Hollywood’s a brutal stage, and on April 27, 2025, “American Idol” proved it again. The Top 14 contestants, sweat on their brows, belted out hits from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legends, mentored by the folk-rock sage James Taylor. By night’s end, two singers were sent packing, and the Top 12 were locked in for the next round. The performances? A mixed bag of raw guts, shaky nerves, and a few moments that lit the room on fire.
The night wasn’t just about the contestants. Host Ryan Seacrest dropped a bombshell, announcing the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees live on air: Bad Company, Thom Bell, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Nicky Hopkins, Carol Kaye, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa, Soundgarden, Lenny Waronker, The White Stripes, and Warren Zevon. The reveal, slotted around 8:40 p.m. Eastern, added a layer of gravitas to the evening. Contestants weren’t just singing for votes—they were channeling the ghosts of music’s titans.
The Top 14, a scrappy crew of dreamers, had to pick songs from past Hall of Fame inductees, a list spanning Aretha Franklin’s soul to The Beatles’ pop perfection. Voting was tight, open only during the two-hour broadcast, a shift from past weeks when fans had until morning to weigh in. America’s picks decided who’d advance, and the results were merciless: two contestants didn’t make the cut. Their names? Not released in official reports, but the math is clear—12 moved on, leaving two behind.
Standout performances defined the night. John Foster, a country hopeful with a drawl and a swagger, took on Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock.” He didn’t mimic the King, instead twisting the classic into something fresh, stomping the stage like it was his last shot. Foster called it his “go big or go home” moment, and the crowd ate it up. Gabby Samone, another frontrunner, had jaws dropping with Barbra Streisand’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade” earlier in the season, and her Hall of Fame pick—while unspecified in reports—kept her in the Top 12. Jamal Roberts also earned buzz, though his song choice remains under wraps in official accounts.
Not everyone shone. Some contestants, battling nerves or drowned out by a booming backing band, struggled to leave a mark. Breanna Nix, a 25-year-old Texas mom, held her own after debunking rumors she’d ditched the show for a record deal. Her earlier performance of Lauren Daigle’s “Still Rolling Stones” showed grit, and she carried that into the Top 12. Others, like Mattie Pruitt, a Tennessee high schooler, leaned on raw talent to secure a spot, though details of their Hall of Fame performances are scarce.
Judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan watched from their perch, offering feedback that ranged from warm to razor-sharp. Underwood, still finding her footing as a first-time judge, kicked off the night with a nod to her own 2005 “Idol” run, reprising Heart’s “Alone.” Her performance set a high bar, reminding everyone what a Hall of Fame song can do in the right hands.
The Top 12, now set, are Canaan James Hill, Gabby Samone, Mattie Pruitt, Thunderstorm Artis, Slater Nalley, Breanna Nix, John Foster, Filo, Kolbi Jordan, Josh King, Jamal Roberts, and Ché. They’ll face off again on April 28, mentored by Season 3 winner Fantasia for an “Iconic Idol Moments” theme. Voting will stay live, and America’s voice will keep shaping the race.
For the two who fell short, the dream’s not dead—just deferred. Hollywood’s stage is cruel, but it’s also a launchpad. The night belonged to those who swung hard, with Foster’s Elvis reinvention and Samone’s fearless vocals leading the pack. Who was best? The votes say it all, but the echoes of those performances won’t fade fast.