Wheeling teen dazzles on ‘Idol'

By Sheila Ahern

Haley Reinhart wowed the “American Idol” judges in Wednesday's show and appears to have made it to Hollywood.

The 18-year-old Wheeling student tried out last year in Chicago but didn't make the cut.

“You guys told me to come back,” Reinhart told the “Idol” judges. “I was crushed needless to say. But I came back.”

It was worth the trip to Milwaukee. This time her rendition of The  Beatles' “Oh! Darling” impressed the judges, especially Steven Tyler.

“This time it's going to be different,” he said.

According to Entertainment Weekly, of the more than 300 contestants  who made it to Hollywood week, 60 were flown to Las Vegas in December.  That round knocked the talent pool down to 40; yet another round in  Hollywood will narrow the contestants down to 20 singers, and only then  will America vote in a single sudden-death round that will select the  “Idol” finalists.

Thousands tried out in Milwaukee over the summer for the “Idol”  auditions. The show Thursday night will feature auditions from  Nashville.