First platinum ticket singer sent home at Top 14 reveal
The viewers of “American Idol” have cast their votes and determined which of the 20 remaining candidates of the season should make it into the top 14.
While the 10 singers with the most votes sailed into the next week on Monday night’s episode, the other half of the squad was sent to the “Danger Zone” to sing for their lives. These 10 “Idol” hopefuls competed for the four remaining spots awarded by judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.
Ajii’s placement in the bottom half of the contestants proved controversial, as the crowd booed “Idol” fans who didn’t push the 27-year-old Brooklyn nursing home security guard into the Top 14. But that wasn’t the night’s most shocking moment, as as the evening came to its dramatic conclusion, Perry experienced a wardrobe malfunction.
Monday night’s six-person elimination, which included the elimination of one of the season’s three platinum ticket holders, came after Elleigh Marie, KBlocks, Blake Proehl and Haley Mia were voted out Sunday night for failing to receive enough votes during their Top 24 performances last week in Hawaii.
This is what happened in episode 11:
What happened last week? Emmy Russell, granddaughter of Loretta Lynn, inspires Luke Bryan
Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter Emmy Russell performs the original song barefoot
Emmy Russell, granddaughter of the late country music legend Loretta Lynn, wowed the judges again, this time with a performance of her original song “Skinny.”
Russell entered the stage barefoot and impressed the judges with a song she performed for the first time in an audition.
“When I sing this song, I just feel like I’m the person God made me to be,” she told Ryan Seacrest.
Russell said in an interview with People published Tuesday that she felt a “burden of responsibility” when she wrote the song during her recovery from an eating disorder.
“I don’t have to go there anymore. I know it’s bad for me. And the more I sing it, the more I express myself,” she said. “‘Now I’ve let that feeling out. Now I’m above it.'”
She added that it’s about “finding a creative outlet for all your pain and all your beauty.”
This vote triggered the biggest reaction of the evening
After Ryan Seacrest announced that Ajii was not in the top 10, the crowd behind the announcer almost drowned him out with boos and then chanted Ajii’s name.
His task was to convince the jury with his interpretation of “Call Out My Name” by The Weeknd.
Ajii, known for his truly impressive voice, continued his streak of solid performances on Monday night. Visually, however, the pink cap on his head was the most exciting aspect of his performance, as Ajii remained center stage with the microphone stand.
“The audience is booing the American election,” Perry noted.
She added that Ajii “provided the vocals” and that it was “ultimately a singing competition.” However, she also nodded that a contestant needs more than just a good voice to make it to the end.
Also last week: The 24 best singers compete in Hawaii with special guests Tori Kelly and Iam Tongi
“This is a family show,” says Katy Perry after a wardrobe debacle
After being taken to the “danger zone,” Roman Collins took the instruction to “sing for his life” seriously and belted out James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”
The impact of his performance was apparently so strong that Perry lost part of her trendy top, which looked almost like a hotter version of Chicago’s Cloud Gate, also known as “The Bean.”
“My top fell off during this song,” Perry explained, sinking under the desk to hide the problem. “This is a family show.”
“You have the ability to blow the roof off a place,” Bryan told Roman. “Or a top!” Perry chimed in, finally clutching a seat cushion to her chest to hold her high-fashion outfit together.
“I’m looking for her on Instagram”: Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan reveal show secrets
Who was eliminated from the top 20 of “American Idol”?
After the jury selected Jayna Elise, Nya, Jordan Anthony and Roman Collins for the Top 14, the following six participants were eliminated from the competition:
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Quintavious
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Kennedy Reid
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Jennifer Jeffries
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Ajii
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Odell Bunton Jr.
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Mackenzie Sol
Odell Bunton Jr. was the first Platinum Ticket winner of the season to fail to advance in the competition.
Who is in the top 14 of season 22 of “American Idol”?
Thanks to America’s votes and the jury, the following candidates made it to the next week:
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Mckenna Breinholt
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Jack Blocker
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Mia Matthews
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Sam “Kayko” Kelly-Cohen
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Will Moseley
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Abi Carter
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Kaibrienne “KB” Richins
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Emmy Russell
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Julia Gagnon
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Triston Harper
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Elise, Jayna
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New
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Jordan Anthony
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Roman Collins
How to vote for your favorite contestant on American Idol
Viewers can cast their vote at idolvote.abc.com or download the American Idol app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
You can also send your favorite candidate an SMS with the number (1 to 14, depending on the order of their appearance) to the number 21523.
Votes will be counted by 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday.
Contributors: Taijuan Moorman
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘American Idol’: Katy Perry’s wardrobe malfunction, Top 14 revealed