American Idol put its remaining 11 artists on the spot April 13 with a night built around songs by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and the vote that will decide who moves on was already in the hands of viewers by the time the show ended. The two singers with the lowest totals were set to be eliminated, narrowing the field for the Top 9.
Chris Tungseth opened his take on Foreigner’s “Cold as Ice” by telling the judges it did not go very well, while Rae took on Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” after surviving last week’s bottom two with a save from Lionel Richie. Braden Rumfelt tried Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” on a night when Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Richie offered feedback after every performance.
The judges had plenty to say. Underwood called one performance a fantastic song choice and said it was among her favorite performances from that singer, while Bryan praised the way the front of the arrangement was kept down before the energy kicked in. Underwood also said another performance was dramatic in all the right places, while Bryan called one choice great and Richie said Rae was putting her stamp on that hit record.
Richie had made the save that kept Rae in the competition after last week, and on April 13 he urged another singer to trust himself and take a chance. Bryan said one contestant’s pick was a great song choice, Richie said another should put some barbecue sauce on his career, and Underwood told one performer she came to play and finished with a simple well done. The format leaves no mystery about the stakes: the judges can guide, but viewers decide.
The episode’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame theme gave the night a familiar frame, but the pressure was concrete. American Idol season 24 aired Mondays at 8/7c on ABC, and the show’s next step was set to be the Top 9 after the two lowest-vote artists were cut at the end of the night.
