'American Idol's Top 24 Perform on Night Two for America's First Vote of the Season
Mickey, Jelly Roll and 12 of the Top 24
American Idol’s stay at the at the Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, wrapped up tonight with the second group of 12 artists from the Top 24 performing for America’s votes for the first time.
They were mentored by Grammy nominee and CMA Best New Artist of the Year Jelly Roll, who joined judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan to critique the 12 artists performing: Odell Bunton Jr., Elleigh Marie, Mackenzie Sol, Jennifer Jeffries, Emmy Russell, Ajii, Kennedy Reid, Jack Blocker, Roman Collins, KBlocks, Mia Matthews and Triston Harper.
Jelly Roll later performed his single, “Halfway to Hell.”
Then next Sunday night, the Top 20 will be revealed in a three-hour special episode.
Related: American Idol 2024: Who Made It Through to the Top 24
Here's the breakdown for the Second 12 American Idol's Top 24:
Odell Bunton Jr.
Song: “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
Jelly: “I thought it was absolutely incredible. You showed up when the time was right, baby. When the popcorn was popping and the concession stand was open. You delivered on a big platform. You listened to everything I said and I’m cheering for you.”
Lionel: “Odell, you made the crowd react the way a crowd is supposed to react. He delivered the sermon to the stage. That’s why it’s called show business.”
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Elleigh Marie
Song: “Forget You” by CeeLo Green
Lionel: “Your performance began when you took that microphone off that stand and you came and attacked the audience. Everybody said, ‘Oh, my God.’ I want you to remember one thing. Don’t think about what you’re doing. There are moments when I saw you thinking, ‘Am I going the right way?’ Forget about it. Enjoy your audience’s performance. They’re watching you. You’re watching them. Party together. It was a great, great performance.”
Katy: “I’ve never seen you work it like that. You’ve always sung like a ballad. It’s always been beautiful but are there more dimensions? Girl, you are like full-on layers.”
Mackenzie Sol
Song: “Jealous” by Nick Jonas
Katy: “That was your best performance since being on the show. You commanded. It was your show. You made moments with your voice and then you gave us body, you gave us performance.”
Luke: “You navigated falsetto, you had stage presence, you had stardust on you. My most favorite performance you’ve done so far.”
Jennifer Jeffries
Song: “Bruises” by Lewis Capaldi
Jelly: “It was incredible. She made the right choice. When you open your mouth, I hear a lifetime of pain and conviction, and it moves me in a way that I’m seldom moved. That voice was incredible. I expect the state of Mississippi to be losing its mind.”
Lionel: “What you have is the uniqueness of your voice, but you said the right thing. You said, ‘I didn’t feel the other song, I felt this song.’ Because you felt it, we felt it. That’s how it works.
Emmy Russell
Song: “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone
Katy: “I am just so glad and proud that this version of American Idol welcomes singer/songwriters like yourself because it really is about storytelling, resonating and relating. I know you didn’t write that song, but you sang it like you did. I believed you. You pushed your vocals a lot tonight and I want you to keep doing it and feel confidence doing it because tonight’s vocals are the best I’ve ever heard from you. You don’t have to be Aretha Franklin. We love Aretha but we need our Joni Mitchells, we need our Patty Griffins, we need our Emmy Russells. You have a story to tell and you did it great tonight.”
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Ajii
Song: “Higher” by Tems
Jelly: “What a way to bring it when it matters. First of all, I want to tell you it was beautiful. It was everything you practiced it to be.”
Luke: “We’ve seen your energy. This energy is kind of like Jelly Roll’s. It’s infectious. You can’t teach it. The only way to do it is to have it inside to walk out and own your moment and you just owned that moment.”
Kennedy Reid
Song: “Fancy” by Reba McEntire
Katy: “When we first met you, you had one foot in the grave. You were a whole different person, sunken shoulders, wouldn’t even look at us. No sparkle, no cowgirl hat. What you gave us when you did the kick bit, I loved it. Those moments, the runs at the end were fantastic. I think America is obsessed with you and thank God America is voting tonight.”
Lionel: “I’m sitting next to Jelly and he tells me, ‘She’s going to cut loose.’ I’m telling you, that’s the way you take a stage and perform. You killed it. That’s the greatest thing I’ve ever seen you do.”
Jack Blocker
Song: “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves
Katy: “That was probably the best I’ve seen and heard you. You were relaxed. You were in the pocket. You know that you are just yourself and you are here to share who you are. I really appreciated the vocal risks that you took because those vocal risks are what’s going to keep propelling you to the next level. And also, the subtleties, the quiet moments, the little flips in your voice, bring all that out and you’ll surprise even me.”
Luke: “It felt pro. This is my moment. I’m for real. I’m ready to make records and go on tour and make my name on American Idol.”
Roman Collins
Song: “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by Marvin Gaye
Jelly: “Let me tell you something, the spirit of God flows out of you when you open your mouth. I think you took everyone sitting at home on their couches to church. I know you took us to church.”
Lionel: “You have God flowing through you. It’s just a matter now of who you’re going to touch and for how long. But for right now, as far as I’m concerned, everybody vote.”
KBlocks
Song: “Harleys in Hawaii” by Katy Perry
Luke: “You’re an artist and you’re something visual to behold. To come out here and sing that song in front of Katy and let it be your own, that’s why we love you.”
Katy: “Girl, you got to do the official remix. I’m California-Hawaii. You’re Alabama-Hawaii. I like how it feels. It’s a whole vibe. Kris Pooley, the music master behind you, he does all of my tours and arranges all of my shows. Why didn’t you offer me this arrangement? Lastly, I think you’re going to go to the Top 20.”
Mia Matthews
Song: “Daddy’s Hands” by Holly Dunn
Jelly: “It was as emotional as it was in rehearsal. To see you get emotional at the end and really let that loose, it was so special. Your decision that you didn’t care if the other 11 were doing up-tempo music, you were here to honor your father because this was his birthplace. You sang with conviction because of it. I felt it, they felt it. I think you slide into the Top 20 easy money.”
Lionel: “You sang to someone. It’s very hard to carry emotions on stage. Sometimes you want to hold that back because that vulnerability can throw you off course. In your case, it gave you the best performance I have ever seen from you on this show. Tonight, you really nailed your place, and your dad is right here with you. I just want you to know that we are so proud of you because that was a moment we will remember.”
Triston Harper
Song: “God Country” by Blake Shelton
Jelly: “I told you yesterday you were singing for Luke Bryan. He beat me out of my chair. You are the youngest man with the oldest soul I’ve ever met in my life. You have a swagger that at 15 years old, you don’t even know you have. You can win this competition.”
Luke: “We love you, buddy. This is a big moment for a 15-year-old. Even when I go stand on the American Idol oval and stare back at Lionel and Katy and sing, we get nervous. You are going to do so well in this and in the rest of your career. Just keep getting out there and having fun and do that Alabama smile for everyone.”
American Idol will return next Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC when the Top 20 will be revealed.
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