Linda Seida

By: centraljersey.com
NEW HOPE – New Hope-Solebury High School graduate Devyn Rush is in Hollywood this week, thanks to a successful turn on "American Idol’s" season premiere last week when she impressed the judges with her voice.
All three judges said they were wowed by her talent, if not her outfit.
"That girl can blow!" Randy Jackson enthused as he discussed Ms. Rush’s short a cappella rendition of the blues song "God Bless the Child," which was written by Billie Holiday in 1939.
He told Ms. Rush, "You actually have the goods."
"Your voice is a star," Jennifer Lopez told the 21-year-old. "You just need to start believing that and acting that way and dressing that way."
Judge Steven Tyler made reference to Ms. Rush’s job as a singing waitress in New York City when he said, "That was delicious. That was a dessert to the lunch."
Mr. Jackson said her dressed-down look – she wore jeans and a V-neck turquoise blue T-shirt – hid the talent underneath. "You didn’t dress the part," he said. "That was great. It put us off."
It led judges to be "unsuspecting" of the talent hidden within, he said, adding, "You have just the right amount of sauce in there."
Billboard.com columnists also were enthusiastic in their review of her performance, but added a dig about her clothing choice. They said, "Facts are facts, and you have to be a decent singer to waitress at the Stardust Diner in New York’s theater hub. But Devyn exceeded our expectations, offering a commercially appealing vocal with just the right amount of dramatic flair. The results could work out in her favor, especially if J.Lo takes her for a shopping spree on Rodeo Drive. Didn’t we establish years ago that denim is an ‘Idol’ don’t?"
The brown-haired, brown-eyed singer, who was born in Philadelphia, graduated from New Hope-Solebury in 2008. She taped her audition last summer in New York.
Following her birthday Tuesday, she was scheduled to appear Wednesday night again on the talent show.
Past performances include an appearance on "America’s Most Talented Kids" and voiceovers for Nickelodeon. She also was featured on "Embraceable You," a documentary about the diversity of New Hope, where her family lives.
According to her website, she lives with her mother Susie, her father Bob, older sister Lindsay and a puppy named Jazzy. Her hobbies include singing, dancing and playing guitar, bass, piano and drums.