American Idol 2025 Recap – We’re live blogging the Top 24 Part 1 in Hawaii
American Idol season 23 continues with the Top 24 round which the show filmed at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii. Part 1, featuring R&B singerAshanti as a mentor airs Sunday (April 13). Part 2 featuring Josh Groban airs Monday (April 14). Artist in Residence Jelly Roll will be on hand both nights to help.
HOW to VOTE
Judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan won’t be choosing contestants, because which singers advance is now up to AMERICA! Viewers can cast their votes at idolvote.abc.com, the American Idol official phone app or via Text message (Text the contestant’s number to 21523). Voting begins at the BEGINNING of the broadcast. Fans can submit up to ten (10) votes for each contestant per voting method for at total of 30 votes for each contestant. Top 24 voting locks at 6 am ET/3am PT the next morning. More at Voting Faq.
Ryan Seacrest hosts.
American Idol 2025 Top 24 Contestant Preview
American Idol 2025 Spoilers: Top 24 Season 23 Contestant List & Song Picks
American Idol 2025: Full Season 23 Schedule
Mentor Ashanti will perform later on in the episode.
CHÉ – Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin’) by Stevie Wonder
Tonight, CHÉ wants to have some fun. The singer has traveled across the ocean from the UK to compete on Idol, and of course he’s doing it all for his kids. CHÉ is an R&B vocalist who makes it look easy. He’s effortlessly soulful without overdoing the runs. He uses his rasp and unique phrasing in just the right spots. Jelly Roll watches the singers perform from the audience.
Lionel was waiting for him to sweat just “a little bit.” You were on a rocket, he added. “You’re just so stinkin talented,” says Carrie. Luke keeps waiting for him to miss a note and he never does. The panel appreciates his switch up from ballads. TEXT 1 to 21523
Penny Samar – Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan
Jelly Roll and Ashanti LOVE Penny’s crazy faces, even though the panel called them distracting (Team Panel here…). Penny obviously loves her some Chappell Roan. Aw. Her dad is in the crowd tearing up as he watches her. Penny is a solid pop singer. But at this point, she’s too much of a Chappell cloan. She needs to work on developing her own thing. Still, the girl can SANG and brings loads of confidence and personality to the stage.
“I feel like you occupy your own lane in this group of talent,” says Carrie. “You feel every thing you’re singing.” Lionel says, “You work the stage. You gave us drama, you gave us attitude.” Luke says, “You’re comfortable being you. The stage is your playground.” TEXT 2 to 21523
Kolbi Jordan – New Attitude by Patti LaBelle
Ashanti mentions that she once sang “New Attitude” with Pattie herself. Kolbi, a Platinum Ticket winner, mentions she was sick during the Hollywood Round and she struggled. Ashanti is impressed with Kolbi’s energy, but suggests she be even more sassy. For sure, Kolbi shows up ready to take no prisoners on stage. She sings with a nod to Patti but also giving the song her own flavor, adding high notes and well-placed growls.
The judges are on their feet before the song ends. Lionel says, “You are on fire!” He wonders if any stage remains. “It was amazing.” Luke calls it one of his favorite performances ever “on the island.” He adds, “America, she is back.” Carrie says, “You have this light in you and around you.” She believes aKolbi has even more to show. TEXT 3 to 21523
Baylee Littrell – Happy by Pharrell Williams
Baylee loves Donald Duck. He’s such a special nepo baby, that a day he visited the park with his parents, Donald wasn’t there but later “wrote” a letter “apologizing.” His song choice is one he performed as an opener for his dad’s group, the Backstreet Boys. He’s turned the song into a ballad, but Jelly and Ashanti notes he doesn’t look very “happy” singing it. This song isn’t meant to be flipped like that! But wisely he ditches the slow tempo after the intro. His voice is decent and he’s learned from daddy Brian how to work a crowd. However, he’s better singing his own songs rather than covers. While he’s trying to smile, he just DOES NOT SOUND HAPPY, which is the point of the song.
Lionel says it took him 40 years to get the girls screaming. He feels Baylee is finding his comfort zone. Carrie loves seeing him work the stage. “I want more of that.” Luke feels Baylee is overcoming his “shyness.” TEXT 4 to 21523
Ashanti performs a medley of The Way that I Love You/Foolish
The wind machine goes crazy as Ashanti sings two of her big hits. Look! It’s Hula dancers. Ashanti describes the talent from the singers she mentored as “through the roof.” She’ll be releasing a new record soon.
Victor Solomon – That’s My Kind Of Night by Luke Bryan
Covering songs by the coaches/judges (John Legend, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan) is this former The Voice contestant’s thing, it seems. Victor will add a little “Victor” to a country song, he says, adding “I’m all about taking risks.” Jelly Roll is sceptical. He dons a cowboy hat from one of the crew members, who is wearing a ton of hair gel. Hm. He’s wearing a black cowboy hat on stage while he gyrates and gyrates. He seems somewhat out of his comfort zone. But kudos to him for not playing it safe. He hasn’t had a ton of screen time. He’s got an uphill battle. I wouldn’t call this a break out performance, but it’s more memorable than if he went back to the R&B well–especially since Luke joins him on stage after the panel remarks for a “dance” lesson.
“I got to retire the song,” Luke jokes. “This show is about surprise.” He loved the nuances of the arrangement. “You can truly outdance me!” Lionel thinks he invents a new person each time he takes the stage. Carrie believes he fits EVERYWHERE in every genre. She also believes America will love him. TEXT 5 to 21523
Jelly Roll in in the audience watching the contestants. “I’m having a ball,” he gushes to Ryan. The singer adds, that he sometimes gets emotional hearing the artists sing.
Gabby Samone – It’s All Coming Back To Me Now by Celine Dion
Case in point, Jelly Roll is emotional hearing about Gabby’s childhood, which was filled with economic hardship. Jelly and Gabby are both crying. “It’s a pain I understand,” he says. He calls her vulnerability “special.” He adds, “There’s no reason a girl from Baltimore can’t be the next American Idol. Whatever that means. At this point, Gabby is kind of a dark horse. She was one of four singers picked for the Top 24 before the Head-to-Head round. Her rendition is emotional and soulful. She is indeed, FEELING it. She hits a big note that gets the audience cheering. She could be a dark horse.
“I felt all the things,” says Carrie. “It’s completely unexpected. Luke says, “You just felt like a big star.” Lionel says, “I don’t know what that note was at the end!” He says she “Gaberized it.” TEXT 6 to 21523
MKY – Adorn by Miguel
MKY shares that American Idol has brought his divorced parents together in the same room for the first time in years. Ashanti appreciates that MKY serenaded HER. “Don’t hold back,” she advises. “Take up the whole stage.” The singer doesn’t need to be told “not to hold back.” He’s got the sexy R&B Latin thing down pat. If he wasn’t a good singer, and not so earnest and likable, he’d come off as corny. But his tone and range are sweet and listenable. He gets the crowd going. The camera person makes sure to get a WIDE crotch shot as the song ends.
Lionel calls him an old school season pro. Carrie says, “I feel like we are peeling back the onion that is MKY.” Luke says, “You show that you’ve spent a lot of time performing. You owned that moment.” TEXT 7 to 21523
Zaylie Windsor – Heart of Glass by Blondie
She flips the epic Blondie song, but is unsure. She’s not sure if her arrangement has “the moment” that will move audiences. The big voiced singers are intimidating to her. She struggles with confidence. Ashanti suggests she finds a way to exude energy that will allow the singer to be herself in the song. Turning pop songs into ballads is a cliche at this point. It’s important that the artist imparts a unique point of view during the performance. The arrangement in the second half adds a dance beat. But unfortunately her vocal gets lost once the band kicks it up a notch. She probably should have kept it ballady. Her tone is so pretty. The subtle phrasing she adds is effective. But she shouts her way through the second half. Sis, those notes aren’t yours to reach.
Luke believes the sky will be the limit for her. Lionel loves the way she took the song and made it hers. “It was the right song for you.” Carrie calls the arrangement “really cool.” She adds, “You have sparkle stardust sprinkled all over you.” TEXT 8 to 21523
Breanna Nix – Lauren Daigle – Still Rolling Stones by Lauren Daigle
Her family, including her son and husband are with her in Hawaii. The kid is having a blast. Breanna tears up while thinking about her “lost” past, where she drank too much and didn’t treat herself well. Jelly Roll loves that she picks songs she can sing with conviction. Breanna has a ton of natural talent and could probably find a place in Christian music. Maybe American Idol will have their first CCM winner this season. Her sturdy voice and wide range makes pouring her heart out on stage seem effortless.
Carrie loves her growly voice. “So much power, so much heart.” Luke says, “That is your deal—the confidence you embody.” He compares the singer to Adele. Lionel says, “You have been leading into bringing more and more of your faith into being.” TEXT 9 to 21523
Isaiah Misailegalu – You Can Have It All by Maoli
Isaiah has never been to the island, but he has family there and has now has finally met them. This song choice is his mother’s favorite song. “You sing to the world,” says Jelly, “You’re going to get the votes you’re looking for.” The reggae tune is by a Polynesian band. Isaiah’s vibe is similar to American Idol winner Iam Tongi, But he’s more soulful and easygoing than Iam. Isaiah is another singer whose beautiful tone and phrasing seems to come naturally.
Lionel compares his voice to “silk.” Carrie says, “You had these people eating out of the palm of your hand.” Luke says, “You are blessed with talent,” noting how it appears like he’s not even working at it. It’s worth mentioning that Isaiah didn’t perform much in public before American Idol. Oh. Maoli’s lead singer Glenn is backstage! He comes out to praise and congratulate him. TEXT 10 to 21523
Slater Nalley – (Somewhere) Over The Rainbow by Judy Garland
Mrs. Davis, the teacher from Slater’s audition is in Hawaii. His little sister drops by to surprise him. The song has meaning. At one point, Slater struggled with depression. Jelly Roll can feel the pain in his voice. Well, it’s the twangiest version of this often covered song that I’ve ever heard. I don’t dig the arrangement–heavy on the gravelly nasal sound, a quality often exhibited in country vocals. The band is minimal in the background, allowing Slater’s voice to soar. He sounds a little hoarse, though.
Lionel believes the 17 year old is way over his age group. He calls him a “first class artist singer.” Carrie believes he already comes across as a seasoned professional. “You have the talent and the voice that in 10 years…one of the finest voices.” Luke says, “I’m happy for the promise of your career. You’re going to get to do music for a long time.” TEXT 11 to 21523
Jamal Roberts – Liar by Jelly Roll
Jamal is from a poverty stricken small town in Mississippi where he tries to serve as a role model. JELLY IS CRYING AGAIN after Jamal’s performance of his song. “You were testifying,” he said, “I’m your champion in this thing.” Jamal is an R&B singer covering a country song, and unlike Victor, Jamal seems extremely comfortable as he makes the song entirely his own. He doesn’t pander to Jelly at all as he rips through the heartbreak tune. He navigates a key change with ease. He ends the song on his knees. Somebody needs to arrive on stage with a cape.
Lionel says, “You beat it up. You exploded off the stage. It was amazing.” Carrie says something else takes over when he takes the stage. She calls it a “possession.” Luke says, “You give it your all. I can’t take my eyes off of you.” Jelly Roll adds, “I would feel disrespectful calling it my song.” TEXT 12 to 21523
