Ryan Seacrest: Now, Clive, what d'you pick for Carrie?
Clive Davis: I picked for Carrie what I was considering the song... the great classic, that Roy Orbison, co-wrote... made famous, called 'Crying'. And K.D. Lang did it so incredibly. I thought "Carrie, this is your moment - 'Crying'".
Ryan Seacrest: She's going for it now, Carrie Underwood, everybody. Take it away.
Carrie sings...
Clive Davis: I think you did a real strong job with the song. I think you felt and captured the sincerity and the strength of the melody. I would have loved that extra spark, that falsetto that Roy Orbison brought to the end. But you did it in your own way. Good job.
Carrie: Thank you very much. (Applause)
Randy Jackson: Wow, man! You know what I'm really happy about tonight, is we got a real competition going on tonight, Clive. I mean, you know what? ... Carrie, I think that was perfect. I think that's one of your best vocals, dude.
Carrie: Thank you.
Randy Jackson: That was hot!
Carrie: (Smiling) Thank you very much.
Paula Abdul: That song is so haunting and just gave a very, uhm, poignant, brilliant, subdued but just like... real nice, nice performance.
Randy Jackson: Yeah!
Simon Cowell: I would have loved to have heard that stripped down even more, that song, actually. I think you sang it really well. I'm not sure about the last note. I thought the performance was a 'little' wooden which may be down to nerves. Round one, Bo, though.
Paula Abdul: Bo?
Ryan Seacrest: Tee-ing it up. He gives round one to Bo. You can definitely see why it is a tight race, though...