"American Idol," which begins building its Top 24, features Showstopper performances, shocking eliminations of many fan-favoites, and a single mother who worked hard for her spot.

It's time for you to build your Top 24 on American Idol. Say goodbye to some fan favorites like one contestant who tried everything to win their spot... but still lost!

It was a very emotional moment and we had to say farewell to another fan-favorite. This week's episode consists of the revealing of the Top 24 contestants and the Showstopper performances that could make or break their entire season. It definitely broke some contestants.

8 American Idol Contestants who have been evicted

Missing notes, forgotten lyrics and one moment when judges made a decision on the fly about who was to be in their Top 24 -- booting an unsuspecting contestant that'd not known he had. Tonight proved that even Platinum Tickets holders don't guarantee a spot beyond Hollywood Week. One contestant crashed and burned.

Fair warning: I will probably be harsher than my coworkers Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan because I am safe at home. However, I may be nicer. Maybe.

To make it more fun, I will rank the performances in order of worst to best to find my favorite performers each week. This way, I can identify the best performers and see how they do as the season progresses.

SHOWSTOPPERS

Adin Boyer

("Viva La Vida," Coldplay – 22, Lake Forest, CA). While Adin's performance was inspiring and his piano playing is brilliant, his vocals weren't up to par for the stage. Although he was a bit outclassed vocally, this was his chance to shine on the wall. We weren't feeling it. We're not sure he can compete at this level, although he gave everything he had. Although he is a talented musician, his singing skills may be his weakest. He did however get an offer to sing with Lionel Richie after the show was over. It sounded serious.

Results: Getting Home

Kaylin Hedges

("Kiss from a Rose," Seal – 15, Pound Ridge NY) The Platinum ticket holder, who was memorably greeted by her military father at her audition, didn't quite rise to the challenge of this song. Although she sounded lovely, we noticed that her voice was not as mature and natural as it should have been. Although she was a bit unsure of her key, it was clear that she has never sounded better. It was almost as if all the enormity of it all had hit her and knocked her down. She certainly didn't sound or hit the stage like a Platinum ticket holder. Perhaps this song selection was too large for her.

Results: Getting Home

Michael Williams

("Angels Like You") Miley Cyrus - 21 Mason, OH Michael's career has been a long one. From the moment he was told he was Top 10 material, to this Showstopper performance. Although we won't say he was horrible, what he could have been could be worse. He was almost forgettable. Although he's beautiful, that doesn't mean much. His voice was thin and shrill in a song with a lot of passion and heart. We were utterly overwhelmed by his performance. However, the judges referred to his vocal control and vocal presence in his audition, and they attributed this to the wrong song. We aren't so sure.

Results: TOP 24

Fire

("Mercy" Duffy, 23 - Lawton, OK) This was the most difficult and emotionally draining season. Fire had to endure two auditions, and her duet partner had to bail on her ( On stage!) in order for her to land this moment. Although we would have preferred a bit more fire in her performance, there is no denying the fact that she has improved in stage presence and confidence throughout this journey. Although we aren't sure she is up to the standard of the top competitors in the competition, she is one of those people that you want to see good things happen to. How much could she grow from her first audition? It could be a lot of fun, too. Alas.

Although the judges tried to lift her spirits by telling how much she has grown and how wonderful it was to see her fire burning brightly, the blow almost pushed her back to the bottom. Ryan Seacrest, who was trying to gain anything positive from her, couldn't see how her confidence had grown. She will hopefully see that this experience was worthwhile.

Results: Getting Home

Haven Madison

("Bird Set Free," Sia – 16, Clarksville, TN). Haven is a performer who has always brought down the house every time she sings an original song. She chose a cover that she said she wished she had written for this performance, but it wasn't as strong. The main difference was the overall tone shift. The song was more upbeat and full-throated, which is not the intimacy Haven enjoys as a singer-songwriter. We would hate for her to go. She is an incredible artist and we are so sorry she did. However, this song felt out of her comfort zone and didn't fit her voice or style well. She should have turned it into a coffeehouse vibe, instead.

Results: TOP 24

Lucy Love

Ruben Studdard, 28, Holly Grove AR Lucy was not as proficient in this song as she has been in the past but we were impressed by her passion and the amount of emotion she put into it. We loved how she led the band behind her, and took full advantage of the moment to sing a cappella. It was a great way to show off her strength and power. Lucy is one of those rare people who sings with all her heart. Although we wish she had more control and could be more expressive, we are still unable to help but wish things would work out for Lucy every time she sings. It works for the most part. Although it wasn't her best work, there were still moments that stood out.

Results: TOP 24

JoJo Siwa Slams Candace Owens' Claims She Lies About Being Gay "For Attention"

Warren Peay

(Whipping Post), Allman Brothers, 24, Bamberg SC Warren decided to take a risk this time and ditched the guitar in order to really get into the vocals. But it hurt him. His storytelling ability and his ability connect lyrics to the audience was what made him unique. While he still has the great Chris Stapleton-like rasp and a killer voice, we didn't feel the Stapleton edge that comes with that emotional hook that makes you weep from the first line. It was still a great vocal performance, with all the grit mixed in with a tender vibrato that gave us a glimpse into his true genius.

Results: TOP 24

Tyson Venegas

(Cuz I Love You") LIzzo - 17 Vancouver, BC You can sometimes do it in a duet, but forgetting to sing the Showstoppers lyrics? He was one of the Platinum Ticket holders for this season and blew everyone away with how he auditioned. He couldn't seem to get over the fact that he had forgotten the first two lines of the verse. He kept mumbling and ba-ba–ba-ing his own way through it. This was an epic disaster on a song that should've been a huge hit with his talent. He made the best of the moments that he remembered and brought it home at the end. Although there is no denying his talent and power, this performance was certainly shaky.

Results: TOP 24

Zachariah Smith

("Don’t Stop Me Now", Queen - 19, Amory MS) Burger flipper faced one of the greatest vocalists of all times and boy did he bring that energy. We won't lie if we say that the song was not a bit too big for him from time to time. But only sometimes. He really amazed us for the most part with his ability to handle the song's range, pace, and power. He had such a charismatic stage presence, even though he has a Southern charm. It was a truly amazing performance.

Results: TOP 24

Nutsa

Tina Turner, 25, Tbilisi (Georgia) After a rough duet that left her partner bitter because Nutsa went to sleep early -- the partner was eliminated -- Katy encouraged Nutsa not to forget grace. Katy was humbled and she showed it by apologizing for everything, including Katy's silence. She tried to not let herself be broken down at the time. Katy claimed she could relate to her strength and insistence on not showing vulnerability, but it's just not true. Nutsa shows her vulnerability to reveal her humanity.

Her rendition of a difficult classic also showed her talent. We loved the way she broke down the tempo and gave it her all with a rock-and roll level of performance. She was giving her hair a strut and doing all the things Tina does to make the track sing. Nutsa is a great performer and has grace at the end.

Results: TOP 24

We Ani

Aretha Franklin ("Ain't No Way") - 23 Harlem, NY It was an enormous and daunting task, but we handled it like a boss. She put her potential on the same level as Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia with this performance. It is amazing to see the transformation of this seemingly shy woman when she steps up on stage and grabs the microphone. It is so charming and amazing to see her transform into a true show-stopper on stage. It's thrilling every time. She's one of those contestants that you root for before they even start singing. They do, and they wow!

Results: TOP 24

Kaeyra

("River") Bishop Briggs - 21 Algonquin IL She made the most of her last chance to impress us by bringing out her bass and performing a commanding performance like we have never seen before. We enjoyed her playful interaction with the crowd, sharing a few notes here and there and giving side-eyes. She displayed a confident stage presence that will be a hit with her home audience. You can also add a great vocal performance with sass and grit, and you have an authentic rock voice that is versatile and adaptable to almost any genre. We felt every word. It was amazing!

Results: TOP 24

Karol G Slams a 'Disrespectful Magazine Cover' Over Alleged Edits. 'My Face Doesn't Look Like This'

SING-OFF

The judges were unable to reach a consensus on the fate of some singers so they brought back the Final Judgment Song-Off from last season. They pitted two singers against each other in the Final Judgment Sing-Off. Each singer had one hour to choose a song, which was then narrowed down by judges. Then they were ready to perform it live on the show.

PJAE v Malik Heard

(PJAE’s Showstopper, "I Want You," Luke James – 23, Lawton. OK) PJAE gave everything in the first few minutes of this performance. His voice was rich and full-throated from the beginning, with an astonishing amount of texture and depth. He sounded like an R&B soul master. He then added some grit and he flew into an effortless falsetto. It all looks so effortless and he is so humble that it still shocks everyone who hears him sing. We forget how talented he is, and then he reminds again with a smack in the ears.

(Malik’s Showstopper: "Can We Talk," Tevin Camp - 26 Dallas, TX) Malik walked on stage as if he were born in the 1990s and was already part of the R&B movement. He is a smooth performer, with a great stage presence and a pleasant tone to his voice. However, it remained mostly at the top of his range as well as in his falsett. Is he confident in his mid- and low ranges? He sounds too similar to other R&B singers and not enough like an artist with his own voice, vision and style.

(Sing Off: "Everything You Wanted," Billie Eilish). Although these best friends were forced to compete for the Top 24, the dream prevailed over friendship.

Malik was a big star on the Eilish track. He brought all the emotion of the lyrics to the forefront. This was a more intimate, connected performance. We could see some of his individual artistry beginning to show. His control and range were also stronger.

PJAE was passionate about this song, but he also had an incredibly raw ache in his voice, which he pushed through. To make the song more his own, he took risks and changed the melody a little bit. Malik provided a fantastic cover with a great voice, and PJAE performed a cover that could be made into a single.

Both vocals were so strong that the judges had to remove another person from the Top 24 (who hadn't yet heard their results) in order to make room for them both. It's a good thing that they don't find out how close they were. Or at least that they are pulled aside and encouraged next year to return because they were there until now!

Results: Both Top 24

Paige Anne v Megan Danielle

(Paige's Showstopper, "California Dreamin'," The Mamas & The Papas – 16, Idaho Falls) Paige was not feeling her best so she performed her Showstopper from her hotel room. Poor judges had to gather around a phone to hear Paige's performance. The audio was very tinny. It didn't work and it certainly wasn't what Paige wanted. She does have a lovely tone, and the song has an almost haunting, almost ethereal quality. This perfectly suits the moment. It is possible that it could be translated through a smartphone.

(Megan’s Showstopper: “Always Remember Us This way," Lady Gaga, 20 Douglasville, GA) Megan's voice has everything. Megan was able to keep the crowd at her side, whether she was singing lyrics or wailing that she had forgotten some. Megan has power, control and that authentic grit that adds truth to her singing. Megan is an amazing storyteller, and we don't think she realizes how talented she is.

(Sing Off: "Everything You Wanted," Adele). Paige had a stunningly beautiful tone throughout this dramatic make-or-break performance. Although she lost her way on the higher notes towards the end, it was still a stunning moment. She is so mature and rich for her age and shined in the intimate spotlight. Megan stood up, and that was it! To see the final outcome, we will have to wait for Monday's episode.

Results: Cliffhanger!

"American Idol," airs Sundays and Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Title: American Idol 5th Judge: Platinum Ticket Holder Falls Apart On Stage, Just Misses Top 24
Sourced From: www.toofab.com/2023/04/09/american-idol-recap-platinum-ticket-holder-shocking-elimination/
Published Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:39:10 +0000

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