American Idol 2025 Recap – We’re Live Blogging Hollywood Week
American Idol season 23 Hollywood Week kicks off tonight (March 31) with the arena episode, as judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan eliminate contestants after performance solos. At least half of the contestants will head home. Ryan Seacrest hosts. Who will make it through to the to the next Round? We’re live blogging here.
American Idol 2025 Contestant Preview: Ones to Watch
American Idol 2025 Spoilers: Top 24 Season 23 Contestant List & Song Picks
American Idol 2025: Full Season 23 Schedule
American Idol Hollywood Week takes place at the Orpheum Theater. The show has staged the week often there, including Season 4, when Carrie won the show. She speaks to the crowd sharing from experience that the contestants’ lives could change forever.
The “Idol Arena” is back. The singers won’t know when they’ll be called to the stage and won’t learn their fates until the end of the show. More than half the group will be eliminated.
Platinum Ticket holders Kolbi Jordan, Canaan James Hill and Filo sing “Get Ready”
The week kicks off with the three Platinum Ticket holders Kolbi Jordan, Canaan James Hill and Filo singing a rousing rendition of The Temptation’s “Get Ready.” Having been awarded the Platinum Ticket allows the trio to automatically advance to the second round.
Breanna Nix – You Say by Lauren Daigle
When Breanna described herself as “only a stay-at-home mom”at her audition, Carrie encouraged the singer not to ashamed of that. Her husband and son are back home, and she’s feeling some guilt. She calls the song her “anthem” due to her struggles with confidence. Breanna is an amazing belter. Her upper register is her sweet spot. The audience claps as she nails a key a key change. The judges give her performance, full of feeling, a standing ovation. “You can feel your heart,” Carrie remarks afterward.
CHÉ – A Song For You by Donny Hathaway
CHÉ hails from Essex, England and competed on the X Factor and made the finals. The singer’s strong baritone rasp is appealing and so listenable. He doesn’t overdo it–only employing a little run at the end of the number. Nice. He’s soulful and strong performing an oft-covered singing show pick. The crowd responds enthusiastically at several points during the song. Another standing ovation! Lionel says, “I don’t know whether you can claim England, sounds more like Atlanta, Georgia.” He loved it.
Thunderstorm Artis – My Last Dying Breath (Original)
Thunderstorm came in 3rd on The Voice in 2020. He comes from a big Hawaiian family. They all play music. Now he’s married with children and living in Nashville. His dad passing was huge for him. But music helped him work through his grief. Before performing, Thunderstorm explains that he wrote the song for his wife. The singer has an identifiable style. It’s intimate and heartfelt. He’s the kind of guy who can hold a room with only his voice an an acoustic guitar. Standing ovations for everyone! “You are an artist,” Carrie declares.
Crews Wright – Goodbye Time by Conway Twitty
Crews, a rodeo rider from Alabama, charmed the panel at his audition with his down home personality. He’s only 17! The singer wants to keep country music alive. Crews looks like he’s 21 and sings like he’s 40. He channels Elvis on stage, which isn’t great. He needs to develop his own style. His voice cracks a few times. He’s nervous. Luke can’t believe he’s 17. He believes Crews will grow so much.
Jamier Jones, Katelyn Myers, Insite
Oh no. Nerves came to town and ruined their chances to advance. Insite, the heavy metal singer is so tuneless, it’s painful. He knew it too. Ah well. On stage with a loud band tuning doesn’t matter.
Lola Bonfiglio – Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish
Lola comes from pop music royalty. Her grandfather is Brian Wilson who started the Beach Boys and produced all their brilliant material. Her mom is Carnie Wilson, Brian’s daughter who served up hit songs in the 90s with her sister Wendy as part of the vocal group Wilson-Phillips. OH she mentions Brian, which the show DID NOT during her audition. Here’s the thing. She’s a weak solo singer. Her pitch was bad, Luke admits to his fellow judges. Carnie, who was in the audience, got REAL MAD recently after fans criticized Lola’s voice. Welcome to singing show hell! What did she expect?
Baylee Littrell – Hey Jesus (Original)
The other kid from pop rock royalty, Baylee Littrell is up next. His dad is Brian Littrell from the iconic boy band, Backstreet Boys. Baylee is determined to carve out his own path. The singer explains that he wrote the song he has chosen to sing after his beloved grandmother died 3 years ago. She helped raise him. Writing the song helped him find faith again. Baylee is a better singer than Lola. Going further, he’s a better singer than his father, who. like the Wilsons shined in a harmony group. His dad is in the audience too, looking very proud. “Your heart and your genuineness is coming through,” said Carrie.
Carsen Webb – More Than Able by Elevation Worship
Wow. Carsen picked a worship song, which I did not see coming. Actually, it’s not a good song for his range and he struggles on the lower notes. He should have come out with a raucous pop song or a torchy ballad. Pop is a lane where he could flourish. Luke notes his nerves at 16 years old. He admits later that he was very nervous.
Mattie Pruitt – Cold by Chris Stapleton
Mattie, who feels very far from her home town, is only 15, but sings with the maturity and poise of a much older person. Her raspy voice is well developed as she wails through the song. The audience can’t believe what they are hearing. “Nothing about that is 15,” Luke notes.
Next, it’s a montage of singers FORGETING the words, Followed by an edit of Carrie forgetting HER words 20 years ago.
Josh King – Hopelessly by Rick Astley
Josh sang Over the Rainbow for his audition. The judges were afraid the airport pianist was too much of a lounge singer. Carrie said no, but Luke and Lionel gave him a chance. Playing at an electric piano, Josh does everything he can to connect to the song and he’s succeeding. He also plays a mouth harp which he wears around his neck. Josh sang the right song at the right time. “If you had done that at your audition, you would have had 3 yeses,” Carrie remarks.
Amanda Barise – All I Could Do Was Cry by Etta James
She started singing background vocals at 5 years old. Today, she works in the business full time. And still, she gets nervous when she sings and can lack confidence. Amanda is an old fashioned belter with a touch of gospel. That’s why she picked her song well. Still, at some point, she should prove there is a place for her in contemporary music. Carrie is on her feet before the song is over. Luke says, “You are not an underdog! You need to feel like a queen, like a diva.”
Drew Ryn – Black Friday by Tom Odell
Drew finished in 6th place as a 14 year old on The X Factor USA over a decade ago. She’ was pretty great then. But now, she’s matured into an impressive singer. Her tone, range and ability to phrase a song are impeccable. “Give me more of that,” says Lionel
Olivier – Say Something by a Great Big World
Olivier is a French speaking vocalist from Canada. But you wouldn’t know it from his singing. He only gets a snip here, but for a Canadian he’s soulful! (Joking. Canadians are cool.)
Gabby Samone – I’m Going Down by Rose Royce
Gabby brings the house down with her number. An expert and confident songstress, Gabby is impressive. Lionel calls her powerful. “Your confidence is frightening!”
Sam Sparks – Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash.
Sam lost the use of his legs after a car accident a few years ago. He performs in a wheelchair. After greeting the judges with a “2 truths and a lie” joke. He launches into the Johnny Cash classic with gusto. He sings with confidence and passion, although he’s still rough around the edges. Luke calls his performance “Great rock singing.”
Isaiah Misailegalu – Lose Control by Teddy Swims
He calls himself “Samoan Silk” after the judges dubbed him that. At only 17 years old, Isaiah is smooth as silk and self composed. He could pull back on the runs, but his elastic phrasing and range are impressive. Ryan is sitting in the audience next to his parents. “You have such a gift,” says Carrie, “I love you!”
Landynn Kennedy – Her Heart by Anthony Hamilton
The singer’s family was adopted by a couple after his mother abandoned them. The judges felt his performance lacked precision. Regardless, he put his heart and soul into it.
Jamal Roberts – Her Heart by Anthony Hamilton
The singer gets an audition type video package, like we are meeting him for the first time. The 26 year old hails from Meridian Mississippi. It’s where he was “born and raised” amid poverty and crime. He’s a PE teacher. He’s a confident and forward looking guy, full of plans to help his community. Poor Landynn, Jamal is SMOKING him with a beautifully phrased and pitch perfect rendition of the song he performed. Kinda mean to blatantly compare the two. The judges are on their feet. “God has anointed you with something so fantastic,” says Lionel.
Sonny Tennet – I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston
Sony, like CHÉ is also from the UK. He comes from a musical family. As far as song choice is concerned, Sonny deliberately took a risk. He accompanies himself on acoustic guitar, transforming the song into a tender ballad. One thing about this pick, there’s nowhere to hide. All the vocal flaws are exposed. It’s not a perfect performance–the second half is better than the first. Points for the the bold song choice, though. The audience are on their feet. “You have a style,” notes Lionel
Victor Solomon – Grandma’s Hands by Bill Withers
Just like Thunderstorm, Victor was also a The Voice contestant a few seasons ago. He finished as a finalist on Team John Legend. The singer is consistently good and manages to bring something new to a classic song from the 70s. Lionel loves VIctor’s attitude and presentation.
Slater Nalley – Foolish Pride (Original)
Slater’s audition, a song he wrote for his teacher’s late son Carter Davis, went viral on the internet. The Davis family gave him a St. Christopher necklace containing Carter’s ashes inside to help him with his nerves. Slater wrote the song at 15 while he struggled with a relationship. He’s only 17 and already exhibits songwriting skill. Vocally, he’s raspy and passionate, commanding the attention of the audience. “You got a lot of things going on,” says Luke. “That was so good, I was scared,” Carrie adds.
Who goes home?
The judges deliberate as a montage of worried faces flit across the screen. 144 contestants took part in the first round. More than half will go home. The singers have been divided into four rooms. OLD SCHOOL IDOL. The producers are probably using the format to enable comparisons to Carrie’s experience.
Luke delivers bad news to Room 1. He cuts right to the chase—they are headed home.
Eliminated: Landynn Kennedy, Insite, Sam Sparks, Carsen Webb, Sarah Day, Landry Champlin, Mikaela Bautista
Room 2 is next. Lionel delivers the news, and he fakes them a little because the news is good. They are going to the next round.
Going to the next round: Slater Nalley, Amanda Barise, Thunderstorm Artis, Breanna Nix, MKY, Jamal Roberts, Sonny Tennett, Isaiah Misailegalu, Gabby Samone,CHÉ, Lashon, JMarie
Next is room 3. Lionel congratulates them for making it so far. It feels like a fake out, but no, Lionel delivers BAD news.
Eliminated: Freddie McClendon (His dad was murdered), Pat Johnson and Lola Bonfiglio (No wonder mom Carnie Wilson was so mad), Cal Buckley
Now Room 4. And of course, they are sailing through. Carrie gets to deliver the good news. She sympathises with the group. She is close to tears as she REALLY REALLY fakes them out.
Going to the next round: Baylee Littrell, Victor Solomon, Crews Wright, Josh King, Nina Daig, Drew Ryn, Grayson Torrance, Mattie Pruitt, Penny Samar, Kyana Fanene
A “Lucky 62” remains.
Next week, The Showstoppers round. Then, Jelly Roll joins the cast as Artist in Residence for a final challenge called “head to head.”
