‘American Idol’ Season 23 Live Blog: Top 7 Reveal, “Judge’s Song Contest”(May 5, 2025)

With Mattie Prewitt and Josh King left, Richie and Bryan selected the former, this year’s youngest contestant, as the artist they wanted to save.

With the results in their hands, America had the power to pass six of the Top 7 singers through to next week. As host Ryan Seacrest revealed, America saved Slater Nalley, Thunderstorm Artis, Gabby Samone, Breanna Nix, Jamal Roberts, and John Foster.

Slater Nalley had to choose between three great songs: “Hope the High Road,” “Atlantic City,” and “Believe.” He wound up selecting the second song, which Bruce Springsteen released in 1993. Bryan selected the Springsteen track for Nalley, saying that the contestant “puts out that vibe.”

“I loved the way you did bring the energy to it,” Bryan praised. “It was great.”

Richie agreed that Nalley “pulled that off with amazing abilities,” while Underwood said that his performance was “great.”

Ahead of his performance, Thunderstorm Artis was given three good options: “Northern Attitude,” “Let It Be,” and “Faithfully.” He decided to follow up his previous night’s performance of Adele’s “When We Were Young” by choosing the latter song, a Journey classic. It turns out that Underwood chose the song for Artis.

“You have the ability to take it, and mold it, and make it fit you,” Underwood said. “… I had chills throughout that performance.”

Bryan and Richie agreed, with the former calling Artis “brilliant” and the latter saying the performance was “amazing.”

Nix and Prewitt, two of the season’s country singers teamed up to pay tribute to Underwood with a performance of her 2014 song, “Something in the Water.” Underwood praised the performance, admitting that it left her with “some tears in my eyes.”

Given the choice between “I Believe,” “Lately,” and “Grenade,” Jamal Roberts opted to keep it in the Idol family and perform the first song, which is by Fantasia. It was a good decision, and one that particularly delighted Richie, as he picked the song for Roberts.

“You’re an emotional being. When you open your mouth… it comes out so soulful, so meaningful,” Richie said. “… You had me crying. You had everyone in this room crying. You’re a phenomenon.”

The next artist collaboration saw Slater Nalley, Thunderstorm, and John King team up to sing Bryan’s 2015 hit, “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day.” Bryan was dancing throughout the whole performance and offered his praise once the guys finished their time on stage.

Though Gabby Samone had three good choices in “The Power of Love,” “Hero,” and “Girl on Fire,” she decided to sing the hit Mariah Carey track. Samone earned a standing ovation from the judges. No one was more supportive than Richie, though, who chose the song for Samone.

“You took it to another level of incredibility,” Richie praised. Underwood agreed, saying she delivered the performance “perfectly.” 

Josh King was given the option to sing “You Make My Dreams (Come True),” “Great Balls of Fire,”  or “Home.” He opted for the Michael Bublé classic, which was Richie’s choice for him.

“It’s the vibe, man,” Richie said. “… You embody that song.”

Underwood said King seemed in his element during the performance, while Bryan praised the “confidence” in his delivery of the song.

Next week, Disney Night will take place. The theme night will cross over two shows with special mentor Lin Manuel Miranda there to help the contestants. 

John Foster was given the options “Two Dozen Roses,” “I Cross My Heart,” and “Crazy” for his performance. Ultimately, he wound up picking the George Strait number, in honor of Brooklyn his girlfriend of one year. The song was Underwood’s choice for the singer. His girlfriend gushed over the performance, and Underwood agreed.

“That was absolutely perfect,” Underwood said. “It felt comfortable. It felt genuine.”

Bryan agreed, stating, “It was the perfect song for you… You’re singing better and better every week.”

In honor of the night’s theme, contestants teamed up to perform hits from the judges’ catalogues. First up, Gabby Samone, Josh King, and Jamal Roberts delivered an epic performance of Lionel Richie’s 1986 hit “Dancing on the Ceiling.”

Mattie Pruitt decided to forego “I Need You” and “Parachute” in favor of singing Bryan’s choice for her, “Always Been You” by Jessie Murph.

“When I see Jessie Murph perform, it is all sass,” Bryan said, encouraging Pruitt to display even more of that going forward. Underwood agreed, telling her, “I think we’re taking baby steps in the sass department and we just need more.”

Up first was Breanna Nix. Out of “Independence Day, “The Blessing,” and “Dangerous Woman,” the singer opted to perform the former. She did so to great compliments from the decision, specifically Bryan who picked the track for Nix. 

“It has that Martina McBride purity,” Bryan told Nix of her voice. “You just displayed that perfectly with that song.”

Richie said the performance was “out of the stratosphere.” Underwood, meanwhile, praised Nix for coming back perfectly after missing a couple of notes.

Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan made their way onto the stage, and the latter spoke about picking the “perfect songs” for the contestants.  For Judges’ Song Contest, each judge got to pick a song they wanted the artists to sing. The artist got their choice of the three, though they didn’t know which judge selected it.