Scott Borchetta: La’Porsha Renae’s Performance Is Thursday’s Greatest ‘American Idol’ Risk

American Idol frontrunner La’Porsha Renae is taking a big risk on Thursday night’s Top 5 episode (Fox, 8PM ET). Mentor Scott Borchetta calls her selection of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” an “odd choice,” adding that he tried to change her mind.

“I’m never gonna be comfortable understanding why she would go, ‘I’m on a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride,’" the mentor and Big Machine Label Group President says. “It’s like ‘OK, if that’s the sword you want to take into battle, we will help you as much as we can.’”

Thus far Renae hasn’t embraced rock or country as her genre of choice — the 22-year-old has amazed audiences with covers of soul, hip-hop and R&B hits — but Thursday night’s episode of Idol begins with contestants doing a classic rock song. Then they’ll sing one of Sia’s hits. Bruce Springsteen guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt and Sia will serve as mentors. Borchetta said Mackenzie Bourg’s version of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me” is the performance he’s most looking forward to, as they really found a unique way to arrange the well-known hit.

One American Idol contestant will not get a chance to sing. Only four will perform live, with the ousted contestant’s recorded iTunes song being played over their farewell package. Trent Harmon is the other Season 15 favorite, but Borchetta says it’s far from over.

“Mackenzie has been consistent every week and his socials are huge,” he says when asked who’s best positioned to break up an all-Mississippi finale on April 6.

Last week, country singer Tristan McIntosh was sent home. Borchetta had kind words for the 15-year-old, calling her both talented and beautiful.

“She just needed more time. If she will continue to display the work ethic that she displayed on the show, get up every day and work on the music, work on her craft, I honestly think that Tristan has a future in music. I really do.”

Taste of Country talks to Borchetta each week prior to the Thursday night episode of American Idol. Check back Thursday mornings for insight and a preview of what to expect!

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