What To Know
- American Idol revealed the Top 12 at the top of the April 6 episode.
- The judges each selected a song option from the ’90s for the Top 12 singers, and the artists chose which they wanted to perform.
- At the end of the episode, the Top 11 and winner of the Judges’ Song Contest will be revealed.
The Live Shows continued with the 2026 Judges’ Song Contest on the Monday, April 6, episode of American Idol. After last week’s vote-counting snafu, the episode began with Ryan Seacrest revealing who is moving on to the Top 12 and which two artists were eliminated.
The contestants from the Top 14 who were eliminated were: Jake Thistle and Julián Kalel.
For this week’s ’90s-themed Judges’ Song Contest, judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie each selected a song from the 1990s for the Top 12 artists, who then got to pick which of the three tracks they would perform. The judge who has the most picks at the end of the night will have the opportunity to save one of the bottom two artists from elimination, rounding out the Top 11.
Scroll down for live updates of the night’s performances throughout the show. Check back at the end of the episode for the Judges’ Song Contest winner reveal and to find out who’s moving on.
Hannah Harper
Hannah Harper’s three song choices were “Heads Carolina, Tails California” by Jo Dee Messina, “Unbreak My Heart” by Toni Braxton, and “Only Love” by Wynonna Judd. She went with the first option, which she actually sang during her first audition for Idol producers.
ABC
Hannah guessed that Bryan was the one who chose the song for her, but it was actually Underwood. “That’s what happens when you get the perfect voice with the perfect song and there’s just magic happening all on that stage,” Underwood raved. “You sounded so great. I loved the modulation. You looked like you were having fun. I feel like Hannah’s starting to come out of her shell a little bit. We want a little more of that, please.”
Bryan said Hannah did a “great job” and that he was glad Underwood picked a more “uptempo” song for Hannah to choose from. Richie added, “The thing that makes it so wonderful is you just stepped into it and made it yours. I love it.”
Jordan McCullough
Jordan McCullough’s Top 12 song options were: “Go Rest High on That Mountain” by Vince Gill, “I Swear” by John Michael Montgomery, and “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey. Even though the latter was the choice he was most confused by, he ended up singing “Always Be My Baby” for his performance.
ABC
So, who picked the song choice? Jordan guessed Underwood, but it was actually Richie! “I knew it,” Richie gushed. “I knew it in my bones. I said, what would be the most left of center? No one will ever see it coming. And then I said, who can sing this? You, of course!”
“Lionel, you were right,” Underwood admitted. “We were wrong, you were right, and you were right for picking it. You have all the tools in your toolbox and you use them so well.”
Finally, Bryan weighed in, adding, “Very smart song choice. Step outside your comfort zone, totally the right move for you. Great job.”
Keep refreshing as this post is updated throughout the episode.
American Idol, Season 24, Mondays, 8/7c, ABC