On American Idol, the Top 12 contestants celebrated the show’s legacy by recreating iconic performances from its past, with Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino stepping in as their mentor. Artist-in-residence Jelly Roll joined the audience, while judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan offered their expert feedback throughout the night.
Following a series of electrifying performances, host Ryan Seacrest announced the Top 10 finalists, sending two contestants home after America’s latest round of voting.
The “Iconic Idol Moments” episode aired live coast-to-coast on Monday, April 28 (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT), giving fans the chance to watch and vote in real-time.
Top 10 Live Results
Two artists had to go home at the end of the episode. After the viewer votes were cast, Ryan Seacrest revealed which two artists had the lowest amount of votes and were, therefore, eliminated: Filo and Ché.
The top 10 are: Canaan James Hill, Gabby Samone, Mattie Pruitt, Thunderstorm Artis, Slater Nalley, Breanna Nix, John Foster, Kolbi Jordan, Josh King, Jamal Roberts
Here’s a recap of standout performances:
Slater Nalley – “Angel From Montgomery”
Slater Nalley took the stage with a heartfelt performance of “Angel From Montgomery” by John Prine. Carrie Underwood praised him, saying, “Every single time you get on the stage, I can imagine what your first album is going to sound like.” Lionel Richie admired his growing confidence and solid stage presence, calling him “solid as a rock,” while Luke Bryan encouraged him to “keep having fun and keep playing the game.”
Ché – “Dancing On My Own”
Ché delivered an emotional rendition of Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own,” impressing all three judges with his unique interpretation. Carrie told him, “You took a very popular song and made it yours. When you do that, people are going to vote for you. It’s all the right package.” Lionel applauded his spot-on delivery and challenged him to push even further, while Luke noted the visible increase in intensity since the judges saved him earlier in the competition.
Thunderstorm Artis – “House of the Rising Sun”
Thunderstorm Artis took the stage with a soulful rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals. Carrie Underwood praised his performance, saying, “That was awesome. Perfect song choice.” Lionel Richie couldn’t help but admire his unique style, commenting, “You have a vibe. You put your vibe on it! It’s so great.” Luke Bryan summed it up perfectly, adding, “The crowd said everything for me,” as the audience erupted in applause.
Kolbi Jordan – “Over the Rainbow”
Kolbi Jordan performed “Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland, bringing a heartfelt and emotional rendition to the stage. Carrie Underwood praised Kolbi’s connection to the song, saying, “I feel like you were in your own world. You felt everything you were singing and we felt it.” Lionel Richie was equally impressed, calling the performance “divine” and “amazing.” Luke Bryan added, “That was somewhere over a supernova way out in the galaxy,” highlighting the powerful and otherworldly vibe of the performance.
Filo – “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”
Filo delivered a powerful performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” by Jennifer Hudson. Carrie Underwood was impressed, telling him, “Just keep doing that and you’re not gonna be goin’ nowhere.” Lionel Richie was equally moved, calling it “the best performance I have ever seen from you.” Luke Bryan praised the growth he saw in Filo, saying, “I love that Fantasia helped you tap into something different. At the end, you turned on the gas — that was my favorite performance I’ve seen you do this year.”
Mattie Pruitt – “Because of You”
Mattie Pruitt took the stage with an emotional performance of “Because of You” by Kelly Clarkson. Carrie Underwood praised her growth, saying, “Every time we see you I think you get more and more connected with the songs that you’re singing. Keep leaning into it.” Lionel Richie applauded her effort, adding, “That’s a heavy lift you just did, but you did it well.” Luke Bryan encouraged her to keep pushing forward, saying, “You’re doing so good. Keep growing and fighting.”
Canaan James Hill – “Goodness of God”
Canaan James Hill delivered a heartfelt performance of “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. Carrie Underwood kept it simple and sincere, saying, “Thank you.” Lionel Richie praised the emotion in his delivery, adding, “That had so much feeling and believability. I applaud you for another fantastic performance.” Luke Bryan summed it up with a smile, saying, “He baptizes me every time he sings.”
Gabby Samone- “A Song for You”
Gabby Samone wowed the crowd with a stunning performance of “A Song for You” by Donny Hathaway. Carrie Underwood was blown away, calling it “Absolute perfection.” Lionel Richie kept it short and sweet, saying, “I have nothing more to say.” Luke Bryan added, “When you render Fantasia speechless you have done something. You hold the room perfectly,” capturing the magic of the moment.
Josh King – “All By Myself”
Josh King delivered a powerful rendition of “All By Myself” by Eric Carmen that moved the audience. Carrie Underwood praised his emotional connection, saying, “The fact that you could relate to all those people just now was beautiful.” Lionel Richie reflected on the season’s talent, adding, “There’s never been a class this talented. You will never be alone again.” Luke Bryan celebrated Josh’s journey, noting, “The fact that you’ve had this experience with us and you’ve gotten to blossom … is just incredible.”
Breanna Nix – “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again”
Breanna Nix took the stage with a heartfelt performance of “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” by Danny Gokey. Carrie Underwood gave credit to Fantasia’s mentorship, saying, “I want to commend Fantasia because she got everyone to tap into something and bring it out.” Lionel Richie was deeply moved, adding, “That’s how you do it! This has been a divinely guided show tonight. You keep raising the bar.” Luke Bryan summed it up with confidence, saying, “That is why you’re in this competition and why you make it through every round.”
John Foster – “I Told You So”
John Foster delivered a charming performance of “I Told You So” by Randy Travis and Carrie Underwood. Carrie Underwood couldn’t hide her delight, saying, “I’m blushing! Each challenge you push yourself. I love watching you grow.” Lionel Richie shared his pride, adding, “I am so proud of you. You killed it!” Luke Bryan also praised John’s progress, saying, “Great job! You impress me so much on so many levels.”
Jamal Roberts – “Heal”
Jamal Roberts delivered a deeply moving performance of “Heal” by Tom Odell. Carrie Underwood was left speechless, simply offering “No words.” Lionel Richie summed it up in one powerful statement, calling it “Divine!” Luke Bryan was equally at a loss for words, showing just how much Jamal’s performance resonated with everyone in the room.
