The latest episode of American Idol began with a heavy heart, as two singers were sent home immediately. Jake Thistle and Julián Kalel stood on stage but did not hear their names called for the Top 12.
It was a quick and sad end to their journey before the music even started. This set a very serious tone for the remaining contestants. But the theme shifted into a fun 90s Week where the judges controlled the music.
Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood competed to see whose song choices would be chosen. Want to know how it worked? Each judge gave a song for each contestant, meaning each contestant had 3 song choices to pick from; however, they didn’t know which song was suggested by whom! After they performed the song, the contestant had to guess whose song choice it was. And guess who won? Lionel Richie won with the most songs being picked by the contestants!
See the top 12 list of the night!
3rd Elimination | Top 12 Perform/ Top 11 Revealed | American Idol 2026
Every artist tried their best to win over the voters with these throwback songs. Abi Carter and Will Moseley delivered great vocals that made the judges proud of their picks. Hannah Harper dazzled the crowd with a country hit, while other stars like Jack Blocker took on rock classics.
The stage was bright, and the energy stayed very high throughout the night. The night moved fast from one performance to the next as the Judges’ Song Contest reached its final tally. It was clear that this year’s talent is very strong, and every spot matters.
This celebration of the nineties ultimately led to the evening’s final results. The fun stopped when the bottom two singers had to stand under the spotlight. Jesse Findling and Rae were the ones at risk of leaving the competition for good.
The tension was very high as the show prepared to say goodbye to another talented person.
Jesse Findling was unfortunately eliminated after performing the song Wonderwall. However, the night had one last surprise because Lionel Richie won the judges’ contest. He earned the power to save one person from going home. Lionel chose to save Rae, which means she is officially moving on to the Top 11 next week.
Hear his last performance on the show, right here!
Jesse Findling | Wonderwall | Top 12 Perform | American Idol 2026
The competition is now more intense than ever as the group gets smaller. Each artist is fighting for their dream and showing the world their unique voice. It is amazing to see how much they have grown since their very first auditions. Follow American Idol on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to see who makes it to the final stage.