Season 23 Of American Idol Reveals Exciting Talent And Inspiring Stories
Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan are in search of the next American Idol. After the hit reality show toured the country for auditions, the competitors traveled to Hollywood, where they perform in various rounds in hopes of advancing in the competition.
During this phase of the show, the cuts are drastic, and the stakes are high. 62 hopeful contestants entered the final “showstopper” round of Hollywood Week, and only 24 will advance to the live shows.
Contestants performed with a full band in front of a live audience, which consisted of their friends, family, and fellow competitors. Already, a few select vocalists are beginning to stand out from the pack.
Canaan James Hill Bypassed The First Round Of Hollywood Week With The Platinum Ticket
17-year-old Canaan James Hill blew the judges away during his audition with a passionate rendition of “I Need Your Glory.”
The gospel song was a fitting representation of the young man’s faith, as he told the judges that he had already graduated high school and planned to pursue ministry. Canaan’s audition showcased his incredible vocal talent, which Luke Bryan described as a “God-given ability.”
Lionel called the performance “powerful” and “spectacular,” and Carrie said she was left speechless.
In addition to three unanimous “yes” votes, Canaan was rewarded with a coveted Platinum ticket, allowing him to bypass the first round of Hollywood Week and advance straight to the showstopper round of American Idol. Relive his audition below!
Did the American Idol judges just predict this season’s winner?
For the showstopper round, Canaan performed “Never Would Have Made It” by Marvin Sapp. His performance was the final one aired during the April 6th episode, and he closed the show with a bang.
Marvin Sapp wrote the song as a tribute to his father following his death. It was released in 2007 and has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Almost immediately after Canaan started singing the gospel anthem, the audience rose to their feet to cheer him on. Soon, all three judges were on their feet, joining in on the standing ovation. Luke Bryan can be heard telling his fellow coaches that the contestant is “one of the best singers I’ve ever seen.”
Additionally, they remarked that, even though they are looking for the Top 24, Canaan might just be the “Top 1.” Watch Canaan James Hill sing “Never Would Have Made It” on American Idol below!
Canaan James Hill Continues To Soar Through The Competition
Carrie, Lionel, and Luke had some tough decisions to make after the showstopper round was completed. During the results portion of the episode, they sent 16 singers home and rewarded four with guaranteed spots in the Top 24. Canaan James Hill was one of those lucky four and will continue on with his American Idol journey!
The remaining 42 contestants will now compete head-to-head and perform duets to earn their spot in the next round. Jelly Roll will serve as the artist in residence and mentor the competitors throughout the season.
Tune in to season 23 of American Idol on Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Episodes are also available to stream on Hulu the following day.