Original subtitles

-- Captions by Verbit --

♪♪

Big city, bright lights.

This is the place where stars are born, baby.

♪ The fire is inside of me ♪

More Idols have come through this town

than anywhere else in the world.

Carrie: The best singers in the country are here...

♪ So give me your attention, please ♪

Carrie: ...to put on a show.

♪ Behold the main attraction ♪

But the thing is, this city has no idea what's about to happen.

♪ Dare you to knock me out ♪

Ryan: Hollywood Week has arrived in Music City,

and the lights are brighter than ever.

♪ I dare you to knock me out ♪

With the band behind them,

It's time for our "Idol" hopefuls to face the music.

♪ So I say without a doubt about it my way ♪

Keyla: Hollywood Week in Nashville? Outstanding.

Hannah: Music City is like holy ground.

Man: The energy in this city is different.

Lucas: It's super nerve-racking but super exciting.

Hollywood Week in Music City, it just feels surreal.

They'll have one song,

one shot to leave it all on the stage.

Man: My life could be changing right now.

Buckle up, y'all, because this is "American Idol."

♪ I dare you to knock me out ♪

127 of the nation's most talented singers

have graduated to the next step in this already epic season.

Hollywood Week, Music City Takeover.

We just had auditions moving right into Hollywood week.

Luke: This is the earliest they've ever went

right in there with the full band.

-Check, check. -Lionel: One shot.

Some of them have never played with a band in their lives.

Okay. Here it goes. Some people can handle that,

and some people can't handle that.

♪ We're out for blood ♪

Each hopeful will sing for the judges

and more than 1,500 eager "Idol" fans.

Throughout the day, the judges will stop down...

All right. What do we think?

...deliberate and begin making some tough decisions.

It's sink or swim.

For most, this is where the dream ends.

I'm not sure if that was the right song.

[ Audience booing ]

Bring it on! I love it!

But for the best of the best, the journey will continue...

Your dreams are still alive.

...into the all-new golden room,

where the only thing to do is wait.

Still in the race for the top 30,

but nothing is final.

We got more bloodshed coming.

Because the decision that matters the most

comes at the end of the round.

♪ We're out for blood ♪

We're going to be looking for that next level

that instantly goes from "American Idol" stage

to that Grammy Award-winning artist.

That's what we're looking for.

Hollywood Week Music City Takeover starts right now.

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready?

[ Cheers and applause ]

Say hello to your judges.

Let's get this party going!

Oh, yeah! Coming all the way from Alabama,

here's 26-year-old Bryant Thomas!

All right.

Yes!

♪♪

Bryant: My last audition was pretty cool.

Don't look at me. Carrie: We're not. Can't see you.

We're not looking. Bryant: Okay.

No one had really seen my face before my audition,

so it was great to finally be able to step down

into the spotlight.

Wow. Wow.

Everything after that just felt like magical.

Oh!

Yes, yes, yes! [ Laughter ]

Ah, congratulations.

Welcome to my hometown, Mobile, Alabama.

I started supporting myself completely off of music

with a band of guys.

You know, we played three to five shows a week,

so I'm used to performing on stage,

but never in such a beautiful theater as this

or being in front of that giant live band.

It's nerve-wracking, but this is my opportunity to really,

like, show people who I am.

I'm gonna be singing "Champagne Problems"

by Taylor Swift for you guys.

Oh, wow! Okay. Oh, my God.

♪♪

♪ You booked the night train for a reason ♪

♪ So you could sit there in this hurt ♪

♪ Bustling crowds or silent sleepers ♪

I love it.

♪ You're not sure which is worse ♪

♪ 'Cause I dropped your hand while dancing ♪

♪ Left you out there standing ♪

♪ Crestfallen on the landing ♪

♪ Champagne problems ♪

♪ Your mom's ring in your pocket ♪

♪ My picture in your wallet ♪

♪ Your heart was glass, I dropped it ♪

♪ Champagne problems ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ On the Chevy door ♪

♪ November flush and your flannel cure ♪

♪ "This dorm was once a madhouse" ♪

♪ I made a joke, "Well, it's made for me" ♪

♪ How evergreen, our group of friends ♪

♪ Don't think we'll say that word again ♪

♪ And soon they'll have the nerve to deck the halls ♪

♪ That we once walked through ♪

♪ One for the money, two for the show ♪

♪ I never was ready, so I watch you go ♪

♪ Sometimes you just don't know the answer ♪

♪ Till someone's on their knees and asks you ♪

♪ "Would've made such a lovely bride ♪

♪ What a shame she's stuck in her head," they said ♪

♪ But you'll find the real thing instead ♪

♪ She'll patch up your tapestry that I shred ♪

♪ And hold your hand while dancing ♪

♪ Never leave you standing ♪

♪ Crestfallen on the landing ♪

♪ With champagne problems ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Thank y'all so much.

Oh, yeah. Luke: Passionate.

Oh, yeah.

You did it, baby.

[ Cheers and applause continue ]

Bryant, you are a showman.

I love your vibe, your style.

I love that you picked that song because,

I mean, I feel like you're going to keep us on our toes,

and I love that, and you've got a great voice on top of it.

It's so soulful.

Thank you. Thank you.

For now, Bryant will have to wait to learn his fate

in the competition.

This year, the judges will watch groups

of performances back-to-back. Very cool.

Then they'll deliberate and deliver results,

all adding up to the biggest cut in "Idol" history.

All right. Killed it.

They clean up the glasses?

Did they get them? I hope those were truck-stop glasses.

[ Laughs ]

Who's next? Who we got? Who we got?

Man: All right. Here we go.

Keyla: This is a really big moment for me.

I'm ready to get out there and just do what I got to do.

Never in a million years I thought I would be here.

The audition with the judges went really good.

It was such a vibe.

Oh, boy. Hi, Miss Carrie.

Hi. Keyla: And just having my son

on the "Idol" journey has been a joy.

♪ God only knows what they say about you ♪

I've been doing music for six years.

I've had a lot of ups and downs, and I was doubting myself.

But I never gave up. That fire was still burning.

You want it bigger? Yeah, I want it big.

Oh, I'll make sure we're big there.

I just want to pour out my heart at that. Oh, let's go.

The song I'm singing today is "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz.

It speaks to me because the first thing

I thought about is just me and my son.

So when I sing the song, I'm singing to him.

I think at the very beginning,

I want you to sing it like you're singing a lullaby to him.

Like you're rocking him to sleep.

Just really simple.

I do want to be somebody for my son.

I want him to know

you can do anything you put your mind to do.

Do you want to come watch your mom with me?

Okay. Come around this way.

♪ God only knows what to say about you ♪

You sit in my seat.

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen,

make some noise for Keyla Richardson!

[ Cheers and applause ]

Whoo-whoo-whoo!

My name is Keyla and I'll be singing

"I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz.

I want to let my son know that never give up, baby boy.

I love you. This is for you, baby.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Whoo!

♪♪

♪ When I look into your eyes ♪

♪ It's like watching the night skies ♪

♪ Or a beautiful sunrise ♪

♪ Well, there's so much they hold ♪

♪ 'Cause even the stars, they burn ♪

♪ Some even fall to the earth ♪

♪ And we've got a lot to learn ♪

♪ And God knows we're worth it ♪

♪ I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily ♪

♪ I'm here to make the difference I can make ♪

♪ And in the end you're still my friend ♪

♪ Yeah, we got a lot at stake ♪

♪ I won't give up on us ♪

♪ Even if the skies get rough ♪

♪ I'm giving you all my love ♪

♪ I'm still looking up ♪

♪ Yeah, I won't give up ♪

♪ Won't give up on us ♪

♪ Even if the sky, if they get rough ♪

♪ I'm giving you all my love ♪

♪ I'm still looking up ♪

♪ No, I won't give u-u-u-u-up ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Cheers and applause continue ]

I don't know how you sang with him

looking at you like that. [ Laughs ]

Listen, it's so good to see you here.

I love your look. I love the song.

You just slayed that and even showed us more of what you are.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.

You did great, Mom.

I mean, your confidence,

the way you just sung to the whole audience

really warmed my heart.

Thank you so much. It's for you, baby.

I love you, Drew-drew, so much.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Whoever's most likely to get fired is me.

And he may have just took my job.

Don't even think about it.

Great job. Great job. That was beautiful.

Thank you guys so much.

Carrie: So great.

I'm just -- I'm overwhelmed.

Like, to sang that song like that,

it was one of the best moments of my life.

Your mom did really great.

Do you want to go see her?

Keyla: I just hope I can just get to the next round

off that performance.

It's for my son, so we got to get there.

♪♪

Yes. I'm so proud of you.

Thank you.

You did amazing. Thank you.

I love you more than anything.

Music City, you ready to rock?! [ Cheers and applause ]

Stay tuned as Hollywood Week continues

with your viral audition favorites

fighting for a spot in the top 30.

Woman: Hollywood Week in Music City is exciting,

and it's drama, and it's stressful.

Lionel: You caused so much excitement,

he almost rolls his ass off the back of this damn stage.

Lucas: A lot of people are going home today.

I really hope I'm not one of them.

Keyla: I gave it my everything.

Carrie: She walked out like, "This is my stage."

You are a star.

Get ready for the ride.

It's gonna be really, really special.

At least I look hot when I cry.

Welcome back to "American Idol."

Tonight, our singers anxiously await

their turn to hit the stage in hopes of surviving

the most brutal cut in Hollywood Week history.

♪ Lights are low, my hands are cold ♪

Knowing only 30 of us are gonna make it through

is a super-scary feeling.

I mean, this is crazy.

It makes my belly hurt. I feel like I'm gonna throw up.

Carrie: Oh, Lord, have mercy.

I just wanted to come and sit and listen to people.

I know. It's terrible.

It's war right now.

But, you know, I've dreamed of this my entire life.

So getting to the top 30,

this would change literally everything for me.

Announcer: Make some noise for Livy!

Nashville! How we doing, baby? [ Cheers and applause ]

Oh, yeah.

♪ I... ♪

♪ I believe... ♪

Livy: Singing a Carrie Underwood song in front of Carrie

was definitely a little nerve-racking.

But she gave me, like, really good advice.

If you start off out of the gate going 100 miles an hour,

there's nowhere left to go.

So if the audition was 100 miles per hour,

what speed will this be?

Slow. We're gonna take it slow.

We're gonna be sexy about it. We're gonna be sexy?

Oh, yeah. I'm excited. I'm ready.

Let's see it.

Go, Livy!

[ Down-tempo introduction plays ]

♪ Let's take our time tonight, girl ♪ [ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Above us, all the stars are watching ♪

♪ Underneath the chandelier ♪

♪ We're dancing all alone ♪

♪ There's no reason to hide ♪

♪ What we're feeling inside right now ♪

♪ So, baby, let's just turn down the lights ♪

♪ And close the door ♪

♪ Ooh, I love that dress, but you won't need it anymore ♪

♪ No, you won't need it no more ♪

♪ Let's just kiss till we're naked, baby ♪

♪ Versace on the floor ♪

Come on!

♪ Oh, take it off for me, for me, for me, for me now, girl ♪

♪ Versace on the floor ♪

She learn those moves from you?

♪ Oh, take it off for me, for me, for me, for me now, girl ♪

♪ I said Versace on the... ♪

♪ Floor ♪ [ Cheers and applause ]

Thank you.

When you cause a judge so much excitement

that he almost rolls his ass

off the back of this damn stage right here,

it is clear that you are doing something entertaining.

You were just performing.

I will tell you, though,

song choice is going to be the master up here.

We know you have a voice in there, okay?

So if there's a next time,

I want you to come out and show it off.

But overall, you did a great job.

[ Cheers and applause ]

So Livy now waits for results while the round continues.

I'm nervous because I'm hearing so many amazing singers.

[ Mid-tempo music playing ]

♪ By the time I'm out the door ♪

♪ You tear men down like Roger Moore ♪

This performance is a huge deal.

I get the chance to show the judges that I'm worth it.

♪ Like I knew I would ♪

You look like a star,

and you have such a big, big voice.

But I've had trouble picking up a lot of those lyrics

'cause of the bending and the rounding out

and the backphrasing and all that.

But, you know, we'll see what happens later.

Okay. Thank you.

I just thought that I had done better than he said,

but apparently, I didn't.

♪♪

Makiyah: I'm a little nervous.

I'm getting a little overwhelmed.

The judges have some really tough decisions to make today,

but I want to be one of the top 30, like, so bad

that I could hit a backflip right now.

I can't flip, but I'll try. [ Laughs ]

[ Birds chirping ]

I never thought I would make it to Hollywood Week,

but singing has always been my dream.

And my dad,

he just encouraged me to do whatever I put my mind to.

And he's like, "Baby, you gonna get it."

I am missing my dad, wishing that he was here.

♪ Oh, so your wounds, they show ♪

My dad passed away 11 years ago from cancer.

I was 13 years old.

♪♪

I was a daddy's girl.

I was there every day, every step of the way.

♪ Take an angel by the wings... ♪

At the hospital, I fed him.

I gave him water.

[ Voice breaking ] I gave him his Bible.

♪ Take an angel by the wings... ♪

I was there till the very end.

♪ Ask her for the strength to stay ♪

♪♪

"Dear Dad, I've lived so much life since you've been gone.

And sometimes I wish I could sit with you and tell you all of it.

I carry you with me in my heart...

every step forward.

♪♪

I miss you more than words could ever say.

♪♪

Love, your baby girl."

♪♪

I know he's proud.

With this performance,

I know he's looking down and shining down on me,

and when I hit this stage, the heavens will be dancing.

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Mid-tempo introduction plays ]

♪ How did you get here? ♪

♪ Nobody's supposed to be here ♪

♪ I've tried that love thing for the last time ♪

♪♪

♪ But when I turn around ♪

♪ Again love has knocked me down ♪

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ My heart got broken ♪

♪ Oh, it hurt so bad ♪

♪ I'm sad to say love wins again ♪

♪ So I place my heart under lock and key ♪

♪ To take some time and take care of me ♪

♪ But I turn around ♪

♪ And you're standing here ♪

[ Music builds ] ♪ Standing here ♪

♪ Whoa, yeah ♪

♪ No, nobody ♪

♪ No, no, no, no, nobody ♪

♪♪

♪ I've tried it over and over ♪

♪ But I, I said ♪

♪ No, no, no, no ♪ [ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Nobody's supposed to be here ♪

♪ You came along and changed my mind ♪

♪ How did you get here? ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

That's how you do Hollywood Week.

[ Cheers and applause continue ]

I don't know where you're gonna be in the stars...

but you are a star.

Thank you. [ Cheers and applause ]

Ryan: With the first line of singers complete...

Making it so difficult.

Where we putting all these people?

...it's time for the judges to discuss what they've heard.

I had her as a yes. You think?

She had the wrong song. That was the wrong everything.

Ryan: This year, they will first decide

if our hopefuls have shown enough potential.

Make it here to the Golden Room,

and you're still in the mix for a spot in the top 30.

Otherwise, it's the end of the road.

All right.

You know I'm sad to see this one go.

Ryan: But for those who've made it here,

they can't get too comfortable,

because more dramatic cuts are just around the corner.

I've always dreamed of being in a position like this, so...

♪♪

It's so hard having to cut this many, y'all.

♪♪

B

Lionel: At this stage of the competition,

we have to cut from 127 down to 30.

This is not your everyday easy task.

[ Dramatic music playing ]

Would the people I call please step forward?

Bryant.

♪♪

Keyla.

♪♪

Makiyah.

♪♪

Front row...

you are going to the Golden Room.

Your journey with us continues.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

Back row, we're sorry,

but your journey with "American Idol" ends now.

It's like a whole weight has been lifted off of me. [ Cheers and applause ]

I feel so good. I'm just really celebrating.

♪♪

I'm going back to serving tables, you know?

We didn't get what we wanted, but it's okay.

It just wasn't enough, basically.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Bryant: Made it through to the Gold Room.

I have no idea what's gonna happen next, but I cannot wait.

♪♪

Announcer: Here's 27-year-old Jordan McCullough!

[ Cheers and applause ]

Let the church say amen.

Amen! Amen!

[ Mid-tempo introduction plays ]

♪♪

♪ People ♪

♪ Keep on learnin' ♪

Right here!

♪ While soldiers ♪

I see you over there.

♪ Keep on warrin' ♪

Oh!

♪♪

♪ World ♪

♪ Keep on turnin' ♪

♪ 'Cause it won't be too long ♪

♪♪

♪ I'm so glad that He let me try it again ♪

♪ 'Cause my last time on earth, I lived a whole world of sin ♪

♪ I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then ♪

♪ Gonna keep on tryin' ♪

♪ Till I reach my higher ground ♪

♪ I'm so glad that He let me try it again ♪

♪ 'Cause my last time on earth, I lived a whole world of sin ♪

♪ I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then ♪

♪ Gonna keep on tryin' ♪

[ Music slows ]

♪ Till I reach ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ My higher ground ♪

[ Music builds, ends ]

[ Cheers and applause continue ]

Whoa. Yes, sir.

♪♪

Wait, now. Wait, now. Let the universe say amen!

Audience: Amen!

You have found some new notes on "Higher Ground."

Excellent, excellent, excellent.

Thank you, guys, so much.

Whoo! [ Cheers and applause ]

Fire.

Up next to perform

and hoping for a similar reaction from the judges,

21-year-old rocker Madison Moon.

I've been performing since I was very, very little.

I grew up listening to rock.

My dad loves hard rock music,

and I always listen to it with him.

My dad bought my first guitar, and I still use it today.

Both of my parents are musicians,

and it's just amazing to have them see me do my thing.

[ Laughs ] Announcer: Coming up next,

get up, audience, for Madison Moon!

[ Cheers and applause ]

Madison: I am very excited to see Carrie again.

I'm actually doing a song that she did

when she was on the show.

I'm gonna be doing "Alone" by Heart.

When I saw Carrie's "Idol" performance of "Alone,"

it introduced me to the band Heart.

This is a very challenging song, especially --

I take it up a whole step, so I'm doing it a key higher.

It's kind of insane

that I'm going to sing it in front of Carrie,

so I'm hoping for the best. [ Laughs ]

[ Down-tempo introduction plays ]

♪♪

♪ I hear the ticking of the clock ♪

♪ I'm lying here ♪

♪ The room's pitch dark ♪

♪♪

♪ I wonder where you are tonight ♪

♪ No answer on the telephone ♪

♪♪

♪ And the night goes by so very slow ♪

♪ Oh, I hope that it won't end, though ♪

♪ Alone ♪

♪♪

♪ Till now I always got by on my own ♪

♪ I never really cared until I met you ♪

♪♪

♪ And now it chills me to the bone ♪

♪ How do I get you alone? ♪

♪ How do I get you alone? ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ [ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, ♪

♪ Alone ♪

♪ Alone ♪

[ Music ends ] [ Cheers and applause ]

You did it, kid! You did it!

[ Cheers and applause continue ]

Carrie did that song on the show a while back.

Now, what is she gonna say about that?

You are the only person on planet Earth

who has ever raised the key

on that song. [ Cheers and applause ]

All I got to say is dang.

Lionel: [ Laughs ]

♪♪

Wow.

Oh, my God! [ Laughs ]

I just sang in front of Carrie Underwood again.

Raised the freakin' key. Lionel: No kidding.

I didn't know it was possible to do that.

Now it's judgment time for Jordan and Madison.

[ Dramatic music plays ]

Jordan: No matter what happens, man,

that is the best that I have ever done.

I got a bloodbath.

Carrie: We're a little more brutal.

Cutting them in half, and then we got to do another half.

Jordan...

Madison...

your dream is still alive.

Thank you very much.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

Jordan: That's crazy. I was not expecting that.

Oh, my God.

♪♪

[ Voice breaking ] I'm really proud of myself.

[ Laughing ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

It's just insane that this is such a huge cut.

And for me to be considered to be in the top 30,

it means the world.

So Madison is the first of our rockers

to get to the Golden Room.

And after that,

it was time for the male rockers to take the stage.

Music City, you ready to rock?!

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Mid-tempo introduction plays ]

♪ In the still of the night, I hear the wolf howl, honey ♪

♪ Sniffin' around your door ♪

♪ In the still of the night, I feel my heart beatin' heavy ♪

♪ Tellin' me I gotta have more ♪

Carrie: So, you know I'm in your corner.

I feel like we had a few hiccups in there.

♪ In st-- ♪

♪ Full moon rise, telling me what's in store ♪

He missed timing and stuff.

It felt like he shouldn't miss anything on that song.

[ Up-tempo music playing ]

I mean, you got to keep it high- energy rock 'n' roll, right?

Let's rock it, baby. Here we go!

Let's go. ♪ Clean shirt ♪

♪ And new shoes ♪

♪ And I don't know where I am going to ♪

You're just a good time, Noah.

I don't come down to, like, the Broadway bars,

but I would come if you were playing.

[ Cheers and applause ] Oh, my God.

♪ 'Cause every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man ♪

Ow!

[ Laughs ]

Rock can do no wrong in Carrie's eyes. That's not true.

I mean, he did the moonwalk in boots, people.

He moonwalked.

[ Music ends ] [ Cheers and applause ]

I don't know.

He might be someone people want to get behind.

But, I mean, is he gonna be a contender? No.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Brett, step forward, please.

♪♪

Noah...

♪♪

I'm sorry, but your journey with us ends right now.

[ Applause ]

They canned me. [ Laughs ]

I think I'm gonna follow him on Instagram after this.

Brett: The crowd started cheering,

and I completely lost my spot a couple of times.

But it's all good.

It was awesome to be a part of the whole thing.

I'm losing my rockers. You know I'm sad.

Cheers. Thank you. God bless America.

♪♪

Announcer: Make some noise for Trace Casanova!

Carrie: Come on, Trace. Luke: Trace! Come on!

[ Cheers and applause ] Here he comes.

Oh, boy. Here we go. Oh, yeah.

Uh...Mike? [ Feedback squeals ]

Michael? Michael?

Raise your hand if your name is Michael.

Oh, we got one over here.

All right. Is that good?

Thank you, everybody. That concludes our Mike check.

Thank you. [ Laughter ]

Let's swing it, boys.

[ Mid-tempo introduction plays ]

♪♪

♪ Crazy ♪

♪ But that's how it goes ♪

♪ Millions of people... ♪

I can't believe you got me into this.

♪ ...living as foes ♪

♪ I'm going off the rails on a crazy train ♪

Ah! [ Cheers and applause ]

♪ I know that things are going wrong for me ♪

♪♪

♪ You gotta listen to my word ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Going off the rails on a crazy train ♪

[ Music builds ]

♪ Going off the rails ♪

[ Music slows ]

♪ On a crazy train! ♪

[ Music ends ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

Luke: No!

No!

♪♪

Trace, what are you doing?

[ Laughter ] I mean...

Trace is just being Trace. I mean -- I mean...

Trace, I mean, I love it. You kill it, man.

[ Cheers and applause ] Thank you, Trace!

♪♪

Are y'all on drugs?

You're stirring the pot out there with those guys.

That's what we do, man. Yeah.

I'm glad I'm good at this, 'cause I can't serve tables.

Well, either they're gonna rise or they're gonna fall.

It's kind of making our decisions easy, the cuts.

Easy. Yeah.

Announcer: Audience, please put your hands together.

Coming all the way from Dorado, Puerto Rico, Roelle!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ One day the waves ♪

♪ Will forget the ocean ♪ Roelle: Since my audition,

I actually flew back to Death Valley.

Did my eight-hour shift at the Desert Outfitters bike shop.

These are the prices for the e-bikes.

For me, it's very important to keep this job

because my housing situation is tied to my job.

This is for adjusting if it's too small or too big.

Risking my living situation for this opportunity is scary.

♪ One day these mountains will tire of standing ♪

Today I'm gonna be singing "California"

by the great Chappell Roan. [ Cheers and applause ]

This song, "California,"

talks about moving from your hometown to pursue your dream

and not wanting to let your family down.

This is basically the anthem of my life,

the risk that I'm taking right now to pursue my music dreams.

When I step on the stage,

I'm gonna be thinking about that plane flight that I took

from Puerto Rico to California...

♪ On and off... ♪

...my brother dropping me off, giving me a hug,

telling me, "You can do this."

Go and make us proud."

[ Down-tempo introduction plays ]

♪ I stretched myself across four states ♪

♪ New lands, West Coast, where my dreams lay ♪

♪ I trade amber clay roads ♪

♪ For the seafoam ♪

♪ And the endless sunrays ♪

♪ 'Cause I was never told that I wasn't gonna get ♪

♪ The things I want the most ♪

♪ But people always say, "If it hasn't happened yet ♪

♪ Then maybe you should go" ♪

♪ Come get me out of California ♪

♪ No leaves are brown ♪

♪ I miss the seasons in Missouri ♪

♪ My dying town ♪

♪ Thought I'd be cool in California ♪

♪ I'd make you proud ♪

♪ To think I almost had it going ♪

♪ But I made you proud ♪

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ Well ♪

♪ Come get me out ♪

♪ Come get me out ♪

♪ Thought I'd be cool in California ♪

♪ I'd make you proud ♪

♪ To think I almost had it going ♪

♪ But I made you proud ♪

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

[ Music ends ]

[ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

You were holding that note at the end.

I said, "Okay. Okay."

That was fabulous. But let me tell you something.

You have a natural stage presence that you can't teach.

I think you did a great job. [ Applause ]

I'm not fully satisfied with my performance.

I kind of messed up on the lyrics.

I feel like I could have done much better if I'm being honest.

I think she missed a note

'cause she tripped on the sequence of the lyrics.

Roelle: That's my favorite song.

Like, I know it completely by heart.

It was just the nerves.

Maybe I got too excited, I think.

It is done.

♪♪

Woman: You're okay.

Welcome back to "American Idol,"

where 25-year-old stay-at-home mom Hannah Harper

is taking the stage.

Hannah!

How you guys doing tonight? [ Cheers and applause ]

Man.

I'm Hannah Harper from southeast Missouri,

and I want to be the next American Idol

because I want to be the forerunners for mamas out there

who can still raise babies and pursue their dreams.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

Hannah: I didn't see any other dream

outside of just raising a houseful of kids.

My youngest is 1,

and shortly after he was born, I had postpartum depression.

And so I was sitting on my couch, wallowing.

And my son kept coming up to me. He said, "Mom, open my cheese."

I'm like, "Dude, leave me alone with the dadgum cheese!"

And I finally opened his cheese.

And when I did, I realized that God had put me in that place

and that where I was in my house

was the biggest ministry that I could ever have.

♪ When I'm overwhelmed and touched out ♪

♪ They come climbin' up on the couch saying, "Mama ♪

♪ Can you open my string cheese?" ♪

I was excited that Carrie had an emotional connection

to the song, 'cause she's in the same position.

She's a boy mom.

Well, that's about the most relatable song

I think I've ever heard. And what nobody knew

was how her original song would quickly become

one of the most viewed clips in "Idol" history...

The string-cheese song?

So relatable.

...touching hundreds of millions of people

across the world.

Are you kidding me?

A song called "String Cheese" has me sobbing.

Hannah: ♪ "Can you open my string cheese?" ♪

It's the sweetest song I've ever heard in my whole entire life.

It was so encouraging to me, so thank you, Hannah,

because I... I really needed it.

Hannah: ♪ ...is who I'm meant to be ♪

I'm okay. [ Exhales deeply ]

You're my string cheese.

You're one that I'm gonna think about when we leave here.

Like, " I wonder what song she's gonna sing next."

And I feel like I'm gonna be just rooting for you.

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Mid-tempo introduction plays ]

♪♪

♪ Had to leave my life in Dallas ♪

♪ That town will always be you ♪

Ooh! Lionel: [ Laughing ]

Ooh! Ooh!

♪ Every crowd on every corner ♪

♪ In every face, I'd see you ♪

Ooh! [ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, but I can't turn this thing around ♪

♪ And nothing short of breaking down ♪

♪ Is gonna get me off this road that I'm on ♪

♪♪

♪ But going anywhere as fast as I can ♪

♪ I'm a little past Little Rock ♪

♪ Further down the line ♪

♪ Too soon to know what's up ahead ♪

♪ Too late to change my mind ♪

♪ I've got to keep my heart out of this ♪

♪ With both hands on the wheel ♪

♪ I'm learning more with every mile ♪

♪ Just how leavin' feels ♪

♪ It's a lonely stretch of blacktop ♪

♪ Out into the blue ♪

♪ Don't know where I'll go ♪

♪ Or what I'll do ♪

♪ I'm a little past Little Rock ♪

♪ But a long ways from over you ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ I'm a little past Little Rock ♪

♪ But a long ways from ♪

♪ Over you ♪

[ Cheers and applause ] Whoo!

Thank you, guys, so much.

Gosh. She had one or two little hiccups,

but her tone is amazing.

Oh, Hannah.

You know you were one of my favorites in auditions.

Lee Ann Womack's not an easy person to sing.

It's like you listen to it, and it's so nice,

but you don't realize how intricate

the things that she does with her voice,

and I feel like you just nailed that.

Thank you so much. I appreciate it. [ Cheers and applause ]

Luke: Nailed it.

Hannah: Man, I thought I had it.

Ryan: You must have felt great about that performance.

I was very excited about the performance.

I just wish I wouldn't have messed up the words.

You did? I did.

Did we even notice?

I don't think anybody noticed. I didn't notice.

I noticed. Man, I was beating myself up.

She jumbled lyrics, too, and got through it.

And she handled it and didn't even bump.

Yeah.

Hannah: I'm real worried right now.

I got excited. I forgot the words.

I didn't come in on the right spot.

But I sure hope I did enough to make it to the next round.

[ Cheers and applause ]

With another group of performances in the books...

All right. All right. Okay.

All right. What do we think?

...our hopefuls await to see if they've done enough

to survive the judges' first round of cuts.

Luke: We got so many to go through.

Lionel: That's exactly what I was saying.

Luke: Not her?

Carrie: I don't know. What do you think?

Whew. There's a lot at stake right now.

I'm very eager to show the world

that even a girl from Puerto Rico can do anything.

I think this guy, it's time to go.

Lionel: I think he just didn't rise to the occasion.

It makes me sad, though, 'cause I feel like it's in there.

I hate this part! Oh, Lord, have mercy.

[ Laughs ]

Oh, hang in there, kid. Hang in there. It's so hard. So hard.

♪♪

Roelle.

♪♪

Trace.

♪♪

Hannah.

♪♪

You are still in the running

to become the next American Idol.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Front row, I am sorry,

but your journey with us ends right now.

Those are happy tears?

Yes. "I did it" tears?

Yes. You wouldn't even understand.

I'm getting an idea. I'm getting the picture.

Hannah: I was scared. I was terrified.

I didn't think I was gonna get it through.

[ Exhales deeply ]

What's with that wind?

It's, uh, winner's breath. I don't know, man.

Winner's breath! Oh, God, dude.

All right. It was so much fun.

So our hopefuls can celebrate for now,

but they'll have to wait with the others

until the end of the round,

when the judges make their final decision

on who's made it into the top 30.

I'm scared. Everyone's so crazy talented.

Trace: Some of us are going home.

I would like it not to be me.

Roelle: Being here in the Golden Room

and knowing that so many people are gonna get cut,

it's kind of scary, but I think the pressure is good

and it will help me get through this stage.

Lionel: All right. Who's next?

Carrie: This is a tough board, man.

Luke: We'll see what they do.

♪♪

It's a lot more than three people sitting at a table.

A lot more. Yeah.

[ Vocalizing ]

She was struggling a little bit there, and I don't know why.

She's just got the voice.

It's the nerves? Probably.

We had people in auditions that were confident

and spitfires. ♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

And we gave them some feedback.

[ Vocalizing, voice cracking ] It was a little shaky to start.

Carrie: And it's like they fret and worry

and overthink everything that we told them.

♪ Oh, oh, oh... ♪

I think the nerves might have compromised

just how good of a singer you are a little bit.

Did we scare him? I think we did.

I really hope I did enough to make it.

[ Sighs ] Sorry.

Can you take the pressure? That's the business.

♪♪

My knees shaking, dude.

What's up, bro? Oh, my God.

Your knees are shaking? Yes, my knees are shaking.

In my audition the first time, I had my hands in my pockets.

Lionel: Take your hands out your pocket

and look the folks straight in the face.

Yeah. I got to make sure I keep those out.

Don't put them back here, though. There you go.

Just keep them up here. Yeah.

Are you gonna hold a microphone?

Yeah. That takes care of one.

There you go.

It's what to do with the other.

Yeah. That's a good -- There you go.

I mean, that kind of thing.

I need to show more of my charisma, I guess, onstage.

I hope they'll be able to see me move around a little bit more

and be more of an entertainer.

Man: How you holding up?

You don't have to do a crazy run.

I enjoy insurance. I enjoy helping families out.

But at the end of the day, music's my first passion.

And that's why I'm here.

[ Mid-tempo introduction plays ]

♪ Something's got ahold of me lately ♪

♪ No, I don't know myself anymore ♪

♪♪

♪ Feels like the walls are all closin' in ♪

♪ The devil's knockin' at my door ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ Out of my mind ♪

♪ How many times did I tell you ♪

♪ I'm no good at being alone? ♪

♪ Yeah, it's taking a toll on me ♪

♪ Trying my best to keep from tearing the skin off my bones ♪

♪ Don't you know ♪

♪ I lose control ♪

♪ When you're not next to me ♪

♪♪

♪ I'm falling apart right in front of you ♪

♪ Can't you see? ♪

♪ I lose control ♪

♪ When you're not next to me ♪

♪ I'm falling apart right in front of you ♪

♪ Can't you see? ♪

♪ I lose control ♪ [ Cheers and applause ]

♪ When you're not next to me ♪

♪♪

♪ Falling apart right in front of you ♪

♪ Can't you see? ♪

♪ Can't you see? ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Lionel: Philmon!

[ Laughs ]

Philmon!

♪♪

I mean, how about that?

Philmon!

Who possessed you? [ Laughter ]

I mean, you kind of walk out...

and then you open your mouth

and you turn into somebody else!

[ Cheers and applause ]

And I'm telling you, that somebody else, we love!

[ Cheers and applause ] Philmon!

Thank you so much.

♪♪

Oh, my gosh. That right there was --

That was ten times better than I was expecting.

Unassuming.

I mean, walked out here and knocked us right out.

Shocker. Even your eyes are watering.

Yeah, I know. I almost started crying.

You know, like, I had to get offstage

for America to see me cry a little bit.

I'm so proud of you.

Oh, man, this is getting hard.

I feel like we've had a lot of good ones.

I need -- I need people to start messing up.

[ Laughing ] Or we're gonna be in trouble.

♪♪

Welcome back to "American Idol."

So far, after 52 performances,

just 19 hopefuls have moved on to the Golden Room,

still in consideration for the top 30.

Contestant: They're at least cutting half of us.

And, like, I ain't gonna sit here and lie.

I'm a little scared.

Ryan: Once all 127 have sung,

those who remain here will have to survive

one more major cut at the end of the round.

Man: You guys ready?

Lucas: I've heard people sing, and there's a lot of very,

very, very talented people here.

This is the biggest stage

that I've ever performed on in my life.

♪ Winnie the Pooh ♪

♪ Winnie the Pooh ♪

The first time I performed on a stage

was just at my piano recital.

I was probably about 8 years old.

♪ ...bear ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

I thought I had just won a Grammy after I sang that song.

I don't think my younger self would really believe it,

that I would be performing on this massive stage.

My first audition, I did guitar,

but this week, I'm showing a little bit

of a different side of myself.

I'm gonna have to up my game if I want to get to that 30.

[ Applause ]

[ Intro plays ]

♪♪

♪ Georgia ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, Georgia ♪

♪ The whole day through ♪

♪♪

♪ Just an old sweet song ♪

♪ Keeps Georgia on my miiiiind ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Other arms ♪

♪ Reach out to me ♪

♪ Other eyes ♪

♪ Smile tenderly ♪

♪ Still, in peaceful dreams, I see ♪

♪ The road leads back to you ♪

♪ I said, Georgia ♪

♪ Georgia ♪

[ Laughs ]

♪ No peace, no peace I find ♪

♪ Just an old sweet song ♪

♪ Keeps Georgia on my mind ♪

♪ I said, just an old sweet song ♪

♪ Keeps Georgia on my ♪

♪ Mind ♪♪

[ Outro plays ]

[ Cheers and applause, music ends ]

♪ You're taking me out ♪

I mean, 17 years old, coming out here doing "Geor--"

You know I'm from Georgia, so you're already trying

to make me, uh... Just play--

I'm sucking up a little bit.

Playing the room already, but... Thank you.

...you did great. Yeah. [ Cheers and applause ]

Carmen: I've heard the rest of the singers in my group.

It's actually really intimidating...

especially because rehearsal has been stressful.

I cannot hear myself at all.

Man: What's that? I couldn't hear anything.

You walked past the wedges.

But you were not off pitch. [ Sniffling ]

Your notes were on.

But I know myself.

And I've never sang that horrible.

I really want to show the judges something out

of my comfort zone, and that's what they asked for.

You're hitting some high notes in there... Yeah.

...but it would be great if you could put some oomph in there.

Oh, you should see me with a band.

Carmen: Maybe I took it too far,

and I'm doing too hard of a song.

I just fall. I kind of stumble a little bit.

I just wanted to be good enough for this.

[ Voice breaking ] But it's just starting

to feel like I can't do it.

[ Sniffles, sobs ]

But right now, I'm trying to just remember my Aunt Britani.

Carmen, I'm so proud of you!

I think Britani has always been a very big mentor to me,

to believe in myself, to have the confidence.

You are ready. You're ready for this. Carmen: Yeah.

You were born for this. I was born for this.

And that just helps...

just remind myself that I am good enough

to just be here at this part.

Grrr!

I really don't want to screw it up.

[ Sniffles ]

At least I look hot when I cry.

[ Laughs ]

[ Intro plays ]

♪♪

♪ Your love is like a tidal wave ♪

♪ Spinning over my head ♪

♪ Drowning me in your promises ♪

♪ Better left unsaid ♪

♪ You're the right kind of sinner ♪

♪ To release my inner fantasy ♪

♪ The invincible winner ♪

♪ And you know that you were born to be ♪

♪ You're a heartbreaker ♪

♪ Dream maker ♪

♪ Love taker, don't you mess around with me ♪

♪ You're a heartbreaker ♪

♪ Dream maker ♪

♪ Love taker, don't you mess around ♪

♪ No, don't mess around ♪

♪ Don't you mess around, don't ♪

♪ Mess around ♪

♪ With meeeee ♪

[ Music ends, cheers and applause ]

She ran out of gas.

[ Cheers and applause continue ]

Wow. Are you good?

Are you okay? You good?

Carmen: I had fun. Good.

Okay. I kind of felt like you looked like you were about

to pass out or something towards the end of that.

It's -- It's a fast song.

Yeah.

So, yes, I was trying to keep up,

but I did my best.

I know we were like, "We need some gas and we need some sass."

Yeah. And you picked a sassy song.

Yeah. But then I felt like

you were just running behind it kind of the whole time.

Kind of swallowed up. Yeah, swallowed up by it. Yeah.

So I feel like -- I don't know.

We're processing here.

Um, but you obviously have, like,

this huge range to work with.

And, I mean, we love you or you wouldn't be here.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Luke: Yeah.

[ Cheers and applause ]

I actually thought I was putting a lot

into the performance, so to hear that just kind of broke me.

We're so critical now.

We have to be.

Yeah. We got so many to go through.

How many do we need to get rid of?

Luke: A lot of people are going home today.

I really hope I'm not one of them.

Carrie: Didn't we like him?

He has a great voice,

but he gets lost in the moment. Right.

I don't know. I just like him. Okay.

It's people's dreams.

If I call your name, please step forward.

[ Dramatic music plays ]

♪♪

Philmon.

♪♪

If I call your name, please step forward.

[ Dramatic music plays ]

Philmon.

Lucas.

Kiera.

♪♪

You three are still in the competition,

going through to the Golden Room.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Back row, it's the end of the line.

Thank you guys.

♪ Oh, I need, I need to know 'cause this is the last chance ♪

A big one there. Oh!

I'm on cloud nine right now. Or whatever the phrase is.

Cloud nine. Cloud 10.

Oh, my gosh, this is huge.

This is amazing. I'm so excited.

He only called three names and, praise be,

that I was one of them.

That was painful.

Ryan: Is this end of the road for now for here?

For "American Idol." For "American Idol," yeah.

But not for Carmen.

No, of course not. No.

Carmen: I have to still be my ambitious self

and just try to reach for the stars.

♪ Ohh ♪

Ryan: So two of our youngest hopefuls

have moved on to the Golden Room, and from there,

more teenage singers were proving they came to fight.

♪ Well, I know that there could come a fire from the sky ♪

♪ To refine the purest of kings ♪

Yes, people are always surprised

when they hear how young I am.

And they're like, "You're 16?!" I get that a lot.

But I can sing. Okay, guys? Like, watch out.

[ Laughs ]

♪ Make it rain ♪

♪ Make it rain down, Lord ♪

♪ Make it rain ♪

♪ Make ♪

♪ It rain ♪

[ Music ends, cheers and applause ]

Lionel: You know, I keep looking at the number.

It says, "16."

I keep looking at the performance

and listening to the performance.

It says, "42."

[ Laughter ]

But more importantly,

the notes that came out were amazing.

Thank you. Absolutely amazing.

I loved your performance.

Thank you, Lionel. Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ]

I'm surprised by all the people my age, honestly.

I never thought people my age had those type of pipes.

Aww. Here comes your cute little 16-year-old.

Luke: Oh, yeah.

Let's see how he does in the bright lights. Okay.

♪ Everybody's waiting for a break ♪

♪ Like fast cars and freedom ♪

I'm 16 years old, you know.

I understand this competition can be

a stressful thing to go through,

but I think I have what it takes, for sure.

♪ I just wanna be loved ♪

[ Laughs ]

♪ Oh, oh, I just wanna be loved ♪

♪ Can you tell me, am I worthy or important ♪

♪ Or am I working hard enough? ♪

We're not expecting you to be anything other

than what you are -- a 16-year-old kid.

But, uh, you're just doing impressive stuff.

You should be very, very proud. Good job.

♪ I just wanna be loved ♪

[ Music ends, cheers and applause ]

I'm one of two 15-year-olds in this competition,

so I have to step it up and show that I can hold my own,

even being so young.

My audition went really well.

It was a very emotional audition.

I wrote this song in honor of Aubreigh Wyatt,

Miss Heather's daughter.

She was bullied for years and took her life.

I'm just so moved.

[ Voice breaking ] The way you had your heart broken

for someone you didn't even know.

You know?

For this round, I'll be performing "Stay" by Sugarland.

Check, check, check. One. Two. Three.

I've been working for this moment my entire life.

Woman: Are you nervous at all?

No, ma'am.

I mean, I've been doing this since I was so young.

I've been performing in front of people on a stage

since I was 10 years old.

Announcer: Make some noise for Khloe Grace!

Khloe! [ Cheers and applause ]

So cute.

Khloe: Hi. My name is Khloe Grace.

I'm 15 years old and I want to be the youngest competitor

to ever win the show.

Ha!

[ Cheers and applause ]

She's ready to do it.

And that's what you say. I love it.

15 years old. Good Lord.

I'm super-ready.

[ Intro plays ]

♪ I've been sitting here staring at the clock on the wall ♪

♪ And I've been laying here praying ♪

♪ Praying she won't call ♪

♪ It's just another call from home ♪

♪ You'll get it and be gone ♪

♪ And I'll be crying ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ What do I have to do ♪

♪ To make you see ♪

♪ That she can't love you like me? ♪

♪ Why don't you stay? ♪

♪ So the next time you find ♪

♪ You wanna leave her bed for mine ♪

♪ Why don't you stay? ♪

♪ Well, baby, why don't you ♪

♪ Stay? ♪

[ Cheers and applause, music ends ]

Thank you so much.

[ Cheers and applause continue ]

Khloe, Khloe. What a tough song to sing.

It's just, you being a 15-year-old,

that's the way it's gonna sound.

In the front part, it seemed like you were pretty nervous,

but toward the end, you really started locking in

and hitting your stride.

I mean, you should be so proud of yourself.

Good job.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Any time you're dealing with a 15-, 16-year-old kid,

it becomes really, really delicate.

She was too young.

Carrie: She was good. A sweet little girl.

Luke: This could be a life-altering moment for them.

And we want it to alter them in a positive way.

Not too young. Just not ready.

We hope that it doesn't alter their confidence

in who they are as an artist.

Man on P.A.: Okay. Thank you guys. Stand by, please.

Lionel: Okay, here we go.

The following people step forward, please.

Abayomi.

Michael.

[ Dramatic music plays ]

♪♪

The front row goes through.

The back row, this is the end of the road.

Thank you very much. We love you so much.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

Michael: I'm feeling great, man. For real.

I'm so excited right now.

Me only being 16, I really thought I was out for the count,

but I guess this just proves it's not just about the age.

It's about what you got inside.

And you did, Abayomi!

You broke both the doors and you made it to the next round.

Thank you. Congratulations.

[ Screaming ]

Ryan: Two more of our teens survived the judges' first cut,

but it's the end of the road for another.

So this is it for this time around?

Yes, sir.

I know it's disappointing,

but there's a lot of future in front of you.

Thank you.

[ Breathes deeply ]

It's hard to go home.

I would have loved to move forward,

but they felt like it was best for me to go home

and work hard and maybe come back one day.

This is just the beginning.

We love you, baby. We're so proud of you. We love you. You did great.

Yeah. You did great.

♪♪

Ryan: Welcome back to Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover.

Contestant: Sitting in this Golden Room

amongst some of the best talented singers

on this side of the Earth,

it makes me feel honored to be a part of the chosen ones.

Contestant #2: It's blowing my mind right now

'cause I don't know what's coming up.

It feels a little tense in the room.

Contestant #3: There's a lot of good performers

that are going up right now, so I'm sweating.

Hollywood Week is a slap on your mama's mouth.

[ Intro plays ]

♪ I remember the sickness was forever ♪

♪ And I remember the snuff video ♪

♪ Cold Septembers, the distances we covered ♪

♪ The fistfights on the beach ♪

♪ The bizzies round us up ♪

♪ Do it all again next week ♪

♪ And the boy who kicked Tom's head in ♪

♪ Still bugs me now ♪

♪ And that's the thing with anger ♪

♪ It cuts you when you're down ♪

♪♪

♪ And how she wept and wept and wept ♪

♪ Well, luck came and died down here ♪

♪ I see my mother, the DWP see a number ♪

♪ She cries on the floor unencumbered ♪

♪ I'm 17 going under ♪

♪ I'm 17 going under ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Mm-mm-mm ♪

♪ I'm 17 going under ♪

[ Music ends, cheers and applause ]

Thank you.

Thank you guys so much.

I appreciate it. I like that.

Me too.

Boom. I like that.

You're so ready for this.

Yeah, man. Yeah, man. That's very kind of you.

Thank you. Yeah.

Even the sound that you chose on that guitar was a really,

really cool sound. Yep.

The way you started in, the band --

I mean, you're just ready to do this.

"Let me go win this thing. make an album,

hit the road, get a band."

You know, it's a little bit bigger of a band

than I would normally play with, which is a ton of fun.

But I consider myself really lucky

that I have had the opportunity to play a lot

over the last bunch of years.

And, uh, I'm hoping that that will get me into the top 30.

This is a tough board, man.

How are we gonna get these people down to 30?

I don't know.

That's what I'm sitting here thinking.

Ryan: Up next to take the stage

is Minnesota hopeful Chris Tungseth.

Being here on "American Idol," I mean, it means everything.

It's kind of a start of something new for me,

just like a new season of joy.

I love you guys so much.

-Love you, too. -Love you, too.

♪ What does remain ♪

♪ When love is gone? ♪

Chris: I'm doing this for my mom and for my family.

And obviously my dad is here with me in spirit.

I am so proud.

I have an American idol for a son.

So for Hollywood Week,

I'm gonna be singing "Jealous" by Labrinth.

I'm really excited to hear that.

After losing my dad, I heard this song and I was like,

"Oh, this could mean so many things.

It's a breakup song, essentially,

but when I listened to it after losing Dad,

I think of you losing Dad 'cause there's parts

in that song where it's like,

"I'm jealous of the rain... Mm.

...that falls upon your skin."

♪ Your voice will sound ♪

Share your light.

Yeah.

You know? Thank you.

My family is the reason

why I feel so confident in pursuing my dream.

This performance could change my life.

I know my dad's with me,

and I know my mom's at home just rooting for me,

praying for me.

And so I'm gonna go out there

and give it everything that I have.

[ Intro plays ]

♪ I'm jealous of the rain ♪

♪ That falls upon your skin ♪

♪ It's closer than my hands have been ♪

♪ Oh, I'm jealous of the rain ♪

♪ I'm jealous of the wind ♪

♪ That ripples through your clothes ♪

♪ It's closer than your shadow ♪

♪ Oh, I'm jealous of the wind ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ But I wished you ♪

♪ The best of ♪

♪ All this world could give ♪

♪ And I told you ♪

♪ When you left me ♪

♪ There's nothing to forgive ♪

♪ But I always thought you'd come back ♪

♪ Tell me all you found was ♪

♪ Heartbreak and misery ♪

♪ It's hard for me to say ♪

♪ I'm jealous of the way ♪

♪ You're happy without me ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh ♪

♪ It's hard for me to say ♪

♪ I'm jealous of the way ♪

♪ You're happy without ♪

♪ Me ♪

[ Cheers and applause, music ends ]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I mean, I felt like that was just kind of captivating,

you know? Just hanging on every word,

wondering what you were gonna do with it. Mm-hmm.

You've got that soulful, soft,

sensitive thing in your voice,

and it's very mesmerizing. Yeah.

Thank you, Carrie. Thank you, Chris.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

I feel like I didn't really like the way he arranged it.

Carrie: Yeah. Lionel: Yeah. Yeah, I...

That song typically auditions very well.

Yeah. It didn't complement him.

It was a little quick. Mm-hmm.

That song, it's supposed to be one

that you milk every second of.

Yeah.

I just had to hone in on what I knew I could do,

and I feel like I did that right there, so...

Carrie: Ay-yi-yi.

We got a lot of cuts to make.

Ryan: Stay tuned for more results in Music City.

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Carrie: The thing I love about "American Idol"

is its ability to take normal, everyday people,

people that have not been anywhere in

or around the music industry -- We take those people

and give them the opportunity of a lifetime.

Being here in Hollywood Week in Music City is nerve-racking.

I have never performed with a big band or in front of anyone

except for in church.

This does feel like a big opportunity.

Stuff like this just doesn't happen to people like me.

♪♪

Growing up in Warrenville, it was very...

definitely different.

It's not very, uh, wealthy.

It's a very small, very poverty-like town.

I did move around a lot growing up.

We've probably moved about 10 times.

Moving schools a lot.

And I didn't really feel like I fit in anywhere.

I didn't really have a lot of friends.

I know finances weren't always, like, there for us.

It's really hard for me to talk about it.

[ Woman laughing ] Come on.

Music was the constant in all of that craziness.

I always felt limited, like, "Oh,

I don't have the resources to reach this goal of mine

when it comes to music,"

because I've always wanted to sing.

I would lay down at night

and I would pray and hope

[Voice breaking] that something would come about.

And now I'm here.

[ Cheers and applause ]

I'm gonna be singing "Girls Just Want to Have Fun..."

Ah! ...by Cyndi Lauper.

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Intro plays ]

♪♪

♪ I come home in the morning light ♪

♪ My mother says, "What you gonna do with your life?" ♪

♪ Oh, Mama, dear, we're not the fortunate ones ♪

♪ But girls, they wanna have fun ♪

♪ Oh, girls just wanna have fun ♪

♪ That's all they really want ♪

♪ Some fun ♪

♪ When the working day is done ♪

♪ Oh, girls, they wanna have fun ♪

♪ Oh, girls just wanna have fun ♪

♪ They just wanna, they just wanna ♪

♪ They just wanna ♪

♪ When the working day is done ♪

♪ Oh, girls, they wanna have ♪

♪ Fun ♪

[ Cheers and applause, music ends ]

Well, Chloe, I tell you what.

You have one of the most original-sounding voices

in the whole competition.

Thank you.

When I heard you were gonna do

"Girls Just Want to Have Fun," I was like,

"I can't imagine her voice doing it like Cyndi Lauper did it."

And then when I heard kind of the moodier version,

I kind of really got confused

'cause I wanted the original version that Cyndi Lauper did.

But then I really enjoyed your version.

But then it got a little sleepy.

But then I still loved your voice.

[ Laughs ] Yeah.

Overall, there's a lot of emotions

that I'm going through right now,

and I thought that we were all gonna be dancing

to "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."

But I really appreciate your arrangement.

And when you do want to have fun,

make sure you come on out here

and have a big old time, all right?

Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ]

I feel like I let myself down.

I self-sabotaged really badly.

I tried to do the best that I could.

It's almost like she's given up on herself.

The pressure of the competition

is definitely a playing factor in why I feel the way I feel,

and I don't feel like I did my very best.

She's got the voice. Wrong song.

It's really about pushing myself and wanting to win,

'cause I know I can.

♪♪

Yeah.

Announcer: Here's 22-year-old Braden Rumfelt!

[ Cheers and applause ]

Oh, I remember.

Oh, yeah! Yeah.

♪ Oh, oh-oh-ohhhh ♪

Gotta loosen up.

Like, I wanted to come out there and just,

like, shake your arms and throw your vest across the room.

And I think you're a racehorse, man.

Are you usually a mover, a traveler on the stage?

A little bit. I've had some knee issues,

so I kind of tend to stay in the same spot.

How's your knee? Not too bad.

I just had two surgeries on these guys in the last year. Oh, geez.

♪ I should have known better ♪

♪ To see what I could see ♪

Braden: I've had two lower leg realignments.

The doctors have explained

that all your body's resources are going into healing the leg,

and so you could be susceptible to get sick.

That sparked something in my head, like, "Oh, my gosh.

Wash your hands constantly.

Don't touch anybody. Don't let them get near you.

No hugs."

Now I'm in panic mode,

like, "I'm going to die now."

♪ No, I'm not a go-getter ♪

♪ The demon had a spell on me ♪

These intrusive thoughts pop into my head that are not real.

I kind of developed a contamination OCD

and it's really debilitating.

♪ The only thing I wanna believe ♪

I started going to therapy.

I've made huge strides to getting a lot better.

♪ Don't back down ♪

♪ Nothing can be changed ♪

Hollywood Week -- That's good for me.

I can focus on putting my energy into something that is real.

Man: Here we go.

This performance is gonna be the biggest one

of my entire life.

I'm confident going into it.

Hello, hello, hello.

I'm doing "I'm Not the Only One" by Sam Smith.

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Intro plays ]

♪♪

♪ You and me, we made a vow ♪

♪ For better or for worse ♪

♪ I can't believe you let me down ♪

♪ But the proof's in the way it hurts ♪

[ Audience clapping rhythmically ]

♪ You say I'm crazy ♪

♪ 'Cause you don't think I know what you've done ♪

♪ But when you call me "baby" ♪

♪ I know I'm not the only one ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ I have loved you for many years ♪

♪ Maybe I am just not enough ♪

♪ You've made me realize my deepest fear ♪

♪ By lying and tearing us up ♪

♪ You say I'm crazy ♪

♪ 'Cause you don't think I know what you've done ♪

♪ But when you call me "baby" ♪

♪ I know I'm not the only one ♪

♪ And I know, and I know, and I know ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ I'm not the only ♪

♪ One ♪

[ Music ends, cheers and applause ]

Yeah.

[ Cheers and applause continue ]

-Whoo! -Slammin'.

Slammin'. Slammin.'

Braden. Man, can you make it look hard next time?

[ Laughter ] Just laid it in there.

We knew you were special in your audition.

We knew it. We felt it. We're here to support you.

We're here to lift you up.

We want you to have fun.

And, man, you picked the perfect song.

Perfect song. Perfect song.

Thank you. Thank you.

And lean in. Be you.

Be yourself and get ready for the ride.

It's gonna be really, really special.

[ Cheers and applause ]

I don't know what to do, man.

I'm just like, "Ah!"

Golly!

He may win.

I'm thankful for the opportunity,

no matter how it turns out,

but it seems like it's gonna do well.

Announcer: Hang tight right here, folks.

Our judges are gonna do deliberations,

and then we're gonna know the results.

Chris: There's so much at stake, and going into results,

there's just so many talented musicians here.

Like, I want to be in the top 30 so bad.

Pass that old board down here so I can get my attitude right.

Chloe: It probably means more to me than most people here.

I've always pulled through any situation I've ever been in.

I don't know. This one's different.

[ Dramatic music plays ]

This is a very heavy class and all of you

have done amazing, amazing work.

This is probably the most unprecedented time

we've ever had where we had to just cut talent.

Having said that, will the following people

step forward?

Jake.

Brianna.

[ Dramatic music plays ]

♪♪

Braden.

This is something we are charged with doing.

So...

...front row.

you should be very proud of how far you've come.

But for now, your journey...

♪♪

Ryan: Next Monday...

You're the toughest class we have ever had.

...it's the conclusion of Hollywood Week:

Music City Takeover.

-Everyone's on edge right now. -Some of us are going home.

Ryan: ...where we find out who survives...

Luke: I was trying to kick you out of the room

'cause I'm so jealous of you.

If you were thinking about winning, just keep doing that.

...and gets into the top 30.

Am I freaking out about it? Yeah.

I feel you guys are gonna boo me.

Bring it on. I love it.

I did everything I could.

-I'm so sorry. -I would love

nothing more than to be a part

of those 30 singers that make it.

Let's just hope. Hope and pray.

We got more bloodshed coming.

We have some sing-offs.

♪♪