Syesha Mercado's last song

Mercado, who had auditioned in Miami last year, made it to the penultimate week of the 4-month long televised singing competition which ends with next week's finale. In the process, she beat out 100,000 others who auditioned and competed their way into the finals, and she became the last remaining female on the current season of the hit Fox television series.

Mercado cited musical influences from Whitney Houston, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Zap Mama, Lauryn Hill and Aretha Franklin, and she went out Wednesday night singing a song from one of her favorite performers, "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys.

During the course of the season, Mercado sang Gladys Knight's "If I Were Your Woman," Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love for You," Fantasia's "I Believe," Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" and Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," which she said inspired her in light of the possibility that a woman or an African American could become president this year.

Mercado was the last remaining African American on the show this season. The two finalists, David Cook and David Archuleta, will face off in the finale next week. American Idol was the top-rated show among African Americans last week, according to Nielsen Ratings.