- This is going
to be the most intense part
of the whole process.
We're trying
to find the magic 24.
- Whatever questions we
have about these contestants
are answered in Showstoppers.
- This performance
is so important.
There there's no room
for mistakes.
- I want to make it
to America as well.
This is like the one shot
I got left.
- How we doing, LA?
- This is a competition.
- Oh, my gosh, here we go.
- And as much
as we all get along...
- ♪ Step back
and watch me now ♪
- We can't all win.
- Who's ready to rock and roll?
- ♪ It's my time to shine ♪
- Over the next two nights,
it's survival of the fittest.
- The Showstopper round
is a telltale moment.
- You've got to take the crowd.
- As we level up...
- Now they have
to work with the band,
show their uniqueness.
- The remaining hopefuls
have one last shot
to leave it all on the stage.
- Drop the mic!
- They have to get out there
and stop the show.
- On the line,
a place in the top 24
and a chance to sing
for America's vote.
- So we're gonna have
to cut half of them.
This is the hard part.
- I cannot believe
Katy is vouching for this one
as much as you are.
- It's going over here.
- What?
- We are actually faced
with the best talent
we've ever had.
- I would tell you no lie.
This is our best season yet.
- It wasn't my best vocally.
- You're now backed up
against the competition.
- I've seen so many
good people go home,
and I'm like...
- You had a pretty big bump
in the road
on Showstoppers.
- We don't think you're ready
for the top 24.
- When you win, you win.
When you lose, you learn.
- ♪ It's my time to shine ♪
- It's the morning
after their critical
Showstopper performances.
And the agonizing wait
to hear their fate
now begins for our finalists.
- Going into final judgment,
I'm definitely feeling
a little nervous.
The level of talent
is absolutely insane.
Honestly, I can't even imagine
that more than half
will be eliminated.
I feel so bad for the judges,
just because I know
it's gonna be a tough decision.
- Can we get those two now?
- OK, let's see.
Are you ready, Kaeyra?
- Yes.
- Good luck, Kaeyra.
Thank you.
- I definitely want this so bad.
I almost feel
like my life depends on it
because I've
been constantly waiting
for, like, the big break.
And I honestly feel
like "Idol" is that.
- Tell me, Kaeyra,
where do you usually sing?
- I work at a restaurant.
I sing four hours a night.
My first audition,
honestly, was just really fun.
I was really, really nervous.
- Let's see how you're doing.
- Ahh!
- Mom!
Being there with my mom
was amazing because I know
this is also a big dream
for her.
She's been my biggest supporter,
so having her here is,
like, the best thing ever.
This could change our life,
and it's almost like I will be
living out her American dream.
- Wow.
- Well, well, what?
Well, what's happening here?
- What do you mean?
- I mean...
- It's a look.
- It's a runway.
- It's a strong look.
- I like your look.
- It's a runway look.
- We both got the long skirt.
- What is happening here
between you and Katy?
- And the boots.
- We're in, like,
"The Matrix" reboot.
- Yes!
I've been getting that all day.
I'm like, yes, yes, yes.
- So, Kaeyra,
I have to tell you,
when you started saying that
you were singing in lounges
and stuff, and I kept thinking,
what you don't want
is for someone to be eating
and not paying attention.
- Totally.
- When you said that,
the bell went off,
oh, God, please don't...
Don't be forgettable.
- Mm-hmm.
- Here's Kaeyra!
- The Showstopper round,
there's no room for mistakes.
- Wait, is that a bass?
- Bass player, whoa.
- I really wanted
to show my fierce side.
I brought out my bass.
I wanted to show the judges
that I play more instruments.
- I'm all about that bass.
- ♪ How do you fall in love ♪
♪ Harder than a b*llet
could hit ya? ♪
♪ How do you fall apart ♪
♪ Faster than
a hairpin trigger? ♪
♪ Don't you say,
don't you say it ♪
♪ So shut your mouth ♪
♪ Shut your mouth, baby,
stand and deliver ♪
♪ Holy hands gonna
make me a sinner ♪
♪ Like a river, like a river ♪
♪ Shut your mouth
and run me like a river ♪
♪ Choke this love till
the veins start to shiver ♪
♪ One last breath,
will it make me a sinner? ♪
♪ Like a river, like a river ♪
♪ Shut your mouth
and run me like a river ♪
♪ Oh no ♪
♪ Oh ♪
- We're looking for people
who can wake everybody up,
get everyone's attention
first time out,
instant identity.
We know where you're going.
- Yeah.
- And it's one of those times
in your life
where you actually step forward,
step out of the shadows
of being a lounge singer
and stepped
into being a lead singer.
- Yeah.
- You're in our top 24.
- Oh, my God. What?
- You are now in the top 24
as a lead singer
and not a lounge singer.
Congratulations.
- Thank you so much, thank you.
♪ Like a river ♪
- And the bass guitar.
How about that?
- Wow.
That was a real curveball.
- That was a curveball.
- That bass guitar.
- Thank you guys so much.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
- You are so talented.
- Thank you, thank you.
- I will no longer cut
a steak and listen to you.
Love you guys.
Thank you so much.
- Enjoy.
- Thank you.
Love you guys.
Bye.
- What other
surprises do you have?
Bass guitar, what else?
Oh, you won't tell us.
- I got some more stuff
up my sleeves.
- Let us know.
- Bring it, girl.
- Thank you guys.
♪ Like a river ♪
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
♪ Shut your mouth,
and stand and deliver ♪
- Wow.
♪ Holy hands going
to make me a sinner ♪
♪ Like a river, like a river ♪
♪ Shut your mouth,
and shut your mouth ♪
♪ Shut your mouth
and run me like a ♪
♪ River ♪
Going through means so much,
not only me, but my mom.
It's the best feeling
to see her be proud of me.
I truly feel like this
is just like the beginning.
- I got chills all over me.
- Oh, my goodness.
I'm so proud of her
because my life,
it's for her.
- I love you.
- I love you too.
Stop crying, stop crying.
We're always crying.
Like, it's so bad.
- Wow!
- Whoo!
- The first coveted spot
is taken in the top 24.
And another contender
is about to face the music.
- Warren Peay.
Let's go see what happens
with the judges right now.
See if you've made it through.
- I never in a million years
would have thought that I'd
be sitting here looking
at going into the top 24
on "American Idol."
This is a dream.
- A dream that began
back in Nashville.
- The audition went way better
than I could have expected.
I had no idea what they
were going to think of me.
- Are you saying
that he's top 10?
- I'm telling you he's top 10.
- He might be top 10.
- He might be top 10.
- They say that's
potentially a top 10 voice,
and now I kind of feel like
I have to live up to it.
So every performance
I've given since then
has been with that in mind.
♪ Sweet, sweet heart of mine ♪
♪ I'm going to break
again a million times ♪
♪ Or is this too far gone ♪
- Wow, he's good.
♪ Or have you turned ♪
♪ To stone ♪
So we're getting ready
to do Showstopper.
I feel like I have a real blast
from the past type of song,
doing "Whipping Post"
by the Allman Brothers.
I was really excited
to be able to perform it
because I am not going
to be playing with my guitar.
- Do you do much
without a guitar?
- Not a whole lot.
- Yeah?
- I'm pretty...
It's pretty much just me
with the guitar all the time.
That's a little bit
of a new element for me.
I'm so used to having it,
and I don't want it
to be a crutch.
I just have that mindset that
I want to put down the guitar.
- Smart.
- And play this the way
it's meant to be sang.
- Yeah, smart.
- I'm ready to do it.
- Oh, man.
Let's do it then.
- Make some noise!
Now here's 24-year-old
Warren Peay!
- What the hell?
No guitar?
Can I yell at him?
Can I tell him to go
put his guitar back on?
- Don't throw him off.
- ♪ I've been run down ♪
♪ I've been lied to ♪
♪ And I don't know
why I let that ♪
♪ Mean woman make me a fool ♪
♪ She took all my money ♪
♪ Wrecked my new car ♪
- Warren, good to see you again.
What you think about all this?
- Long way from home, but it's
a little fancy for my taste.
♪ Sometimes I feel ♪
♪ Sometimes I feel ♪
♪ Like I've been tied
to the whipping post, tied ♪
- How do you think
you did on "Whipping Post"?
- That's one of my favorite
songs of all time.
So I certainly hope
that I did it justice.
Judging by the crowd,
I'd say it went well.
And just based
off of my feeling,
I was certainly happy with it.
- He looks natural without it.
- Right. You're right.
- ♪ Oh, oh ♪
♪ Sometimes I feel ♪
Come on!
♪ Sometimes I feel ♪
- You're not planning on being
an appliance repair
person forever?
- I certainly hope not.
I would very much like to make
this my full-time career.
♪ Tied to the whipping post ♪
♪ Tied to the whipping post ♪
♪ Good Lord,
I feel like I'm dying ♪
♪ Oh ♪
- That's right.
- Thank, y'all.
- Yes, sir, buddy.
- I think it's pretty evident
tonight who's the superstar.
- Who's got it.
- Who's got it.
- Right in front of your face.
- Who grabs the mic
and cooks it.
Well...
you have cleared
yet another hurdle
in your "American Idol" journey.
Thank you.
- You're in our top 24.
- That's amazing.
Thank y'all so much.
Can I give y'all a hug?
- Breathe, breathe.
Go right here first.
- Thank you so much.
I'm very proud of myself
for getting this far.
I didn't know
that I would make it this far.
I certainly had the highest
of hopes, and I have...
Every performance that I've
given I've been happy with.
Thank you all so much.
- Thank you.
Get ready for the next round.
- I love it.
- All right.
- You made it, boy.
- You made it!
- Don't be scaring me like that.
I was totally at peace if I
would have gone home today.
But I'm very excited
to say that I won't be.
♪ In a world full
of strangers ♪
- Oh, man.
That is nerve-racking.
- Hey, everyone.
- What's up?
- Hey!
- So got some news.
I'll be going
through to the top 24.
We made it.
I'm looking
at going into the top 24.
I know that this competition
is going to get really hard.
I'm no stranger
to making some sacrifices,
and there have been
certainly many along the way.
- Yeah!
- We're so proud of you, Warren!
- Being away
from my family is hard.
I'm used to seeing
them every day.
We live pretty well close
to each other.
- Good job, buddy!
- We'll see you on the top 24.
- ♪ You got to find your
people just to find yourself ♪
- Top 24.
- Who's ready to rock and roll?
- More unforgettable
showstopping performances.
- As the finalists battle it
out for a spot in the top 24.
- I need this opportunity
more than anybody here.
- Who will shine?
- You're in our top 24.
- And who will crumble?
- Oh, no.
- Under the pressure?
- You will be going home.
- Seeing these talented
people go home,
you know,
that could very much be me.
- We're going to make
you all sing off.
- Yep, I knew it.
- Welcome back to Showstoppers:
The Final Judgment,
where, here in the holding room,
the nerves
have never been higher.
- I cannot believe that
it's the day that we've been
waiting for for so long.
I am very nervous, very nervous,
and I cannot wait until we
are going to get the results.
- After narrowly making it
through a rocky duets round,
25-year-old Nutsa
has a lot to prove.
- Duet round was the hardest
emotional experience that I've
had in my life ever, ever.
- We had a couple
of issues last night.
- What were the issues?
- Some people wanted
to sleep instead of working.
- Who is some people?
- How can you do like
this to a person?
I don't understand.
- Wait.
She went to sleep
while you were rehearsing?
- Yes.
- It was really hurtful for me.
It really hurted me.
But we have to stick together
and make this together work.
- Yeah.
- Because it's 3:00 a. m.
It's hard for everyone.
I never do bad to people.
I am not this person.
I've never been this person.
So let's do it.
- Right.
- Right?
- So let's...
- But I was trying my best
to stay positive.
- Let's try it again
until it's perfect.
- If you answer negativity
with negativity,
it's going to have
worse results.
- And, Nutsa,
don't forget about grace,
more grace.
- The comment that Katy said,
I really wanted
to express my emotions
and express my feelings.
- Thank you, ladies.
We love you.
- I really regret
that I didn't do it,
but I just could not speak up
because I knew it would destroy
me and I would start crying.
Katy, I wanted to apologize
because I felt very bad
when you said to me like,
more grace, more grace.
And I wanted to like tell
also my side of the story.
And I felt so bad.
I was, like, frozen.
Then I didn't want
to bring negative energy.
So that's why
I didn't say nothing.
I thought that,
because I didn't speak up
and I could not really speak
because I didn't want
to cry on stage.
But after I left the stage,
like I was just destroyed.
So I wanted
to apologize for that.
OK?
- There you go.
- That is great.
- I love you so much.
- There you go.
Very cool.
- That's so wonderful.
- Very cool.
- And, Nutsa, you know,
what I meant by grace is,
you know, it's OK to be,
like, determined,
and ambitious, and edgy,
and strong but also with grace.
- Yes.
- I really relate to you,
because I know what it means
to be a strong woman
and want to be strong
and to never break
and never to feel...
- Yes, exactly.
- You know, like anything could
get to me, but that's not...
That's not real.
- That's not true, yeah.
- I think that they're seeing
that you're a real person
with a big heart.
- Yes.
- A big heart.
- Thank you.
- And a big talent.
- Thank you.
- OK.
Let's see.
- ♪ Left a good job
in the city ♪
♪ Working for the man ♪
♪ Every night and day ♪
♪ And I never lost
one minute of sleep ♪
♪ And I was worried
about the way ♪
♪ That things might have been ♪
♪ You know that big wheels
keep on turning ♪
- Watch out now.
Watch out.
- ♪ Oh, and Proud Mary
keep on burning ♪
♪ Say, we rolling ♪
♪ We've been, rolling, yes ♪
♪ Rolling on the ♪
♪ River ♪
One, two, three, four!
♪ Left a good job in the city ♪
♪ Working for the man
every night and day
Hey!
♪ And I never lost
one minute of sleep ♪
♪ Worried about the way
things might have been ♪
♪ Big wheels keep on
turning, turning ♪
♪ Oh, Proud Mary
keep on burning ♪
♪ And rolling,
we be rolling, we've been ♪
♪ Rolling on the river
Hey!
♪ If you come down
to the river ♪
♪ Bet you going to find
some people who live ♪
♪ But you don't have to worry
if you got no money ♪
♪ People on the river
are happy to give ♪
♪ Because big wheels
keep on turning ♪
♪ And Proud Mary
keep on burning ♪
♪ And rolling, we be rolling,
we be rolling on the river ♪
Hey, hey!
♪ Rolling, we be rolling ♪
♪ We be rolling on the river ♪
- Well, I guess
we're nuts for Nutsa.
- Well.
- Thank you.
- We might be nuts for Nutsa.
- I love "American Idol"!
Thank you for this opportunity.
I love you guys.
Thank you.
Crazy.
The energy was crazy.
Like, I was feeling this energy
and love from the audience.
And this was the most amazing
thing about this round.
Like, all the tears I had at
the last round, now I'm happy.
- It was wild.
It was fun.
It was entertaining.
You whipped your hair
at that camera
like J-Lo does on a daily basis.
And we've just had so, so
much fun watching you bring
that amazing showmanship.
- Thank you so much.
- But as you know,
it's a tough competition.
- I know.
- It's not going
to be just about winning.
It's about learning,
as Lionel says.
- Yeah.
When you win, you win.
When you lose, you learn.
- That's right, Lionel.
- Yeah.
- So we have
really appreciated you
being in this competition.
Thank you
for everything you brought,
and we did not put you
in the top 24.
- It's OK.
- You put yourself
in that top 24.
Nutsa, you put yourself
in the top 24
with your spectacular talent.
- We didn't put you in there.
- You did.
- But as confusing as it seems,
you're going to the top 24.
Ah!
- That last performance...
- Oh, my God.
- Was so spectacular.
- So good.
- I feel blessed,
and I feel the happiest.
I feel like, as I can fly.
I feel like as if I'm
in another world, you know?
- Nutsa, I'm so excited
for the next outfit.
- Thank you. Oh, yes.
Thank you so much.
Bye.
Yeah!
- Ahh!
- I'm sure that people
that back home,
my people, Georgians,
they're going to be
super excited for me.
And I cannot wait until I
share this news with them.
Deda!
Whoo!
- I made it
to the top 24 in America,
not in Georgia, but in America.
- Can't wait to see more of you.
- Thank you.
It's the biggest thing
that happened in my life.
It's life changing for me.
- That's the way you do it.
- Welcome back
to the final judgment,
where music teacher
Adin Boyer is hoping
to continue his "Idol" journey.
- I'm very, very excited
to see on whether
I made it to the top 24 or not
because my mission
means everything to me,
and I really want
to continue to do my part
to help make the world
a better place...
Hello.
- Hey.
- How are you?
- And inspire even more people
with my music and my story.
- Adin, I got to tell you.
We have been watching you,
and I have to say,
we are so jealous.
I mean, the fact that you sat
down on a couple of songs,
and I don't even think
you were thinking
about what you were playing.
And your musicality is just...
- Do you still have
to look at the keys, Lionel?
I look all the time.
- I feel proud
of my Showstoppers performance
because of the love that I
received from the audience.
- Oh.
I'm telling you.
- ♪ I used to rule the world ♪
♪ Seas would rise
when I gave the word ♪
♪ Now in the morning,
I sleep alone ♪
- Oh, my God.
- ♪ Sweep the streets
I used to roam ♪
♪ Revolutionaries wait ♪
♪ For my head
on a silver plate ♪
♪ Just a puppet
on a lonely string ♪
- ♪ Oh, who would ever
want to be king ♪
- You discovered a lot
on this journey.
- I did.
I have.
I've grown a lot.
♪ I heard Jerusalem bells
are ringing ♪
♪ Roman cavalry choirs
are singing ♪
- What I want you to know now
is that it comes down
to two most important things,
stage presence,
which you have in spades,
and vocal performance.
- Thank you.
- I love him.
Such a talent.
I would love to write with him.
- Right?
I know.
- I would love
to write with him.
I just... he can go
anywhere fearlessly.
- I felt so welcomed
by this audience.
That's what I've wanted
for so long,
to be seen for who I really am.
- I think he can go be
the biggest songwriter,
and producer, and creator.
- Yeah.
- He sure is talented
on that piano.
- I'm going to tell you,
you have a definite place
in this business.
- Thank you.
- There are people like you,
where you're
not thinking about writing.
You're writing.
Now, from the vocal side, eh.
Not as strong as the class
that you're in.
- Yeah, yeah.
- And when
the competition comes in,
you've got to go, OK,
maybe I need
to work a little bit more.
And that's the conclusion
we came to.
You're not going
to be in our top 24.
But I'm telling you...
We are telling you,
you can start
your songwriting tomorrow.
- Yeah, yeah.
- I can tell you that right now.
You don't even have
to wait around another second.
In fact, when you leave here
and as soon
as you clear this show, I want
to write a song with you.
- Thank you guys so much
for this opportunity.
- Oh, you're amazing.
- I really, really,
really appreciated
working with you guys.
- Hey, listen.
Thank you for growing with us.
- Thank you, Katy.
- You are so cool.
- I'm super bummed,
but I'm endlessly grateful
for this experience
and this opportunity.
- How'd we do?
- Didn't make it but,
I'm endlessly proud
to have done this.
- As you should be.
- Thank you.
- You've come a long way.
- Yeah.
They're so right.
I have grown massively
on this show.
- I love you, Adin.
- I'm so proud of you.
- I'm just so, so, so happy
with this experience.
- Really, really, I mean that.
- Yeah.
- I just want to sit with you
and find out what
you have to offer because
you've got a lot in there.
- Lionel, I look forward
to working with you, man.
Thank you for seeing something
in me from the get-go.
- And look for the phone call.
- OK. Thank you.
Thank you.
Oh, God.
That's so exciting.
- So it's the end
of the line for Adin.
Put those hands together for
21-year-old Michael Williams!
And with another
make or break moment,
Mason, Ohio's Michael Williams
is ready to crush
his Showstopper performance.
- ♪ Flowers in hand,
waiting for me ♪
♪ Every word in poetry ♪
♪ Don't call me by name,
only baby ♪
♪ The more that you give,
the less that I need ♪
♪ Everyone says I look happy ♪
The judges in my first audition
told me that I was
top 10 material,
which kind of blew my mind.
♪ I know that
you're wrong for me ♪
♪ Going to wish we never met
on the day I leave ♪
Felt really good
about my performance
in Showstopper round.
I feel confident going
in the room today,
but I'm also keeping
my expectations
at a certain level, you know?
♪ It's not your fault
I ruin everything ♪
♪ And it's not your fault
I can't be what you need ♪
♪ Baby, angels like you
can't fly down here with me ♪
♪ I'm everything
they said I would be ♪
This is my one chance
to make it to the top 24.
I got to prove to them
that what they said is true.
♪ I know that you're
wrong for me ♪
♪ Going to wish we never
met on the day I leave ♪
♪ It's not your fault
I ruin everything ♪
- Wow.
- ♪ And it's not your fault
I can't be what you need ♪
♪ Baby, angels like you ♪
♪ Can't fly down here with me ♪
Getting sent home at this point
would be really disappointing.
- Kept losing him
in the backgrounds.
- Yeah.
- I know.
It wasn't the best song for him.
- Right.
- There's a point
where you got to stop
being cute and really k*ll 'em.
- How are you?
- Feeling a little bit nervous.
But I am very happy to be here.
- Listen, when you came to us
and you sang
"Talking to the Moon,"
we felt like we had gone
to the moon.
- ♪ Talking to the moon ♪
- We think your voice
is very controlled.
You play with falsetto.
You can really control
the sound in the room.
But in your last performance,
"Angels Like You"
was a little bit of a departure
for what your strengths were.
I just didn't hear
your unique abilities
throughout that version
of the song.
So I felt like I lost you.
And there are other
people that I think
are also in your category.
- Yeah.
- I have really enjoyed
and loved,
you know, hearing you.
And you have a sparkle
in your eye and a presence.
The challenging thing
about love is,
when you love something,
you have to let it go.
- Mm-hmm.
We have to let you go
into the top 24.
- No way.
Oh, my God.
I'm in a daze.
It was... they put me
through a whirlwind in there.
- We really believe in you,
and of course,
you're going into the top 24.
- Wow.
Thank you so much.
Holy cow! Wow.
It means so much to get through
because it just proves it
to myself
that I'm supposed to be here.
This is... it feels like a dream.
It feels like it's not real.
- You've got pace
with your walk.
What's the news?
- I got a yes.
- All right!
Congratulations.
- Appreciate it.
- Top 24!
- 24!
- Whoo!
- Welcome back to Showstoppers:
The Final Judgment.
- I'm actually having
a challenging time hitting 24.
Something we don't agree on?
- I think this is
the beginning of something
really amazing for you.
- Where is PJAE?
PJAE, come on up.
- It's still
getting me a little.
- I'm not against it.
I'll roll the dice on you.
I'm a yes.
- Don't leave yet.
Malik, I need you too
to come up here.
- I'm undecided.
So I think maybe we should
do what we did last season.
- Judges want to see you
at the same time.
- OK.
Malik and I are going
to have to go in together.
So surprise.
This is like my bestie.
Good luck to you, Malik.
I'm excited that we
can share this moment.
- Yes, hugs.
- Gentlemen.
- Coming in here looking all...
- Silky smooth.
- Well.
- Look at them,
style everywhere.
- What's going on here?
- Nothing much.
- All right.
You guys are both fantastic
singers, sultry, smooth,
R&B, soul, just like butter.
And it's beautiful to listen to.
- Thank you.
- ♪ It's crazy how your heart
just has a mind of its own ♪
- Wow.
- He's sneaky.
- ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Like when your smile,
it makes a choice on its own ♪
- Yeah.
- ♪ When you came along, yeah ♪
♪ With your beautiful song,
you saved me ♪
- ♪ You saved me ♪
- ♪ I want you, baby ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ I want you, baby
♪ Oh, you ♪
- I think he stayed
in his higher register
for a little too long.
This is our best season yet.
We have crazy,
crazy amounts of talent.
- No doubt.
- That is a true statement.
- Come on!
♪ Can we talk for a minute ♪
♪ Girl, I want
to know your name ♪
♪ Can we talk ♪
- One of my playlists.
- ♪ For a minute ♪
I think Katy was dancing.
I'm pretty sure she was dancing.
That was what I was
setting out to do.
♪ One more chance
with you again ♪
♪ I will not let it ♪
- That's a old
groove right there.
I think the whole crowd
just really felt the vibe.
I think I'm in the top 24.
♪ Your name ♪
- He keeps doing this.
- Thank you.
- That was sexy.
- Strong.
- He need some more mid,
low end anchor.
We don't even know how
we're going to squeeze
everyone into the top 24.
- We had a disagreement
right here.
- It's going over here.
- What?
- We already decided that.
We think you guys have
spectacular voices.
We were all disagreeing on who
we think has the best sultry
voice, the best R&B voice.
So we've decided...
This is our second year
of doing something.
It's called the sing-off.
We want you guys to pick a song.
We've got a couple of ideas.
"Everything I Wanted,"
by Billie Eilish
or "Best Part" by Daniel Caesar
featuring H. E. R.
You'll need
to agree on this song.
Come back to us after
doing a little rehearsal.
Sing it here in this room
with no reverb, no microphone.
And then I think we'll have
a little bit more clarity.
- We'll have clarity.
- And maybe we'll all
be on the same page.
- I hope.
- Don't waste time.
You only have an hour.
It's the sing-off in the room!
- We wish you guys the best.
- Thanks, guys.
- Thank you guys.
- All right.
- It is a little bit difficult
to go up against Malik,
just because
not only is he my friend,
but he's a very
talented vocalist.
I just want to go in there and
kind of channel that emotion
that I've been feeling
throughout the entirety
of the competition.
And even if I can't always
see the best in myself,
hopefully they can.
- During my audition Katy
said, it'll be interesting
to see you find your edge,
and that really stuck with me.
The judges want to see who I am,
and I'm trying to show
them the real Malik.
- This is awful.
Why?
- I'm just sad that PJAE
is the person
that I have to sing against.
Like, it's weird because we've
spent so much time together.
So but I'm hoping that it's
just good vibes in general,
at the end of the day.
- How we doing?
- We're back.
- Back in action.
- OK.
What did you guys
decide to sing?
- We've decided "Everything
I Wanted" by Billie Eilish.
- OK.
- All right.
- All right, Malik.
- Yeah.
- Just stand?
- Yeah, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
- Let's go, Malik.
- There you go.
- There's only one spot.
So what did you guys
decide to sing?
- We've decided "Everything
I Wanted" by Billie Eilish.
- OK.
- All right.
- All right, Malik.
- Yeah.
- Just stand?
- Yeah, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
- There you go.
- Let's go, Malik.
- There you go.
- Ooh.
- You got this, Malik.
- ♪ I had a dream ♪
♪ I got everything I wanted ♪
♪ Not what you think ♪
♪ And if I'm being honest ♪
♪ It might
have been a nightmare ♪
♪ For anyone who might care ♪
♪ And you said,
as long as I am here ♪
♪ No one may hurt you ♪
♪ Don't want to lie in here ♪
♪ That you can learn to ♪
♪ If I could change the way ♪
♪ That you see yourself ♪
♪ Don't want to lie in here ♪
♪ They don't deserve to ♪
♪ If I knew it again,
would I do it again ♪
♪ Would I do it again ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ Oh ♪
- Wow.
- All right.
All right. All right.
- Thank you.
- Wow.
- All right.
- Let's go there, PJAE.
- OK.
- All right.
- ♪ I had a dream ♪
♪ I got everything I wanted ♪
♪ But when you wake up, I see ♪
♪ You with me ♪
♪ And you say,
as long as I am here ♪
♪ No one can hurt you ♪
♪ Don't want to lie here ♪
♪ But you can learn to ♪
♪ If I could change the way ♪
♪ That you see yourself ♪
♪ Wonder why you're here ♪
♪ They don't deserve you ♪
♪ As long as I am here ♪
♪ No one can hurt you ♪
♪ If I could change the way ♪
♪ That you see yourself ♪
♪ Wonder why you're here ♪
♪ They don't ♪
♪ Deserve you ♪
- Wow.
- Ay.
- Gentlemen,
please can you wait outside
while we deliberate?
- Deliberate.
- One last time.
- They're both incredible.
- Listen.
I want to change my mind.
I'm changing my mind.
- Well, that's over.
- You did so good.
You did so good.
- The person that we were
thinking about is out.
- Kinda like behind on the
piano, so I was like,
ooh, it's dragging.
- PJAE, that's the best
he's ever sang his whole life.
- Everything, that's why.
- It sounded great.
- But also, he's like way...
- I was literally mesmerized.
It was so good.
- It was good.
- So good.
- OK.
Honestly, that was fun.
- I can't believe I just...
- Yeah.
- We're good.
- All right, got it.
- I'm so happy.
- I can't be any happier.
- OK, great.
Let's do it.
All right!
- All right, front and center.
- Now you've gone and done it.
- Gentlemen, gentlemen,
gentlemen, decision time
has come.
We think you guys are
both really incredible.
We hate having to make
choices like this.
It kills us.
And, Malik,
that was so beautiful.
All those choices,
they were amazing.
I mean, hearing it right
in front of us like that,
like never before,
it was astounding.
It was really...
- Thank you, I appreciate it.
- You should be really proud.
PJAE, you have the gravitas.
You have volume.
And the vocals, I don't think it
was as controlled
as Malik in this moment.
You've shown us a lot,
and you've proved
from the very beginning
when we first met you.
Well, we have decided
that, PJAE,
you are going
to scale those heights
and go to the top 24.
- ♪ Don't give up
when your heart is weary ♪
♪ Don't give up
when your eyes are teary ♪
- And, Malik...
- ♪ Don't give up when
your voice is trembling ♪
- We...
We've never done this.
We've actually moved someone
else out of the competition.
- You are going
to the top 24 as well.
- If you believe in miracles,
this is one of them.
- What?
Let's just let that
sink in for a moment.
Because what is life right now?
- That's called good old
fashioned earning your way.
- That's right.
- I got through to the top 24!
Like, this is insane.
I literally can't believe it.
- We literally made
a decision two minutes ago.
In the ninth inning,
we're switching the game.
- Well, you guys sang so good
you made something clear to us.
- Yes.
- Very clear.
- And the clarity was,
y'all ain't going nowhere.
- Great job.
- Go and celebrate.
Go and...
- Go and celebrate.
- You both earned it.
- It's my birthday.
This is the best birthday gift.
- Ah!
- Happy birthday.
- How young are you?
- I'm 24, in the top 24 now.
- Ah!
- 24!
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
- Hey!
- ♪ Happy birthday ♪
- OK, Katy Perry's singing
"Happy Birthday" to me.
- ♪ Brighter day ♪
- Every step that I progress
in the competition,
I think a little bit
more highly about myself.
Now that I'm standing here
in the top 24,
this means the world, honestly.
- Whoo!
- Come on, baby! Top 24!
- Yeah!
They made it.
- You're looking at the next
top 24 of "American Idol."
This is just a testament
to just keep going
and just have that faith.
- Y'all were both so good,
they couldn't let anybody go.
And I got to ride Kumal's
back in excitement.
So thank you very much for that.
That's a first.
- We love that for Kumal.
Whoo!
- And we love
an unexpected moment
that fills two more spots
in our top 24 and changes
the game for those
still waiting.
- ♪ Trying hard to be myself ♪
- Like early standout Wé Ani.
- My first audition,
I was a little nervous
about how the judges
would perceive my voice.
- That's a voice.
- Hi.
Hi.
Thank you.
- Unbelievable.
- That is your real voice.
- That is... this is
my real speaking voice.
I wanted to be able
to get taken seriously,
but it's not easy sounding
like a 12-year-old at 23.
♪ I want to know ♪
I definitely feel heard here.
The fact that I'm able to
be myself on "American Idol"
is a huge deal to me.
♪ Judges ♪
I've shown a lot
of sides to myself.
There are more.
I mean, there's a lot of layers,
but everything I've done
so far has been a risk.
And I definitely think
this song is a risk.
I think it definitely
could stop the show
one way or another.
♪ Ain't no way ♪
♪ For me to love you ♪
♪ If you won't let me ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ It ain't no way ♪
♪ For me to give you
all you need ♪
- She's landing in there.
- ♪ If you won't let me
give all of me ♪
♪ No ♪
♪ Stop trying to be ♪
♪ Someone you're not ♪
♪ How cold and cruel is a man ♪
♪ Who paid too much
for what he got ♪
♪ And if you need me
to love you ♪
♪ Just say, say you do ♪
♪ Because baby, baby, baby ♪
♪ Don't you know that I ♪
♪ Need you ♪
- Don't fall, Lionel.
Don't fall.
- We have a class
of outstanding singers.
- Right.
- Cutting it down
is the hardest thing.
- ♪ Me to love you, if you ♪
- And I've always
thought, trying
to cut good singers
is difficult.
Trying to cut a great singer,
that's impossible.
- ♪ Let me ♪
- That's a star
right there, boy.
You are a great singer.
You're going to be
our next top 24.
- ♪ I deserve
congratulations ♪
- Awesome.
- Can I hug you guys?
- You better.
- You can.
Congrats.
- I don't really know what's
going through my head.
I'm so excited.
I'm going to the top 24!
Looking back,
I'll think to myself,
oh, this was the moment where
I decided to trust myself.
It's OK to be vulnerable.
Yeah, baby!
- Wé, you are a beast,
and there's no one out there
like you.
When you sing,
you just make people feel.
That's your gift.
- I am proud of myself,
and I'm proud to say that.
Wé, Wé, Wé, Wé, Wé!
- Welcome back to Showstoppers:
The Final Judgment.
Zachariah Smith, let's do it.
It's your turn.
See what happens, man.
You come back with good news.
- ♪ Everything can change
in a moment ♪
- Hey.
- Hey!
- What y'all doing?
- Mommy!
- ♪ Maybe we were crazy ♪
- What's up, baby?
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Hey, Daddy.
Hey, Mommy.
- Hey.
- Hey, buddy.
- Your face looks like
you've gotten it all out.
- Well, I don't know
what that means,
but I can tell you I'm nervous.
- Zachariah,
we have enjoyed you so much,
but the talent
is the best it's ever been.
- I couldn't imagine doing
anything else in my life
but singing and performing.
I mean, I could go back
and flip burgers,
but it just wouldn't give me
the fulfillment
that I would
really be looking for.
I miss you guys so much.
I cannot wait to hug
each and all of you.
- Here we go,
the Master of Ceremony.
Who's ready to rock and roll?
- Let's go!
- I do love it.
- ♪ Tonight I'm going to have
myself a real good time ♪
♪ I feel alive ♪
- Yes!
- ♪ And the world,
I'll turn it inside out, yeah ♪
- I love it!
- ♪ Floating around
in ecstasy ♪
♪ So don't stop me now ♪
- He's never going back
to burgers!
- ♪ Don't stop me now
'cause I'm having a good time ♪
♪ I'm a sh**ting star
leaping through the sky ♪
♪ Like a tiger,
defying the laws of gravity ♪
♪ I'm a racing car ♪
- I love him!
- ♪ Passing by
like Lady Godiva ♪
♪ I'm going to go, go, go ♪
♪ There's no stopping me ♪
♪ I'm burning
through the sky, yeah ♪
♪ 200 degrees, that's why
they call me Mr. Fahrenheit ♪
♪ I'm traveling
at the speed of light ♪
♪ I want to make a super
sonic man out of you ♪
Come on, come on!
This is the performance
that will determine
whether or not I make
the final cut of the top 24.
I like it, baby!
At the end of the day,
I have to be myself
because there's not going
to be anybody else like me.
♪ I'm a rocket ship
on my way to Mars ♪
♪ On a collision course ♪
- ♪ I'm a satellite ♪
♪ I'm out of control ♪
♪ I'm a sex machine ready
to reload like an atom b*mb ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
oh, explode ♪
♪ I'm burning through the sky ♪
Come on!
♪ 200 degrees, that's why
they call me Mr. Fahrenheit ♪
♪ Traveling
at the speed of light ♪
♪ I want to make a super
sonic man out of you ♪
♪ Don't stop me now ♪
♪ If you want to
have a good time ♪
♪ Baby, then give me a call ♪
♪ Don't stop me now,
yes, I'm having a good time ♪
♪ Don't want to stop at all ♪
- I love it.
- Whoo!
Thank you, LA!
- Drop the mic, drop the mic.
I don't think he knew
that he had all that.
I knew he had all that
because I could see it.
- I lost my breath at the end,
but it's OK.
- No one noticed.
- I don't think it mattered.
- 19-year-old kid.
- A hamburger flipper.
- A hamburger flipper who
is stepdad to three kids now.
At 19.
- My family all believes in me.
Coming into "Idol,"
I think it's definitely
pulled out somebody inside of
me that I've been looking for.
- We're really proud of you,
Zachariah.
- Well, thank you.
- When you came to us
in the very beginning,
you felt a little bit
like a gimmick,
a guy that just sings
in his spare time
while flipping burgers.
But I think we saw
something really grow.
- I want every
performance that I
do to be better than the last.
- I think you have one
of the most interesting
voices in the competition.
- I definitely learned,
if I stick with it
and just believe
in myself and have
the faith as much as the
mustard seed, I mean,
that's very, very small.
Mustard seeds are very small.
I cannot only be a top 24,
but maybe I could be
a top 10 if I do well enough.
- We do have to wonder, though,
if that dream is inside of you
or you are OK with just going
back to how things were.
- This is where I want to be.
I love "American Idol."
- Zachariah, you may not
go home to flip burgers,
but you will be going home...
To pack a new bag
to come back to the top 24.
- We're going on, baby!
- Oh my... oh!
- Man, what do you think?
- Thank you, man.
Thank you so much.
- No, thank you.
Thank you.
- I love you guys.
I love you guys.
- Whoo!
- I made it through.
- Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
- To be in the top 24
of "American Idol,"
this is actually
a dream come true.
I feel like I'm officially
part of "American Idol" family
forever.
Bye, guys.
Now, the hard work
is paying off.
- Bye, Daddy.
- Back with you on Showstoppers,
where 15-year-old
platinum ticket
winner Kaylin Hedges
is hoping to seal
the deal into the top 24.
- ♪ There used to be
a greying tower ♪
♪ Alone on the sea ♪
♪ And you became the light on ♪
- What a beautiful song.
- ♪ The dark side of me ♪
- My time on "American Idol,"
it's meant a lot to me.
- No matter where I am,
I'm already there.
So take a look around.
- Oh, my God!
Stop!
Dad, what?
It was really crazy
having my dad being there
and then getting
the platinum ticket.
It's insane.
- You're 15 years old
singing like Streisand.
- That big old voice
in that small body.
- Like, I've never
really done something
that has been this huge.
- What do you feel?
I mean, after all this.
- I have gained a lot
more confidence in myself,
just throughout this.
- You look it.
- Oh, thank you.
♪ Baby, I compare you ♪
♪ To a kiss from
a rose on the grey ♪
♪ Ooh, the more I get of you,
the stranger it feels, yeah ♪
- You do know you're our
youngest contestant here.
- Yeah.
- I'm telling you,
you've survived some pretty...
- Some adult stuff.
- Really adult stuff.
For you to get here at 15
is phenomenal unto itself.
- Whether I get a yes or no, I'm
going to walk out
of this so much more
of a better performer.
♪ Rose is in bloom, a light
hits the gloom on the grey ♪
♪ Now that your rose
is in bloom, a light ♪
♪ Hits the gloom ♪
♪ On the grey ♪
- I think it boils down
to experience and timing.
You really have qualities that
it just takes time to develop.
Do you have a real shot
at our business?
Yeah.
Is it going to happen right now?
No.
You didn't make
our top 24, but you
wouldn't have made it this far
if you didn't have promise.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- No.
- Oh.
- You didn't get it?
- No, it's OK.
It's OK.
Even though I
didn't make top 24,
I still think that my "American
Idol" journey has been amazing.
And I wouldn't take
it back for anything.
- You did a good job.
- Thank you.
- I'm proud of you.
- You're taking
it in stride, and
we'll see you again somewhere,
thank you very much.
- Thank you so much.
- As we say goodbye to
Kaylin, her duet partner
and fellow platinum ticket
winner, Tyson Venegas,
worries he might
share the same fate.
- Kaylin, she's just like such
an amazing and like
humble person, so...
- It's hard for me so many
friendships have been built.
And I'm really scared
that they might not
choose me to be in the top 24.
- This is another tough one.
- This is a tough one.
- Hey.
- Hey, hey!
- Tyson!
- Oh, my goodness.
- How you feeling?
- Really nervous actually.
- Why?
- Because a lot
of my friends have...
Like, they're gone now,
but yeah.
I'm OK.
- Well, yes.
It's... there's a lot
of head scratchers going home.
You're a platinum ticket holder.
- ♪ I'm in a New York ♪
- You are exactly
what we look for.
- That performance was spot on.
- You are the bar for Las Vegas.
- You're the bar.
- Oh, my God.
- I don't know what happened
during Showstoppers.
- Yes, so...
- Oh, explain.
- Explain that, yeah.
- Please.
Because we were
a little confused.
- During my Showstopper
performance,
there was a lot of
pressure, since I
got the platinum ticket.
And I did get really,
really nervous.
♪ I'm crying ♪
♪ 'Cause I love you ♪
Hey!
♪ Never been in love before ♪
♪ Tell him what I
want to do no more
- Oh, no!
- Did he blank out?
- ♪ On a plane,
fly you out to wherever I am ♪
♪ Catch you on the low,
I was ashamed ♪
♪ Now I'm crazy,
about to attach your name ♪
♪ I thought
that I didn't care ♪
♪ I thought
I was love impaired ♪
♪ But, baby, ooh, baby ♪
♪ I don't know what
I'm going to do ♪
♪ I'm crying ♪
♪ 'Cause I love ♪
♪ You ♪
♪ 'Cause I love you ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ I'm crying
'cause I love you ♪
- It's called
having the nerves...
- Yeah, he got them.
- Completely get you.
- He didn't know the words,
and he went south
on a couple of notes.
- I practiced this song a lot,
and I knew
it from the back of my head.
But when I went on stage and I
sang it, it just wasn't there.
So I really want to show the
judges that I can do more
and I can do better.
- You didn't do so great
on Showstoppers.
That's true.
We looked at each other and
said, we're eating our words.
We said, he was a shoo in.
- Like, I was so
mad at myself after.
Like, I was so angry.
Like, why didn't you just
say those four lines?
Because you already know it.
- Avalanched on you a little?
- Yeah.
- Well, it happens.
- Yeah, it happens.
- Like, I think if
I make it to top 24,
I really want to show you
that I can do more
and that I have more
surprises to show you guys.
- You've been through so much,
and you hold so much.
And maybe you can let go
of some of that pressure.
That is a part of life.
- Right.
- That's how you learn,
and you're 17.
And you're so young,
and you've got so much
learning still ahead of you.
We...
don't think you are destined
for the top 24.
We actually think
it's more like top 10.
But you're still going to
go to the top 24 first.
- You're joking.
- Don't beat yourself up.
- Trust your heart.
Trust your gut.
You're still a great singer.
- Thank you.
I promise you guys,
I'll do better.
- Promise us?
- Yes.
- Made it!
My brain cannot process,
like, anything.
Like, I still can't believe it.
It means the world to me.
And I'm so glad
the judges chose me.
- Top 24!
- Yeah!
I'm going to show them
that I can do better.
Yeah!
Whoo!
- I feel super nervous.
I was doing OK up until
they started pulling people.
And now I'm like,
the reality is setting in.
It's very unsettled.
Everybody's so talented
that I don't really know
how they're making the cuts.
- Haven Madison.
It's time for you to come up
and face the judges.
I take a deep breath
for good luck for you.
OK?
- Thank you.
I appreciate it.
- Getting swallowed up,
those young kids.
- I think it's possible
anybody could go home.
It's the most up
in the air thing
I've ever been a part of.
- What you think
about what you're
seeing going on out there?
- This is intimidating as crap,
but I'm very excited to be here.
Right.
- Did you envision it
being this intimidating?
- No, I watch the show, and I
would have never even thought
that it was this like intense.
- Wait till they put
music behind this.
- Well, congrats on
making it to this point.
- Thank you.
- Your original song
in your audition
is something that we
continue to reference.
- ♪ What if I want it now ♪
It felt very vulnerable,
singing an original.
I don't think people
realize you put your heart
and soul into songs.
And you put it out
for the world to judge.
The song I did in performance,
it was very emotional.
Today, I'm going to be
singing an original.
It's called "Still Need You,"
and I wrote it
when I was trying to convince
my brother that his life was
worth living.
Because that one's like
a very personal song,
it was intimidating
that they were
going to have to judge that,
you know?
♪ And if you left
without goodbye ♪
♪ You would have missed
the tears I'd cry ♪
♪ That you would never
know how I needed you ♪
- Massive star.
- I feel like writing tells
you a lot about an artist.
And so I'm really glad
I made those choices.
- Come on.
- She just looks
like an artist to me.
- For Showstopper,
I chose "Bird Set Free,"
because it's a song
that I really wish I wrote.
♪ Clipped wings,
I was a broken thing ♪
♪ I had a voice, had a voice,
but I could not sing ♪
♪ You had worn me down ♪
It's just talking about how
your stereotype is perfection.
In music, you got to sing on
key, with the right melody
and the right words.
And she's just
saying like, I don't
care, because that's who I am.
♪ I don't care if
I sing off key ♪
♪ I find myself
in my melodies ♪
It felt pretty near and dear.
♪ For love, I sing for me ♪
♪ I'll shout it out
like a bird set free ♪
- The "Bird Set Free," you're
giving us good, solid stuff.
But understand that
everybody else is
bringing the house down too.
- ♪ I sing for me ♪
- Trust your instincts
on your original stuff.
- That's right.
- But then trust the time when
you have to go beyond that.
- ♪ Set free ♪
- I personally have
you somebody that I
see going very, very, very
far in this competition...
- Thank you, sir.
- In music in general.
Tons of promise.
You're handling
it the right way,
and we are happy to
have you in our top 24.
- Oh, my God.
I feel like you're
lying right now.
Oh, my God.
- So listen.
Now that we know you're going
through, just don't blend in.
- Yes, sir.
- Don't buckle.
- Don't be idle on "Idol."
It's...
- Oh.
- That was good.
- OK?
- All righty.
- You're safe, Haven.
- Oh, my God.
I'm hugging Katy Perry.
Three idols that have
inspired me to keep moving
and keep pushing telling me
that I can do it was...
It was amazing.
- You've got so much promise.
- Thank you guys.
- More, more, more.
- Yes, sir.
I'm going through.
- Ah!
- Top 24!
- There's no one I've
ever known that is more
brave than you, sweetheart.
Great job.
- Thanks, Dad.
I love you, and I miss you guys.
Oh, my God.
I miss you guys so much.
- No, I want to hug you.
Congratulations.
- Whoo!
- With another spot taken
in our top 24,
23-year-old Fire is hoping her
dreams will still burn bright.
- How are you?
- Oh.
- Hi.
- So pretty.
- Wow.
- Thank you.
- Fire, it's been such
an interesting journey.
It's been tough.
I mean, honestly, you have grown
faster maybe than we thought.
Like, you really
fought tooth and nail.
I know, girl.
- I feel like I've
gone through the ringer
being here on "American Idol."
- ♪ And the morning's sweet ♪
- I wish Mommy wins
"American Idol."
- New Orleans auditions
was a train wreck.
- I think you found this.
Mom.
- Go put it back.
Go put it back.
I've been told since I was a kid
that my dream was too crazy,
or you know,
I wasn't good enough.
That's why words
can't even describe
the way that I feel
about Katy Perry
just being on my side.
- I'm going to give you
a second chance.
You're going to show us
what the fire is.
OK?
- In Nashville,
just hearing that they love me
feels so amazing.
- I am telling you,
you've got promise.
And if nothing else, to prove
to you that you have promise.
- Thank you so much.
It will stay
in my heart forever,
how they talked to me.
You're going to Hollywood!
- There you go.
- No, it's...
- ♪ Just don't give up ♪
- Yeah.
- Duet round, it was a bit
of a disappointment.
- I have to leave.
I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry.
- ♪ Take the power back ♪
- After Kaya quit,
I felt really defeated.
♪ What do you want
from me ♪
♪ What do you want from me ♪
- Come on, Fire!
- But I've been
fighting so hard,
probably harder than most
people have in their lives.
Because I know this
opportunity would change
mine and my daughter's life.
Going into Showstoppers,
I just want
to leave all the bad stuff
behind and just show my love
for performing and singing.
- Here we go.
Nothing to hold you back now.
Come on.
- Nothing is holding
this girl back any more.
- ♪ You got me begging
you for mercy ♪
♪ Why won't you release me ♪
♪ You got me begging you
for mercy ♪
♪ Why won't you release me ♪
♪ I said, release me ♪
Everybody!
♪ I'm begging you for mercy ♪
- Come on!
- ♪ Just why won't you ♪
- Let's go!
- ♪ You got me begging,
you got me begging ♪
- Wow.
- ♪ You got me begging you ♪
♪ For mercy ♪
♪ Why won't you release me ♪
♪ Release ♪
♪ You got me begging you
for mercy ♪
♪ Oh, whoa ♪
- Yes, girl.
Use those moves.
- There you go.
Give it some polish.
- All of those moves,
and you worked that light.
- Whoo!
I feel so good.
- You know, there's been
so much growth with her.
- I feel so good about
the fact that she has now
kind of got a base,
a new base, as opposed
to that bottom she was in.
- I'm just so glad that
I got to be my whole self
and just let go,
and dance, and sing.
And I feel like
that was just a dream
in itself that came true.
And I feel like a
lot of people would
just use this
as a stepping stone,
but this is everything to me.
This journey is my lifeline.
This has been the hardest,
hardest thing, honestly.
And the most
important thing for me
has just been to show that I'm
not scared to put up a fight.
And this is what
I need to be doing.
- I just want to
tell you that we
have seen you this whole time.
More than ever before, you are
and you have found your fire.
I think there's been a lot
of times in your life
that you wanted to be this.
But the truth is,
a lot of things put you out.
And you're like,
I'm going to get back up.
I've got no choice.
I'm going to represent.
I'm going to do
this for my baby.
I'm going to do this for myself.
- We have learned
from you by watching you.
- Yep, yep.
- That's right.
- We have learned,
as judges, to let
people show their sides too.
I mean, it's been
amazing to watch.
- To show how hard
that they can fight.
- Right.
- Yeah.
- Fire...
It's the end of the
"American Idol" journey.
But I think that, truthfully,
your fire is never going out.
- No.
- Ever again.
- No.
- And we're so proud of you.
You have done great
and grown so much.
And we hope that
you'll take that home,
and you'll just build on that.
Thank you.
- Keep your chin up, OK?
- ♪ What would you do ♪
- I love you.
- I'm not OK with going home.
I just feel like I needed this
more than a lot of people did.
But that it doesn't matter.
- She'll be OK.
- She's shut down again now.
Dang it.
- No?
- No.
- I'm sorry.
- I've always been a fighter.
And this week wasn't
any different.
- Hopefully,
after a little bit of time,
you'll feel better
about what you learned here.
And maybe there's another shot.
- I'm just ready to go home
and see my daughter.
- This too shall pass.
Good luck, OK?
- It's been an excruciatingly
long waiting day.
And the holding room
has been full
of nervous energy and tears.
- You'll see.
You'll be fine.
- Happiness.
Yes!
It's just been a ball
of mixed emotions.
He gon' get you.
You better go.
It has definitely been hard
for me to be
away from my children so long.
But this whole journey
was inspired by my children.
- ♪ I was born by the river ♪
- And my favorite affirmation
is, I cannot quit
because I have to keep
providing for my babies.
I'm very grateful
for Lionel and Katy
for giving me a second chance
because I definitely think
I need this opportunity
more than anybody here.
- You're singing the song for?
- My babies.
Whee, whoo!
Coming to Hollywood, I was
just like anxious to prove
that, hey, I belong here.
♪ To make you feel ♪
♪ Hey, yeah ♪
When I left from that stage,
I could hear Katy
say, well, that was the show,
the show is over.
- That was what we
call spectacular.
- Spectacular.
- And I literally was like,
I gots to go hard.
- Make some noise for Lucy Love!
- I'm trying to leave a legacy
for my children.
They've never seen skyscrapers.
They've never been to a beach.
They've never eaten steak.
They've never, you know,
been on an airplane.
And so I really
want to give them
a different life than I had,
more than I want to breathe.
- ♪ But I know my change
has got to come ♪
- OK, how y'all doing?
So when I get
on that stage to deliver,
I'm having my children
and their well-being,
their livelihoods forefront.
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ There's something ♪
♪ One thing that makes
it all complete ♪
♪ Who can deny
the joy it brings ♪
♪ When you've found
that special thing ♪
♪ You fly without wings ♪
♪ So impossible ♪
♪ As that may seem ♪
♪ You've got to fight
for every dream ♪
♪ Because who's to know ♪
♪ Which one you let go ♪
♪ Would have made ♪
♪ You complete ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ It's the little things
that only I know ♪
♪ Those are the things
that make you mine ♪
- Good Lord.
- ♪ Who can deny the joy
it brings when you've found ♪
♪ That special thing ♪
♪ I'm flying without ♪
♪ Wings ♪
♪ Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
- She ain't done yet.
You ain't done yet.
That girl right there
has such a vocal gift.
- She reminds me of Lady K.
Kind of real, real singing.
- Yes, she does.
- You know?
- How are y'all?
- All right. Showstoppers.
I watched you walk off,
and it wasn't you.
What happened?
- When I began, honestly,
I forgot my very first lyric.
It k*lled me.
I had the audience
looking at me,
but I'm definitely a fighter.
And so right after
I had that slip up,
I locked in immediately.
So let's just hope for the best.
- I know this is
a fight for you.
- Definitely
- And a fight for your kids.
- Definitely.
- And so when you sing from
that place, that's when we go,
oh, yeah, there she is.
She's the one that's
going to change the game.
You're going to
change your life.
- And I heard you have like
all these little post-it notes
around your house, right?
- My vision wall.
- Your vision wall?
- There you go.
- What's your favorite one?
- I can't give up because
my kids are counting on me.
- That's right.
We believe in you.
We still believe in you.
We want you
to continue this fight.
But it's a tough fight.
And the gloves have to come off.
And you've got to lead through
love, lead through light.
And add top 24
to your post-it notes.
- Baby!
You better give me a hug, girl.
- Are you top 24?
Congratulations.
- I ain't never done
nothing this big,
besides I earned my GED.
And for my kids,
like, I want them to see,
like, I can do this, you know?
I can do this.
Oh, God.
- Listen.
Go and hug your babies.
All right?
- Go hug your babies.
- Because Mama's on a mission.
- Thank y'all so much.
Oh.
I get to fight
for a good reason now.
And I'm ready to kick some butt.
Whew!
Ryan, just hug me.
- So happy you're here.
- Welcome back to
the final judgment,
where 16-year-old Paige Anne
is reflecting
on her Showstopper performance.
- It's a lot in my head.
I got to stay out of my head.
And so I don't know.
Hollywood Week has been tough.
Right after duets, I didn't
feel completely healthy.
- So out of an abundance
of caution,
Paige performed for the judges
from her hotel room.
- All right. Let's hear you.
- ♪ All the leaves are brown ♪
♪ And the sky is gray ♪
Performing my Showstoppers
round from the hotel,
it was like, how do you
have stage presence?
How do I show dynamic
when I need
to be loud, so the
judges can hear me
through this tiny
little speaker?
I had to just throw
it all on the table
and hope for the best.
♪ California dreaming ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ On such a winter's day ♪
- Whoever's like...
- All right.
OK.
All right.
- Whoever's staying
next to her hotel room
is probably like, what?
- What?
- Was it my best work?
No.
But did I give my
everything into it?
Yes.
- Great job.
- That was the best
in-room performance
I think we've ever seen.
- No doubt.
- Thank you so much.
Doing my performance
from my room wasn't ideal.
I mean, it wasn't
part of the plan.
- But another twist
of fate lies just ahead.
- Let's bring up
Megan and Paige.
Where are you guys?
You've seen individuals
go in, couples go in.
What's going through
your mind right now, knowing
you're going in together?
- I'm excited to go in.
I don't know.
- We can do it.
- No downside?
- No, whatever happens
is supposed
to happen in God's hands.
- Preach it.
- You know, the competition,
it's very tough.
Everybody is super talented,
and seeing
these talented people go home,
it's like, you know
that could very much be me.
It could be anyone.
- What's up?
- What's up?
- Are y'all nervous
that we brought
both of you in together?
- How could we not be?
- Well, we are in the middle
of our toughest season
ever as judges.
We've already had three
or four people that we...
As they sit in this chair, like,
I'm starting to write
notes to Katy and Lionel.
I'm like, are we sure?
And you guys are great
singers, both of you.
- ♪ When the sun goes down ♪
♪ And the band won't play ♪
♪ I'll always remember us
this way ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ I don't want to be
just a memory, baby, yeah ♪
♪ Ooh, yeah ♪
♪ Ooh, yeah ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ I can't find the words ♪
- Wow.
- ♪ Every time you say
goodbye, baby, it hurts ♪
♪ When the sun goes down ♪
♪ And the band won't play ♪
- I love that smoke.
- ♪ I'll always
remember us this way ♪
- Oh, that growl.
Solid.
She's got that rasp.
- You have that
little rasp, boy.
- I can't tell if she's
a super star though.
- No, you're right.
- I think what she may be is
a few years away from knowing
what her artistic identity is.
- Well, stage presence
is a whole other half
of the equation.
- So we are so confused
and so messed
up in the head as judges.
- Oh.
- We're going to make
y'all sing off.
- Yep, I knew it.
- Hey, when you're singing,
you're surviving.
What we want you guys to
do is the Adele sing-off.
- Pick any Adele song.
- Pick some Adele song.
Go work, and I will see
you in a little bit.
And we will have a
decision for you guys.
- Thank y'all so much.
- Thank you.
- All right?
- All right?
- Thank you.
- Thank y'all.
- We got this.
The judges gave us a
sing-off challenge, and I
kind of hate it a little bit.
- So here is the list
that you can choose from.
You know you guys have
to agree on the same song.
- One of my favorites is "All
I Ask" or "Rolling in the Deep"
or "Set Fire to the Rain."
I like that one too.
- That's probably
my least two favorites.
- I know.
Oh, my God.
Megan has so much
feeling behind her words
when she sings.
But I also do feel
like that me and her
have like different
styles, but there's
similar tones of voice.
And I think that's why
they paired us together.
- You know it's not
going to be a duet.
So I want to make sure that
you both feel good about it.
- So do you know "Easy on Me."
- I do, yeah.
I feel like the judges probably
want to see more of us working
for our spot and not
just something that
just gets us by and is easy.
♪ There ain't no gold ♪
For my Showstopper
performance, I do
think I froze up a little bit.
And my gut's is
telling me, like,
Megan, you did an amazing job,
but you did freeze up.
So I've been beating myself
up about that ever since.
The sing-off that
the judges want,
it is very nerve-racking.
But you know, at least I didn't
go in there and just get a no.
You know, I get a
chance for my spot.
- What you have is this thing
in your voice,
and if I can get you
out of your shyness,
you've got show business.
- I came into this
competition really nervous,
and I didn't really think
that I had any of this in me.
I want to prove that I'm
not as scared as I was.
I've grown, and I can
k*ll this performance.
- I feel like, from my
audition to Hollywood Week,
there was a big improvement.
♪ Hallelujah ♪
- These kids are showing up.
- I've grown the most,
just as a person.
So if I made top 24, that
would be like the coolest thing
that's ever happened to me.
Probably need the words,
hold up.
It would be crazy to think that
me at 16 could be able to pull
off something like that.
♪ There ain't no room ♪
♪ For these things to change ♪
♪ When we are both so
deeply stuck in our ways ♪
♪ You can't deny ♪
♪ How hard I've tried ♪
♪ I changed who I was
to put you both first ♪
♪ But now I give up ♪
♪ Go easy ♪
♪ On me, baby ♪
- Wow.
- ♪ I was still a child ♪
♪ I didn't get the chance to ♪
♪ Feel the world around me ♪
♪ I had no time to choose ♪
♪ What I chose to do ♪
♪ So go easy ♪
♪ On me ♪
♪ I had good intentions ♪
♪ And the highest hopes ♪
♪ But I know right now ♪
- Whoo!
- ♪ It probably
doesn't even show ♪
♪ Go easy ♪
♪ On me, baby ♪
- Wow.
- Get it, girl.
- OK. All right.
There you go.
All right.
You're up to bat.
- All right, girls.
- All right then.
- The pressure,
it really is heavy.
- All right.
Let's hear you, Megan.
- OK. We're ready.
- I'm getting emotional
talking to you about how
wonderful your voice is.
- The rest of your top 24...
- This is a contest.
- Will be revealed.
- You sang some notes
I've never even heard before.
- More incredible performances
and a shocking twist...
- You did not make our top 24.
- You'll never see coming.
- I might lose it.
- Welcome back to
the final judgment,
where 16-year-old Paige Anne
is reflecting
on her Showstopper performance.
- It's a lot in my head.
I got to stay out of my head.
And so I don't know.
Hollywood Week has been tough.
Right after duets, I didn't
feel completely healthy.
- So out of an abundance
of caution,
Paige performed for the judges
from her hotel room.
- All right. Let's hear you.
- ♪ All the leaves are brown ♪
♪ And the sky is gray ♪
Performing my Showstoppers
round from the hotel,
it was like, how do you
have stage presence?
How do I show dynamic
when I need
to be loud, so the
judges can hear me
through this tiny
little speaker?
I had to just throw
it all on the table
and hope for the best.
♪ California dreaming ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ On such a winter's day ♪
- Whoever's like...
- All right.
OK.
All right.
- Whoever's staying
next to her hotel room
is probably like, what?
- What?
- Was it my best work?
No.
But did I give my
everything into it?
Yes.
- Great job.
- That was the best
in-room performance
I think we've ever seen.
- No doubt.
- Thank you so much.
Doing my performance
from my room wasn't ideal.
I mean, it wasn't
part of the plan.
- But another twist
of fate lies just ahead.
- Let's bring up
Megan and Paige.
Where are you guys?
You've seen individuals
go in, couples go in.
What's going through
your mind right now, knowing
you're going in together?
- I'm excited to go in.
I don't know.
- We can do it.
- No downside?
- No, whatever happens
is supposed
to happen in God's hands.
- Preach it.
- You know, the competition,
it's very tough.
Everybody is super talented,
and seeing
these talented people go home,
it's like, you know
that could very much be me.
It could be anyone.
- What's up?
- What's up?
- Are y'all nervous
that we brought
both of you in together?
- How could we not be?
- Well, we are in the middle
of our toughest season
ever as judges.
We've already had three
or four people that we...
As they sit in this chair, like,
I'm starting to write
notes to Katy and Lionel.
I'm like, are we sure?
And you guys are great
singers, both of you.
- ♪ When the sun goes down ♪
♪ And the band won't play ♪
♪ I'll always remember us
this way ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ I don't want to be
just a memory, baby, yeah ♪
♪ Ooh, yeah ♪
♪ Ooh, yeah ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ I can't find the words ♪
- Wow.
- ♪ Every time you say
goodbye, baby, it hurts ♪
♪ When the sun goes down ♪
♪ And the band won't play ♪
- I love that smoke.
- ♪ I'll always
remember us this way ♪
- Oh, that growl.
Solid.
She's got that rasp.
- You have that
little rasp, boy.
- I can't tell if she's
a super star though.
- No, you're right.
- I think what she may be is
a few years away from knowing
what her artistic identity is.
- Well, stage presence
is a whole other half
of the equation.
- So we are so confused
and so messed
up in the head as judges.
- Oh.
- We're going to make
y'all sing off.
- Yep, I knew it.
- Hey, when you're singing,
you're surviving.
What we want you guys to
do is the Adele sing-off.
- Pick any Adele song.
- Pick some Adele song.
Go work, and I will see
you in a little bit.
And we will have a
decision for you guys.
- Thank y'all so much.
- Thank you.
- All right?
- All right?
- Thank you.
- Thank y'all.
- We got this.
The judges gave us a
sing-off challenge, and I
kind of hate it a little bit.
- So here is the list
that you can choose from.
You know you guys have
to agree on the same song.
- One of my favorites is "All
I Ask" or "Rolling in the Deep"
or "Set Fire to the Rain."
I like that one too.
- That's probably
my least two favorites.
- I know.
Oh, my God.
Megan has so much
feeling behind her words
when she sings.
But I also do feel
like that me and her
have like different
styles, but there's
similar tones of voice.
And I think that's why
they paired us together.
- You know it's not
going to be a duet.
So I want to make sure that
you both feel good about it.
- So do you know "Easy on Me."
- I do, yeah.
I feel like the judges probably
want to see more of us working
for our spot and not
just something that
just gets us by and is easy.
♪ There ain't no gold ♪
For my Showstopper
performance, I do
think I froze up a little bit.
And my gut's is
telling me, like,
Megan, you did an amazing job,
but you did freeze up.
So I've been beating myself
up about that ever since.
The sing-off that
the judges want,
it is very nerve-racking.
But you know, at least I didn't
go in there and just get a no.
You know, I get a
chance for my spot.
- What you have is this thing
in your voice,
and if I can get you
out of your shyness,
you've got show business.
- I came into this
competition really nervous,
and I didn't really think
that I had any of this in me.
I want to prove that I'm
not as scared as I was.
I've grown, and I can
k*ll this performance.
- I feel like, from my
audition to Hollywood Week,
there was a big improvement.
♪ Hallelujah ♪
- These kids are showing up.
- I've grown the most,
just as a person.
So if I made top 24, that
would be like the coolest thing
that's ever happened to me.
Probably need the words,
hold up.
It would be crazy to think that
me at 16 could be able to pull
off something like that.
♪ There ain't no room ♪
♪ For these things to change ♪
♪ When we are both so
deeply stuck in our ways ♪
♪ You can't deny ♪
♪ How hard I've tried ♪
♪ I changed who I was
to put you both first ♪
♪ But now I give up ♪
♪ Go easy ♪
♪ On me, baby ♪
- Wow.
- ♪ I was still a child ♪
♪ I didn't get the chance to ♪
♪ Feel the world around me ♪
♪ I had no time to choose ♪
♪ What I chose to do ♪
♪ So go easy ♪
♪ On me ♪
♪ I had good intentions ♪
♪ And the highest hopes ♪
♪ But I know right now ♪
- Whoo!
- ♪ It probably
doesn't even show ♪
♪ Go easy ♪
♪ On me, baby ♪
- Wow.
- Get it, girl.
- OK. All right.
There you go.
All right.
You're up to bat.
- All right, girls.
- All right then.
- The pressure,
it really is heavy.
- All right.
Let's hear you, Megan.
- OK. We're ready.
- I'm getting emotional
talking to you about how
wonderful your voice is.
- The rest of your top 24...
- This is a contest.
- Will be revealed.
- You sang some notes
I've never even heard before.
- More incredible performances
and a shocking twist...
- You did not make our top 24.
- You'll never see coming.
- I might lose it.
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21x09 - 608 (Showstopper/Final Judgement Part 1)
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It started as an addition to the Idol format that was based on Pop Idol from British television, in which the programme's first series, which was won by Will Young, ended over four months before the show began, as it later became one of the most successful shows in the history of American television.
It started as an addition to the Idol format that was based on Pop Idol from British television, in which the programme's first series, which was won by Will Young, ended over four months before the show began, as it later became one of the most successful shows in the history of American television.