Performance dates sets for Utah "Idol" hopefuls

One Utahn will compete on “American Idol” next week; the other the week after.

Megan Corkrey, 23, of Sandy, is in Group 2. They will perform in a two-hour episode on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and learn which three of them will advance to the Final 12 on Thursday, Feb. 26.

(Because of Tuesday’s State of the Union address, “Idol” will air Wednesday-Thursday next week instead of Tuesday-Wednesday.)

Taylor Vaifanua, 17, of Hurricane, is in Group 3. They will perform on Tuesday, March 3, and learn their fate on Wednesday, March 4.

Under this year’s format, three groups of 12 semifinalist perform each week. Viewers vote three from each group into the Final 12 — the top male, the top female, and the No. 3 vote-getter regardless of gender.

This week, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace and Michael Sarver were voted into the Final 12.

If Corkrey and/or Vaifanua fail to get voted in by viewers, they still could make the Final 12 if they’re selected by the judges to compete in a wild-card episode on Thursday, March 5. From that group — the exact number still to be determined — the judges will pick three to fill out the Final 12.