American Idol has narrowed its field to seven finalists following Monday night’s (May 5) episode, which featured a surprise save and another emotional elimination.
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The remaining contestants include Jamal Roberts, Mattie Pruitt, and five others vying for the season 22 crown.
Mattie Pruitt, who landed in the bottom two alongside Josh King, was saved by the judges, a decision that meant King was eliminated from the competition. Pruitt performed “Always Been You” during the episode, which featured each contestant selecting one of three songs secretly chosen by judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie or Luke Bryan.
The remaining contestants advancing to the top seven are Breanna Nix (“Independence Day”), John Foster (“I Cross My Heart”), Gabby Samone (“Hero”), Jamal Roberts (“I Believe”), Thunderstorm Artis (“Faithfully”) and Slater Nalley (“Atlantic City”).
“This gave me a wonderful experience performing in front of massive live audiences again,” contestant Josh King said after his elimination. “I got to feel crowds again. It’s such a wonderful feeling.”
The competition is intensifying for the seven finalists, with Roberts saying, “It’s basically how bad do you want it at this point,” he said. “I want it real bad, so I gotta keep pushing and keep doing what I’m doing now.”
Host Ryan Seacrest praised the season’s talent, noting that the judges, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, have been particularly moved by this year’s performances. “I think they have been emotionally moved more so by these performers than maybe ever in the past,” Seacrest observed.
Underwood added, “I want them to shine. I feel like that’s where we’re all coming from. We want these hopefuls to do a great job.”
Looking ahead, American Idol will stage two nights of Disney-themed performances beginning next week. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer-winning creator of Hamilton and Moana, will serve as the contestants’ mentor.
The Disney episodes will also feature double eliminations. On Sunday, the top seven will be whittled down to five contestants. By Monday, only three will advance to the grand finale.
The American Idol season 22 finale is scheduled to air later this month on ABC.
