Season 24’s Disney Night saw Rae Boyd return to the stage with a surprise announcement after she was eliminated last week

A sweet surprise stole the spotlight on ‘American Idol’ Season 24 this week, and nobody saw it coming, especially not Brooks Rosser. During the April 20 episode, which featured the much-loved Disney Night, the competition briefly took a backseat as a real-life love story became the center of attention.

Brooks had just finished his performance as part of the Top 9 when host Ryan Seacrest teased that someone special was waiting backstage. He announced, “Well, somebody is here to surprise you. She’s very excited. Former finalist, Rae! One of the biggest fans of Brooks has come back.” Rae Boyd, who was eliminated just one week ago, walked onto the stage with a huge smile and a surprise announcement.

Viewers watched as she greeted Brooks with a warm hug before being prompted to share what was going on. “Um, the princess is here to claim her prince,” Rae winked as she delivered the news.

The audience reacted immediately, and Brooks was caught off guard. Ryan, clearly enjoying the moment, followed it up with a playful confirmation, “Apparently, Rae said this is a hard launch for the two of you, so congratulations. You never know what comes out of ‘American Idol’.” With that, the show added another couple to its long list of behind-the-scenes romances.

For those keeping track, Rae was part of the Top 11 before getting eliminated in the previous episode. Even though her journey as a contestant ended, it seems like a new chapter is beginning. The reveal came during Disney Night, which is one of the show’s most fun and nostalgic episodes.

Season 24 kept that tradition alive, bringing in Jennifer Hudson as a mentor and guest judge for the evening. Contestants took on iconic Disney tracks, each trying to win over both the judges and the audience at home.

Brooks and Rae have been fueling romance rumors in recent weeks. Fans noticed their undeniable chemistry in a duet they posted on Instagram, and then the speculation intensified when Rae posted a photo of Brooks holding up a sign that said, “Vote for Bae,” with “Bae” crossed out to read “Rae.” She noted, “He said he would still vote for me.”

Interestingly enough, Brooks and Rae are both from Maryland, and fans online reported seeing them out together at local establishments before the Live Shows began in Los Angeles in March.

If Brooks gets enough votes to make it through this week of the competition, he’ll be in the Top 7 and perform on Taylor Swift Night on April 27. Needless to say, Rae will be there cheering him on!