Top 8 of ‘American Idol’ 2025: Tonight’s Live Results
The competition intensifies on season 23 of “American Idol,” as the top 10 perform in hopes of making it into the top 8 on May 4, 2025. Country superstar Miranda Lambert joins the contestants as a celebrity mentor and performer for the “Ladies’ Night” theme, celebrating “iconic women in music.”
Viewers have less than two hours to vote during the show, which airs live coast-to-coast starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time (here’s how to vote). Host Ryan Seacrest will announce the results at the end of the show, but EntertainmentNOW has you covered with updated recaps throughout the night.
‘American Idol’ Top 8 Live Performance Recaps & Judge Feedback
Here’s our live report on each contestant’s song choice and the judges’ feedback as they compete for America’s votes — keep checking back for updates!
JOHN FOSTER: Foster, 18, was the first one up, singing Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About” after being mentored by Lambert, whom he admitted was his first crush. She encouraged him to work on his stage presence and sass, which the judges said he did in spades. Carrie Underwood pointed out how loud the crowd was for him and that he is “the one we’ve watched grow the most.” Luke Bryan agreed, telling him his “charisma meter is peaking off the charts.”
KOLBI JORDAN: The 26-year-old Tulsa native sang Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” because she thought it might “shock” people, given that she’s never sung “anything like it before.” Lambert called her a “ray of sunshine” and thought her rendition was “incredible,” noting that her only challenge would be to hold back a little. Jordan worked the crowd, sashaying her way around the judges’ table in her glittering suit and cowboy hat, which won her a standing ovation from all three. Bryan told Jordan he “loved” everything about it and that “your personality is really, really amazing.” Lionel Richie told her that he adores her stage presence and confidence, and Underwood told her, “This was a really great moment for you … throwing us curve balls like this? Well done.”
JOSH KING: The 24-year-old from Charlotte rehearsed Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” with Lambert, who thought he was doing a little too much in the beginning but encouraged him to dig into his blues side. King, an airport pianist, started out at the piano before heading to the judges’ circle to play the harmonica. The judges and crowd loved his upbeat rendition, with Richie telling him that the thing he loved the most was when he “ran around the circle.” Underwood said, “I can tell tonight everyone is singing for their lives,” noting that he had brought his “A-game.” Bryan also said he “loved seeing you fighting,” and no longer the shy guy they saw in his initial audition.
After Lambert performed her very first hit, “Kerosene,” released in March 2025, the competition continued.
BREANNA NIX: The 25-year-old needed Lambert’s help deciding which song to sing, but the country star thought Adele’s “Water Under the Bridge” was her best choice if she brought forward some “sass” in her performance. Underwood told Nix it was “the right song choice for sure” and that it was a “perfect moment” because she looked and played the part “of a diva.” Bryan said Nix definitely gave “Adele vibes” and that the second half of the song showcased her “incredible voice.” Richie told her, “You know how to get to a note and choke it to death” and that he loves the timber in her voice.
CANAAN JAMES HILL: The 17-year-old was very nervous to sing a non-gospel song for the first time on the show. When Lambert reminded Hill that his song choice — Underwood’s “Love Wins” — is a message about God’s love, he began to feel more comfortable singing it. Bryan told him, “You got through it, baby,” and said it was nice to see him challenge himself, though it was obvious he was “second guessing” himself. Richie said he loved how Hill interpreted the song — and his bright yellow suit. Underwood said that with the song, she thinks of the word “love” as meaning “God,” and she was glad to see him bring out his riffs and giving it his own flavor.
THUNDERSTORM ARTIS: The 29-year-old dad of two wanted to play the piano, the first instrument he ever learned, while singing Adele’s “When We Were Young.” Lambert was concerned that he might not engage enough with the audience behind the piano, but he was committed to seeing through his vision. Sitting at a grand piano at center stage, he performed a stripped-down version of the song, with a celloist accompanying him. The judges gave him a standing ovation, with Bryan and Richie lifting their arms in the air. Richie said, “You made cool cool,” saying that he’s “so in love” with the way he honed in on his voice. Underwood said she loves when Artis performs love songs and that with everyone bringing their best, she’s scared about how people will vote. Bryan told Artis how impressed he is with how “amazingly crafty” he is in how he delivers each song and that this was his “favorite performance you’ve ever done.”
SLATER NALLY: The 17-year-old admitted that Reba McEntire’s “Whoever’s in New England,” is the toughest song he’s sung, revealing that he’d choose how to end the song as a spur-of-the-moment decision, either with a big note or a more intimate one. Lambert said she loved hearing such a strong male sing such a vulnerable tune, playing his acoustic guitar with no other instruments backing him. In the end, he went for it with the big note — and Underwood said she loved seeing him wing it, noting “I think it paid off!” Bryan said he never would have “pegged” Nalley with choosing that song, marveling that he opted for such a hard song and did it so well.
Season 22 winner Abi Carter performed her new single, “Burned,” and chatted with Seacrest before the competition continued.
JAMAL ROBERTS: Opting to pay homage to Underwood, who he sees as a strong woman, with her song “Undo It.” Dressed in all-black and a cowboy hat too boot, Roberts worked with Lambert to add his own flavor and riffs to the country tune, even adorably tossing his hat to Bryan at the end of the song — though he meant it for Underwood, and she gladly put it on. Richie enthusiastically told Roberts, “Throughout your presence here you are mesmerizing and I love it.” Underwood said it didn’t matter if he forgot any words, telling him, “Who cares — that was so much fun!”
MATTIE PRUITT: Meeting Lambert was a huge moment for 16-year-old Pruitt, who said she was too scared to play her guitar on Lambert’s “The House That Built Me” for a live audience — but Lambert urged her to try it for the first time. Pruitt decided if she could do it in front of the artist who made it a hit, she could do it for “American Idol,” too. Pruitt got choked up toward the end and missed some words, but Richie told her, “You held your emotions perfectly and we felt every moment of that performance.” Underwood said that it “was really quite brilliant,” and Bryan celebrated that it was “huge, huge growth” for her. Lambert got teary-eyed, too, and said that it was “amazing” to be able to see the “full Mattie.”
GABBY SAMONE: Lambert was brought to tears hearing Samone sing “I Was Here” by Beyoncé, and sharing living through homelessness and depression. “I don’t cry all that much (but) that reminded me today of what a song is supposed to do,” Lambert said. The judges looked captivated throughout Samone’s performance in her sparkling pink gown at center stage, and Lambert watched the whole thing standing and wiping away tears. Underwood said, “I have two words — wow and vote.” Bryan told Samone, “You’re why this show exists,” noting how incredible her growth has been.
Top 8 ‘American Idol’ Results: Who Got Through — And Who Didn’t
Ryan Seacrest returned after the final commercial break, when voting closed, with all 10 contestants standing at center stage to find out who went through.
Here’s who made it after 22 million votes: BREANNA NIX, MATTIE PRUITT, JAMAL ROBERTS, JOHN FOSTER, JOSH KING, GABBY SAMONE, SLATER NALLEY and THUNDERSTORM ARTIS. That means Canaan James Hill and Kolbi Jordan — both Platinum Ticket winners after their auditions — are going home. The top 8 will perform again on May 5.
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May 4, 2025 at 11:57pm