American Idol 2024 Auditions 5 Recap
American Idol season 22 continues tonight. The LAST week of auditions, Auditions 5, takes place in the judges hometowns Leesburg, Georgia (Luke), Tuskegee, Alabama (Lionel) and Santa Barbara, California (Katy) plus Los Angeles and Nashville. Judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan along with host Ryan Seacrest will introduce a new crop young hopefuls. Who will snag that golden ticket to Hollywood? Or better yet, will a hopeful earn one of THREE Platinum Tickets? The final platinum ticket is given out this week.
American Idol 2024 Auditions 5: Meet The Contestants (Photos)
American Idol 2024: Full Season 22 Schedule (Updated 3/17)
American Idol 2024 Spoilers: Top 24 Season 22 Contestant List
American Idol 2024 Spoilers Showstopper Contestant and Song List
American Idol 2024 Spoilers: Top 24 Season 22 Contestant List
Reminder: Comments on this post are a SPOILER FREE ZONE. Do not spoil outcomes. Keep spoiler discussion confined to specific spoiler posts.
Ricky Moyer – 22 – It Must Have Been Love by Roxette
Ricky performs a ballady version of the song at the piano. In a Philadelphia interview, the singer said American Idol is a crossroads–he studied musical theater but is considering pursuing a pop career.
Lionel says, “You were so clear, that I was doing the orchestration…that was a great performance.” Katy said, “You gave us moment after moment after moment.” Luke says it will fun to watch him surprise them. His voice is well suited to ballads–beautiful tone and great phrasing – 3 yeses
Liliana Tovar Dalton – 17 – 5 Percent (Original Song)
ABC previewed this audition a few days ago. Check it out HERE. Liliana attends high school in a small town and obsesses over boys. She considers herself in her “Taylor Swift” era, specifically her “Reputation” era, which Liliana says you can make of what you will. She spends her free time penning songs about the dumb boys who have let her down, basically.
In the audition room Lionel comforted Liliana. “Vicious little people!” he described teenage boys. Katy agreed. Liliana described the original song, “5 percent,” which she’s singing for the judges, as “the amount of effort that that specific person gave me.”
The ballad Lilina performed at the piano uses her phone–at 5% power–as a metaphor for her uncaring boyfriend. She waits with her phone, for a text, a call, ANYTHING. She tortures herself scrolling through social media, looking at girls who she considers more desirable than her. When she finally realizes he’s blowing her off, she sings, “I guess I love too easily.”
Katy feels the song could use more shaping, likening it to a long open-ended text message, but she loves it nonetheless. Lionel is more critical about the song’s lack of structure. He notes that Swift writes songs with “guts.” In the end, all three judges say yes to Hollywood – 3 yeses
This last audition episode has a slew of auditions to get though. A montage of hopefuls is next, made up the night’s younger contestants
Sophia Ava Marie – 15 – The One That Got Away by Katy Perry
She’s a mature singer for her age. Solid, rangy singing. And nervy, singing Katy’s song. 3 yeses
Brant McCollough – 16 – Fire Away by Chris Stapleton
He’s a raspy country sing. He’s got a few pitch problems, but a lot of potential. Luke is impressed, “You’ve really got something and you’re going to have something. 3 yeses
Carmen Olivia – 16 – Oscar Winning Tears by RAYE
She’s got a HUGE voice! Her runs and adlibs could use a little finesse, but really impressive. 3 yeses
Camila Galavis – 14 – Rabia by Joaquina
She is a freshman in highschool, originally from Venezuela but now living in Miami. Here is the gimmick–her father is Juan Pablo Galavis who starred in The Bachelor season 18 in 2014. He was also a Bachelorette contestant. Both shows are popular and air on ABC.
Most Bachelor Nation fans loved Juan on the Bachelorette. But by the end of the Bachelor, he turned into more or less a villain. Afterward, he complained about the show and he and his “fiance” pretty much cut ties with the network. But here he is! As if anyone cares.
And here he is in the audition room, ready to promote HIMSELF. Camila insists that auditioning for Idol was all her idea. She performs a Spanish language song. She’s not terrible. But probably wouldn’t have got passed the producers without the connection. But she has potential. Katy is looking for more maturity and notes. Luke loves her confidence, “very pop.” He also thinks she’s too young. But a good producer could work with her, he states. Lionel says no, Luke wrote no on his page but changed to yes after Katy said yes – 1 no 2 yeses Her mom is there as well. No hard feelings, I guess.
Garrison Bennett – 18 – Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Garrison was undoubtedly told by producers to dress as much like a young Lionel Richie as possible, down to the oversized aviator sunglasses. That’s the thing. He looks like Lionel. Nevertheless, his version of a Stevie Wonder classic is soulful and impresses the judges. They compare him to Leon Bridges. Katy wants “a little more energy.” – 3 yeses
Jayna Elise – 22 – The Climb by Miley Cyrus
Jayna is a returnee from last year. The show highlighted her kindness to fellow contestants in Hollywood. For instance, she took a neurodivergent contestant into her duet after the others shunned him. And she volunteered to duet with a contestant, Fire. She was cut before the Top 24. At the time, Katy advised her to come out of the shadows.
Her contralto voice is thick and pretty as she hits all the high notes. She brings a jazzy and soulful feel to the popular pop singer. Her phrasing is interesting. Jayna shaped that song with great intention. The judges are on their feet.
“That was a full 3 course meal,” says Katy. “You have really grown.” Luke calls it “listenable and comfortable.” Lionel’s advice is “do that again.” Katy added, “You found the heart.” – 3 yeses
Keegan James – 21 – The Best by Tina Turner
Keegan performs for the judges while roller skating. According to his bio, the singer performed in a professional disco roller skating show in New York City. But here, the skating distracts from his singing, which is pretty good.
The judges gather in the circle and ask him to skate around them. They aren’t taking him seriously. His vocals get weirder and weirder as the audition goes on. Katy says, “You are for a different stage.” Keegan seems wholly unsurprised by his elimination –3 nos.
Cate Gartner – 18 – The Place That I Call Home (Original)
Cate got pregnant at 16 when she was a junior in high school. Her son Cooper was 18 months old at the time of her audition. It was scary, but she had a connection to motherhood almost immediately. At this point, she wouldn’t change a thing. The young singer wrote her original song after she found out she was pregnant. She has a similar tone to HunterGirl from a few seasons ago. Her voice is more laconic than Hunter’s. She could push it up a notch. However, she’s a solid songwriter.
Lionel compliments her parallels. Katy thinks she has a natural talent. “You were born with something.” Luke compares her to Alison Krauss. He loved the simplicity in her lyrics. The family joins her in the audition room after her yeses. – 3 yeses.
INCOMING FAMILIAR FACES. The Voice fans will recognize the Matthews sisters as members of Worth The Wait, who competed on The Voice 19, but were eliminated during the Playoffs. Their mom Tara served as the third member, and she’s here at the audition too. They explain that their parents were singers/musicians as well. The dad passed away when the kids were young.
OH. They mention the singing group, but not the name or the show they auditioned for. They kick off the daughter’s auditions with a little a cappella trio singing.
Jacy Matthews – 17 – Help Me Make it Through the Night by Kris Kristofferson
Mia plays guitar for her while she croons. Worth The Wait wasn’t an especially strong The Voice group. Their early exit was justified. Jacy sounds very young and warbly. Better to sing with others. She and her mom become emotional at the end. Luke says no. Lionel and Katy say yes. Luke notes the lack of strength in her vocals – 1 no 2 yeses
Mia Matthews – 18 – No Place that Far by Sara Evans
Mia is a better, stronger vocalist than her sister. Although she’s only a year older, she has a more mature and confident sound. Her tone is like a bell. The emotional Jacy is crying again.
Luke calls them both similar. But “it seems a little quiet and timid. I don’t know if it’s time for y’all.” Ohhh. commercial break cliffhanger! They do a one by one judgement. Luke is quick to say yes to Mia, though he thinks she needs more grit. Lionel is still looking for an artist. He says no. Katy is drawn to Mia. She says yes. Mia should have received 3 yeses. – 1 no 2 yeses
Katy’s dad loves classic cars, and he drives up in one while the judges are auditioning hopefuls in Katy’s hometown, Santa Barbara.
Jordan Anthony – 18 – Forget Me by Lewis Capaldi
Jordan, a singer from Perth, Australia, competed on The Voice Australia, Season 8 in 2019 when he was just 14 years old and finished in 4th place. He also represented Australia in Junior Eurovision in 2019 where he placed 8th with his song titled “We Will Rise.”
Jordan accompanies himself on piano while he sings. He’s a solid vocalist, but somewhat generic. Couldn’t tell this guy apart from a bunch of Tik Tok type singers who perform in the same way. However, he does have some impactful and emotional moments.
Lionel compliments his runs. Katy is impressed by his range. Luke appreciates the way he ties everything together – 3 yeses
Yvan Vucina – 26 – Walking the Dog by Rufus Thomas
He sings a bluey cover that comes off kind of novelty. But the thing is, the segment is all about Luke’s dog, who is on set in Nashville. He probably had a better song prepared, but we’ll never see it. Oh well. – 3 nos
Victoria Johnson – 16 – No Excuses by Meghan Trainor
She picked the song because it’s fun and “sassy.” How many ways do a despise the corny stylings of Meghan Trainor? So many ways. Please don’t pick her songs, hopefuls. Still, Victoria sings with confidence and a sense of fun.
Katy wants more volume and asks her to sing parts again. Luke thinks she has a “star factor” going on. Lionel says her confidence matches her vocals. Luke’s dog delivers a chewed up ticket to Victoria. Super slobbery! – 3 yeses
Ty’esha Lashay – 22 –
We only get a snippet of the next two auditions. Ty’esha’s soulful voice receives 3 yeses
Spencer Wells – 24 – Use Somebody by Kings of Leon
Not mentioned: Spencer is an athlete, a football player. A bunch of his 16 member family show up to support the singer, who possesses a rocker-type voice – 3 yeses
Bethany Teague – 25 – Piece by Piece by Kelly Clarkson
Bethany was adopted by her grandmother at 5. She chooses to sing Kelly’s song, which is about her father abandoning her. It likely matches her life experiences. Her vocal is deep and full of character and heft. Her range soars. The judges are clearly moved. She tears up at the end. Her mom passed away after giving birth to her sister. She states that “she doesn’t have” a father.
Katy wants to feel another gear “of that passion.” Lionel calls it “very moving.” Luke thinks with more confidence she’ll be even better. He thinks she brings something different compared to Kelly’s version. – 3 yeses
Isaiah Case – 22 – What Could I Do (Original)
His family is close knit and musical. He’s been playing music since 4 years old. His dad taught him to play and write songs. He also has a toddler son whom he mentors musically. He sings in a gravelly Americana style voice. He mines typical themes like dancing with the devil. His voice cuts thorough.
Katy calls the song “cool.” And she loves his voice. He’s a worship leader, which surprises Luke. He says worship leaders usually have smooth voices (???). Isaiah wrote the song with members of his family. 3 yeses
Julia Gagnon – 21 – Ain’t Know Way by Aretha Franklin – Platinum Ticket!
Julia knows she’s the last person to audition for season 22. She was raised in Maine, but born in Guatemala. Her family adopted her at 2 years old out of an orphanage. She loves Maine, but she got bullied in the school system. However, her family is a huge support. At 18, she sought out her birth family. Her adopted family helped her. She contacted her birth mother who was happy that she’s had a better life without her. Birth mom wants to see her do something “big.”
Welp. She’s showing those bullies what for, displaying a fine soulful voice with incredible range. She’s putting her own stamp on the song. She gets lost in the performance, but without losing control. That’s not easy, especially for a young singer. She hits a high note that nearly does Lionel in.
Luke compliments her “amazing falsetto” and phrasing. Katy thinks she can go all the way to Top 10. Lionel grew up with Aretha, he says. Most can’t tackle her songs, he adds, but Julia went “beyond” with her interpretation. Of course, the trio go outside and snatch her Gold ticket. She looks confused, until they hand her the LAST PLATINUM TICKET! – 3 yeses
Next week, Monday shows kick off. The Hollywood round has been scaled back to ONE SOLO PERFORMANCE after which the judges will determine the acts moving on to the Showstopper round. On Monday (April 1), The Showstopper round will reveal the Top 24 contestants. Their performances in Hawaii in two weeks will kick off the voting rounds.
