1, 2013 at 5:41pmCanadian fish are easy to catch, they’re all loopy on beer!
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:04pmMaybe Obama will invite her to go skeet shooting and give her a free phone and IPod with his speeches on it, you know, treat her like a queen.
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GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:10pmLol
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spirited
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:16pmher? as in she?
>think?
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DEFCON4
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:21pmYes, he should invite her. Since, he is the ‘American Idol’, when it comes to
“Shooting-the-sheet”…..oops….I meant ‘skeet’…
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hatchetjob
Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:27pmObamo might even get her some singing lessons on the taxpayers dime. She’s not too bad a singer, but could use some tweaking.
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hatchetjob
Jan. 31, 2013 at 11:11pmLol, DARMOK.
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