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‘American Idol’ Shakeup: Only 4 Contestants Advance While Dozens Face 1st-Time Battle Round
For the first time ever, more than three dozen “American Idol” contestants will go head-to-head in a season 23 Hollywood Week battle round, set to air on April 7, 2025.
At the end of the two-hour Showstopper Round on April 6, judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood sent home 18 singers, advanced four contestants to the coveted Top 24, and then informed the 40 remaining hopefuls that they’ll duke it out vocally in pairs just 24 hours later. Taking a page from “The Voice,” the judges will have to choose which singer in each pair will advance and who will go home.
Which ‘American Idol’ Contestants Advanced to the Season 23 Top 24?
EntertainmentNOW/DisneyAfter 62 performances during the Showstopper Round, the judges chose four singers to leapfrog the next stage of the competition, securing their place in the Top 24. That means these four powerhouse singers are automatically going to the next round, performing in Hawaii.
Mattie Pruitt, age 15
The youngest “American Idol” contestant of the season, Pruitt wowed the judges with her rendition of James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World.” After her song, Bryan told his fellow judges that the high schooler from Eagleville, Tennessee, is “probably a massive star. Like, sneaky star.”
Richie agreed, telling him, “I’m with you. We just got a show right there.”
Canaan James Hill, age 17
The Dallas-based content creator and aspiring preacher took the crowd to church with his soulful performance of “Never Would Have Made It” by Marvin Sapp. Underwood continually remarked that she couldn’t believe he’s only 17, and Richie told her and Bryan that it was “the greatest performance I have ever seen.”
Hill was the judges’ third platinum ticket winner, so he got to skip the first round of Hollywood Week and will now get to skip the final round, too, as he advances to the Top 24.
Zaylie Windsor, age 20
When Windsor walked onto the Showstopper stage, Bryan — who was the one judge not to vote her through to Hollywood after her initial audition — told Richie and Underwood that she needed to prove herself. With her version of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever,” the Safford, Arizona, singer did just that. Bryan declared afterward that she’d shot up to the Top 10 in his mind.
Gabby Samone, age 23
Samone got a standing ovation from the judges for her take on Nina Simone’s “Four Women” as Bryan told them, “She just came roaring to the front of the competition.”
They’re not the first to notice the Baltimore singer’s immense talent. “Idol” alum Jennifer Hudson saw Samone singing on Instagram and invited her on her talk show, then kept in touch with her. When Samone asked her whether she should audition for “Idol,” she told producers that Hudson encouraged her to go for it.
What Happens Next on ‘American Idol?’
In another two-hour episode airing on April 7, the 40 remaining hopefuls will have to choose partners overnight, select a song to perform as a duet, and then sing it in front of the judges less than 24 hours later. The judges will then decide which contestant from each duo will advance.
The one silver lining is that they can lean on Jelly Roll, who was introduced at the end of the Showstopper episode as the show’s first-ever artist-in-residence. He will work with the contestants behind-the-scenes throughout the season, beginning with preparing them for the battle round.
“We thought that we would bring in a little extra support,” Richie told the contestants before revealing who it was. “He’s going to be with us all season long to navigate the ups and the downs of what you are about to go through. Jelly Roll!”
The country superstar then walked out on stage as the group cheered, and said, “Glad to be part of the ‘Idol’ family the rest of the season!”
The “American Idol” head-to-head battles air on April 7 starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The Top 24 will then advance to perform in Hawaii with additional celebrity mentors Ashanti and Josh Groban. Those episodes will begin airing on April 13.
