Lisa, Jake Wow 'Search' Judges

"Missouri is the 'Show me' state, and you showed me. You sang that song better than Stevie Wonder!" said "Star Search" judge Ben Stein to Jake Simpson.

Simpson, who won the adult singer category Wednesday night with his rendition of "Isn't She Lovely?" isn't sure what he will sing in the Jan. 30 semifinals. In an interview Thursday on The Early Show, he said it won't be another Stevie Wonder tune.

"I think it would be better to try something different next time, something kind of nice and smooth," he said. His other favorite singers are Peter Sataro and Steve Perry from Journey.

Lisa Tucker was not that far behind in compliments for her performance of Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time." Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, who was guest judge with his brother Aaron, said, "We love singers and we gave you four stars because you can sing."

"I was so excited. I was like, 'Oh, my gosh' and just trying to calm down and, you know, just perform," Lisa said on The Early Show.

The 13-year-old was also complimented for her style: "She is so classy. You have a rich voice; the pitch was perfect," said Naomi Judd, who gave her 5 stars.

Lis said she has been "singing since I could talk and when I'm playing with the dolls, singing. I just would always be singing."

What made Jake nervous, though he did not show it, was being in front of the cameras, he says, "Singing, that's what I do. That's what I love. That's my passion. And I wasn't nervous about the singing. Hitting the notes, yeah. But I'm fine other than that."

Jake discovered that he loved to sing in high school, he says and has been a member of many bands through the years. Currently, he is part of the band 4 JAX. It was his grandmother who got him involved in singing at church when he was 5. She died when he was 10.

"I know she's watching me. I know she's really, really proud of me. It means a whole lot," Jake, who just turned 28, said.

As for Lisa, her father always thought she was a great singer and encouraged her by paying for singing lessons. "I just would always be singing, but I started to take voice lessons with my teacher at school when I was 8," she said.

Thought she doesn't know what she will perform in the semi-finals she says her favorite singer is Whitney Houston. "Because I think she has the best voice. I love her voice," Lisa said.

Winners of the adult competition win $100,000 and a recording contract with Sony. Winners of the junior singer competition win $100,000.

Asked what she would do with the money if she wins, Lisa said, "I probably would put some in the bank because I want to go to college, but I don't know. I'd probably go shopping right afterwards."

Lisa and Jake will compete against winners of the next two competitions (Jan. 23 and Jan. 29) in the semifinal round Jan. 30. Winners of that semi final round will compete against Tiffany Evans (Junior Singer), Spencer Day (Adult Singer), Loni Love (Comedian), and Porschla Coleman (Model).