Simon Cowell has tipped Fantasia Barrino to become the next American Idol as the show prepares to move into the finals.

"If I had to choose one of the 12 now to offer a recording contract without the competition, it would be Fantasia," said Cowell after last week's wildcard show.

Of the four males, Cowell thought that 16-year-old John Stevens would go the furthest: "If I was making a record, I would pick the ginger-head kid. The guy who sings the Dean Martin stuff."

The American Idol top twelve perform for the first time in an extended show airing this Tuesday on FOX in the US and Friday on ITV2 in the UK.