Carrie Underwood won Season 4 of “American Idol,” but she didn’t come out on top during this season’s “Judges’ Song Contest.” Instead, the honor went to her follow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, who tied in the friendly competition.
Monday night’s episode showed the return of judging panel’s mini-contest, a special round of the singing competition where each judge anonymously suggests one tune for each contestant to perform, based on what they know about the Top 8’s individual vocal abilities and performance styles. Each singer then chose among the three predetermined options, and performed their selection on air.
“I’ve been in your shoes, and I feel like I know what will showcase your voice the best and what people out there would want to hear and vote for,” Underwood shared during the episode. “I only had all of you guys in my mind and in my heart when I picked the songs.”
Each judge earned one point every time an “Idol” hopeful picked their suggestion. Breanna Nix, Mattie Pruitt and Slater Nalley chose Bryan’s selections, while Jamal Roberts, Gabby Samone and Josh King opted for Richie’s proposed songs, earning both judges three points each.
Only John Foster and Thunderstorm Artis went for Underwood’s suggestions.
“This game is stupid and I don’t want to play anymore,” she teased. “I don’t want to lose on ‘American Idol.’ I win!”
Bryan and Richie’s prize for winning the contest was deciding which of the “bottom two” contestants to send to the Top 7. Of the remaining eight contestants, Josh King and Mattie Pruitt received the fewest votes over the course of the episode; Richie and Bryan ultimately decided to save Pruitt and send King home.
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.
