Season 23 of American Idol is back for a second serving of their Disney Night special. Starting tonight at 8 PM EST, the remaining five contestants will perform two songs each from Disneyland Resort. Former Idol champion Iam Tongi will also grace the stage, performing a track from Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ movie.
You can keep up with all the viral performances, moments, and results with American Songwriter’s Season 23 Live Blog below.
Reminder: For the most up-to-date results, refresh the page.
(Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)
22 days ago / 9:03 PM CDT
And The Top 3 Is…
Here it comes—the moment we’ve been waiting for. Headed to the finale (after visiting their hometowns) is:
John Foster
Jamal Roberts
Breanna Nix
Unfortunately, this means the end of the road for Thunderstorm Artis and Slater Nalley. Best of luck to them both.
Breanna Nix Sings "You'll Be In My Heart" From Tarzan
Carrie Underwood called Breanna Nix’s first performance “unsure.” Now, the 25-year-old stay-at-home mom from Texas is here to redeem herself with ‘You’ll Be In My Heart,” from Tarzan.
22 days ago / 8:35 PM CDT
John Foster Connects With Thie Beautiful Cover
John Foster takes the stage once again, this time for “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie. Not for the first time, some viewers on X/Twitter compared him to Scotty McCreery. Meanwhile, judge Carrie Underwood is now going out on a limb and predicting the Louisiana native will win the whole thing.
John is going to do great things regardless! But he’s a contender for sure 🤗 #AmericanIdol
— charly 🌼 (@charlyy_brownn)
22 days ago / 8:27 PM CDT
Thunderstorm Artis' Second Song of the Night Is "All That's Good in the World"
For his second song of the night, Thunderstorm Artis selected “Find Yourself” from Cars. His performance had the judges singing his praises, with Luke Bryan boldly declaring, “You deserve every second of being here.”
Added Carrie Underwood, “You are all heart. All that is good in the world when you sing.”
I have no words when Thunderstorm sings slow songs i instantly get chills. Wow what a performance 🔥 #AmericanIdol
— Wyatt 🛸👽 (@Wyatt_fann)
22 days ago / 8:15 PM CDT
The Finale Lineup Has Been Announced
This time next week, we will know the name of our newest American Idol winner. And the show is pulling out all the stops for the May 18 finale, with performances from the judges and artist-in-residence Jelly Roll.
Other performances include Salt-N-Pepa, Josh Groban, Jessica Simpson, Good Charlotte, Patti LaBelle, Myles Smith, Kirk Franklin, Goo Goo Dolls, Jennifer Holliday, and Christian singer Brandon Lake.
22 days ago / 8:12 PM CDT
Slater Nalley Gives "Wild" Second Performance
The stakes are even higher with tonight’s second performances, and Slater Nalley just put it all on the line with Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild,” from the 1996 film D3: TheMighty Ducks. (Remember those movies with Emilio Estevez? Classic.) Rocking the electric guitar for the first time, the 18-year-old had full control of the crowd.
“There you go again. I can’t even get control on the crowd,” judge LIonel Richie said. “That’s how you do it!”
Now THAT’S what should have been done on Rock N Roll night. #Slater#AmericanIdol
— Steel City (@steelcity139)
22 days ago / 8:09 PM CDT
'American Idol' Winner Iam Tongi Returns With Roller Coaster Performance
Two years after claiming the season 21 crown, Iam Tongi returned to the American Idol stage in his native Hawaii to perform his new song, “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride.”
Tongi recorded the song for the 2025 remake of Lilo & Stitch. Hawaiian chanter Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu recorded the original for the 2002 animated film, about a lonely Hawaiian girl named Lilo who accidentally adopts an alien, Stich, as her “dog.”
Admit it—you love Remember the Titans. Questionable attention to history aside, it was one of those feel-good movies that I watched over and over growing up. Taking the stage, Jamal Roberts belted “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, which featured prominently throughout the 2000 sports drama.
“I don’t know if I can emotionally take another performance,” exclaimed judge Lionel Richie. “You have the ability to Jamal-orize everything. You could take ‘Three Blind Mice’ and turn it into a soulful song.”
While praising the Mississippi P.E. teacher’s “incredible voice,” judge Carrie Underwood admitted she found his showmanship a bit lacking. “You missed an opportunity to move around and entertain,” she told him. “We know you have that in you. Let’s go!”
Carrie is being a hater Jamal always performs she knows that #americanidol
— Brandee (@LyricalBelieber)
22 days ago / 7:50 PM CDT
'American Idol' Judge Sparkas Online Ire For Criticism Of Breanna Nix Performance
Officially the last woman standing in season 23 with last night’s departure of Mattie Pruitt and Gabby Samone, Breanna Nix made her case for finale night. The 25-year-old stay-at-home mom from Texas performed Natalie Cole’s “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” from the 1998 Parent Trap remake starring Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, and Natasha Richardson.
After Ni wrapped up her performance, judge Carrie Underwood noted that she seemed “a little bit unsure” during the first half of the song. “Your next performance, just have fun,” the season 4 champ advised.
The comment sparked backlash from many of Nix’s fans online. “So the judges literally only criticize Breanna. WTF is up with that,” one X/Twitter user wrote.
why are we criticizing Breanna but praising Thunderstorm every time??? she’s the only woman in the top 5 & in an industry that’s focused on men artists, give her the credit she deserves. She’s incredible!!!! #AmericanIdol
— charly 🌼 (@charlyy_brownn)
22 days ago / 7:37 PM CDT
Thunderstorm Artis Is "All Heart" With 'Cinderella' Performance
Securing his position in the Top 5 with an incredible “Colors of the Wind” cover, followed by a sweet self-penned tribute to wife Faith, Thunderstorm Artis is in it to win it. The Voice season 18 finalist kept it about as Disney as you can get with “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” from the 1950 film Cinderella.
“That song fit you perfectly. You are all heart,” judge Carrie Underwood said. “You don’t do too much or too little. We feel your heart behind it.”
John Foster Delivers Adorable "Bare Necessities" Cover
Next up is Louisiana’s John Foster, who is studying biology to become an oncologist at Louisiana State University. Tonight, he delivered a playful cover of “The Bare Necessities” from the 1967 animated film The Jungle Book.
“You’ve got likability,” judge Lionel Richie said. “A lot of people think it’s just about singing, but they’ve got to like you!”
One impressed viewer wrote on X/Twitter, “John Foster can make any song a country song.”
No one better on the stage this season than John Foster! He’s great! Nashville needs call him immediately! #AmericanIdol
— @Lette67 (@Lette6718)
22 days ago / 7:29 PM CDT
Slater Nalley Is Up First
Displaying a talent and maturity well beyond his 18 years, Slater Nalley has outlasted all but four of his competitors so far. Tonight, the Atlanta high school senior got Disney Night Part 2 kicked off with “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” from Toy Story. (Which, incidentally, came out in 1995, a full decade before Slater was born. I’m so old.)
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