American Idol celebrated Easter Sunday with a special three-hour “Songs of Faith” episode to celebrate the joy and inspiration of the holiday – and in the end also revealed the results of America’s first vote, which named the Top 20.
Judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan have already done their job by picking the 24 best artists for this season of the singing competition, but they were still on hand to critique the singers and help America decide who goes through.
Lionel opened the show with a performance of “Eternity,” Luke later took the stage with ‘Jesus ‘Bout My Kids,” and Carrie closed the show with “How Great Thou Art!”
The Top 20 was chosen after almost 30 million votes were cast. Tonight’s vote will eliminate six more artists as America decides the Top 14 based on tonight’s performances. Those results will be revealed on Monday night.
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Guest performances for the night included GRAMMY® winner CeCeWinans alongside Idol alum Roman Collins, who made it to the Top 12 in Season 22, with “Come Jesus Come;” American Idol's artist in residence Jelly Roll and acclaimed Christian artist Brandon Lake dueted on their hit collaboration “Hard Fought Hallelujah;” and The Brown Four sang “How I Love Jesus,” “This Little Light of Mine,” and “Oh Happy Day.”
Grayson TorrenceKyana FaneneMYKPenny Samar
Advancing artists tonight on American Idol 2025 Top 20
Amanda BariseBaylee LittrellBreanna NixCanaan James Hill,ChéDesmond RobertsDrew RynFiloGabby SamoneIsaiah MisailegaluJamal RobertsJohn FosterJosh KingKolbi JordanMattie PruittOlivier BergeronSlater NalleyThunderstorm ArtisVictor SolomonZaylie Windsor
Here's how the night broke down:
Song: “Better Days” by Le’Andria Johnson
Lionel said: “Young man, do you have any idea what you just did? Let me just say this, that was a performance to be remembered on American Idol for a very long time. ”
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Drew Ryn
Song: “Yellow” by Coldplay
Carrie said: “I love that you took the theme and found something that was a little unconventional because that’s what music is all about. It was a very solid performance. You look gorgeous. You could feel your joy while you were singing it.”
Song: “Worship” by Jon Baptiste
Luke said: “I don’t know how I’m supposed to judge that, so beyond my knowledge level. So many tools and tricks in your bag and then the entertainment value of it was really, really great. That was impressive.”
Filo (Platinum Ticket)
Song: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel
Lionel said: “To start off cold like that, no band, no nothing, just vocals, is very difficult to do. You aced it. And then your ultimate delivery – you took it from a whisper to a crescendo – I just loved your performance. Congratulations.”
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Song: “You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker
Carrie said: “The sweet and soft side of Josh. You’re normally the life of the party, joking, joking. You come out and just make us smile. I love that you displayed your sweet and soft side.”
Thunderstorm Artis
Song: “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury
Luke said: “I loved it because you really gave us an energetic rock side that we heard the singer/songwriter side of you. That felt like a big Christian rock concert that was amazing. I loved seeing that new side of you and that energy.”
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Song: “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys
Lionel said: “I am going to start out by saying a shout out to Alicia. Listen to me. You went from the second half of that song and turned it into your song. Absolutely. What was so amazing was from that growl – I don’t know what that was... where you found somebody down inside – but you went from that growl out and it was amazing. I love what you brought to the table.”
John Foster
Song: “Tell That Angel I Love Her” by John Foster
Carrie said: “There’s something so wonderfully throwback about your voice and your style and I think it’s something lacking in country music today to be honest. We have a lot of outlaw country, we have a lot of new country, I love that you keep it traditional. I feel that’s who you are. I love that in this song, we got to hear a sweet, tender side of your voice that honestly I didn’t know you had. Holding out some of those notes a little longer and hearing your vibrato, it was really nice to hear that from you John.”
Song: “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle
Luke said: “Wow! Wow! Wow! You’re going through the star wash. Great job. That cry in your voice is so great to listen to, but listen, still make sure we hear every word and dig, dig, dig. From the first note you sang, you had us until the end, but you are so incredible. 16. What a great job. Keep pouring on the gas.”
Olivier Bergeron
Song: “Stay” by Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko
Lionel said: “You have that old-school, urgency attitude. You were intense. Even watching you in the room waiting, there was no Plan B needed. Trust me, when you walk on stage, you are so focused on your sound. I will tell you something, it pays off. I love your voice in terms of how you navigate the notes. Every once in a while, again, it would be nice for you to open your eyes and look at us because that’s part of the whole thing, but your intensity is definitely enjoyable.”
Song: “Up to the Mountain by Patty Griffin
Carrie said: “If there’s one word that I could use to describe your time here with us, it’s solid. That’s a big deal in this industry. You want to deliver every time you step on stage and you do. So, well done.”
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Victor Solomon
Song: “For Every Mountain” by Kurt Carr & the Kurt Carr Singers
Luke said: “You did my song last week and you made it through. I’m glad that happened. You just understand every aspect of entertainment. Your look tonight…your outfit is so unique to you. It doesn’t scream faith night or Easter night, it screams Victor Solomon night. I love your approach to this. You just have fun.”
Song: “Gone Without Goodbye” by Brian Littrell
Lionel said: “What I am going to ask you to do from here on out, put pressure on yourself, because big voices, little voices, it’s not about that. It’s about delivery. Press forward. Scare yourself to death from this point on. Great performance.”
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Isaiah Misailegalu
Song: “Give You Blue” by Allen Stone
Luke said: “You could tell you had a lot of history with that song because that was probably your most relaxed delivery. You didn’t miss a note. When you sing, it’s so natural and effortless but remember to dig in and give us more. You’ve got such a great instrument of a voice.”
Song: “I Am Changing” from Dreamgirls
Luke said: “That was a better breakout moment than your last breakout moment. I think you’re a star. I really do. I was just captivated by what you did. Beautiful.”
Slater Nalley
Song: “Soulshine” by The Allman Brothers
Lionel said: “When we had the class of everybody sitting there, what did I say? I said, ‘Don’t get psyched out by all those other amazing voices. Just stay in your lane and be solid in what you do.’ You got here because you stayed in your lane and you’re solid."
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Song: “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac
Carrie said: “I feel like song choice is going to be paramount for you. I know you weren’t super confident in your last song choice in Hawaii, and that is one of the things, I know, when I was on the show, the judges would tell us they didn’t like the song. I was, ‘I don’t know what you want me to sing.’ You have to be you but what does the voting audience want? Things that showcase your voice but are also things people can be really excited about.”
Jamal Roberts
Song: “Forever” by Jason Nelson
Luke said: “Jamal, you’ve just got the magic. There are so many wonderful things that you do but what I really love the most is it’s current but it’s old-school, too. You’re doing old-school stuff that is so fun to watch somebody do. You’re slaying it, buddy.”
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Song: “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley & the Wailers
Lionel said: “I watched you get emotional but I think you delivered that song so well. Congratulations on joining this class."
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Kolbi Jordan (Platinum Ticket)
Song: “Amazing Grace”
Carrie said: “Thank you for that. That was amazing. I will say throughout this entire show, the camaraderie with you guys lifting each other up is incredible to see. That was amazing.”
American Idol will return Monday night when the Top 20 will be reduced by six to the Top 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Streams next day on Hulu.
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