The competition is red hot on season 23 of “American Idol,” with the top 10 to be announced at the end of the live episode on April 28, 2025. Season 3 winner Fantasia joins the remaining 12 contestants as a celebrity mentor and performer, and artist-in-residence Jelly Roll joins the group live for support and encouragement.
Viewers can only vote during the two-hour show, which airs live coast-to-coast starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time (here’s how to vote). Host Ryan Seacrest will announce the voting results at the end of the show, but EntertainmentNOW has you covered with updated recaps and results throughout.
The night’s theme centers around “Iconic Idol Moments,” per ABC, with each contestant performing a song made famous by an “American Idol” star. Judge Carrie Underwood even wore the finale dress that she was wearing when she won the show in 2005.
Here’s our live report on each contestant’s song choice and the judges’ feedback as they compete for America’s votes — keep checking back for updates!
The 17-year-old chose season 21 runner-up Megan Danielle’s 2023 performance of John Prime’s “Angel From Montgomery” as his iconic “Idol” moment and worked with Fantasia to perfect his rendition. Lionel Richie said he loved seeing his confidence and stage presence “solid as a rock,” Underwood said he’s “so identifiable” that she can imagine exactly what his first album will sound like.
The 28-year-old from Essex, England, chose a song that third-place singer Colin Stough performed in season 21 — Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own.” Fantasia was stunned by his vocals, and the judges seemed to love his rendition, too. Underwood said she loved how he made a well-known pop song his own, and Luke Bryan said he’s clearly “turned the intensity up” on his performances. After getting their feedback, Chesterman teared up talking about how his fiancee and kids had to fly back home that day.
The 28-year-old dad decided to sing The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun,” inspired by Hailey Reinhart’s performance of it on the “American Idol” stage in 2011. The crowd went wild for Artis and so did the judges. Richie marveled at “the vibe” he brings to every song, and Underwood told him it was “awesome” because even though he was so serious about the song, he couldn’t help but “bubble up with joy” at times during the tune.
The HR specialist, who received the judges’ first Platinum Ticket during the audition process, got tearful describing how the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland deeply inspires her, and Fantasia helped her to have her own iconic moment, much like Katharine McPhee did on “American Idol” in 2006. Wowed, Richie said, “What the hell was that!? That was divine. You just settled into that.” Underwood added that it felt like she was in her own world in the best way, and how she sometimes chose “simple notes” ring out. Bryan, meanwhile, said her performance “was somewhere over a supernova.”
The 23-year-old Platinum Ticket winner decided to sing “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” which Jennifer Hudson had an “iconic moment” with during season 3. Fantasia encouraged Filo to not emulate Hudson’s version but to create his own. His powerful version left him in tears and brought all three judges to their feet. Underwood told him he did, indeed, create his own iconic moment, while Bryan said that he loved how Fantasia guided him to craft his favorite performance he’s seen him do. Richie said “the way you controlled (it) from beginning to end” was, like Bryan said, the best performance he’d ever seen from Filo.
Inspired by seeing her uncle overcoming addiction, 16-year-old Pruitt chose to sing Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of You.” Fantasia helped the high school student express her emotions and what the song means to her. Bryan marveled at how, at her age, she can be toe-to-toe with everyone else on the stage. Underwood said her voice is “so stinkin’ cool” and that she loves seeing her increasingly connecting to the words in each song she sings.
Hill chose to sing the song that Roman Collins had with gospel legend CeCe Winans on the show in 2024, “Goodness of God.” Following Fantasia’s advice to sit on a chair for part of his performance, the 17-year-old’s delivery had “so much feeling and believability,” Richie told him. Underwood told him, “I only have one thing to say: thank you for that” — and Bryan said he feels like he’s being “baptized” every time Hill sings.
Samone worked with Fantasia, one of her personal heroes, on reimagining “A Song For You,” recalling season five finalist Elliott Yamin’s iconic “American Idol” moment with the tune in 2006, which she said is one of her favorite versions of Donny Hathaway’s tune. Fantasia told the 23-year-old she had almost no feedback because it was so good. Dressed in a sequined white suit, Samone stayed seated on stool at center stage for her tenderhearted delivery, which ended with a standing ovation by all three judges. Underwood told her it was “absolute perfection” and Bryan said he was “speechless,” noting how she’s able to “hold the room.” Crying, Samone said the feedback “means the world to me.”
Josh King talked about surviving bullying and finally finding friends at “American Idol,” sharing that as his inspiration for choosing to sing Celine Dion’s “All By Myself,” which Pia Toscano had an “iconic” moment with on “American Idol” in 2006. He sweetly admitted that he’s scared when he leaves the show, that he’ll go back to that reality. Sitting at the piano, the 23-year-old held back tears throughout his performance but broke down at the end of his song, drawing huge cheers from the crowd. Bryan told him that it’s “incredible” how far he’s come, and Richie told him he will “never be alone again.”
Telling Fantasia that she felt devastated by the social media hate she’d received for being “too Christian” or not Christian enough, Nix opted to sing “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” by 2009 finalist Danny Gokey. She not only got to rehearse with Fantasia, but the star got Gokey to listen and give his encouragement via FaceTime — both advising her to stay off social media and stay in tune with her faith. Jelly Roll was seen crying by her powerful performance and Richie said it was a “divinely guided night.” Underwood said that she wanted to commend Fantasia for helping everyone tap into something so special. In her last few moments of her song, when she paused before ending her song, she told Seacrest that she felt like she was letting all the negative things go.
Foster said he chose to sing “I Told You So,” a song performed by Underwood and Randy Travis on “American Idol” in 2006, because he credits Underwood with giving her a chance during his auditions. The 18-year-old ended his song standing right in front of Underwood, who laughed that she was blushing. She said, “I love that each challenge, you push yourself.” Bryan said he was impressed, but joked that he should watch out for Underwood’s husband, a former NFL player, and Richie told Foster he was “so proud” of him.
Listening to Roberts singing, Fantasia was moved to tears by the pain he expressed singing “Heal” by Tom ODell, which finalist Leah Marlene sang on the show during season 20. Sitting on a stool at center stage, the dad from Meridian, Mississippi, delivered a powerful performance and the crowd was so mesmerized, they didn’t even know when it was over and the judges didn’t get to give any feedback.
After the final commercial break of the evening, Seacrest revealed the results, sharing those who made it into the Top 10:
- John Foster
- Josh King
- Jamal Roberts
- Mattie Pruitt
- Thunderstorm Artis
- Slater Nalley
- Gabby Samone
- Canaan James Hill
- Kolbi Jordan
- Breanna Nix
That means Filo and Che Chesterman are going home.
