{"id":21978,"date":"2026-04-28T06:40:48","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T06:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=21978"},"modified":"2026-04-28T06:40:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T06:40:48","slug":"two-contestants-sent-home-after-american-idol-judges-deliver-tough-comments-and-big-praise-on-taylor-swift-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=21978","title":{"rendered":"Two Contestants Sent Home After American Idol Judges Deliver Tough Comments and Big Praise on Taylor Swift Night"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Top 7\u00a0celebrated\u00a0Taylor Swift\u00a0on the April 27 episode of\u00a0American Idol<\/em>. The remaining contestants all sang songs from\u00a0Swift\u2019s catalogue, and also saluted California\u2019s biggest artists throughout the night.<\/p>\n

Nikki Glaser\u00a0joined the judges\u2019 panel alongside\u00a0Luke Bryan,\u00a0Carrie Underwood, and\u00a0Lionel Richie\u00a0to give the artists commentary and critiques. However, the power was in the hands of the viewers, who got to vote for their favorites over the course of the live episode.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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At the end of the night, the two singers with the lowest amount of votes will be eliminated, leaving just five contestants to move on to next week. Scroll down for live updates of the performances and check back at the end of the show to find out who\u2019s going home and who\u2019s heading to the Top 5!<\/p>\n

Jordan McCullough<\/h2>\n

Jordan McCullough\u00a0kicked off the night by performing Swift\u2019s first-ever single \u201cTim McGraw\u201d from her debut album, released 20 years ago in 2006.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
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\"Jordan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThat is the way to put barbecue sauce on Taylor Swift,\u201d Richie began. \u201cI am telling you, that was so well done. You put the curls in, I just love that. I can\u2019t even hit that note. I loved everything you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Underwood applauded the fact that Jordan sounds \u201cbeautiful on everything\u201d he sings, and Glaser gushed, \u201cI am so grateful I just got to hear you sing live. It feels like a real privilege to listen to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chris Tungseth<\/h2>\n

Chris Tungseth\u00a0chose to sing Swift and Bon Iver\u2019s collaboration \u201cExile,\u201d which is on her 2020 album\u00a0Folklore<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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\"Chris<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Underwood commented on the \u201ctender quality\u201d of Chris\u2019 voice. \u201cI think you picked a really great song to showcase that,\u201d she added, while Glaser said she got goosebumps throughout the entire performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love that you were really locked in on that. You had me focused and locked in,\u201d Bryan raved. \u201cI loved your character, the way you delivered the song, you had your own imagery and character that you created.\u201d Finally, Richie said it was one of his favorite performances of Chris\u2019 from the entire season and said the delivery was \u201cspot on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hannah Harper<\/h2>\n

Hannah Harper\u00a0took things back to\u00a0Speak Now<\/em>\u00a0to perform Swift\u2019s Grammy-winning hit \u201cMean.\u201d And she even broke out the banjo for her performance!<\/p>\n

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\"Hannah<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Glaser praised Hannah for her song choice after dealing with criticism for her performance two weeks ago. Bryan said Hannah is \u201cbeing authentically you\u201d and agreed that the song choice was \u201cgreat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richie added, \u201cThis is how you do it. You\u2019re true to yourself. You don\u2019t come out as a gimmick. You come out true to who you are,\u201d and Underwood said she \u201cloved everything about this performance,\u201d from the look to the banjo and more.<\/p>\n

Brooks Rosser<\/h2>\n

Brooks Rosser\u00a0honored Swift\u2019s\u00a0Fearless<\/em>\u00a0era with a performance of \u201cLove Story.\u201d Considering\u00a0he launched\u00a0his own love story\u00a0on the show\u00a0just last week, this was the perfect song for the night!<\/p>\n

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\"Brooks<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI just love hearing your interpretation of that,\u201d Bryan raved, but also advised, \u201cJust force yourself to always give more energy. You took that energy up there at the end, but I just wanted a little more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richie said he\u2019s \u201cenjoying\u201d seeing Brooks \u201chaving a great time\u201d on stage. \u201cYour voice is so unique. The storyteller part of that voice you have is so fitting for the song you just did,\u201d he continued, but also gave some advice on how to \u201cgive some attitude\u201d in his performances.<\/p>\n

Underwood made sure to let Brooks know that everyone \u201cloves him,\u201d but urged him to \u201cjust breathe\u201d so he\u2019s not trying to catch up with his songs moving forward. \u201cI know it will just come with time, but just breathe and sync into it and let it come out of you,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n

Daniel Stallworth<\/h2>\n

The Taylor Swift celebration continued with a performance from\u00a0Daniel Stallworth, who sang \u201cFearless\u201d with his own gospel twist.<\/p>\n

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\"Daniel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWhat I love about you is that you walk out on this stage \u2026 and you picked the right song, you are fearless, man, when you walk out,\u201d Richie gushed. \u201cYou not only sing, you perform. The crowd is right there with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Underwood praised Daniel for putting his own stamp on the theme, and Glaser added, \u201cYou brought something totally different to it. I just had the best time watching you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keyla Richardson<\/h2>\n

For her Taylor Swift performance,\u00a0Keyla Richardson\u00a0sang \u201cLover,\u201d another title track.\u00a0\u201cWe do not ever have to worry about you,\u201d Underwood admitted. \u201cWe just get to sit back and watch you perform. Your melodic choices \u2026 you impress me every single week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Glaser said she couldn\u2019t even recognize the song because Keyla \u201cbrought something new to it I didn\u2019t even know could be brought to it!\u201d She also applauded her for making it \u201clook so easy\u201d when she\u2019s on stage. \u201cI\u2019m honestly speechless,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Bryan raved over Keyla\u2019s confidence. \u201cIt\u2019s become kind of your thing,\u201d he said. \u201cTo watch you, week after week, get even more confidence and deliver that message \u2026 everything is channeling perfectly for you. So proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Braden Rumfelt<\/h2>\n

The final performance from the first round was from\u00a0Braden Rumfelt, who sang \u201cCardigan\u201d from\u00a0Folklore<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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\"Braden<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Glaser told Braden he \u201cate that song,\u201d despite not knowing it before he chose it to sing on the show. \u201cYou took me there with the music. It was really, really beautiful,\u201d she confirmed.<\/p>\n

Bryan said it was his \u201cfavorite thing\u201d he\u2019s seen Braden do in the entire competition so far. \u201cYou totally took me on the emotional journey of that song. I loved it, man,\u201d he raved.<\/p>\n

Brooks Rosser<\/h2>\n

Brooks returned to the stage for his next performance with a rendition of Maroon 5\u2019s \u201cShe Will Be Loved.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Brooks<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Bryan said Brooks was \u201clocked in\u201d compared to the last round and noted that the song choice was perfect for his voice. Richie said, \u201cDitto, ditto, ditto\u201d to everything Bryan commented on. \u201cPerfect song for you, you did such a great job,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Underwood gushed over Brooks\u2019 \u201cmagical voice\u201d from the very first note and said it was a \u201cvery solid performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jordan McCullough<\/h2>\n

Jordan\u2019s second performance was of Bonnie Raitt\u2019s \u201cI Can\u2019t Make You Love Me,\u201d and he said he was hoping to hit California energy on stage.<\/p>\n

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\"Jordan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI have heard that song a long time \u2026 you got me crying on that song that I heard for a long time. Your delivery was right on point,\u201d Richie told Jordan.<\/p>\n

Underwood agreed, adding, \u201cI don\u2019t care what you sing. Every time you open your mouth, I hear the holy spirit.\u201d She called his voice \u201ctruly blessed\u201d and said it\u2019s one of the best voices she\u2019s ever heard \u201cin my entire life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel Stallworth<\/h2>\n

For his second performance of the night, Daniel performed \u201cBest Part\u201d by H.E.R and Daniel Caesar. He also played piano for part of the set.<\/p>\n

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\"Daniel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Underwood compared Daniel\u2019s voice to \u201clike butter on hot toast\u201d and said the performance was great. Glaser praised his \u201cversatility\u201d and said she can already envision a \u201cwhole show\u201d from him.<\/p>\n

Richie and Bryan noted that they\u2019ve never even heard some of the notes Daniel was hitting and Richie called the performance \u201camazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Braden Rumfelt<\/h2>\n

Like Brooks, Braden also sang a Maroon 5 classic for the second round. He hoped to prove he was having fun during his performance of \u201cThis Love.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Braden<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cYou owned that. It felt cool, you look cool. \u2026 I loved the whole thing,\u201d Glaser praised. Bryan said it was a \u201cgreat job\u201d by Braden and Richie applauded the singer for upping his performance factor.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was such a great moment for you. You look like a rockstar. You seem more comfortable than I feel like I\u2019ve ever seen you be on stage and it was just working,\u201d Underwood added.<\/p>\n

Chris Tungseth<\/h2>\n

Chris sang Billie Eilish\u2019s \u201cWhat Was I Made For?\u201d, which he said is one of his favorite songs.<\/p>\n

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\"Chris<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cReally special, beautiful moment. That\u2019s twice tonight you have slayed us with those moments,\u201d Bryan noted, while Richie said, \u201cFor a song that needs so much feeling, I think you felt it, and you made us feel it. Great performance, man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Underwood called it a \u201cmoment\u201d and admitted she felt like she was at an awards show watching Chris. Finally, Glaser, said, simply, \u201cWhat were you made for? That. That.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hannah Harper<\/h2>\n

Hannah\u2019s second performance was of Merle Haggard\u2019s \u201cThat\u2019s the Way Love Goes.\u201d She felt it was a \u201cfitting song,\u201d as she honored\u00a0her husband\u00a0with the choice.<\/p>\n

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\"Hannah<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThat was absolutely amazing. You are looking like a star, you sounded like a star \u2026 I guess you\u2019re getting close to that big star,\u201d Richie said. Underwood urged Hannah to make a \u201cproper version\u201d of that performance. \u201cIt sounded like you and it was just wonderful,\u201d she gushed.<\/p>\n

Glaser compared the performance to a \u201cwarm blanket\u201d and Bryan admitted, \u201cIf you want to, you\u2019re going to get to do this for a very long time, this singing thing. You\u2019re just a star.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keyla Richardson<\/h2>\n

The final performance of the night was from Keyla, who returned to the stage to sing Etta James\u2019 \u201cI\u2019d Rather Go Blind.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Keyla<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The judges could barely get a word in because the crowd erupted with applause that was never-ending. \u201cThat was insane. That was an iconic\u00a0Idol<\/em>\u00a0moment,\u201d Glaser confirmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatching your growth is so inspirational,\u201d Bryan added, and all Richie had to say was, \u201cLet the congregation say AMEN!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryan Seacrest\u00a0announced the five singers who will be moving on to next week, where they will be mentored by Randy Jackson and\u00a0Paula Abdul, two of\u00a0Idol\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0original judges.<\/p>\n

The singers in the Top 5 (in no particular order) are: Keyla Richardson, Braden Rumfelt, Jordan McCullough, Hannah Harper, and Chris Tungseth.<\/p>\n