Original subtitles

♪ I got wind beneath my wings ♪

♪ I think this time, I'm gonna make it 'til morning ♪

Woman #1: It's the last round of Hollywood Week.

This is what's gonna get me through to the top 40.

♪ I got strength within my heart ♪

♪ I'm gonna sing for all the heroes who've fallen ♪

Woman #2: This is the most important performance I will ever give.

♪ Yeah, I'm gonna take... ♪

And so, today,

it's so important that I deliver.

♪ ...the long way home ♪

Margie: I don't want to go home.

I know that feeling.

I'm not ready for that feeling yet.

I came to prove myself.

♪ We got magic in our bones ♪

♪ Just like the stars, we're gonna shine ♪

♪ Bright and golden ♪

Solo Round is survival of the fittest.

Are you gonna quit? Never.

Then give me all you got.

Lionel: It's the moment we get to see the true potential

of what this artist is going to be.

♪ ...all the things that were stolen ♪

Luke: They're out there with a band.

They have the whole stage.

They have to work the room.

♪ Ow ♪

Luke: Are they gonna be able to make their star rise?

♪ ...home ♪

Cracking under pressure.

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Yes, we're gonna take... ♪

Unfortunately, I do got to tell you...

Bad news.

♪ ...whole wide world... ♪

This is the end of the road.

♪ ...by storm ♪

‐‐ Captions by VITAC ‐‐

Ryan: Hello. We've made it. Here we are.

I'm looking at the next American Idol.

I don't know which one yet,

but one of you is the next American Idol.

So, it's very exciting.

I was thinking about how we could give you a little more

before you all go into the theater

and get up on stage,

and a guy came to mind who's had tremendous success.

And so, if you'd say hi to our friend Alejandro...

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

Man: Ladies and gentlemen, Alejandro Aranda.

Ryan: Last year,

Alejandro captured the attention of the world

in this round, playing an original song.

♪ Remember ♪

♪ Remember ♪

♪ All of the lies you ♪

♪ All of the lies that you say ♪

[ Cheers and applause ] Which propelled him all the way to the finale.

And now he's back to offer his knowledge

to this year's hopefuls.

[ Applause ]

Ryan: So, just give a little perspective

about Hollywood Week

when you think back for your solo performance.

I was definitely feeling, like, a lot of nerves,

but it was mostly, like, 'cause I was anxious,

just 'cause I know I'm gonna express myself

and play something that's from my heart.

And so, it's okay to feel nervous

and it's okay to feel whatever you're feeling,

but just know that it's your song

and you're performing and you're expressing yourself,

and, um, to me, that's an amazing thing.

Man: I feel like puking.

Alejandro is so much cooler in person.

Like, he is cool on TV,

but he's like ‐‐ I just want to be his friend.

I feel like I can speak for a few people sitting around me.

Like, we're kind of here because of him.

Sheniel: I'm fangirling. [ Chuckles ]

I want to go, like, hug him.

Like, not let go, 'cause I genuinely love him

and love him as a person.

You know, one of my idols.

Alejandro, ladies and gentlemen!

[ Cheers and applause ]

I'm, like, ready now.

I'm, like ‐‐ I'm gonna go up there and kill it.

[ Cheers and applause ]

After you.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Alright, this is it, you guys.

Alright? Rock and roll.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Man: Kimmy Gabriela.

Ryan: And up first to take on the solo round

is Kimmy Gabriela.

Kimmy: In my very first audition,

the judges said that I was top 10 material.

Just...

You've had a really good day. Just take it.

[ Laughs ]

This is some top 10 material here, okay?

I just wrote down "star," okay?

♪ ...toast of the town ♪

♪ And no one takes your crown ♪

Kimmy: I need to live up to that standard they have for me,

and my duet ‐‐ I feel like it kind of

took away from my cred a little bit.

♪ Not really sure how to feel about it ♪

It started really, really amazing ‐‐ Yeah.

...and it just didn't take me beyond that.

Kimmy: I did not give my best performance

and the expectations were high,

and I didn't reach them yesterday,

so I'm really hoping that today,

I can redeem myself and impress them once again.

Bobby: Yeah, you're now at Solo Round.

[ Inhales sharply ] That's pretty cool.

I know. This is crazy.

So, what are you gonna do as far as song choice here?

Oh, I feel like I should literally go big or go home.

I chose "I'm Here" from "The Color Purple"

because it's such a beautiful song,

and its message is so powerful.

It's like a survival song,

and I'm trying to survive here in Hollywood Week.

[ "I'm Here" plays ]

♪ I believe I have inside of me ♪

♪ Everything that I need to live a bountiful life ♪

♪ I'm thankful for ♪

♪ Lovin' who I really am ♪

Kimmy: Thank you so much. Oh, my God!

[ Laughs ] [ Cheers and applause ]

Look at you!

Thank you.

What a cool song choice. Very good.

♪ Any second, I'mma catch my second wind ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

Katy stood up for me.

Yes. That's all I wanted.

I just wanted to redeem myself, and I did.

I feel so great.

[ Sighs ]

It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

Listen, I want to figure out who she is as an artist,

but she's top 10.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. She's good.

It seems like Kimmy has redeemed herself.

And now returning contestant Genavieve Linkowski

is praying for a similar result.

Ryan: How you doing?

I have a lot of feels right now.

A lot of feels? Yeah.

I could see it on your face.

Yeah. It's a big round for me.

I got cut this round last time. This one?

Genavieve: Well, I went to Hollywood Week two years ago,

and I got cut in the Solo Rounds.

The answer for you guys is no.

♪ Don't leave me in the dark ♪

I am so determined

to not let that happen this time.

So, I will be singing "In My Blood" by Shawn Mendes.

I picked that song because it's about not giving up.

I like it. I just think that up top,

you got to really tell a story.

After I got cut from "Idol,"

I really, really, really wanted to just give everything up.

But deep down,

I knew that this is what I'm called to do.

♪♪

I'm a fighter and I don't give up,

and I feel like this song really communicates that.

Because giving up is not in my blood.

♪ In the dark ♪

♪♪

[ "In My Blood" plays ]

♪ Help me ♪

♪ It's like the walls are caving in ♪

♪ Sometimes I feel like giving up ♪

♪ But I just can't ♪

♪ It isn't in my blood ♪

♪ Lying on the bathroom floor, feeling lonely ♪

♪ Overwhelmed and insecure, give me something ♪

♪ I could take to ease my mind slowly ♪

Katy: Wow.

♪ Is there somebody who could help me? ♪

Wow. Lionel: Ah.

♪ It's like the walls are caving in ♪

♪ Sometimes I feel like giving up ♪

♪ But I just can't ♪

♪ It isn't in my blood ♪

♪ It isn't in my blood ♪

♪ It isn't in my blood ♪

♪ I need somebody now ♪

♪ It isn't in my blood ♪

♪ I need somebody now ♪

Wow.

♪ It isn't in my blood ♪

Whoo‐hoo!

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ I can see clearly now, the rain has gone ♪

Oh, my gosh.

I didn't expect Katy's reaction.

I was looking at her the whole time.

I love seeing her grow in realtime.

She's growing.

I think I just gave a performance

that will not send me home,

and I am really excited.

♪ ...sunshiney day ♪

Coming up, stars rise in "Idol's"

most challenging Hollywood Week ever.

We got you, Makayla. Not to worry.

And things get emotional.

I have this dream.

I want this so bad.

That makes me cry.

Woman: Did you see Dad crying?

Will your favorites survive the battle to reach the top 40?

You made it this far.

Louis: It's all I want right now, and ‐‐

and I just really hope I can make it.

♪♪

After singing for survival

through Genre Challenge and Hollywood Duets,

our "Idol" hopefuls only have one more performance left

before top 40.

But just because it's Solo Round,

that doesn't necessarily mean they're all alone on stage.

Luke: With Solo Round, for the first time,

they're out there with a band.

It really puts a clear image

of what they're gonna be when they're a star.

Lionel: The most exciting for me

is when you put the band with the artist.

You guys sound so good.

Oh, thanks. Yeah.

They actually have a unit around them

complementing whatever they're doing.

And then are you guys gonna, like, cut

or does it ring out?

I think the idea is that

we get out of there and your voice hangs over.

Katy: Do they rise to the pro level,

or do you all of a sudden start seeing,

"Oh, they're just not there yet"?

Woman: I am intimidated, but I'm also, like, so excited.

Just the vibe on stage at rehearsal ‐‐

it was just unlike anything.

Man #1: Could it be a little faster and a little bigger?

Yep. Alright.

We'll be there for you.

Man #2: I like it because it, like, elevates the song.

There's, like, performance, there's movement,

there's, like, everything in this.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Lionel: Come on, now!

Jovin: A great future's riding on this performance.

If I don't perform, my day is done.

But I normally perform back at home with bands,

so this is my area.

Y'all stand up for me real quick.

Come on, y'all.

I know I can deliver it how I want to,

so I'm very excited by that.

[ "Parachute" plays ]

♪ You only need a roof when it's raining ♪

♪ You only need a fire when it's cold ♪

♪ You only need a drink when the whiskey ♪

♪ Is the only thing that you have left to hold ♪

♪ Say, the sun comes up and goes back down ♪

♪ Falling feels like flying 'til you hit the ground ♪

♪ Say the words and I'll be there for you ♪

♪ Baby, I will be your ♪

♪♪

♪ Baby, I will be your ♪

♪ Parachute ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

[ Cheers and applause ] Yeah!

♪ Oh, oh ♪ Katy: Yay!

Jovin: With that band, I was in my element,

and I feel like just that extra oomph

was enough to help me out

to get through to the next round.

Band sounds good, guys.

Really sounds good.

Up next is Perrin,

a restaurant singer who auditioned in L. A.

and has been waiting for this performance.

The caliber of the band is so high.

They're so talented.

They get one run‐through with you

and you're like, "Well, that was perfect

and you guys are amazing."

[ Cheers and applause ]

I'm gonna be singing "Good as Hell" today, by Lizzo.

♪ I put my ♪

Oh. You know, you can sing along.

You can help me on those choruses, if you want.

I will.

♪ If he don't love you anymore ♪

Yeah.

♪ Just walk your fine self out the door ♪

♪ I do my hair toss, check my nails ♪

♪ Baby, how you feelin'? ♪

♪ Feelin' good as hell ♪

♪ Hair toss, checkin' my nails, now ♪

♪ I'm tossin' my hair, yeah ♪

♪ Feelin' good as hell ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh‐ooh ♪

♪ Feelin' good as hell ♪

Yeah! Luke: Yeah, good.

[ Cheers and applause ] Lionel: Showed up!

Thank you so much.

Thank you, guys. Good.

You know, that was, um ‐‐ that was risky.

I call it band intimidation.

Sometimes, when you get up for the first time

and you have that much power behind you,

you kind of can get run over by it.

She survived it. Yeah.

Faith: I'm actually feeling very confident.

I've been playing in a band since I was 10 years old,

so I've actually been waiting and dreaming

that I get to this round.

So, it's a real blessing for me.

Alright. Y'all ready?

Sassy. I love it.

♪ I know that she left you ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Yeah, baby, baby ♪

♪ I won't ever leave you, baby ♪

♪ Oh, no, no, no, darling ♪

♪ Won't you cry for me, baby ♪

♪ Cry, cry ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

Ow!

Katy: I just love her so much.

She's almost like a dadgum Dolly Parton.

I mean, the way she talks with her hands.

[ Cheers and applause ]

This caliber of musicians,

um, it's really incredible,

and just hearing them through the door all day,

they sound amazing.

So, I'm really excited to work with them.

♪ And I think it's gonna be a long, long time ♪

♪ 'Til touch down brings me back around in time ♪

♪ I'm not the man they think I am at home ♪

♪ Oh, no, no, no ♪

♪ I'm a rocket man ♪

♪ Rocket man ♪

♪ Burning out a fuse up here alone ♪

Thank you, guys. Thank you. [ Cheers and applause ]

I'm, like, shaking right now.

My whole body's, like, vibrating.

I can't. I'm, like, numb.

Getting in there with those world‐class musicians ‐‐

well, number one, the wall of sound behind you,

there's nothing that compares to that.

That band is incredible.

[ "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" plays ]

Next up, Arthur Gunn is taking the opportunity

to reprise his song from his first audition.

But this time, he has a new arrangement

made with the band in mind.

For the solo round, I'm gonna perform

"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" by The CCR.

♪ Someone told me long ago ♪

I had done that song before in the audition in Milwaukee,

but at this point, we have come very far,

so, you know, I'm gonna be doing my own version on it.

I've changed the scale of the song

and the key it is played in.

It's gonna be a very different kind of vibe.

If you believe in this,

I think you should absolutely be doing this.

It is very experimental,

but I think it could sound good with the band.

Basically, if they don't nail it on the run‐through,

it might not happen. You know what I mean? Yeah.

We'll have, like, one chance to run it, so...

Yeah. Yeah.

And we're doing everything we can to make it happen.

Like Matt said, he's giving you a fighting chance, so...

It is quite a risk. [ Chuckles ]

But it's worth a try.

I'm gonna listen to what you're doing here. Okay.

And then we may run just a little bit of it

at the end again, but... Yeah.

But I'll just hear out what you're doing first. Alright, sounds good.

Okay, cool. Yeah.

♪ Have you ever seen the rain? ♪

We did a pretty good rehearsal,

but I felt it could have been better.

So, you know, it doesn't ‐‐ it doesn't look like

the band's gonna be able to do it, but...

I think the keyboard was trying to...

Kris, the musical director,

was playing with you a little bit,

but that's about it.

Despite their best efforts,

the band doesn't have enough time

to learn his complicated arrangement.

So, with only a few hours to go,

Arthur has to scramble to come up with a new plan.

Arthur: I would still want the band to be in, you know,

but I think it was too short time

for them to arrange with my arrangement.

So, it's just gonna be the guitar and the voice

and no band.

I have to do it just by myself.

You know, I don't have a choice. [ Chuckles ]

[ Applause ]

Lionel: Come on, man.

[ Guitar music plays ]

♪ Someone told me long ago ♪

♪ There's a calm before the storm ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ It's been comin' down for some time ♪

♪♪

♪ But I wanna know ♪

Wow.

♪ Have you ever seen the rain? ♪

I'm just lovin' this.

♪♪

♪ But I wanna know ♪

♪ Well, have you ever seen the rain? ♪

♪♪

♪ Comin' down ♪

♪ On a sunny day? ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Ah. God. Whoo.

Very good. Arthur: Thank you.

Thank you.

♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪

♪ Living like we're renegades ♪

♪ Renegades ♪

Boy, that makes me cry.

Ah. I'm sorry.

I just broke up on that one. I'm sorry. [ Laughs ]

Arthur: I think it went really good.

It was a very experimental performance for me, I think.

It feels pretty satisfying for me.

I feel ‐‐ Yeah, I feel proud I did it.

Welcome back to "American Idol,"

where last night,

Katy offered some words of caution

to the Hollywood Week hopefuls.

Katy: We are hearing that many of you

are interested in singing your own original songs.

But not everyone is Alejandro.

Not all original songs are there yet.

Lionel: This is our last look at you...

Yeah. ...so make sure that one impression

is the right impression.

♪♪

Bobby: So, with the judges saying

that originals are a bit of a risk...

Right. ...how does that make you feel?

Um, I mean, it's definitely very stressful,

but this song ‐‐ I really believe in it.

I know that a cover is what I really should do,

but I know I'd be selling myself short

or not putting my full self out there.

Amelia: I've been looking forward this entire time

to playing an original song.

I know what I can sound like when I'm at my best.

Robert: For this performance, I'm gonna show them

the Robert that they want to see, which is just me.

You know, no more, no less.

This round, I'll be singing an original piece.

♪ And I was taught to suppress my voice ♪

♪ Try to blend in ♪

♪ No need to dream of being anything ♪

♪ 'Cause this time, I promise ♪

♪ This time, I know that ♪

♪ This time, I ♪

♪ Yes, this time, I'll be me ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Katy: That was not good for him.

Lionel: No. No, that was the wrong song for him.

That did not work.

I don't know. It just did not work.

♪ And now I'm running ♪

♪ Watch me run ♪

♪ And turn this flicker into a flame ♪

Katy: She sings great.

It's just that, like ‐‐

It's just really about songs.

I ‐‐ It's so really about songs.

Today, I'm gonna be singing an original called...

[ Music winds to stop ]

[ Exhales sharply ]

Take your time.

♪ My daddy said there's more to life ♪

♪ Than getting out your truth ♪

♪ 'Cause if you laugh and smile when you're broke inside ♪

♪ You'll be gum on someone's shoe ♪

It's just not a song that, like, pulls me,

makes me fall to my knees.

Lionel: It just did not work.

It's ‐‐ I mean ‐‐ That was the wrong choice, wrong everything.

♪ Everyone's walking right past me ♪

♪ Like I don't even exist ♪

♪ If I were a home ♪

♪ They'd build right over it ♪

♪ Can you feel me when I'm the air? ♪

♪ When I whisper in your ear? ♪

♪ Do you hear me singing this song? ♪

Katy: That was, uh, not the edge he needed.

I still like him, though.

I like him a lot, too, but that was disappointing.

I couldn't tell what the judges thought.

It made me very nervous.

I just don't even want to know

what went through Katy Perry's head when I said,

"I don't know the name of my own song."

I'm just gonna forget that happened.

Amelia: It was a risk, yeah. It was a risk.

[ Sniffles ]

[ Voice breaking ] And I'm really tired.

Sorry.

Weighing her song choice in the wings

is Lauren Mascitti,

whose original composition landed her a golden ticket

in the first place.

♪ Like nobody's loved you ♪

You're going to Hollywood. Yes. Yes.

Yes, yes, yes. Thank you so much!

Yes. Yes.

Lauren: I'm a little bit nervous

about performing a song I wrote,

but it's special to me and I want people to hear it.

[ Applause ]

You know, I really want to share a part of myself

in my own songs.

Hello.

I'm gonna go out on a limb

and not take advantage of this incredible band.

I wrote a song that celebrates

the beauty and the uniqueness of being a woman,

and I drew inspiration for that

from that beautiful woman over there, who is my nana.

Oh.

My nana has always looked out for me.

She was my first and strongest example

of what a woman is supposed to be.

Hi, friends. Hi.

Lauren Mascitti here. And Nana.

And Nana. And Nana.

This is Big Hot Mama.

Big Hot Mama. [ Laughs ]

I'm crazy about that girl.

Oh, that's wonderful.

♪ When your fear is currency ♪

Look at that girl skate.

♪ And you feel that urgency ♪

♪ You want peace ♪ Lauren: She's been such a huge part of my life.

Who I am as a person is because of her.

♪ But there's war in your head ♪

When she was probably 3 years old...

♪ Maybe that's where life is born ♪

...she would just make up little jingles.

I like playing guitar a lot.

Dee: How much do you like it?

♪ Pain gives birth to the promise ahead ♪

[ Gasps ]

So, I was aware, you know, that she really loved music.

Oh, that's her taking piano lessons.

Lauren: She has encouraged me throughout my whole entire life.

These are all albums of things that she's done.

She's feisty. She's hilarious.

She's my hero.

Dee: I'm her grandparent,

and so I won't be around because I'm older,

but the pictures and the videos that I've done

will tell the story.

♪ If you could only let your guard down ♪

Lauren: Nana is going with me to Hollywood.

Yes, I am.

♪ I swear that I won't let you go ♪

I'm so happy you're here with me. Me, too.

I wouldn't miss this for nothing.

♪ If you could only let go your doubts ♪

Lauren: This is something really big that could happen in my life,

and it means so much having my nana here.

♪ I swear that I won't let you go ♪

And I love her so much.

♪ I won't let you go ♪

Wow. So sweet.

This is called "God Made a Woman."

♪♪

♪ God made a man, and he looked around ♪

♪ At the birds in the sky ♪

♪ And the bees to the ground ♪

♪ Saying, "Adam, my boy, you look a little down" ♪

♪ So God made a woman ♪

♪ He took a little beauty, took a little grace ♪

♪ A whole lot of passion and a whole lot of pain ♪

♪ Put it all together and gave it a name ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ God made a woman ♪

♪ God made a woman to hold the hand ♪

♪ Of the sick and the young and the broken man ♪

♪ To fall in love and fill the land ♪

♪ With beating hearts of fire ♪

♪ What you gonna do when the night gets cold ♪

♪ And you need somebody to feed your soul? ♪

♪ He said, "It ain't no good for a man to be alone" ♪

♪ So God made a woman ♪

Very good.

♪ He said, "It ain't no good for a man to be alone" ♪

♪ So God made a woman ♪

Very good. Very good. Katy: Wow.

Wow. Very good.

Good job. Very good.

♪ I won't let you go ♪

Wow.

♪ I won't let you go ♪

Lauren: Thank you so much.

♪ I won't let you go ♪

Strong song.

♪ There ain't no darkness strong enough ♪ Aww.

♪ That could tear you out from my heart ♪ Lauren: It meant a lot.

I'm not sure if it was enough

to get through to the next round,

but I love music.

I want to do it for the rest of my life.

♪ If you could only let go your doubts ♪

Katy: She has so much potential,

but there's some people coming up.

There's definitely gonna be some competition.

Man: Clear those aisles, 'cause here we go

with more great singers.

Katy: [ Laughs ] We hope.

♪ I won't let you go ♪

Ryan: Welcome back to "Idol."

For the lucky contestants who survive solos,

an amazing surprise awaits.

♪ It's hard to get away ♪

They will perform a showcase on the beach

and then wait for final judgment

at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.

With all the contestants

fighting for a spot in the top 40,

our next two singers

are actually rooting for each other.

This is my best friend. This is my best friend.

I get to sing with my best friend.

We get to sing together on "American Idol."

♪ Friends ♪

♪ With you till the end ♪

Sophia: I would have gone crazy by now

if Sarah was not here.

Sarah's, like, home,

and it's great to have a piece of home with you

in an unfamiliar setting like this.

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Ah ♪

It totally blew me away.

[ Laughs ]

You're going to Hollywood!

Oh, yay!

Sarah: I mean, it's just crazy that we're both here.

We met in college in our a cappella group,

the ScatterTones,

and we live together in our little apartment.

But Hollywood Duets proved friendship alone

isn't enough to keep you in the competition.

♪ Have your friends collect your records ♪

♪ And then change your number ♪

♪ Oh, whoa ♪

I didn't connect with that, crazily.

Am I ‐‐ Did y'all connect with it? Yeah. Not at all.

Sophia: That was awful.

Sarah: That was truly the worst

me and Sophia have ever sounded together.

Truly the worst we've ever sounded.

It was really not that good? Oh.

No.

Like, that was our one strike.

I definitely have to knock it out of the park

for Solo Rounds.

Sophia: I'm not sure how well I will do tonight,

but I'm really hoping we both get a yes today.

♪ Hold my hand ♪

♪ And we're halfway there ♪

♪ Hold my hand ♪

♪ And I'll take you there ♪

♪ Somehow ♪

♪ Some day ♪

♪ Somewhe‐e‐e‐e‐re ♪

[ Cheers and applause ] Very good.

♪ Whe‐e‐e‐re ♪

Luke: Wow.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Katy: Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whoo!

Yeah. Yeah.

♪♪

It wasn't perfect, but I felt it.

Now I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for Sarah.

[ Applause ] There you go.

Here you go.

Right. Here you go.

♪ If you keep reaching out ♪

♪ Then I'll keep coming back ♪

♪ And if you're gone for good ♪

♪ Then I'm okay with that ♪

♪ If you leave the light on ♪

♪ Then I'll leave the light on ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ If you leave the light on ♪

♪ Then I'll leave the light on ♪

♪ Friends ♪ Fought through that.

♪ With you till the end ♪

[ Chuckles ]

I wish I could get feedback from them right now.

I think it will be positive.

Being here is such a blessing,

and I'm getting to do what I love.

♪ They're gonna be right there ♪

If me and Sophia made it through all of this together,

that would be insane.

I don't know.

I'm just happy to do this with her.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Our next singer also started "Idol"

with her own special someone.

How are you feeling? Kat: I'm nervous.

I don't have Alex here, but he's watching me today... Lionel: There you go.

...so I'm really excited.

Katy: Aww. Good. Hey, there, Alex.

This song is dedicated to him, so I'm really happy.

Yeah.

♪ Oh, I believe ♪ ♪ Yes, I believe ♪

Kat: During the duet round, Alex was sent home.

We have a situation.

Alex, you're not gonna go through on this next round.

It was super, super hard for me.

I really couldn't believe it

because I thought it was gonna be the other way around.

You're gonna keep moving forward

and you're gonna keep doing your thing.

I'm doing it for both of us. Yeah.

It's just ‐‐ It's been a hard night for me.

But you made it through.

Like, you're here. Yeah. I know.

It's just ‐‐ It's amazing that I get another shot at this,

and then it's also just hard at the same time

'cause he's not here.

I feel empty,

but I know that I'm gonna give it all I have

and I want to win this for the both of us,

'cause it's not only my dream, it's his.

♪ You look at me ♪

♪ And, babe, I wanna catch on fire ♪

♪ So, when I'm all choked up, but I can't find the words ♪

♪♪

♪ Every time you say goodbye, baby, it hurts ♪

♪♪

♪ When the sun goes down ♪

♪ And the band won't play ♪

♪ I'll always remember us this way ♪

♪ Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

[ Applause ] Lionel: There you go.

♪ You're giving me a million reasons to let you go ♪ Thank you so much.

♪ You're giving me a million reasons... ♪

This song was dedicated to Alex,

and when I saw him in the audience, it was really awesome.

And I felt it more.

♪ Give me a million reasons ♪

Even though he's not in the competition anymore,

I poured my heart and soul out on that stage,

and I feel like it was enough, and hopefully, they agree.

♪ Baby, I just need one good one to stay ♪

I love you. I love you more.

While Kat awaits her results,

our next contestant still can't believe he's here.

♪ I just made something new ♪

Franklin: I hoped that I would make it this far,

but I wasn't very sure that I would.

I feel like my personality ‐‐

you know, being introverted and maybe a little shy ‐‐

has been a little bit of a challenge.

♪ Future looks like the past ♪

When I did my first audition,

I expected to barely make it through.

♪ Ah ♪

Luke: When I entered into this season,

I said, "I want another Alejandro moment"...

Sure. Right. Right.

...and that ‐‐ Yeah.

...that got right there with it.

I thought it was really cool and encouraging

that they were making those comparisons.

To even be put in the same sentence as him

is encouraging to me.

Franklin: Some of the other people here

have, like, these really, like, vibrant,

like, high‐energy personalities.

I feel this, like, unspoken pressure

to, like, want to change my personality a little bit,

and then whenever I feel that,

I just think back to you,

and you just were yourself the whole season,

and it still carried you to the top.

And so, I just wanted to thank you for not changing

so I could feel comfortable and not to change myself.

Alejandro: Aww, man. Thanks.

I tried to show that the best I can, and so...

You show it well.

It's a lot of work.

But you just be comfortable in your own skin

'cause it's well worth it.

Never change.

You're you for a reason.

[ Applause ] Franklin: It was an honor

to really be in the same room with him.

It really made me feel like

there was more of a place for people like me here.

If somebody like him can go as far as he went,

then maybe I can do it, too.

♪ In my darkness, I remember ♪

♪ My momma's words reoccur to me ♪

♪ "Trust in the Lord and He will ♪

♪ Wipe your slate clean" ♪

♪ Take me to your river ♪

♪ I wanna go ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Take me to your river ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ Wanna go ♪

Lionel: There you go.

[ Cheers and applause ]

There you go.

Franklin: I made it to the end of Hollywood Week,

and if I don't make it past this round,

I think I could still be proud of, you know, how far I did go.

But I would love to go further,

for my wife, for my daughter.

‐Hi, Daddy. ‐Hey, baby.

Franklin: I love your bow.

I wish you guys could be here.

Woman: Do you know when you're gonna know

if you made it through?

Later on today. That's exciting.

It is.

Coming up on "Idol"...

Oh, my God.

♪♪

‐Oh, my God! ‐What just happened?

And later...

‐This is the last round. ‐It could make me or break me.

...Hollywood Week comes to a dramatic close.

Luke: She may be the best singer.

This is getting stupid.

Who's left standing and who goes home?

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Hold on ♪

♪ Hold on to me ♪

Just Sam: I made it to the last round.

It's unbelievable.

But physically,

I have some pain in my throat,

and I'm a little bit nauseous.

For the past two days, I've been waking up hoarse,

so it's like...

will I crack when I sing?

[ Vocalizing ]

I'm not used to being sick and singing.

So, I'm just trying to do what I can with it.

I hear it, and the voice is starting to skip a little bit,

which means that it's starting to act a little funky.

Is it on fire?

Okay.

But, look, this is the last show. Right.

It's all out on the line right now.

Even though you feel like this isn't there,

you have to be there. Right.

Does that make sense? Yes.

It's been a really, really long week.

I have so much to prove today.

I have to show

just how confident in my abilities I am.

I got you.

[ Sobs ] I got you.

Just give it your best, alright? Yeah.

Are you gonna quit? Never.

Are you gonna quit? [ Laughing ] Never.

Then give me all you got, okay?

♪ Hold on to me ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm a little unsteady ♪

I need to make it past this round today.

I'm gonna give it all I got so that I can stay here.

♪ Hold on to me ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm a little unsteady ♪

♪ A little unsteady ♪

♪♪

♪ I'm gonna ♪

♪ Take a deep breath ♪

♪ Gonna hold my head up ♪

♪ Gonna put my shoulders back ♪

♪ And look you straight in the eye ♪

Lionel: Come on, girl.

♪ I'm gonna flirt with somebody ♪

♪ When they walk by ♪

♪ I'm gonna sing out ♪

♪ I'll sing out ♪

Alright. I feel it.

♪ I believe I have inside of me ♪

♪ Everything that I need to live a bountiful life ♪

♪ And all the love alive in me ♪

♪ I'll stand as tall as the tallest tree ♪

♪ And I'm thankful for ♪

♪ Loving who I really am ♪

Wow. Great job.

[ Cheers and applause ] Wow.

♪ Won't look back ♪

Damn.

♪ I'm on my way up ♪ Damn.

That's why we believe in kids right there. Damn.

Katy: That is correct.

Just Sam: I'm feeling really, really happy with my performance.

My throat hurts, but I gave it all that I got.

I mean, she's special.

Oh. She's just ‐‐

Oh, my God.

Sam.

These past couple of days,

I was bringing my box here for luck,

and after going through Hollywood Week...

[Voice breaking] I don't think I'm ever

gonna need that box again,

and I don't think I'm ever gonna need

to sing on the train again.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Just Sam has fought through her personal obstacles,

but the pressures of Solo Round

are weighing heavily on the contestants

still in the wings.

Man #1: Everyone is tired now. Everyone's throat is sore.

But today's the day to just pull out the stops

and deal with the rest tomorrow.

♪ I can't be everything ♪

♪ That you want me to ♪

Man #2: This is the last round for Hollywood Week.

[ Inhales, exhales sharply ]

The nerves are setting in.

Sheniel: I'm definitely feeling the pressure.

It's a day that could make me or break me.

I just feel like I'm under‐prepared.

I'm feeling really tired.

Got like eight hours of sleep the whole entire week.

You feel sick? Yes.

Woman: I've been trying to not talk as much the last few days.

I'm just trying to get my mind right.

This is ‐‐ It's ‐‐ Okay.

♪ I am walking the tightrope for you ♪

Marcus: I'm a little nervous,

and I'm trying to remember all the words.

There's a lot of weight on my shoulders,

so I'm gonna do it and see what happens.

Hopefully it goes good and I don't blank out.

What's going on, guys?

♪ I'm waiting up ♪

♪ I'm losing all myself tonight ♪

♪ Holding tight ♪

Can I redo that, man? I'm sorry.

Can I?

Yeah, I'd like to. I'm sorry, man.

I just learned this song, like, last night.

[ Drumsticks clacking ]

♪ I'm waiting up ♪

♪ I'm losing all myself tonight ♪

♪ Holding light ♪

♪ We... ♪

[ Exhales sharply ]

Keep on going. Ugh!

Keep on going, keep on going, keep on going.

♪♪

Marcus: I do not think

that was one of my better performances at all.

When I went out there...

[ Clicks tongue ]

...blankness, and...

I mean, yeah, I tried to start it over,

but then I didn't get a chance to, like, look at the ‐‐

If I could have just looked at the word in my pocket,

you know, then I might have.

I thought about writing lyrics on my hand.

I should've did that.

What was ‐‐ What just happened?

Oh, my God.

♪ Baby ♪

♪ How do you sleep when you lie to me? ♪

♪ All that shame and all that danger ♪

♪ I'm hopin' that your love will keep me up tonight ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ How do you ♪

♪ Oh, tell me, tell me how ♪

♪ Tell me, tell me how ♪

♪ How do you sleep? ♪

♪ How do you sleep? ♪

♪ How? ♪

[ Applause ]

That would have been so good if it was on key.

We are in the midst of cracking under pressure.

♪ I don't care if I sing off key ♪

♪ I got myself and my melodies ♪

♪ I sing for love, I sing for me ♪

♪ I shout it out like a bird set free ♪

Why are people doing this to themselves? Did I ‐‐ Did I take ‐‐

Did I take the wrong vitamin pill this morning?

[ Laughs ] Something happened, right?

Yeah, I have no idea what the hell was going on

in that one.

♪ Everything that I need ♪

♪ We're in heaven ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪♪

Yeah.

♪ All that I want ♪

♪ All that I need ♪

I don't get it.

I don't understand what everybody's trying to do.

Have they been just...

It's Hollywood Week.

You're tired. Don't go crazy.

♪ Take me to your river ♪

♪ I wanna go ♪

[ High‐pitched ] ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Take me to your river ♪

♪ I wanna go ♪

Are they just chugging coffee back there

and just coming in and freaking out?

[ Laughs ] You know what I think?

They're like, "Eee!" I think...

[ Laughs ]

I mean...can I go ‐‐ can I talk to them?

[ Applause ]

Lionel: What? Where's she going?

This is getting stupid.

♪♪

Man: Yes. Come here. Come here, come here, come here.

Hi.

I'm just gonna give you a tip.

Everyone's trying all these high notes

that they've never done before, and it sounds really weird,

and it's freaking us out.

So, just, like, be yourself.

Woman: Yes. Yes, ma'am.

It's Hollywood Week,

they are tired, they can't sing...

But the‐‐ ...and they're pushing too hard.

Just be good.

♪♪

You all right? Yeah.

♪♪

I just told them to calm down.

[ Laughs ] Lionel: Exactly right.

We may have 20 in Hawaii.

[ Laughs ] Right.

They don't know they're going to Hawaii.

My God, man.

Makayla B.: I'm excited and nervous for this performance.

It's the most important one of my life, probably.

It's gonna be very stressful, and I don't handle stress well.

[ Applause ]

Man: Up next to the "Idol" stage,

Makayla Brownlee.

♪♪

Hi, guys.

I'm Makayla Brownlee,

I'm gonna be singing "Rainbow" by Kacey Musgraves.

I chose this song because, no matter what happens,

there's always gonna be that rainbow.

♪♪

She okay? Wait, are you okay?

You okay? Oh, my God.

Go get her, go get her.

What happened? Stop, stop, stop.

Let her go, let her go, let her go.

Man: Grab me, grab me, grab me, grab me.

Come on. You're okay. You're okay. You're okay.

You're okay, you're okay. ‐Let's get her down.

♪♪

Relax, we got you. We're all here. Don't worry.

I'm gonna go check on her. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

No. Well, don't ‐‐ Give her a little space.

Give her a little space. Oh, I will. I'm just gonna...

She okay? You all right, baby?

Lionel: You okay?

We got you. We got you.

Man: We got you, Makayla. Not to worry.

Do you have any sugar?

Maybe like a candy? Yeah.

‐Orange juice? ‐Yeah, orange juice is awesome.

Wonderful.

‐You're okay. ‐You're okay.

Lionel: You're okay. You're okay, you're okay.

How are you doing, Makayla?

You with us?

Woman: She's seizing. All right.

Breathe through it. We got you.

She okay?

♪♪

Woman: Oh, she's seizing. She's seizing.

Okay, all right.

[ Siren wails ]

Makayla has a condition that's, uh, pretty rare.

♪♪

Makayla B.: In seventh grade,

I was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope.

It's a heart condition that causes me

to react to stress differently than other people,

and it could cause a seizure.

She can't control it.

She's embarrassed,

but physically, she's 100% all right.

♪♪

This opportunity is so important for her.

I'd hate to see it inhibited in any way

because she's such a good singer.

She works so hard at it.

She's gonna go get looked at,

but we don't know if she'll be back.

Okay, hopefully she's all right

and can make it back before we finish.

Man: And, ladies and gentlemen, Camryn Leigh Smith.

[ Cheers and applause ]

My name is Camryn Leigh Smith.

I picked this song because I really wanted to show you guys

I can't just only do, um, soft, sentimental songs,

that I can also do powerhouse songs, so...

♪ It's buried in my soul ♪

♪ Like California gold ♪

♪ You found the light in me that I couldn't find ♪

Whoo!

♪ So when I'm all choked up and I can't find the words ♪

♪ Every time we say goodbye, baby, it hurts ♪

♪ When the sun goes down ♪

♪ And the band won't play ♪

♪ I'll always remember us this way ♪

♪ I'll always remember us ♪

♪ This way ♪

Wow! Yes, powered through that.

You powered through that.

Camryn: I feel like it went amazing.

Thank you, guys. Powered through that.

Katy Perry stood up for me.

Like, that's a great sign.

She stood up for me my first audition, um,

and I've just kind of been waiting for that again,

and it happened, so I'm really excited how it went.

Lionel: Is she okay, guys?

What is going on? Woman: She's stabilized,

but we're still waiting for word on if she can return.

Hi, guys.

[ Applause ]

My name is Devon Alexander.

When I first heard this song, I really felt something,

and I really hope that I can make you guys

feel something, as well.

♪ Sometimes I look down ♪

♪ Afraid I will fall ♪

♪ And though the sun shines ♪

♪ I see nothing ♪

♪ At all ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

Thank you, guys.

Ah, very good. Good job.

[ Applause ] That was amazing.

Boy, he put his foot on that one.

Devon: I was super stressed that I was gonna mess up.

I ‐‐ I think I got it.

I really hope that it's good enough.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Lauren: Hello. Katy: Hello.

Okay, so I hadn't really heard of this song

until yesterday, and I saw it on the list,

and I thought that I wanted to take a risk,

so I'm gonna do "The Joke" by Brandi Carlile.

♪♪

♪ Let 'em laugh while they can ♪

♪ Let 'em spin ♪

♪ Let 'em scatter in the wind ♪

♪ I have been to the movies ♪

♪ I've seen how it ends ♪

♪ The joke's ♪

♪ On them ♪

♪ Ohh, ohh ♪

♪ The joke's on them ♪

Lionel: Wow. Luke: Wow! Great job.

Thank you. 16.

[ Cheers and applause ]

I hope I got that place in the top 40,

but it's really unpredictable.

It's out of my hands,

so I'll just have to see what the judges say.

Katy: Who's coming in next?

Man: Give a big hand, ladies and gentlemen,

to Makayla Brownlee. [ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Hold tight, you're slowly coming back to life ♪

♪ I'll be keeping your head up ♪

♪ I'll be keeping your head up, darling ♪

♪ Let go of all ♪

Makayla B.: Hi, let's try this again.

♪ Your haunted dreams tonight ♪

♪ I'll be keeping your head up ♪

♪ I'll be keeping your head up ♪

You got this.

[ "Rainbow" plays ]

♪ When it rains, it pours ♪

♪ But you didn't even notice ♪

♪ It ain't rainin' anymore ♪

♪ It's hard to breathe when all you know is ♪

♪ The struggle of staying above ♪

♪ The rising water line ♪

♪ But the sky is finally open ♪

♪ The rain and wind stops blowin' ♪

♪ But you're stuck out in the same old storm again ♪

♪ You hold tight to your umbrella ♪

♪ Darlin', I'm just tryin' to tell ya ♪

♪ That there's always been a rainbow ♪

♪ Hangin' over your head ♪

♪ Yeah, there's always been a rainbow ♪

♪ Hangin' over your head ♪

♪ Mm, mm‐mm‐mm ♪

Lionel: Yeah. Katy: Aww.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughs ]

Thank you.

♪♪

The stress this week

has definitely been a lot harder on me

than anything that I've ever gone through.

♪ 'Cause the sky is finally open ♪ Come on, Makayla. Come on!

There's nothing I can do to prevent a seizure.

When I'm stressed out, my body just reacts differently.

♪ There's always been a rainbow ♪

It's tough, but I made it this far, so...

Katy: [ Crying ]

You okay?

Yeah.

That was so sweet.

Oh, my God, when we're like, "I'm tired."

[ Laughs ] Oh, I know.

[ Voice breaking ] Oh, my God.

Perspective, right? Lionel: Yeah.

Ahh...

I'm good.

You're good. You're good.

Ryan: Welcome back to "American Idol."

As we near the end of Hollywood Week,

the contestants' fates loom large.

They don't know it yet,

but if they can survive solos...

they'll get a chance to sing for their lives in Hawaii

during final judgment.

Up next is Dillon James,

who's been through some personal struggles

to be here today.

Dillon: About five years ago,

my life wasn't like this, how it is today.

I lived a very negative life.

I lost myself in drugs and alcohol.

I'm two years sober, I'm doing really good,

I'm the happiest I've ever been.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

It's pretty shocking that I'm here still.

Right now, I'm just trying to stay calm.

This is probably the most important audition for me

of the week,

'cause I'm playing an original song,

so I just want to do it justice.

You're going with one of your own songs?

Going with an original, yeah. Yeah.

I'm proud of myself for getting this far, for sure.

A lot of my dreams are coming true

that I've been hoping and wishing for

for a long time,

and I'm doing something positive in my life

for my family, for myself,

and it means everything to me.

♪ As the sun, it slowly keeps the time ♪

♪ But I only hear the fire crack ♪

♪ As I listen to 'em howl ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh‐ooh ♪

♪ I fall asleep laying on my back ♪

♪ As I listen to 'em howl ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh‐ooh ♪

♪ Tierra dulce ♪

♪ Tierra dulce ♪

♪ I'm just an old desperado on the run ♪

♪ Howling at the moon ♪

♪ Shooting my gun ♪

♪ Tierra ♪

♪ Tierra dulce ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

Thank you, guys, very much.

♪♪

I'm proud of myself.

I'm proud to be sober.

I'm turning into who I think I'm supposed to be.

And while Dillon looks to the future,

our next "Idol" hopeful is still reckoning with his past.

Louis: I don't want to make an excuse,

but I'm just really struggling.

It's been really hard focusing.

It seems that Louis is still processing a personal tragedy

that he shared with the judges in his D. C. audition.

I wrote this song about going through

the loss of one of my best friends to suicide.

♪♪

About a year and a half ago, Russell took his own life.

♪ Had to jump into the water ♪

He was like a rock for me.

I mean, my whole world just kind of stopped.

I was left with all these kind of unresolved feelings.

I didn't really deal with it.

♪ Full of highs and lows ♪

Yeah, you know my friend that passed away?

It actually would've been his birthday today.

It's weird 'cause, like,

it's been such a big part of my life

for the last year and a half, and...

I don't know, I've been putting it

out of my mind, but... Bobby: Why would you do that?

Why would you put it out of your mind?

I don't think it's the time to put it out of your mind.

[ Sighs ] I have been. I don't know why.

I just...

I don't know why.

It's a whirlwind of emotions here in Hollywood Week,

and having all of this stuff coming back up, um...

that you think you've made peace with,

it's just really hard.

It's really hard.

There is nothing wrong

with you thinking about your friend. I'm sorry.

No, don't ‐‐ Why ‐‐

Why are you so sorry about emotion, man?

Here you are,

about to walk on that stage and sing,

and you're trying to block that out?

Oh, he would be so mad at me right now. Yeah.

Like, why not use him as your inspiration?

Yeah.

♪ It's time for change ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Hey, guys.

Hey, Katy.

[ Laughs ] Luke: [ Laughs ]

‐Louis! ‐Yeah, Louis!

Right.

Whoo!

Is that your mom?

That is my mum, yeah. Woman: I am his mum.

Oh, my God, she's such a beautiful mom!

Louis: Thank you. She's incredible.

They're all incredible.

Katy, I love you.

Katy: [ English accent ] Oh, and she's English!

Oh, babe, she's a beaut!

[ Laughter ]

Luke: All right, let's hear what you got there, Louis.

Louis: I'm gonna be singing ‐‐ I'm gonna be singing, um,

"Hold Me While You Wait" by Lewis Capaldi.

♪♪

♪ I'm waiting up ♪

♪ Saving all my precious time ♪

♪ Losing light ♪

♪ I'm missing my ♪

♪ Same old us ♪

♪ Before we learned our truth too late ♪

♪ Resigned to fate ♪

♪ Fading away ♪

♪ So, if you're gonna waste my time ♪

♪ Let's waste it right ♪

♪ And hold me while you wait ♪

♪ I wish that I was good enough ♪

♪ If only I could wake you up ♪

♪ My love, my love, my love, my love ♪

♪ Won't you stay a while? ♪

♪ I wish you'd cared a little more ♪

♪ I wish you'd told me this before ♪

♪ My love, my love, my love, my love ♪

♪ Won't you stay a while? ♪

Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Woman: Yes, Louis!

Oh, Mom is crying.

♪♪

♪ Life gets hard and it gets messed up ♪

♪ When you give so much, but it's not enough ♪

That wasn't perfect, but ‐‐

No, but his voice is tired.

Even when his voice is tired, it's beautiful.

It's still cool. I'm crying.

I have chills talking about it.

♪ Time takes time to heal it ♪

Louis: I think that went well.

Um, I was such a wreck this morning.

Bobby had some really kind words of wisdom for me,

and really just helped me believe in myself when I didn't,

um, because I wouldn't have been able to do that.

Did you see Dad crying?

[ Laughs ]

Shh.

Shh. Shh. You big baby.

♪ Don't let it break your heart ♪

♪ You can't cut me loose until you show me ♪

Welcome back to "American Idol."

Solo Round is the last opportunity

for our competitors to convince the judges

they belong in the top 40.

So often, that comes down to one very important choice.

Katy: First and foremost, it's all about song choice.

You have to tell your story really quickly

and really succinctly.

Man: Three, two, one, go!

[ All yelling ]

Luke: Picking the right song is so critical

because if they can't figure out songs to impress us,

they're certainly not gonna be able to figure out

songs to record in the future.

Lionel: What I'm looking for is instant identity.

You just stay in your lane,

but make sure you sell your lane perfectly.

This decision can become complicated

when some of our "Idol" hopefuls

find themselves signing up for the same song

as their competitors.

Olivia: I'm gonna be singing "I Wanna Dance with Somebody"

by Whitney Houston.

You had to add the heart. I know. I had to.

I had to. I'm sorry.

There are a couple other people singing this song,

but that does not deter me from, you know, performing my best.

I'm gonna make sure, you know,

my performance stands out a little bit more

just by my dance moves.

You know, I'm a dancer. I love to dance.

This song just allows me to express myself

in a way the judges have not seen before yet.

Whitney?

Here we go.

[ Clears throat ] Yeah.

Geena: My whole point of this competition

is to really showcase who I am as an artist

and my individuality.

But YZ's singing the same song as me?

And, I mean, he's ripping on runs,

and doing all this stuff,

so you want to see your, like, fellow person do well,

but it's like sibling rivalry.

You're kind of like, "Ugh, but I want to do better."

Like, you know, just a little jab.

Bobby: Anyone else doing that song?

Yes, I heard Geena do that song.

Right after I practiced, she did it,

and she literally killed it,

so I can't be playing no games when I do it.

I got to practice a little bit more so I can keep up.

Yzthasinger: I feel like I have a little bit of edge

with singing the same song

because, like, I'm doing it in a male version.

But at the same time, I got some real competition,

so I know I got to come with it.

It's like ‐‐ This is not to be taken lightly.

Cyniah: I had a little bit of strategy in picking my song.

I went down the list, I said, "Whitney."

Stopped instantly.

Lionel: You remind me very much of Whitney.

Such control and mastery of your voice.

It was almost effortless.

So I was like, "Okay, Whitney Houston's on the list.

Let's give them some of that."

♪ I spend enough time to figure out ♪

♪ How to chase my blues away ♪

She's a great singer.

Yeah.

♪ I thought I had it up till now ♪

♪ But it's the light of day that shows me how ♪

♪ But when the night falls ♪

♪ My lonely heart calls ♪

Whoo!

♪ I wanna dance with somebody ♪

Come on!

♪ I wanna feel the heat with somebody ♪

♪ Oh, I wanna dance with somebody ♪

♪ With somebody who loves me ♪

♪ Oh, I wanna dance with somebody ♪

Come on! Come on, girl!

♪ I wanna feel the heat ♪

♪ Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody ♪

♪ With somebody who loves me ♪

♪ Hey, I wanna dance with somebody ♪

♪ I wanna feel the heat, yeah ♪

Lionel: Come on!

♪ Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody ♪

♪ With somebody who loves me ♪

Yeah!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Luke: Yeah, great.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

Thank you.

I would take her out, maybe.

Um...

They're really similar, these two.

And she's a better singer.

She's got more showmanship.

But he was hyperventilating on most of the notes.

He is a good singer. Yeah, yeah.

But it's okay.

I mean, I know his voice underneath there is great.

♪ I am free, yeah, yeah ♪

Our next contestant, Makayla Phillips,

is hoping an unexpected song choice

will highlight her versatility to the judges.

For this last round of Hollywood Week,

I chose "Cuz I Love You" by Lizzo.

I think this is the song to get me through

only because this is the first, like, kind of upbeat song

that I've done.

The band cuts out, it's all you.

So I wouldn't do a note in your headvoice.

I would do something crazy and fabulous.

♪ 'Cause I love you ♪

Makayla P.: I think I did choose a risky song

only because it's not normally something I would sing.

I'm an R&B singer, so usually, I'm singing ballads,

but this song was really playful, and I just ‐‐

I wanted to have some fun with it.

♪ I need to know you in it ♪ [ Applause ]

♪ If you got time, let's spend it ♪

♪ Ohh, yeah, yeah ♪

Makayla P.: Hi.

I'm gonna be singing "Cuz I Love You" by Lizzo.

And I chose that song because it's extremely playful,

it's really, really fun,

and thought I'd just have some fun with it.

♪♪

♪ Got me standing in the rain ♪

♪ Gotta get my hair pressed again ♪

♪ I would do it for you all, my friend ♪

♪ Ready, baby? Will you be my man? ♪

♪ Wanna put you on a plane ♪

♪ Fly you out to wherever I am ♪

♪ Caught you on the low, I was ashamed ♪

♪ Now I'm crazy, about to 'tatch your name ♪

♪ I thought that I didn't care ♪

♪ I thought I was love‐impaired ♪

♪ But, baby ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ I don't know what I'm gonna do ♪

♪ I'm crying ♪

♪ 'Cause I love you ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh‐oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh‐oh‐oh ♪

♪ Yeah, babe, because I love you ♪

♪ Ohh, ohh ♪

[ Vocalizing ]

♪ I'm crying ♪

♪ 'Cause I lo‐o‐o‐o‐o‐o‐ve ♪

♪ You ♪

Lionel: Very good.

[ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

Very good.

That was the worst song she's picked.

It was.

It's not like she's out of the race,

but it was the worst song.

♪♪

Makayla P.: Um...I wanted to cry.

Now we wait, and it's ‐‐ it's nerve‐racking

because there's just ‐‐ there's a lot going on,

and you have to just sit and kind of be calm.

I want to stay so bad. I hope that I make it through.

As tough as Hollywood Week has been,

many of our contestants have been fortunate enough

to find solace in friends and family.

I'm just happy you are here.

I'm happy you are here. And you are here.

And you are here. I have my girls with me.

Mwah! Love you.

I love you, too.

This is my mom!

And then, there's Jonny and Margie,

who received some tough love

after a shaky duet performance.

♪ I'm gonna hold you ♪

♪ Like we're saying goodbye ♪

Katy: It's great to have partnership,

but just know your priorities right now,

because you both are barely passing on

to the next round.

Margie: I'm nervous for solo round.

I don't want to go home.

I know that feeling.

I'm not ready for that feeling yet.

I came to prove myself.

The judges need your heart and soul.

Yes. I don't feel like you're putting it all out there.

Okay. Are you?

I have to let go of thinking about Jonny right now.

I know he's gonna shine, but I got to focus on myself,

because I feel like I have to prove something.

Margie: Ugh, I'm, like, freaked.

Jonny: Don't freak out. Don't freak out.

I think about the fact they were like,

"You guys are just making it through,"

and I'm like, "Shoot."

Yeah, I know. I know.

Jonny: Yesterday's performance wasn't great at all,

and so I'm hoping that I can perform today

and kind of say my piece and then get back to a space

of just feeling secure in my ability.

When it came to picking a song for the solo round,

I definitely already knew I had to do an original.

This song is one of my favorites to play

just because I feel like it tells my story

in a better way than me telling it.

♪ What if I don't have a moment? ♪

♪ And what if it slips and I can't hold it? ♪

♪ And what if I'm playing my keys for nobody? ♪

♪ What if I'm not who I'm supposed to be? ♪

♪ And what if I don't have a moment ♪

♪ Or the moment don't have me? ♪

♪♪

Luke: Great.

Wow!

[ Cheers and applause ]

Lionel: There you go.

Margie: I'm supporting Jonny forever,

but today, it's about me,

proving I deserve to get the chance to keep going.

Hello. My name is Margie Mays.

Um, this song is about feeling left behind

and letting go.

And tonight, that's on my heart.

♪♪

I have my person here, and I want him to go through,

but that doesn't mean that I want to be left behind

because I have this dream, which is why I'm here ‐‐ again.

♪ It's like no other pain ♪

♪ I've ever known ♪

♪ To love someone so much ♪

♪ To have no control ♪

Wow, girl.

♪ You say you want to see the world ♪

♪ I said, "Go" ♪

♪ But I think I'm lost ♪

♪ Without you ♪

♪ I just feel crushed ♪

♪ Without you ♪

♪ I think I'm lost ♪

♪ Lost ♪

Thank you.

[ Chuckling ] [ Laughs ]

[ Applause ] [ Laughs ]

Margie: I don't know if I was in love with that performance.

I feel like there just wasn't much of a reaction.

That was good. She ‐‐ She's really doing better at, uh ‐‐

Growing it.

Margie: I don't know what I feel.

It scares me.

I don't know if that was what it takes to, uh ‐‐

I don't know.

I feel like I left them hanging.

Like, it was almost like she, like, laughed

when I was like, "Thank you."

'Cause I had to, like, signify that it was over.

Uh‐huh.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean that ‐‐ that anything was bad.

It ‐‐ It could be satisfactory

and us not know that it's done.

Satisfactory doesn't move me on.

Now I can only just wait, so...

Ugh!

I'm just not ready to go home from that.

Ryan: The solo round has wrapped.

Katy: I think we've outdone ourself this season

as far as having enough talent.

Lionel: Oh, my God. Luke: It's crazy, guys.

Katy, Luke, and Lionel will deliberate

and make their final selections.

Now the contestants will wait on edge

before they hear the judges' verdict.

People that you thought had the home run...

Katy: Yeah.

...came in today

and just dropped the ball completely.

I kind of lost my voice, so I ‐‐

I really feel scared that I'mma go home today.

I forgot the song title to my own original today.

[ Chuckles ]

Louis: It's all I want right now,

and I just really hope I can make it.

And then this one right here just surprised us.

She's the reason why I love doing this show. Oh!

Right there. Right there.

You can come from nowhere

and start believing in yourself and make something.

Sarah: Being here is about the music for me.

Like, that's all I want to do.

Kat: I poured my heart and soul out on that stage,

and hopefully they agree.

She may be the best singer in the competition.

Her? Yes.

Oh, no, no, no.

I don't get that.

Okay, well, maybe you need to get your ears checked.

We may have to fight about that one.

I'd love to be able to go all the way.

It definitely would be something I've always dreamed of.

Sheniel: I'm just keeping a positive mind‐set

and saying to myself, "I'm going to be in the top 40."

She is great!

Katy: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And where's the little girl‐next‐door girl?

Right here. Right here.

Yeah. She is very sweet,

but there's some other voices that are more ready than her.

Makayla B.: Being sick takes a little bit of the confidence away,

but making it through this round will be huge for me.

I messed up a lyric, but I want to stay so bad.

I hope that I make it through.

At the end of the day,

you never know what they're looking for.

This guy,

he's getting replaced, unfortunately.

Yeah. Yeah, he, uh ‐‐ And this guy.

Yeah, he fumbled. Yeah. Fumbled.

Jovin: This is what I've been practicing for.

This is what I've been sacrificing for.

We laid it all on the line.

Hope they see the potential in me.

And I'm so glad that he...

Lionel: Rose to the occasion.

Yeah, and he keeps showing up.

I think it's a big step for me and my family.

Uh, we could use it.

He's a star if he wants to be a star.

He just needs to stop self‐sabotaging.

♪♪

Jeb: I want to move forward so badly.

This has the potential to change my life.

Nick: This means everything.

If I don't make it today, I have to go home,

and, like, I don't want to go home.

I've had some rough ups and downs in my life,

and I've come this far.

I don't want to let my family down.

This one right here.

I think she's top 10.

Margie: Absolutely I want to move forward.

I want to keep going. I love this.

It's why I came back.

Katy: But this guy, he let me down a little bit.

He did.

Jonny: To be able to do what I love

for the rest of my life,

those are high stakes.

But if I had to choose,

I would definitely choose Margie to go forward.

I think she deserves it.

Lionel: Remember, now, we're throwing out good

for extraordinary.

Speaking of great singers, I thought she ‐‐

Uh...

No! I thought she did so much better.

Katy, Katy, Katy. No!

Are you delirious?

Listen to me ‐‐

I'm not delirious. Are you kidding? Listen.

Look at this board.

Now, what do you say?

This is where we ‐‐ This is where we don't get along.

This is where we really don't get along.

I know it's gonna be a battle,

but I am telling you

we have superstars in this group.

And I'm gonna fight both of you

for a couple of these people.

♪♪

Welcome back to "American Idol."

The judges have made tough decisions

and narrowed down the auditioners

to the best of the best.

All right, well...

You ready to make and break?

I'm happy. Lionel: Listen, listen.

We have superstars in this group right now.

Yeah.

Let's do it. Let's do it.

Come on, guys, let's get out of here.

Let's go and deliver the news, right? [ Sighs ]

This is where we deliver

some good news and some bad news.

Man: Travis Finlay, Amber Fiedler,

Sarah Isen, Robert Taylor.

The "Idol" singers have been divided into three rooms ‐‐

each group awaits the judges' verdict.

I mean, everyone in this room is unbelievably talented,

and in the next room, and in the next room.

Among those awaiting their fate in room 1 ‐‐

Jonny West, Arthur Gunn,

Sophia Wackerman, and Franklin Boone.

Today, it wasn't my best performance.

Makayla Phillips, Kimmy Gabriela,

and Francisco Martin.

I'm thinking about what I did wrong,

what I didn't do right.

DeWayne Crocker, Cyniah Elise,

and Lauren Mascitti.

DeWayne: Everybody in here, I've heard them,

and I just hope this is one of the good rooms.

Every singer here is incredibly talented.

Everybody's tense about their futures right here.

Lauren: I want to be doing this for the rest of my life.

So, no pressure.

♪♪

In room 2 are Margie Mays,

Jimmy Levy, Kat Lopez,

Sarah Isen, Madison Paige, and Ari Saagé.

Ari: You look around the room

and you know that there's some talented people in here.

Madison: I want to say if I'm here,

you know, hopefully I did good,

and that means that everybody else in here, too.

But you just don't know.

Man: My performance yesterday was kind of like a car crash.

But, uh, today, I feel good about what I did.

I definitely feel like this room can go through.

Fearing the worst in room 3

are Shannon Gibbons, Louis Knight,

Jeb Vonderbruegge, Jovin Webb, Nick Merico, and Just Sam.

Shannon: I've seen people that I thought gave,

like, really great performances

and still, you know, go home.

Jovin: I feel like I left everything I had here,

including my voice.

I'm not ready for this experience to end at all.

Nick: I know there's one room that's gonna go,

and I don't feel like I did as good today, to be honest.

The judges ‐‐ Katy, Luke, and Lionel ‐‐

are ready to deliver the verdict.

Only they know who continues in the competition

and whose journey is over.

Jonny: Margie's not in the same room as me.

But I definitely didn't do great in each round,

so it could go either way.

I think a lot of us are really scared for the outcome.

Luke: This is hard. This is, uh...

Lionel: This is the toughest part.

They don't need to cry.

It's just gonna add fuel to their fire.

Right. Right.

They're just gonna be like... Yeah, it's gonna be ‐‐

..."Well, I'll show you."

And sometimes they do.

♪♪

I think they're here. They're coming.

♪♪

Lionel: This is the part I don't like.

This is the part that drives us crazy.

Um...

it's tough.

This is a business of competition,

and a lot of times, good news, bad news...

♪♪

Bad news.

We have to put you on a plane

and we have to send you home.

♪♪

The good news is

we'll see you again.

Congratulations.

You made it.

♪ ...for you ♪

♪ Open your eyes, I'm by your side ♪

I did not think I would make it this far.

Oh, my God, I'm super excited.

Enjoy this ride, you guys.

You really fought for it.

♪ When nobody's here for you ♪ Thank you.

♪ Let me make it clear ♪ What just happened? [ Laughs ]

♪ I shed a, I shed a tear ♪

♪ Shed a tear ♪

Jonny: Can't really celebrate yet.

I need to know if Margie got through.

If both of us go through,

that would be a sweet thing to share.

[ Cheering in background ]

Ari: [ Sniffles ]

If I go home, there's nothing else.

I dropped everything to be here.

I want this so bad.

Margie: Not feeling confident.

Mnh‐mnh.

That's how I feel about it.

♪♪

Luke: How y'all feeling?

[ Light laughter ]

Stressful stuff.

We want you guys to know

that we're just so proud of your journey, your growth.

We've seen you struggle with your voices hurting,

your voices being gone and sleep‐deprived,

and, uh ‐‐ and that is kind of the business.

♪♪

But unfortunately, I do got to tell you...

♪♪

...this is the end of the road for this group, guys.

[ Gasping ]

♪ It's harder to see through the eyes of a stranger ♪

Lionel: There was a day when the three of us

sat where you're sitting now.

♪ It's easy to love when the world doesn't hate ya ♪

Don't let that be the end of your story. That's just the beginning.

♪ When you tryna send out but nobody hears a word ♪ You could hear that. That was amazing.

Come here, come here, come here, come here, come here.

♪ And I feel your pain when I know you're in trouble ♪

It's hard.

♪ And I'll take the blame from your hurt in your struggle ♪

Can I just have a hug?

♪ When you tryna speak out but nobody hears a word ♪

Margie: And now I'm waiting for Jonny.

[ Crying ] I want Jonny to take it home.

♪ I'll be your voice ♪ I hope he wins it.

♪ Lay your head on my shoulder ♪ [ Laughs ]

I will be there rooting him the whole time.

♪ Oh ♪

Whole time. [ Sniffles ]

♪♪

Woman: This is my dream,

and I've worked so hard to be here.

♪♪

It would mean so much to get a yes today.

Kimmy: This is everything at this point,

and I want to hold on to it.

♪♪

I just want to say congratulations.

♪♪

You made it this far.

You made it this far.

And that is winning.

It really is.

But this season has some incredible talent,

and it's a tough competition.

I mean, I think it's the most tough competition...

Yep, never had this.

...um, that we've ever been involved with.

And I don't know if you heard any of the other singers,

but there are some real crazy, crazy, crazy vocalists.

♪♪

So...

with all that in mind...

♪♪

...but I just...wanna say...

♪♪

...you guys are going through.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ I'll shed a tear for you ♪

♪ Open your eyes, I'm by your side ♪

You made it!

Y'all okay? [ Laughs ]

I've never felt so much joy in my entire life.

I feel like I'm living a dream right now.

♪ I'm walkin' in your shoes ♪

♪ So you know that it's the truth ♪

♪ When nobody's here for you ♪

♪ Let me make it clear ♪

♪ That I'll shed a, I'll shed a tear ♪

Jonny: Margie's not here,

so I guess she didn't make it through.

I can't really celebrate.

That's okay.

♪♪

Excuse me!

We have one last announcement.

Have you guys ever heard of a place called

Aulani?

[ All gasping ] It's a Disney resort.

It's in Hawaii.

[ All screaming ]

And you are going!

[ All cheering ]

♪ Oh, oh‐oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh‐oh, oh ♪ Whoo!

♪♪

♪ Oh, oh‐oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh‐oh, oh ♪

♪♪

♪ Oh ♪

I know my dad is with me,

and I know he's smiling with me, and he's hugging me right now.

♪♪

Just Sam: [ Crying ] I can call my grandma,

and I can tell her that everything is over,

all the bad.

♪♪

[ Sniffles ]

I love you.

♪ You are the avalanche ♪

♪ One world away ♪ I love you so much.

I'm so proud of you.

You deserve this. Okay?

You deserve this, okay?

[ Sniffles ] I love you so much.

I just want you ‐‐ I want you to...

♪ I never meant to fall for you, but I ♪ ...you know, keep going.

I know, baby.

I want you to have this, okay? Yeah.

Look me in the eyes. I love you. I love you. I'm proud of you.

I love you so much. Okay?

You're just being sweet.

No, I want you to win. I love you.

♪ My salvation ♪ You're special, okay?

♪ My, my ♪ I love you.

It's okay, sweetie.

♪ My salvation ♪ I love you.

♪♪

[ All cheering ]

Genavieve: This is, like, a whole new feeling.

Like, a whole new feeling.

Kimmy: They're smiling, they're sobbing with joy,

and then there's wherever the heck I am right now.

The lucky few celebrate their triumph

with friends and family.

Going to Hawaii! Going to Hawaii!

Hawaii!

Woman: We made it through Hollywood Week.

I have to go to the bathroom so bad.

Oh, my God.

But the hard work is just beginning.

They'll travel to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa,

for a showcase performance in front of a live audience

before they face their final judgment.

♪ My salvation ♪

‐We did it. ‐We did it!

‐[ Laughs ] ‐We made it. We made it.

We made it.

Next time,

we're leaving the stress of Hollywood Week behind...

♪♪

...and heading to the sun, sand, and surf.

♪♪

Say "aloha" to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa

in Ko Olina, Hawaii.

The top 40 contestants will sing for their lives

in a showcase on the beach.

♪♪

He did it right!

Luke: [ Laughs ]

♪♪

Then they'll face their final judgment.

♪♪

It's the most dramatic elimination yet.

[ Crying ]

Katy: It's not enough

just to be a good singer.

But this year, survive final judgment,

and they'll get the chance to sing for your votes.

This ain't no joke, you know?

Plus a twist that's a first in "Idol" history.

Oh, my God.

[ All cheering ]