Four competitors were sent home during Sunday night’s 3-hour American Idol Easter special.
With only a month left of competition on American Idol‘s 23rd season, the field of hopefuls is dwindling fast. 24 singers remained going into Sunday’s “Songs of faith” Easter Special, but only 20 had the privilege of singing their faith-themed song for America. Four singers were eliminated based on voting results from their Hawaii Week performances that aired last week.
Sunday’s results were the first eliminations based on America’s votes this season. Those who survived the cuts sang their “song of faith” for America’s votes once again. The results will be announced in the first live episode of the season on Monday night (April 21), when the field will be drastically reduced to 14. 10 will move on based on votes and four more will be saved by the judges.
Those eliminated Sunday night were:
Grayson Torrence
Kyana Fanene
Penny Samar
MKY
The official Top 20 are:
Amanda Barise
Baylee Littrell
Breanna Nix
Canaan James Hill
Che
Desmond Roberts
Drew Ryn
Filo
Gabby Samone
Isaiah Misailegalu
Jamal Roberts
John Foster
Josh King
Kolbi Jordan
Mattie Pruitt
Olivier Bergeron
Slater Nalley
Thunderstorm Artis
Victor Solomon
Zaylie Windsor
American Idol‘s “Songs of Faith” featured performances from special guests.
“Songs of Faith” not only delivered inspirational songs from the Top 20, but also from judges, Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, and this season’s artist in residence, Jelly Roll. Special guests CeCe Winans, Brandon Lake, Season 22 Top 12 singer Roman Collins, and The Brown Four also performed.
The Easter special marks the first of its kind for American Idol, something that Luke Bryan credits new judge Carrie Underwood for making happen.
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In an interview with Billboard ahead of the episode, Bryan told the outlet that Carrie’s outspokenness about her faith gave contestants the courage to express their faith in their song choices.
“[Carrie’s] never shied away from her spirituality and her Christian beliefs and she’s done it through music and it’s been a part of her artistry and the kids this year have showed up with more of that maybe than in years past, and that’s been something really, really special to watch,” Luke said of his co-judge. “I’m sure she probably thinks, ‘Am I making a difference?’ But it showed this year. A couple of episodes ago she asked, ‘Historically have people done so much gospel?’ And I said, ‘You may be having a little something to do with that.'”
Carrie responded to Luke’s observation, saying, “It wasn’t just gospel. They usually say something before they sing about why they want to be the next American Idol, and so many of them said, ‘Because God put me here,’ and they’re leaning into that. And I asked, ‘Has it always been like this? This is awesome.'”
Tune into American Idol on Monday, April 21, to find out who will advance to the Top 14.