Lionel Richie Takes Serious Tone With 'American Idol' Hopeful from Vancouver

Find out if 20-year-old Emma Busse from Vancouver, British Columbia, makes it into Top 24

The Showstopper/Final Judgment round of American Idol 2023 wraps up on Monday night as the Idol hopefuls sing their hearts out in their final chance to impress judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.

In this exclusive sneak peek, 20-year-old Emma Busse from Vancouver, British Columbia, is sitting down with the judges to discuss her future on the show. Emma performed “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John for her audition, at which time Katy tried to smack the “Broadway” out of her.

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She did that by having Emma perform “Happy Birthday” without using her vibrato, and since Emma succeeded at taking instructions successfully, the judges awarded her a Golden Ticket to Hollywood.

Now, as Emma is sitting across from the judges, Lionel tells her, “The challenge before you is to carve out your identity. This class [of American Idols], as you may well know, is so gifted. We consider potential. That’s the most important thing. Do you have it inside you? We think so.”

But Emma still has to sell them on her performance, and she doesn’t make it easy on herself, choosing to sing Adele’s “Pavements.”

“To be in the Top 24 would be a dream,” Emma says.

Does Emma have what it takes to make it to the Top 24? Who else will go through?

Turn into American Idol on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC to find out. Episodes are available the next day on Hulu.

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