Hardly any of the Top 12 “American Idol” contestants could get through their performances without shedding a tear. And Jelly Roll wasn’t immune to these heightened emotions, either.
Though the theme of April 28’s Episode 13 had the aspiring stars paying homage to iconic “Idol” moments over the decades, the contestants took the opportunity to perform songs that reflected how far they’ve come in their journeys.
Under Season 3 winner Fantasia‘s tutelage, the lucky dozen dug deep to inject their struggles and emotions into songs once covered by their “Idol” predecessors.
By the end of the night, the fan vote resulted in the first platinum ticket winner of the season being eliminated. Here are the highlights from Episode 13, and which contestants made it into the Top 10.
Catch up on the last episode: These 2 singers were eliminated in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame week
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Kolbi Jordan pays homage to ‘American Idol’ runner-up to Katharine McPhee
For Tulsa’s Kolbi Jordan, Judy Garland’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is what “inspires me to keep going,” she tearfully said in a pre-taped interview.
The song choice, inspired by Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee’s 2006 performance, showcased Kolbi’s impressive vocal range to its fullest extent. As she delivered a song that clearly meant so much to her, Kolbi actually achieved a feat that the “Idol” judges are always throwing around (but rarely apply, in my opinion).
She made a nearly 90-year-old track her own.
As Kolbi delivered the opening lines, a single tear streaked down her cheek. Later, her finale left Jelly Roll cradling his face in his hands in disbelief. Lionel Richie was also in awe as he said, “What the hell was that? That was divine.”
Luke Bryan reiterated the sweeping praise: “That was like somewhere over a supernova way out in the galaxy.”
Carrie Underwood opens up: Judges made ‘concessions’ choosing Top 14 saves
Jamal Roberts makes Fantasia cry with Tom Odell cover
Jamal Roberts went from hardly being able to introduce himself to icon Fantasia to making her cry during rehearsals. The Grammy winner told Jamal, “I don’t know your story but the way you sing, I know there is one.”
With no flashy production elements in sight during his performance, Jamal – seated on a stool at the mic stand – captivated the crowd. Even as he did something as simple as singing “heal, heal, heal,” he infused Tom Odell’s “Heal” with all of the pain and emotion in his being.
After the closing notes, silence reigned as Jamal slowly got up from his stool. Carrie Underwood glanced around, looking lost in her awe, and following the crowd’s applause, Richie repeated a compliment he’d delivered earlier in the episode: “divinely guided.”
Who went home on ‘American Idol’?
Ché did not earn enough votes to crack the Top 10 after his slowed-down rendition of the Robyn anthem “Dancing On My Own.”
Unfortunately for Filo, the massive fan support in the audience that drove him to tears earlier in the episode didn’t translate into a Top 10 spot. He became Season 23’s first
platinum ticket winner to be sent home.
Who is in the ‘American Idol’ Top 10?
- John Foster
- Josh King
- Jamal Roberts
- Mattie Pruitt
- Thunderstorm Artis
- Slater Nalley
- Gabby Samone
- Canaan James Hill
- Kolbi Jordan
- Breanna Nix
