American Idol celebrated Easter Sunday with a special three-hour "Songs of Faith" episode, revealing the Top 20 contestants as the audience voted for their favorites. The excitement continued on April 21, 2025, when the Top 20 returned to the stage for live performances from Hollywood, during which six hopefuls were eliminated, culminating in the announcement of the Top 14.
Host Ryan Seacrest explained the voting process, noting that the top 10 vote-getters automatically advanced to the next round. The remaining 10 contestants found themselves in the "danger zone," singing for the judges—Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan—in hopes of securing a spot in the Top 14. This season's artist in residence, Jelly Roll, provided guidance and support to the contestants.
Among those who did not make the cut were Baylee Littrell, Drew Ryn, Isaiah Misailegalu, Olivier Bergeron, Victor Solomon, and Zaylie Windsor. Meanwhile, Amanda Barise, Breanna Nix, Canaan James Hill, Ché, Desmond Roberts, Filo, Gabby Samone, Jamal Roberts, John Foster, Josh King, Kolbi Jordan, Mattie Pruitt, Slater Nalley, and Thunderstorm Artis advanced to the next round.
The night was filled with memorable performances. Kolbi Jordan opened the show with a rendition of "I’m Every Woman" by Chaka Khan, securing his place in the Top 14. Isaiah Misailegalu followed with "Sleepwalker" by Sammy Johnson, but faced tough criticism from the judges. Luke Bryan remarked, "What a tough thing to do to not make it through. I push you to always expand outside your comfort zone."
Drew Ryn performed "A Million Reasons" by Lady Gaga, with Lionel Richie offering feedback on the need for more energy in her performance. Thunderstorm Artis sang "I Love You" by Billie Eilish, while Olivier gave his all with "It’s Not My Time" by Three Doors Down, earning praise from Carrie Underwood.
Filo impressed the judges with "Skyfall" by Adele, and John Foster's performance of "Neon Moon" by Brooks & Dunn also earned him a spot in the Top 14. Josh King, who performed "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley, received encouragement from Lionel Richie, who urged him to bring even more energy to his performance.
As the judges deliberated, the tension mounted. The four artists who made it through were Desmond Roberts, Josh King, Ché, and Amanda Barise. The judges expressed their admiration for the talent displayed throughout the competition, with Carrie Underwood noting, "I feel like every time you get on stage, you give us more."
American Idol has seen a significant increase in viewer engagement this season, with over 1 billion votes cast. The show's popularity continues to thrive as it showcases a diverse array of talent.
In addition to the performances, the episode featured special appearances by CeCe Winans and Roman Collins from Season 22, who joined the judges and contestants in celebrating the talent on display.
American Idol will return on Sunday night, April 27, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, promising more thrilling performances and emotional moments as the competition heats up. Fans can also catch up on episodes the following day on Hulu.
As the competition progresses, viewers are eager to see which contestants will rise to the occasion and who will ultimately be crowned the next American Idol. With the stakes higher than ever, the journey is just beginning for these talented singers.
