‘American Idol’ Season 23 Live Blog: Iconic Idol Moments, Fantasia Returns (April 28, 2025)

After an impressive slate of performances, two contestants still had to be sent home. Unfortunately, that wound up being Ché and Filo.

As such, this season’s Top 10 are: John Foster, Josh King, Jamal Roberts, Mattie Pruitt, Thunderstorm Artis, Slater Nalley, Gabby Simone, Canaan James Hill, Kolbi Jordan, and Breanna Nix.

Jamal Roberts decided to sing Tom Odell’s “Heal” this week, with an focus on “inserting myself” into the meaning of the powerful track. Barrino experienced Roberts do just that during his rehearsal, remarking, “He loses himself in the music.”

The judges agreed, with Richie praising Roberts’ performance as “divinely guided.”

John Foster decided to express his appreciation for Underwood’s unwavering support of him throughout his Idol journey this week. To do so, he performed “I Told You So,” which she performed with Randy Travis years ago on the show.

“This is my way to say, ‘I love you, Carrie. Thank you for all the support,” he told the cameras.

Underwood was properly moved by the tribute, gushing, “I’m blushing!… I love watching you grow every time you take the stage.”

“You just impress me so much,” Bryan added, with Richie noting, “I am so proud of you!”

This week, Breanna Nix decided to take on the social media criticism she’s faced since joining the show by singing Danny Gokey’s “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again.” Nix showed off her impressive range and stage presence throughout her performance, wowing the judges and the audience.

“That’s how you do it,” Richie said after Nix’s time on stage. “… You keep raising the bar. Just keep believing and keep raising up.”

Underwood praised the performance as “amazing,” and Bryan insisted, “That is why you’re in this competition.”

Josh King was so inspired by Pia Toscano’s 2011 Idol performance of “All By Myself” that he decided to cover it during this week’s episode.

“Growing up I was not a loner by choice, but [I didn’t have] that many friends,” he told the cameras as to why he picked the Celine Dion tune. “… I never had a place for me. Coming to Idol changed all of that… But it’s that fear in the back of my mind, that once this journey ends, things will go back to the way they used to be.”

King got teary eyed during his time on stage, and all the judges were proud that he showed his emotions through his art.

“You will never, ever be alone again,” Richie assured him.

Almost 20 years ago, Elliot Yamin performed “A Song for You” and wowed the Idol audience. Gabby Simone sought to do the same thing when she took on the track, which left her “thinking about that little girl who was insecure.”

Simone performed a stripped-down version of the song and the judges couldn’t get enough. 

“Wow,” Underwood remarked after Simone’s performance. “Absolute perfection.”

Bryan added, “When you render Fantasia speechless, you have done something. I am speechless.” 

Idol host Ryan Seacrest announced that they’ve tapped country superstar Miranda Lambert to mentor the Top 10 contestants next week.

For his performance, Canaan James Hill decided to sing “Goodness of God.” The track was performed last season on Idol when CeCe Winans joined Roman Collins on stage. Hill said he connected to the song because of his history of being bullied, something Barrino felt during rehearsals.

“He’s a special kid,” she told the cameras. “I wanted to try and drop some nuggets so he could understand this is a safe place.”

When it came time for his live performance, Hill earned a standing ovation from the judges.

“That had so much feeling and believability. I just applaud for yet another fantastic performance,” Richie said. Underwood went on to thank Hill for the performance, before Bryan remarked, “It’s like getting baptized listening to you.”

The 16-year-old American Idol standout once again wowed during the April 28 episode, performing Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of You.”

“It’s a little intimidating, but if I take it and make it my own maybe I won’t get compared to her,” Pruitt said of covering the former Idol winner’s single.

She did just that with the track, infusing it with her signature tone and grit during her time on stage.

As usual, the judges were impressed by Pruitt’s innate capabilities, with Bryan told the teen, “I mean, 16 out here going toe-to-toe with everybody… You’re just doing so good.”

“You just stood there with confidence,” Richie said. “That’s a heavy lift you just did, but you did it well.”

Underwood encouraged the teen to “keep leaning into” the emotional connection she feels to the songs she sings.

Filo chose to perform “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” which had an iconic Idol moment when Jennifer Hudson it sang it on the show. That happened the same season that Barrino, the episode’s mentor, competed.

“Having her here while I’m singing one of Jennifer Hudson’s iconic songs is so meaningful to me,” Filo said of Barrino during rehearsals. “She kind of pushed me into making it my own. It’s not me covering an iconic moment, it’s me having an iconic moment.”

The judges were impressed with Filo’s performance, even giving the singer a standing ovation.

“Just keep doing that and you’re not going to be going nowhere,” Underwood said.

The show returned from commercial break by giving fans a peek at artist-in-residence Jelly Roll’s unforgettable performance at Stagecoach. 

More than 20 years after Barrino won the show, she returned to Idol to perform her new single, “Have Your Way.”

Wearing a stunning silver gown, Barrino reminded viewers exactly why she won the show as a teenager. Surrounded by lights and smoke, Barrino’s powerful vocals took center stage while she was backed by a gospel choir. The live audience was impressed to say the least. All three judges and artist-in-residence Jelly Roll were on their feet after Barrino finished her performance.

“The world is going through a lot right now and we need more God, so I allowed him to use me on the biggest stage ever,” Barrino told Seacrest after her performance, before promoting her gospel album and podcast.

Kolbi Jordan majorly fangirled over Barrino, and the latter singer ended up living up to everything the former one hoped. While rehearsing Judy Garland’s “Over the Rainbow,” Jordan sought to channel Katharine McPhee’s 2006 Idol performance of the song.

“It’s a big song to take on,” Jordan told the cameras, adding that the track “inspires me to keep going.” Barrino could feel that and coached Jordan through inhabiting the meaning during her performance.

“What the hell was that?” Richie demanded after the powerhouse performance. “That was divine.”

Underwood agreed, stating, “I feel like you were in your own world… You felt everything you were singing and we felt it because you felt it.”

Taking a page out of former Idol contestant Haley Reinhart’s unforgettable time on stage in 2011, Thunderstorm Artis performed “House of the Rising Sun.” The judges had nothing but praise for Artis after he wowed the crowd.

“I think they said it for me,” Bryan joked of the cheering crowd, before Richie stated, “You have a vibe that every time you do the right song, you put your vibe on it.”

“That was awesome,” Underwood agreed. “… That was amazing.”

In a hilarious compilation of moments from Barrino’s sessions with artists, the former Idol winner encouraged all the contestants to wear scarves to protect their voices.

For his performance, Ché chose to sing Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own.” The night’s guest mentor, Fantisa Barrino, was taken with both Ché voice and story, telling the cameras, “He loves his family. It pushes him and drives him. I over that because I’m big on family.” As for the judges, all three stood up after his time on stage.

Teenager Slater Nalley wowed the judges with his performance of John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery.” It fit into the show’s “Iconic Idol Moments” night, because Megan Danielle sang it during her season.

The judges were a fan of Nalley’s rendition, with Richie telling the teenager, “It really is great that your confidence is coming out.”

“Every single time you get on the stage, I can imagine what your first album is going to sound like,” Underwood noted. “You’re so identifiable.”

Bryan added, “Keep having fun. Keep playing the game of American Idol.”

The night where the Top 10 will be revealed with judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie making their grand entrance. Underwood made the moment even more special by donning the dress she wore when she won the show.