The Top 24 contestants competing on American Idol travelled to Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii to perform for America’s vote.
The first 12 contestants performed on Sunday night’s (April 7) episode. A standout performance from this episode was Quintavious’ rendition of Carrie Underwood’s “Something In The Water.”
Monday night’s episode showed even more talent with performances from Triston Harper, Jack Blocker, Mia Matthews, and Emmy Russell.
Russell performed Benson Boone’s January 2024 song “Beautiful Things,” which he has said is a “ballad about the meaning of life.”
This was another incredible performance from 24-year-old Emmy Russell, who happens to be Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter.
RELATED: Loretta Lynn’s Granddaughter Emmy Russell Wows With ‘Idol’ Audition
Russell got her start performing on stage with her grandmother, but she is proving time and time again that she deserves her turn in the spotlight.
What did the judges think of her performance?
Jelly Roll and Grammy Award-winning singer Tori Kelly served as mentors for the Hawaii episodes.
This marked a full circle moment for Kelly, who competed on the tenth season of American Idol in 2010. She made it through Hollywood Week, but was cut before the Top 24.
This also marked a full circle for Boone, whose song she was covering. He auditioned for the 19th season of Idol in 2021 and made it through to Hollywood Week. He ended up withdrawing from the competition to focus more on his career, which turned out to be a good decision, seeing as he has 58 million monthly listeners on Spotify and just released his debut album.
Russell worked with Jelly Roll, who said despite her intense nerves – her feet her visibly shaking as she was singing for him – there was something “real convincing about her voice, it just hit me different.”
When asked why she chose “Beautiful Things,” she said it was because she related to the lyric “God don’t take away these beautiful these I got.”
He said, “I also get the feeling of nervousness of the whole world watching.”
With tears streaming down her face, she told him, “That’s why I was really excited to have you because [you get] it.”
She and Jelly Roll got emotional together talking about the weight of the moment, which no one understands more that Mr. Roll. He said all she had to do was sing how she knows how to sing and she’d do great.
Emmy took the stage at Disney’s Aulani Resort and wowed the judges with her ability to convey emotion through song.
As she made her way through the song, Jelly Roll looked like a proud papa and judge Katy Perry looked on the verge of tears.
Jelly Roll said, “I am so proud of you. I know how anxious you’ve been about this, and watching you sit there and deliver, you were present you were there.”
Lionel Richie stood up to Emmy the following. “You have a texture in your voice that is your career. And on top of that, what you have is a storyteller’s voice.”
Perry chimed in by saying, “I know you didn’t write that song, but you sang it like you did, and I believe you.”
Luke commented on Emmy’s shyness and the growth she’s made through the competition, noting that as they have gotten to know her, she’s been able to let those walls down and he is so excited for what’s to come once those walls are completely down.
Will Emmy continue to the next round of competition? That’s up to America. In the meantime, watch her perform “Beautiful Things” below.