While “American Idol” viewers will decide which outstanding contestant will reign supreme this season, the judges once again played a role in selecting who was saved — and who went home — during Monday night’s episode.
A nationwide vote during the episode determined which “Idol” hopefuls were in the “bottom two,” while judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan shared the tough decision of picking only one of them to send to the next round.
Of the remaining eight contestants, Josh King and Mattie Pruitt received the fewest votes; Richie and Bryan ultimately decided to save Pruitt. The other contestants who will advance to the Top 7 are Slater Nalley, Thunderstorm Artis, Gabby Samone, Breanna Nix, Jamal Roberts and John Foster.
Monday night’s episode showed the return of the “Judges’ Song Contest,” a round of the competition where each judge anonymously suggests one song for each contestant to perform, based on what they know about the Top 8’s individual vocal abilities and performance styles. Singers then chose among the three predetermined options, and performed their selection on air.
Each judge earned one point every time an “Idol” hopeful picked their suggestion. By the end of the program, Richie and Bryan had tied with three points each.
The remaining seven contestants will compete in a “two-night Disney celebration” during next Sunday and Monday’s episodes. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the multi-hyphenate playwright, composer, actor, and singer, will appear during these rounds as a guest mentor.
