‘American Idol’ Recap: Top 7 Revealed After Disney Night Performances
ABC/Raymond Liu Reading Time: 3 minutes
American Idol Season 20 returned on Sunday for Disney Night, as the Top 10 took the stage to sing songs from some of our favorite movies. Voting was open during the show, and at the end of the night, the Top 7 was revealed.
We’ve come to associate Disney Night with some elaborate costumes from judge Katy Perry, and this season was no different. Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie wheeled her out in an outfit inspired by Ariel from The Little Mermaid, complete with a mermaid tail. The costume was so difficult to move in that she actually fell over in her chair at one point.
The contestants were mentored by Dancing with the Stars judge Derek Hough at Disneyland before taking the stage. They were also surprised by friends and family during their time at the park.
‘American Idol’ Top 7 Revealed on Disney Night
The Top 10 opened the show with a dynamic performance of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto, sung with the movie’s vocal stars Adassa and Rhenzy Feliz. After all of the singers had delivered their solo performances, host Ryan Seacrest share the results of the live vote.
The Top 7 was revealed to be Leah Marlene, Jay, Noah Thompson, Fritz Hager, HunterGirl, Nicolina, Christian Guardino. That means we had to say goodbye to Lady K, Emyrson Flora, and Mike Parker. Both Lady K and Mike had previously been saved from elimination by the judges.
Singers Tug on Our Heartstrings with Emotional Performances
Some of the most powerful moments of the night came from singers who performed emotional Disney songs. That includes Leah Marlene, who sang “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2. She had considered playing the piano but ultimately chose against it. Still, it was a beautiful performance, inspiring Bryan to tell her that she’s “yet to hit a bad note.”
Platinum Ticket winner Jay also brought the emotion with his performance of “Remember Me” from Coco, which earned a standing ovation from the judges — no small feat where Perry was concerned. Perry praised him for using the stage to his advantage.
And even though he was eliminated, Mike Parker turned in a strong performance of “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan, dedicated to his mother, who is battling leukemia. Noah Thompson also paid tribute to someone important in his life — his friend Arthur, who signed him up for the show. Noah performed “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”
Nicolina Knocks It Out of the Park with Villain Anthem
Most of the Top 10 chose to channel Disney heroes and heroines for their performances on Sunday night, but Nicolina went against the grain by singing a villain’s song. She performed “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid, channeling Ursula with her outfit and hair.
Nicolina said she wants to strike a balance between a theatrical style and a more mainstream pop vibe, and she continues to succeed from week to week. Perry embodied Ariel by acting scared during the performance. She called it “the best performance of the night so far.”
American Idol will return Monday night for a special 20th anniversary episode, featuring appearances from former judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, as well as several past winners and fan favorite contestants.
