Monday night (April 2) on American Idol the Top 50 sang their little hearts out in the Showcase round. After the judges, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan sat as the contestants took that long walk to learn their fate. Twenty four contestants emerged and will go on to perform in front of a live audience again–solos and performances with superstar artists.

American Idol 2018 Recap – Showcase/Top 24 Revealed Live Blog (VIDEOS)
Meet the American Idol Top 24 Contestants

I’m pretty good with the contestants chosen for the Top 24. But who even knows about members of the Top 50 we barely saw? Oh The Voice season 7 standout, Taylor John Williams we NEVER knew ye. At least in the context of American Idol. Silver lining: He met a woman who became his girlfriend (he and Top 24 singer Amelia Hammer Harris have THANG going on…) A singer who makes the Top 50 likely assumes they’ll get SOME air time. I wish there was more time to highlight everybody. But even The Voice will montage contestants–some who make it all the way to the Knockouts–into oblivion. That’s showbiz!

But out of all the singers who were highlighted, the judges made good decisions about who to send home. Still, I wonder where talented songwriter Harper Grace went wrong. She’s a better country artist than Layla Spring–and also the more mature 16 year old. Ricky Manning is another talented singer/songwriter who the judges might have let slip away. He was also on The Voice season 7. Things that make you go Hmmm. Laine Hardy didn’t seem quite ready for primetime, but that hasn’t necessarily stopped a singer from advancing. Especially a teen where the excuse BUT THEY HAVE POTENTIAL is often applied. I’d love to have been a fly on the wall when that decision was made. And last but not least–Thaddeus Johnson. His Hollywood week solo of Katy’s song “Rise” was so impressive, he seemed to be a shoe in.

And Now We Know: Attempting to fake out contestants while delivering fateful news remains as awkward and cringe inducing as ever!

One last little fun thing. The Top 24 hum the ICONIC American Idol theme!