perhaps i should state that this is literally the first season i have ever watched this show. it is because my own teenybopper was influenced to watch by her friends, and that i happened to be in the room while she was watching, that i followed the show. : ) so please pardon my naivete. i thought talent was the deciding factor.
Talent is part of it, but let’s face it, Mick Jagger doesn’t have the smoothest voice, neither does Rod Stewart, but they have other aspects that appealed to people, be it creativity, charisma or what have you and while Melinda can sing, her charisma level was sub par.
Blake is creative, he may not appeal to all people but he appeals to enough to have made it to the top 2. I know of other adults that have voted for him as well. I suspect he plays well with the college students and there are lots of them.
You're probably one of the GOOD moms who makes sure their "teenybopper" has done her homework, and makes sure she goes to bed at a decent hour; not up way past her bed time racking up the cell 'phone bill with text messages!