The "American Idols Live!" tour has packed up and headed across the state to Charlotte, where a performance is scheduled for tonight. But here are a few final thoughts on the sold-out Raleigh show at the RBC Center on Wednesday night.

First, check out my colleague David Menconi's fine review, if you haven't already. He is dead-on in noting that Garner's Scotty McCreery, left, seems right at home onstage and that Haley Reinhart already seems like a seasoned performer. And yes, an appearance by Scotty a little earlier in the show would have been preferable.

But I tended to view the show from a slightly different lens than David -- was it an enjoyable, family-friendly night out for my wife and I and our 10-year-old daughter, a huge "Idol" fan who is not quite ready for a Katy Perry or Lady Gaga show? On that measure, just looking at my kid's face, it was a big success.

"Idols Live!" is never going to match, say, a Prince or Springsteen show. No one expects it to. But for what it is — well-produced, Disney-fied singing of popular songs, with something for everyone — it works.

Highlights:

"Idol" tried to pull a fast one on the many Scotty McCreery fans tonight. Throughout the finals, host Ryan Seacrest has always named the bottom three finalists on results night. He then sends one of them to safety, leaving the bottom two -- one of whom goes home.

But if you tuned in late tonight, you saw Scotty and Casey Abrams in what appeared to be the bottom two. Oh no! McCreery Nation could barely breathe. Was our man Scotty really in trouble? Probably not. Did you catch that little disclaimer that Seacrest threw in? Tonight's results were in random order. So for all we know, Scotty could have been the highest vote-getter this week.

When the 11 “American Idol” finalists were asked to pick Elton John songs to perform this week, Garner's Scotty McCreery, left, quickly honed in on the only Sir Elton song with “country” in the title: the somewhat obscure “Country Comfort.”

The first singer of the night, Scotty brought his new guitar, which he christened “Scarlet,” to the stage for the song. It was one of his usual assured country performances. Scotty even managed to include a mid-song shout out to his grandmother -- "Love ya, Grandma!" She was in the audience this week.

Also as usual, the judges praised it. Steven Tyler said he loved “everything” about Scotty’s voice. Jennifer Lopez lauded Scotty’s “amazing instincts,” and Randy Jackson said Scotty continues to grow. Jimmy Iovine, the “Idol” music mentor, said some may call Scotty a one-trick pony, but “it’s one of the best tricks I’ve ever seen.”

It's Elton John Week on "American Idol," which could present a bit of a problem for Garner's favorite country singer with the low voice.

So, what should Scotty McCreery sing?

Last week, the Garner High School junior showed how to take a Motown song (Stevie Wonder’s “For Once in My Life”) and give it a country twist. But can Scotty do the same thing to a classic Sir Elton pop song?

It looks like Scotty McCreery won’t be bagging groceries at the Garner Lowes Foods this summer. Instead, he’ll be singing his way across the nation on the “American Idol” tour. In tonight's live show, Scotty learned that he had advanced to this season’s Top 10, thus securing a spot on the tour.

After singing a country-fried version of Stevie Wonder’s “For Once In My Life” on Wednesday’s performance show, Scotty got to sing with Wonder himself tonight. The Motown legend joined Scotty (who was clad in a tux!) and the other finalists for a version of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”

In honor of "Motown Week," the finalists also warbled their way through "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." (No solos for Scotty.)

Minutes later, host Ryan Seacrest called Scotty, Lauren Alaina and Pia Toscano to center stage ...