Tonight on “American Idol,” the Top 8 perform one of three songs secretly selected by Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, who are each competing for most songs chosen. America votes live for the Top 6, and the judges make a save for the Top 7; plus, a special tribute to Idol alum Mandisa.
Below, follow with our live blog for “American Idol 22” Episode 14 airing Sunday, April 28 (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET).
SEE ‘American Idol’ deaths: Full list of singers we’ve lost
8:00 p.m. — Previously on “American Idol”! The Top 10 performed for a spot in the Top 8. The top vote-getters advanced as judges Luke, Katy and Lionel watched host Ryan Seacrest send Kayko and Mia Matthews home. Who will be eliminated tonight?
8:05 p.m. — Let the games begin! The judges launch their own competition with the third annual “Judge’s Song Contest.” As a reminder, Katy won last year so she’s hoping to defend her title. Each judge will submit a song for each artist to sing, and whoever has the most songs chosen wins!
8:11 p.m. — Will Moseley is up first. He’s chosen to sing “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash. It’s a fun, relaxed song that sounds easy for Will to tackle. It might have seemed a bit too safe for my liking, but I enjoy how he’s working the crowd while playing guitar. He’s showing more personality tonight than we’ve seen in a while. Great performance! Will believes Lionel chose this Cash classic and he’s right! Lionel says the crowd response to the performance said it all. He adds, “You killed it!” Katy calls it Will’s “best performance yet.” Luke says Will keeps “getting better and better” each week.
8:22 p.m. — Kaibrienne is second with “Traitor” by Olivia Rodrigo. It’s perfectly in her wheelhouse and sounds like a song she would record professionally. She received good advice from the vocal coach and she’s keeping her eyes open, connecting to the audience. This might be the best she’s sounded all season. Kaibrienne thinks Luke chose the song, but it was actually Katy! The judge calls it “amazing” and “heartfelt.” Luke calls it “a real moment.” Lionel says Kaibrienne was “speaking from the heart” and “killed it!”
8:30 p.m. — Throughout the night the contestants will pair up for fun performances of the judges’ songs. The first collab is Emmy Russell and Jack Blocker singing “Hello” by Lionel. The judge runs up on stage to hug them before stating, “I win! Let’s go home.” He follows it up by saying Emmy and Jack make a “perfect combination.”
8:40 p.m. — Next up is McKenna Faith Breinholt singing “Everywhere I Go” by Lissie. She’d never even heard the song before it was suggested for her, but she instantly connected to it. It’s a beautiful fit for her voice, even though she’s just slightly straining to hit the high notes. McKenna thinks Lionel chose the song, but it was actually Katy! That puts Katy in the lead in this Judge’s Song Contest, and Katy says she chose it because Lissie reminds her of the artist McKenna can become. Luke commends the nuances and subtleties in her voice and says she has the ability to pull all of the air out of the room. Lionel says you can hear a pin drop when McKenna sings and that was “fantastic.”
8:52 p.m. — Next up is Jack Blocker singing “Always On My Mind” by Willie Nelson. He’s put the guitar away and simply stands at the mic to sing. He has a similar tone to Willie’s and I love the simplicity of this delivery. He’s even showing some powerful range we haven’t heard before. This is my favorite Jack Blocker moment all season! Katy is uncontrollably weeping. Jack thinks Lionel chose the song, but it was actually Katy. She notes, “I’m crying because I’m winning.” Then she adds, “Something is brewing here. I’m crying because I think you’ve finally been realized…You keep singing like that and you’re going to surprise everyone in this contest.” Luke says Jack is winning in the “growth category” and calls it “spiritual.” Lionel says he’s heard pieces of Jack he’s never heard before and “the artist that’s coming out now is the artist that’s going to have a career.”
9:00 p.m. — Triston Harper and Will Moseley have joined forces for the Luke Bryan hit “What Makes You Country.” They’re both having fun with the song and definitely bring the country to this competition. I wouldn’t say either really set themself apart from the other. The blend well. There’s more ease to Will’s voice, but Triston has a stage presence and likability factor that’s tough to compete with. A fun, even-keeled performance.
Be sure to make your predictions to influence our reality TV racetrack odds. You can keep changing your predictions until just before the next episode airs on ABC. You’ll compete to win eternal bragging rights and a spot on our “American Idol” leaderboard. See our contest rules and sound off with other fans in our reality TV forum. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions