Peninsula Teen Makes It To American Idol Grand Finale

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — A 19-year-old from Daly City is among three Californians competing to be crowned the newest winner of American Idol in Sunday's season finale.

Francisco Martin said he is feeling "kind of nervous" before the finale, in which the seven remaining contestants will be whittled down to five before a winner is declared, the Mercury News reported.

Martin is the son of Filipino immigrants and graduated from Terra Nova High School. He auditioned for American Idol in Oregon, and has stayed alive through the show's Hollywood Week and a jaunt to Hawaii.

If he survives the initial cut Sunday night, Martin will perform two songs, remotely, from his home. One of the songs will be a cover he's already sung once, while the second will be “something nostalgic," he told the Mercury News.

The other Californians left in American Idol's Top 7 are Jonny West, a Murrieta native who lives in Los Angeles, and Dillon James, who hails from Bakersfield.

American Idol's finale — its 18th season overall, and third on ABC — airs Sunday, May 17 on ABC. The series has been airing remotely produced shows since April 26.

The winner will be determined by a vote of viewers of the live East Coast broadcast.

Sunday's episode will also include Lionel Richie and fellow judges Katy Perry and Luke Bryan joining such past "American Idol" contestants as Katharine McPhee, Jordin Sparks, Kellie Pickler, Ruben Studdard and Scotty McCreery in the first television performance of "We Are The World" in 35 years.

Richie joined Michael Jackson in writing the 1985 charity single for African famine relief.

Perry will perform her new single "Daisies" in its television debut. Bryan will perform his new single "One Margarita."

The country band Rascal Flats will be joined by Doug Kiker, a garbage collector from Alabama who was eliminated during the Hollywood Round, in singing "Bless The Broken Road."

The Grammy-winning contemporary Christian singer Lauren Daigle and the Top 5 will perform her three-time platinum song, "You Say."

Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo and the Top 11 will perform a medley of Aretha Franklin songs.