'American Idol' Elimination Leaves Hometown Crowd Rooting for Rosado

In the end, there were tears and nothing but praise for Jeremy Rosado, whose family and friends stood by the "American Idol” hopeful, a student at the Brandon campus of Hillsborough Community College.

At the Brandon Ale House on March 8, a modest-sized group of well-wishers clasped their hands and held their collective breath as “American Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez announced on behalf of her peers that Rosado’s televised journey had come to an end.

“I wish I was here, I wish I was just there to hold him,” said his mother, Wendy Ocasio, who added that she had a brief talk with her son earlier in the day.

“He said he will accept whatever God’s will is and he was at peace,” she said. "I totally believe great things are coming his way.”

Chris Bates, the general manager of the , said he has no doubt that Ocasio’s assessment will ring true.

The Brandon eatery over the past few weeks has become the unofficial watch-party site for Rosado’s well-wishers, including his  Brandon work colleagues from Bay Area Infectious Disease Associates (BAIDA), at the corner of Oakfield and Lakewood drives.

“It was a pleasure having his family here, spending their time with us,” Bates said. “I felt like was part of his family and I was so nervous tonight, seeing the results come out. It’s amazing to see so much talent from this area."

Bates said he is confident Rosado’s elimination is anything but a final exit. “I think the sky’s the limit with him. He’s only 19,” Bates said. “This is just a taste of what America’s going to see from him.”

Earlier in the evening, Rosado’s co-worker Sasha Mendoza spoke for many when she expressed her feelings in anticipation of the final results.

“I’m nervous, I’m anxious, so many emotions are going through me,” she said. “Butterflies in the stomach, heart racing, blood pressure going up.  Even if he goes, I’m giving it a few weeks or a month or so before somebody picks him up. You don’t let a talent like that go.”

Melvin Alvarado agreed.

“No matter what, he’s got to be proud of what he’s accomplished,” said Alvarado, who also works at BAIDA. “Out of tens of thousands of contestants from around the country he made it to the Top 13. No matter what, he did a great job and nothing but good will come out of this. Jeremy will sing until the wheels fall off. He’ll continue to sing because that’s Jeremy, and we’re extremely, extremely proud of him.”

Rosado’s stepfather, Damon Gonzalez, took the night’s results in stride.

“God has a plan for him and this isn’t it,” Gonzalez said. “The blessing through this is the exposure. This will open so many doors for him to touch so many hearts.”

As the announcement neared, Ocasio’s eyes filled with tears, her hands clasped against her mouth.

“If he moves on, I ‘ll move on with him,” she said before the elimination announcement. “If he doesn’t, he’ll still always be our American idol. What he’s done, it’s a great accomplishment.”

First came the announcement that Shannon Magrane, a student at Blake High School magnet school for the arts, had advanced another round.

Fate played a different hand for Ocasio, who graduated from Durant High in 2009. When the final word came, Ocasio shed some tears, but quickly regained her composure.

“Life doesn’t stop here,” she said. “It’s not the end, doors will open."

Making it to the Top 13, she added, “will look nice on his resume."

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