Original subtitles

[ Intro to "All You Need Is Love" plays ]

♪♪

♪ There's nothing you can do that can't be done ♪

♪ Nothing you can sing that can't be sung ♪

♪ Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game ♪

♪ It's easy ♪

♪ All you need is love ♪

♪ All you need is love ♪

♪ All you need is love ♪

♪ Love ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪

♪♪

♪ All you need is love ♪

All together now!

♪ All you need is love ♪

Luke: ♪ Everybody ♪

♪ All you need is love ♪

♪ Love ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪ ♪ Love is all ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪

♪ Love is all you need ♪

Ryan: Love is all we need,

but it's going to be tough love,

because this is Hollywood Week

and this is "American Idol."

Katy: ♪ All you need ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Lionel: Hollywood Week.

We bring all the people in from all over America.

[ Alarm beeping ] Woman: Wake up, it's Hollywood Week.

Katy: It's intense. It's boot camp.

I'm gonna do the best I can, all right?

It really is a taste of the real world.

Luke: When you walk out on that stage at the Dolby Theatre,

it moves really, really quick.

You better impress. You better shine.

I'm going to Hollywood! [ Cheering ]

You have to have a fighting spirit.

Let's do this thing!

Lionel: That means you're either gonna rise to the occasion...

Katy: Or you don't.

Bring it on.

♪ Higher ♪

♪ Your love has set me free ♪

♪ Now nothing's out of reach ♪

Woman #2: Being at Hollywood Week is insane.

Man: I've always dreamed of being here,

and it's actually happening.

The Hollywood sign is literally right there.

♪ Higher ♪ Whoo!

Man #2: This is a chance of a lifetime.

All of our lives are about to change after this.

Grace: I don't want to just be a great audition.

I want to be a great artist. Yeah.

How are you feeling about everything?

I am... calm.

♪ Higher ♪

I'm lying. [ Laughs ]

♪ Higher ♪

Colin: This is wild. I'm just grateful to be here.

Woman #3: I'm super excited.

I just cannot wait to perform again for the judges.

So the legendary Hollywood Week has arrived.

There are two rounds ‐‐ the genre challenge and the duets.

Tonight is the genre challenge.

Each contestant was asked to choose one of six genres.

We have indie‐folk, pop, rock, R&B, soul, and country.

The singers choose their own genre and song,

and they'll perform head‐to‐head against singers

in the same genre.

This challenge will help the judges to compare

and make cuts.

Lionel: Now you'll get to hear the voices.

But there are no quotas.

Right?

With the competition ramping up here in Hollywood,

we're excited to bring back Bobby Bones

as our mentor for the "Idol" contestants.

He'll be providing critical guidance

as they take on this life‐changing audition.

Bobby: I'm here to help them with music... You gotta elevate.

...but I'm here as a life coach as well.

You deserve to be here.

If they need help picking a song

or they're struggling being away from home,

that's why I'm here.

Bobby: Big breath.

Think about your daughter. Now go do it.

Announcer: And our genre, starting here

at the Dolby Theatre, is the pop genre.

All right, pop!

Let's go! Are you a winner?!

[ Cheering ]

Man #3: So, what's your genre?

I'm a pop star. Can't you tell? Pop star?

Don't I look like a pop star? [ Laughs ]

Being, you know, in the pop genre, there's a lot of competition.

This is like the genre with the most people. For sure.

How does it feel to be going against each other once again?

Oh, my. Don't ‐‐ Stop doing that!

I'm Liahona Olayan, I'm 17 years old,

and I'm originally from Hawaii.

My first audition in San Diego,

it was like really fun.

♪ Oblivious, I don't know what to do ♪

Being with my brother in the room

took a lot of pressure off of me.

♪ When I'm not with you ♪

♪ Can you hear me go boom ♪

Just 'cause I knew someone was there next to me

and that they're always supporting me.

♪ Boom, boom, boom ♪

Bobby: You guys grew up singing with each other,

and you guys are so good together,

but this is gonna be a performance where it's just you.

Let's play a little game here.

Raise your hand if I say something that's true about you.

I'm the better singer.

I'm the more talented performer.

I am. That's obviously ‐‐

That's a no go. No.

One final question ‐‐

I'm gonna win "American Idol."

No, I am. No, you [laughs]

Dude, I got way better moves. You wish. You wish.

My moves are way better.

Whatever. No.

Going on this stage without my brother this time

is gonna be a little nerve‐racking,

I'm not gonna lie, but this is a solo competition

and I do have to do this on my own.

Hi. Katy: Hi.

[ Laughter ]

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm okay. I got it.

You're gonna be great. Liahona: Thank you.

♪♪

♪ Whoo! What you sippin' on that got you talking crazy? ♪

♪ Lookin' at me sideways, always comin' at me ♪

♪ Why you, why you acting like you never met a lady? ♪

♪ I don't disrespect you, don't you disrespect ♪

♪ Have you lost your mind? ♪

♪ Open up your eyes ♪

♪ Huh, someone else ♪

♪ You must've confused me, confused me with ♪

♪ Someone else ♪

♪ You must've confused me ♪

♪ Confused me with someone else ♪

♪ There ain't no excuses, excuses, babe, someone else ♪

♪ Your mama raised you better than that, huh ♪

♪ I got you ♪ [ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Moonlight, you're my starlight ♪

♪ I need you ♪

♪ All night, come on, dance with me ♪

What just happened?

I was not ready for that.

Luke: Let the show begin. Yes.

I think I did okay. [ Laughs ]

♪♪

Hi. My name is Ammon Olayan.

I just turned 18, and the reason why I think

I should be the next American Idol

is so I can beat my little sister

and make sure she stays humble.

[ Laughter ]

Oh.

♪ Do you got plans tonight? ♪

♪ I'm a couple hundred miles from Japan and I ♪

♪ I was thinking I could get lost in your paradise ♪

♪ The only thing I think about is you and I ♪

♪ 'Cause I can't get you off my mind ♪

♪ Can't get you off my mind ♪

♪ I can't seem to get you off my mind ♪

♪ Let's get lost tonight ♪

♪ Let's get lost tonight ♪

♪ Let's get lost ♪

♪ 'Cause I can't get you off my mind ♪

[ Chuckles ] Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ Yeah, I'm thankful ♪

Nice. The young singers coming up hot.

Age is nothing but a number. Right?

Liahona and Ammon's performances

were just the first taste of young talent in the pop genre.

♪ Got a smile like Lionel Richie ♪

My name is Liv Grace Blue,

I'm 17 years old, and I'm also freaking out right now.

[ Laughter ]

♪ I know, I know, I know, I know ♪

♪ I know, I know, I know, I know ♪

♪ I know, I know, I know, I know ♪

♪ You better leave your thing alone ♪

♪ Ain't no sunshiiine ♪

♪ When he's gooone ♪

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ] Whoo‐whoo!

That was 17.

She's 17, but actually, she's 1,700.

♪♪

Laila: Being here, it's gonna be a challenge,

but it's really cool meeting people my age,

'cause I was really nervous

that there's not as many compared to, like,

the 19‐year‐olds and the 20‐year‐olds.

♪ If you wanna runaway with me ♪

But we have, like, a group of 14 of us,

and we're all, like, 15 through 17.

Like, we're one of the youngest people in the competition.

I think we both are. Yeah.

I think we are the youngest ones. I think we are.

That's crazy.

Ava and I connect a lot because we've been singing

since we were like, really, really little.

Like, my entire childhood, I was like, "Oh, my God,

when I'm older, I'm gonna be able to do this."

And now I'm like 15, and I'm like, "Oh, my God.

I'm already here. What's going on?" Yeah, that's crazy.

I know. Hi, Laila.

It's Gabby Barrett here. Oh, my God.

Laila: In my original audition,

Gabby Barrett actually sent in a video.

I just wanted to wish you good luck.

[ Laughs ] Laila: It really helped me do my best.

It's just, like, more and more

adding to, like, the amount of confidence that I'm gaining,

which is, like, what I'm trying to, like, work on.

♪♪

♪ And I've been ♪

♪ Hurting myself to keep you from leaving ♪

♪ I've been ♪

♪ Wondering whether we'll last the season ♪

♪ Wish we could have made this work ♪

♪ But now I know that I need moooooooore ♪

Oh, wow. Lionel: Yeah.

Yep, yep, yep. ♪ I need mooooore ♪

♪ I need mooooore ♪

♪ I need more ♪

Yeah, yeah, yeah. [ Cheers and applause ]

♪ I got you ♪

♪ Moonlight, you're my starlight ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Whoo!

I was really nervous going into that.

I really hope that that was enough for me

to get onto the next round.

♪ I'm levitating ♪

15. Yep, yep.

Can you believe it? Some people sound 15,

and then some people don't sound 15.

♪ Come on, dance with me ♪ Laila: Are you nervous?

♪ I'm levitating ♪ I mean, I'm a little nervous.

I feel like I'm gonna wake up and it's not gonna be here.

It's, like, not gonna be real.

We're gonna be like, "Oh, I'm just in my bed at home."

It was all a dream. [ Laughter ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

Ava: My name is Ava August.

I think I should be the next American Idol

because ever since I was little, I've had a dream,

and that dream starts on this stage.

♪ Fall is here ♪

♪ Hear the yell ♪

♪ Back to school ♪

♪ Ring the bell ♪

♪ Brand‐new shoes ♪

♪ Walking blues ♪

♪ Climb the fence ♪

♪ Books and pens ♪

♪ I can tell that we are gonna be friends ♪

[ Cheering ]

♪ Oh, I can tell that we are gonna be friends ♪

[ Laughs ]

Thank you so much. Very good!

[ Cheers and applause ]

Absolutely not her age.

Wow.

I am very proud of my performance.

I did it just as I always rehearsed it.

All right, kids.

Narrow it down, huh?

Ryan: Taking a look at this line,

some of the younger contestants in the pop genre are there.

Who is going to make it through?

♪ Hey, child ♪ Katy: When I call your name, please step forward.

Ava.

♪ Hey, child ♪

Laila.

♪ We were born wild ♪

Liahona.

♪ Let your neon lights ♪

We don't think you guys are quite ready yet...

♪ Ohh ♪

...to leave this competition.

♪ Hey, child ♪

Yeah! [ Laughs ]

I got really nervous

'cause I thought they were gonna send me home,

and then they said I was going.

Whoo! We did it! We're going to do the duets!

Let's go. Let's go.

I am so stoked, I literally ‐‐ I can't contain my excitement.

I'm just like...

Explosion. This is crazy.

♪ Hey, child ♪

Back row, we'll see you next time.

Thank you so much.

Luke: Thank you, back row. Lionel: Hang in there.

♪ Hey, child ♪

And he's just helped me a lot,

so it's gonna be hard to go on without him.

♪ Hey, child ♪

[ Chuckles ]

♪♪

♪ Whoa‐oh‐oh‐oh ♪

It's a competition. We have to find the diamonds.

[ Vocalizing ]

Stop!

It's the end of the road.

Sorry it ends like this. [ Sniffles ]

I'm [bleep] go crazy! I don't give a ‐‐

♪♪

♪♪

Welcome back to Hollywood Week.

♪ Almost heaven ♪

For almost 20 years,

"American Idol" has brought people together

from all over the country.

Whoo! Whoo!

What's up, boy?! What's up, boys?!

A little bit different in southwest Florida, man.

Yeah, you don't see nothing like this in Texas.

Our performers forge lifelong friendships

as they embark on the journey of a lifetime.

I think this is the furthest away from home I've ever been.

Looking out the window, you can see

the whole Hollywood sign and everything.

♪ Country roads ♪

Announcer: Our next genre, it's the country genre!

Whoo!

Ryan: No group illustrates this more

than this year's country lineup ‐‐

a collection of singers that already feels like family.

It's always good to be around fellow country music singers.

I mean, everybody can speak my language.

Man #4: Line 4, let's go.

We're first door. Man #5: Line 4, come on out.

Including Season 2 returner Drake McCain.

♪ I've seen the mountains high ♪

But this time, like, I went with country

'cause, like, I'm from Tennessee and stuff,

and country's just always been, like, a part of who I am.

♪ Ain't nothing got nothing on you ♪

Luke: We love that raw voice.

It just flows from inside of their body,

and it pulls us in immediately.

Hey, y'all, I'm Caleb Kennedy,

and I'm a songwriter, and that's why I'm here.

Hey! [ Laughter ]

Caleb, we know you're a mysterious figure,

but we need to see a little bit more of your face.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

There you go. Knight Rider.

♪ Oh, one's the devil ♪

♪ And one keeps driving me insane ♪

♪ At times, I wonder ♪

I want to bring the feel back to country music, you know?

That's what I go for ‐‐ stuff people don't want to talk about,

but it also can help people through things, you know?

And that's the difference.

♪ Between whiskey and you ♪

We'll be seeing you, Knight Rider.

♪ I drive your truck ♪

♪ I've cussed, I've bled ♪ Everyone is amazing in the country genre,

so I'm nervous about the competition.

♪ And ask God why ♪

♪ These days, we're not missing you ♪

♪ This much ♪♪

♪ My many artifacts ♪

♪ The list goes on ♪

♪ If you just say the words ♪

♪ I'd up and run, oh, to you ♪

♪ Ooh‐ooh‐ooh ♪

♪ I'd leave it all ♪

Lionel: Watch out, now, country genre.

Katy: Nice, nice, nice! Strong, strong, strong.

Whoo! It's gonna be a fight to the finish.

♪ Tell me that you love me ♪

♪ And all of this would go away ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Ryan: Something not going away are the feelings

some performers have developed for one another,

especially as Hollywood Week

ratchets up the intensity for all involved.

Well, hey‐hey, good‐lookin'. Cameron: Hey!

It was so exciting to see all my friends again,

especially Alex.

There is a story I heard about ‐‐

You met a new friend here,

and you created something for this new friend.

Mighta. Mighta.

Hold on a second.

There's your belt buckle.

[ Gasps ] Oh, my gosh.

Alex ‐‐ he has a little belt buckle

that has his name on it,

and I told him in San Diego that I loved it.

It has my name on it! [ Laughter ]

I love it! And I spelled it right, too.

You did. Perfect.

You should know my name by now. [ Laughs ]

'Cause I like her.

♪ She's got a way to get me spinnin' off track ♪

If I'm lucky enough to make it past this performance,

we're gonna wear matching belt buckles

and do it together. [ Laughs ]

♪ I've been sitting here ♪

♪ Staring at the clock on the wall ♪

♪ I've been laying here praying ♪

♪ Praying she won't call ♪

It was authentic.

Lionel: It's just a matter now of how it's gonna pair up

with the rest of the competition we have.

Howdy! Katy: Whoo!

Howdy!

I want to be the next American Idol

'cause I wanna prove that a small‐town boy

can do just about anything.

♪ I was born way down in the Southland ♪

[ Guitar flair ]

♪♪

♪ Some 17 years ago ♪

[ Laughter ]

♪ I ran away for the first time ♪

♪ When I was only four years old ♪

♪ I'm a free‐born man ♪

♪♪

♪ Yeah, my home is on my back ♪

♪ On my back, on my back ♪

♪ I know every inch of highway ♪

♪ Every foot of back road and every mile of railroad track ♪

♪♪

♪ Yeah, I know every inch of highway ♪

♪ Every foot of back road and every mile of railroad track ♪

♪♪

All right, thank y'all! Thank you. Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] All right!

Whoo‐ooh!

Luke: Country just arrived,

in my opinion, just then.

He is a Martian.

Pfoo.

Next to take the stage is Cecil Ray,

who's also got a little lady on his mind.

All right.

How's your baby? She's doing great.

She just turned two months four days ago.

What's your baby's name? Emilia Jade.

Well, my Daisy Dove says hello to your Emilia Jade.

Thank you, Katy. Lionel: Wow.

Bobby: Why are you doing this?

My daughter. She's my lifeline, man.

I plan to give her the life that I never had.

Daddy's got you, baby. [ Smooching ]

I want to prove to my daughter

that just because you grow up in a small town

doesn't mean you can't have the biggest dreams.

Anything's achievable.

Bobby: You know how many people are watching this show

that are doing things for their kids right now

that sees someone like you?

And they're like, "That's my guy."

Like, I totally understand that,

and that's why you gotta kill it.

♪♪

♪♪

Katy: Wait, hold on.

What happened to you?

Cecil: [ Sighs ] I don't know.

[ Chuckles ] I'm so sorry.

If you don't mind, just to do it one more time.

I just want you to have a fair chance.

Cecil: I'm so sorry.

If you don't mind, just to do it one more time.

I just want you to have a fair chance.

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Well, I used to ride a Mustang ♪

♪ I'd run that thing on high hopes ♪

♪ Till they raised the price of dreams so high ♪

♪ I couldn't pay ♪

♪ So I let that car just sit there ♪

♪ When I should've took you driving ♪

♪ With the windows down ♪

♪ While the music played ♪

♪♪

♪ So, darlin', will you stay right here? ♪

♪ Shake this frost off of my bones ♪

Katy: Whoo!

Yay! Thank y'all so much.

Thank y'all so much. Love y'all, guys.

♪♪

My daughter's my reason for pursuing this crazy dream,

and there's so much more inside of me that I want to show

if they'll just give me the opportunity.

Ryan: He's the last singer in the line,

so the judges will now deliberate, talk it over,

and make really hard decisions.

It's time to find out who from this country line

is moving on to the next round.

I hope this performance is enough to move me forward,

but you got a lot of great competition.

My country genre.

It's been a honor watching you guys sing,

but, unfortunately, the competition requires us

to send some of you home

and send some of you to the next round.

♪♪

Drake...

♪ How they remember ♪

...Caleb...

♪ How they, how they remember ♪

...Mignon...

♪ How they ♪

...Cecil...

♪ Remember ♪

...Alex...

♪ How they remember you ♪

♪ You ♪

...you're going on to the next round.

♪ Did you stand, or did you fall? ♪

Cameron, this is the end of the line for you.

We love you.

♪ Hide your love or give it all? ♪

♪ What did you do? ♪

Hey, Cameron. Cameron: Hey.

Sorry you got cut.

I'm just happy for you.

♪ Did you quit, or did you try? ♪

Man, I'm gonna miss ya.

♪ Live your dreams ♪

[ Laughing ] I got in!

Yes!

I'm excited to show them what else I got in store

for whatever's coming next.

[ Squeals, laughs ] Oh, my gosh!

Cecil: I've never had anything like this

to make my family proud.

♪ They remember you ♪ [ Sniffles ]

♪ How they, how they remember you ♪

That's all I've ever wanted to do.

♪ How they remember you ♪

♪ You ♪

So, Cecil and some of his fellow country singers

have made it through the genre challenge.

Celeste: One, two, three!

And in a flash, we're moving on

to the soul genre.

♪ Soul, brotha, number one ♪

Whoo! Soul!

♪ I'm so excited ♪

Celeste: There's so many amazing singers in soul.

Where did y'all come from, and how are y'all all in soul?

The songs that are soul are extremely powerful.

There's a certain level of vulnerability you have to have.

So, the Soul Train is leaving the station...

[ Train horn blows ] ...and our first singer on board is Re'h.

Re'h: For this round, I don't think they're expecting

to see this side of Re'h.

♪ You can reach me by railway ♪

♪ You can reach me by trailway ♪

♪ I don't care how you get here ♪

♪ Just get here if you can ♪

♪ Re'h ♪

Re'h: Celestey! [ Laughter ]

Another surprise was Re'h's old friend,

Celeste Butler, who is also competing

in the soul genre.

Definitely Celeste is big competition for me.

♪♪

In my audition, Katy mentioned

that it seemed a little bit cruise ship.

♪ You make it look like it's magic ♪

I'm going to make sure that we are moving off of the ship.

We are on land now. We are in Hollywood.

♪ Convinced we were broken insiiiiiiiiide ♪

Seasick. Yeah.

She's still a little Carnival‐Cruisin'.

Thinking that may be worth another look‐see.

Maybe.

♪♪

♪ Ooooooh ♪

Hoping he can toss the judges a life ring

and bring them back to shore

is 22‐year‐old Xavier Washington.

Xavier, what's up? Yo, what's up, man?

What's the book? This is my Chinese book.

I'm taking Level 1 Chinese right now,

and I have an exam literally coming up.

Where do you go to school?

I go to Yale University.

Yeah. I've heard of it.

Xavier: I think my mom always expected me ‐‐

"Okay, you're going to Yale, so, like, I need you

to, like, be a doctor or be a lawyer."

But I think as I started doing more music,

I realized that, like,

I do not like academia like that.

Everything is dependent on me.

Today, I am focused on just giving 100%

to whatever the song is. And the test.

You're focusing on the test, too. And the test.

Here, I'll tutor you.

No, I won't. [ Laughs ]

♪ Whoa, gravity ♪

♪♪

♪ Oh, gravity ♪

♪ Oh, it's taken better men than me ♪

♪ See, how could that be? ♪

♪ Just keep me where the light is ♪

♪ Oh, keep ♪

♪ Me ♪

♪ Where ♪

♪ The light is shiiiiiiiiiiiining ♪

♪ Oh‐oh‐oh‐oh‐oh ♪

♪ Keep me ♪

[ Falsetto ] ♪ Wheeeeeeeeere ♪

♪ The light ♪

♪ The liiiiiiight is shining ♪

♪ Gravity ♪

Lionel: Oh, that ‐‐

That's my boy!

Come on! [ Laughs ]

Come on!

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

Phew! And he gone!

Wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait. Luke: And he's off.

Let the congregation say, "Amen!"

Amen! Amen! Amen!

God!

♪♪

I think they felt it. I definitely felt it.

I literally cannot stop shaking, so I'm ‐‐

[ Laughs ] Yeah, okay. Yeah.

Grace: Hollywood Week, there's a lot of competition,

and of course, everyone's hoping to make it through.

Grace Kinstler and DJ Johnson both know what it's like

to struggle with self‐confidence.

Grace: It's a little bit nerve‐racking

being around so many talented people.

But how about you? I'm nervous.

Very nervous and excited. [ Laughs ]

I know everybody's scared,

and so it makes me feel more comfortable

knowing that I'm not alone in all this.

Grace: I've struggled a little bit with confidence.

Growing up, I always, like, saw singers and artists,

and, like, I didn't fit the mold.

Like, I'm not super thin,

but that doesn't mean I'm not capable.

In fact, her L. A. audition proved she's more than capable,

racking up over 13 million views online.

♪ You make me feel ♪

♪ You make me feel ♪

♪ Like a natural woman ♪

This is the first time in four years

that just someone singing made me cry.

The audition helped me realize, like, "Okay, I can do this."

At least, that's what I keep telling myself,

especially, you know, in times like right now.

♪ You did me wrong ♪

♪ For the last time ♪

♪ You know I ain't mad for nothin' ♪

♪ I call my momma, she go to my cousin ♪

♪ They ain't never liked you from the beginning ♪

♪ So listen ♪

♪ Oooh ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ I'm going, I'm going crazy ♪

♪ You'd better move it ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm 'bout to lose it ♪

♪ 10 seconds is all that I'm giving ♪

Back in the day, if you were just Black,

you were called soul.

And I kept telling people,

"No, soul is not a color, y'all."

Just ‐‐

It isn't, and it shouldn't be.

DJ: With all these other contestants,

I have so many doubts.

Like, I'm here.

Like, how did I get this far?

I was expecting to go home.

I mean, I'm still in that, like,

"I'm expecting to go home" thing.

I want to do music so bad. I want to share my heart.

But for the longest time, I was so scared to open up.

♪ How could a mother be okay ♪

♪ Leaving scars on her children? ♪

♪ How can you be okay? ♪

♪ Causing us more ‐‐ ♪

Sorry.

♪♪

I've never believed in myself

because my mom would say things to me like,

it would have been easier if I was wasn't born.

I mean, that one has, like, stuck with me forever.

I didn't feel loved or anything.

♪ Broken down and tired ♪

After she left, like, I went, like, straight into music,

and just, like, poured my heart out in there.

Now that, like, I'm here,

like, I've seen a new side of me just, like, grow...

and tell myself that, "You're not gonna be under this for‐‐"

[ Chuckles ] Sorry.

"You're not gonna be under this forever."

♪ And I'll rise up ♪

♪ Rise out of the ache ♪

♪ I'll rise up ♪

♪ In spite of the ache, I'll rise up ♪

♪ And I'll do it a thousand times again ♪

♪ We will rise ♪

♪ We will rise ♪

♪ We will riiiiiiiiiiise ♪

♪ A thousand times again ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ To love, yeah ♪

♪ I needed to lose you to find me ♪

I think it went okay. [ Laughs ]

I got it over with, so, yeah.

You know, rough diamonds are in style.

Are they? They are cooler.

♪ Ooooooh ♪

Ryan: Now that this group of soul performers have finished,

it's time for the singers to hear their fate.

♪ I wonder ♪

♪ If I'm being real ♪

♪ Do I speak the truth ♪ All righty.

♪ Or do I filter how I feel? ♪

♪ I wonder ♪ The moment you've been waiting for, guys.

♪ Wouldn't it be nice? ♪

All right, the following people...

I want you to step forward.

DJ.

Celeste.

♪♪

Back row...

♪ Dreamin' that you feel it, too ♪

♪ I wonder what it's like to be loved by you ♪

...you're going to the next round.

♪♪

DJ, Celeste, this is the end of the road for you.

Thank you very much.

♪♪

That was terrifying. [ Chuckles ]

It's so different to watch it on TV.

DJ: I've been able to open up,

and, you know, growing up, I was never able to do that.

And I just would not trade any of this for the world.

Hollywood, baby!

♪ To be loved by you ♪

Next up is the indie‐folk genre,

which includes a fair amount of singers

hoping to leave their day jobs.

What do you do right now?

I am a manager of a coffee shop.

Outside of "American Idol," what do you do?

I do like coding.

Gotcha. I'm like a software engineer.

Luke: When you look at the talent pool,

these kids are from all walks of life.

They were driving a forklift two weeks ago.

They were working for a power line company.

And someone said they could sing,

and someone said, "Hey, you need to go try this."

Christina: My students really pushed me

to, like, give this a try, and so ‐‐

Cassandra: Oh, your students. What do you do? Yeah.

I teach English.

So, high school English teacher... Wow!

...in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Christina: I literally wouldn't be here

if my students hadn't pushed me.

They were like, "We are not doing our summer homework

unless you sign up for doing 'American Idol.'"

And so I was like, "Okay, it'll be fine. I'll do it."

♪ Hit the road, Jack ♪

♪ And don't you come back ♪

♪ No more, no more, no more, no more ♪

♪ Hit the road, Jack ♪

♪ Don't you back no more ♪

Starting on this journey,

I thought I was just appeasing my students.

And then I found out that this is the dream.

♪ Don't care if you do, it's understood ♪

♪ If Jack ain't got no money, well, he ain't no good ♪

♪ Hit the road, Jack ♪

♪ And don't you come back no more ♪

♪ No more ♪

♪ No more ♪

Lionel: Yeah. [ Cheers and applause ]

Thank you, all. Very good.

Katy: Thank you! Very good.

Oh, my God. I love her little rasp in that voice.

Next to take the stage is Hunter Metts,

who actually quit his job as a software coder

to chase his dream.

♪ I had a dream ♪

♪ I got everything I wanted ♪

It was really hard for me to justify this safe option

when I had this, like, passion inside of me.

♪ If I'm being honest ♪

♪ It might have been a nightmare ♪

♪ Oh, oh, and to anyone that might care ♪

♪ You say as long as I'm here ♪

♪ No one can hurt you ♪

♪ You wouldn't wonder why they say ♪

♪ They don't deserve you, no ♪

♪ I had a dream ♪

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

Come on, Hunter. Ryan: There goes Hunter.

They said top 10 performer, right there,

in his first audition.

Did that live up to it? That's the question.

Hoping this performance

allows his music career to "take off,"

is our next singer, Graham DeFranco.

Graham: I've been working as a pilot for the last three years.

But, I mean, if I had to choose between being a pilot

or making a career playing music,

I wouldn't even question it.

It'd be playing music.

♪ When you wake up in the morning ♪

♪ Baby, look inside your mirror ♪

♪ You know I won't be next to you ♪

♪ You know I won't be near ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

There's a word called "entertaining."

Entertainment. Entertainment.

Don't forget that in the process of delivery.

I'm really excited about this one.

I loved her audition.

Do you remember her?

♪ Or maybe we just drifted apart ♪

This is so out of my comfort zone.

I mean, I get nervous.

I get the shakes just performing for my family.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Okay? Okay.

To be here in Los Angeles, "American Idol"...

Yeah... you're against the best of the best.

Like, you scared right now?

I'm terrified.

♪ I always cry ♪

Music has always been something that is my passion

but is always done as, like, a hobby, as opposed to a career.

So I get the worst nerves.

Nothing in our life ever changes

unless we get a little bit uncomfortable. Yep, yep.

So, I admire you

for chasing that uncomfortable feeling...

Thank you... because you know that's where growth comes from.

♪♪

♪ Don't know where I am ♪

♪ With yooooou ♪

[ Inhales deeply ]

♪ Forgetting time and space ♪

♪ With you ♪

♪ Oh, I wish we had a common view ♪

♪ But, you see, my red is blue ♪

♪ And, ohhhhhhhhh ♪

♪ Oh, it's so cold here ♪

♪ 'Cause I left my heart to be with you ♪

♪ And, ohhhhhhh ♪

♪ It's so cold here ♪

♪ 'Cause I left my heart to be with you ♪

♪ Oh‐oh, I'm the same, but I'm bolder ♪

♪ You'll get home ♪

♪ But I'm on my way out now ♪

♪ Not the same destinations ♪

♪ I will stay when you get off that train ♪

♪ You're as safe as a mountain ♪

♪ But know that I am dynamite ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Ah‐ah‐ah ♪

Cassandra: I did my best,

and I'd pray I move forward, but...

you know, whatever is in my path is what I'm gonna do.

So I'm honored and blessed to be here regardless.

Cassie's performance marks the end

of the first line of indie‐folk singers,

and the judges have made tough decisions

on who will stay and who will go.

Lionel: So, whatever happens from this point on,

don't get psyched out.

I can't sing like half the artists

that are out there, but I sound like me.

It's your style that matters.

Don't worry about anybody else.

♪♪

Christina.

♪ If you're fightin' in the fight of your life ♪

♪ Then stand ♪ Graham.

Hunter.

♪ We're gonna make it through this hand‐in‐hand ♪

Cassie.

♪♪

All of you will be going to the next round.

♪ Come and stand ♪

♪ Ah‐ah‐ah‐ah ♪

♪ When we rise ♪

God bless you all.

♪ We will rise together ♪

♪ Oh‐oh‐oh‐oh‐oh ♪

♪ Together ♪

♪ Come and stand ♪

I think my students are going to flip out.

♪ We will rise together ♪ Round One.

Two more to go. [ Laughs ]

I'm really happy...

although it doesn't seem like it.

But these are happy tears.

[ Clapping ] ♪ Nah, nah ♪

Welcome back to Hollywood Week.

Oh, it's about to get cra‐zy.

♪ Talk to me, baby ♪

Our next line of pop performers

are here to prove that just because

you're in the pop genre,

that doesn't mean you have to fit the mold.

♪ I keep on hoping we'll eat cake by the ocean, uh ♪

Pop itself is such a broad genre, you know? Right.

And so I feel like there's a lot you could do with it.

Pop is now this next generation of some amazing personalities.

That's a kilt, right? Just to make sure.

Coming ready for battle on the Hollywood Week stage

is 27‐year‐old Anthony Guzman.

In today's climate, we need a Viking

to lead us into the new year.

Aaaaahh!

A message from the gods

he originally delivered to the judges

at his Ojai audition.

No big deal. Just sledgehammer in your hand.

[ Lionel laughs ] Thor's hammer, actually.

[ Thunder rumbles ]

In Hollywood Week, I want these judges to know

that I'm a serious musician.

I've dialed back the outfit a bit, as you can see.

I'm gonna go in with, hopefully, the same energy.

I stuck with the genre, and I'm gonna give them something

that I'm really proud of.

♪♪

♪ Oh, oh‐oh‐oh‐oh‐ohhhhh ♪

♪ Fever ♪

♪ Romeo loved Juliet ♪

♪ Juliet, she felt the same ♪

♪ Fever ♪

♪ Till you sizzle ♪

♪ What a lovely way to burn ♪

Thank you.

[ Applause ]

Interesting styles, that kid.

While Anthony awaits the judges' decision backstage,

the rest of his line gets their shot

to show just how colorful the pop genre can be.

Someone's been in Katy Perry's closet.

[ Laughs ]

♪ No, I can't be the only, only ♪

♪ Ooo‐ooooooo‐one ♪

Quirky.

Quirky's in, but you've gotta have, like, a ‐‐

Let me in.

♪ Tick to the tock when I go to the top ♪

♪ And pick of the lock, yo, boost the locker ♪

There's something about you being unique,

so this is me being different.

Uno, dos, tres, cuatro!

[ Laughter ]

Yurisbel isn't the only pop singer this season

full of energy.

[ Electricity zaps ] Yeah. Yeah, right there.

Oh, you gave me a little shock there.

Ooh‐ooh!

[ Lips trilling ] My name is Andrea Valles.

I'm 23 years old, and I live in Houston, Texas.

♪ Oh, I've been shaking ♪

♪ I love it when you go crazy ♪

I for sure consider myself a fighter.

I feel like my motto in life

is really just to never give up.

At home, I'm, like, doing weddings.

I'm doing solo gigs at bars and restaurants and stuff.

But this is definitely where I'm meant to be,

and I'm ready to go!

I'm ready to go. Can I sing?

Can I go sing right now?

♪ There's nothing holding me back ♪

♪ And make sure ♪

♪ You're all right ♪

♪ I'll take care of ♪

♪ You ooh‐hoo‐ooh‐hoo‐hoo‐ooh ♪

♪ And I don't want to be here ♪

♪ If I can't be with you ♪

♪ Toniiiiiiiiiiight ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Sweetheart, the mic is the wand.

The wand.

And she is now the magician.

While Andrea's performance bewitched the judges,

our next singer in the pop genre

hopes to cast a spell of her own.

♪ Ra‐ra‐ah‐ah‐ah ♪

Come here! What is your name?

Obviously, I'm still looking for love

'cause, like, right before I auditioned

for "American Idol," my boyfriend dumped me.

Can't wait till he sees this.

Are you a cowboy?

I am. Oh, my gosh.

I'm looking for a cowboy. [ Laughs ]

There are so many cute boys here.

♪ Love, love, love, I want your love ♪

I'm so over pop star boys.

I just need a manly cowboy like you.

♪ Ah‐ah‐ah‐ah ♪

♪ Rah‐rah, roh‐mah‐mah ♪

♪ Gah‐gah, ooh‐la‐la ♪ ♪ Rah‐rah, ooh‐la‐la ♪

♪ Want your bad romance ♪ [ Laughter ]

You just sound like you're clearing your throat.

♪♪

♪ If you told me you were drowning ♪

♪ I would not lend a hand ♪

♪ And I was there ♪

♪ I s‐‐ ♪

[Bleep]

It's okay.

Lionel: It's okay. Take your time.

Oh, my God. Why'd I do that?

Why'd I do that?

Wait, can I start over? Can I start over?

You're fine. All right, hold on.

Chill out. Can I just please start over?

I'm s‐‐ So, take a deep breath.

Pull it together. [ Breathes deeply ]

Pull it together.

[ Exhales slowly ]

Okay. Don't listen to your head.

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Chuckles ]

Okay.

♪♪

Okay.

♪ If you told me you were drowning ♪

♪ I would not lend a hand ♪

♪ And I can feel it coming in the air tonight ♪

♪ Oh, Lord ♪

♪♪

♪ Can you feel it coming in the air tonight? ♪

♪ Oh, Lord ♪

♪ Oh, Lord ♪

Thank you.

Thanks for letting me start over.

♪♪

♪ Why you always in a mood? ♪

I think...

She's got a thing.

It's ‐‐ I know.

But she's gotta be able to harness it. Yeah.

Am I about to get eliminated right now 'cause I did that?

'Cause no one else di‐‐

I've literally been watching people all day, and no one else did.

I'm scared that ‐‐ [Bleep]

I'm gonna get eliminated, aren't I?

[ Groans ]

[ Dramatic music plays ]

♪♪

I know my ex‐boyfriend's gonna be watching this,

and I don't want to be the laughingstock

of him and his friends and his family.

That's, like, my biggest fear.

♪♪

Well, this line is full of characters.

Isn't it?

All right, y'all.

Let's call it like it is.

♪♪

The following people, step forward.

♪♪

Andrea.

♪♪

Anthony.

♪♪

You two are the only two that are going forward.

Thank you very much.

Luke: Thank you, guys.

♪♪

[ Dramatic music plays ]

Lionel: Andrea.

Katy: Anthony.

You two are the only two that are going forward.

Thank you very much.

♪ This is all we got ♪

♪ Dreaming 'bout a revolution in our minds ♪

♪ This is all we got ♪

Yeah.

Thank you, though. You guys did great.

Thank you. [ Applause ]

Thank you, guys.

You did a great job. You fought.

Lionel: We're sure, darlin'.

We're sure.

You did a great job.

We'll see you next time.

♪♪

♪ So where's the light? ♪

♪ This is all we got ♪

Erika: I'm trying not to have

an actual bitch fit,

'cause I can get really, really angry

and sassy real quick.

Yes.

And when she told me, like, "You're gonna move forward,"

I was so pensed up and everything.

I was like, "Cool. All right, yeah."

Who's in charge of this?

I'd like to speak with them.

I'd like to speak to the manager.

I'm feeling amazing right now. You have no idea.

Like, oh, my God! [ Laughs ]

Erika: I have been nice for years now.

I'm done being this nice college girl.

Like, no, I want to go back to my roots.

I am like ‐‐ No, no, no, no.

♪ Be better off numb and not feeling ♪

She Nova: I got work to do, you know?

And this has been the best experience.

I've learned so much.

I'm a lunatic!

Why do you think my ex dumped me?

I will [bleep] go crazy.

I don't give a [bleep]

[ Laughs ]

♪ So where's the light? ♪

I don't give a [bleep]

[ Laughing ] Lionel.

You were the closest to the danger.

Listen, if you don't play at the Apollo Theater,

you don't know what fear is, son.

[ Laughter ]

Oh, my God. I'm pissed.

So, Erika is on her way home,

while our Hollywood Week genre challenge

has the next batch of country singers

coping with some strong feelings of their own.

Christian M.: Have you ever done anything like this before?

I've played a couple local shows

and stuff like that. Mm‐hmm.

I've never really sang in front of anybody before.

So, your nerves have really gotta be

getting to you here this week. Mm‐hmm.

James: Coming from a small town,

I've never had an opportunity like this in my life,

but I'm gonna give it everything I got.

♪ Let me be a simple ♪

♪ Be a simple man ♪

♪♪

♪ Won't you do this for me, son? ♪

♪ If you can ♪

Luke: Not quite ready, kids.

He's got a lot of potential.

It was just maybe nerves.

Lionel: All right. Whoo!

Bring in on, now.

[ Applause ] Yay!

My name's Christian McGuckian, and I'm gonna sing

"Gunpowder & Lead" by Miranda Lambert.

All right. Thank you very much. Yes, all right.

Bobby: Where was your first audition? Christian M.: San Diego.

Last time, you were a little nervous.

Mm‐hmm. I was pretty nervous, yeah.

Katy: You got it.

Luke: Look, look.

[ All inhale, exhale deeply ]

Honestly, I thought my audition was awful.

I cried before, during, and after.

So I was a nervous wreck the whole time,

and it was so embarrassing.

You have magic country stuff going on in your voice,

but you're letting everything around you

get in its way.

♪ I ♪

Seeing this now...

[ Laughs ] ...how do you feel?

I feel more confident now than what I did there.

It's okay to be nervous.

Like, I want you to use that as your fuel. Yeah.

♪ Now you're liftin' me up ♪

The judges also said you need to work on your timing.

Had you ever used any sort of timing mechanism

before you did this? Mnh‐mnh.

No, I just sang with the music.

How many clicks before you start this performance?

I think it's three.

All right, ready? Right now?

[ Taps foot three times ]

I'm singing right now? Ah, see?

You already missed. Oh!

You gotta be ready at all times! Oh.

This is the time to perform ‐‐ from here out.

♪ Now you're liftin' me up ♪

In the country genre, I know there's people

that have a stronger voice than I do,

can do better runs than I can.

♪♪

[ Sighs ] I don't know how to handle it.

[ Chuckles ]

I never thought I'd be on a stage.

I am a maid.

But I don't want to be a maid for the rest of my life. No.

But if I get this, then I'm never gonna have to clean anybody else's house.

[ Chuckles ]

Okay, all right.

Take a breath.

♪ County Road 233 ♪

♪ Under my feet ♪

♪ Nothin' on this white rock but little ol' me ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm going home, gonna load my shotgun ♪

♪ Wait by the door and light a cigarette ♪

♪ He wants a fire, well, now he's got one ♪

♪ 'Cause he ain't seen me crazy yet ♪

Katy: Stop. Huh?

Take a breath. Lionel: Take a breath.

Take some breaths. Here, here.

Tell us the beat. Come on, Luke.

Here we go. Let me help you. It's like ‐‐ Yeah.

[ Clapping/tapping rhythmically ] Katy: You got this.

[ Falsetto ] ♪ I'm going home, gonna ♪

You can do it! Come on.

We are your beat.

♪ I'm going home, gonna load my shotgun ♪

♪ Wait by the door and light a cigarette ♪

♪ He wants a fire, well, now he's got one ♪

♪ 'Cause he ain't seen me crazy yet ♪

♪ I s‐‐ He slapped my face ♪

♪ And shook me like a rag doll ♪

♪ Don't that sound like a real man? ♪

♪ I wanna show him what little girls are made of ♪

♪ Gunpowder and lead ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Thank y'all. Luke: Thank you.

[ Applause ]

She chose to not do accompaniment

'cause she can't keep time. Well, yeah. Right ‐‐ can't time.

That's the thing. Why did she do that?

[ Sighs ]

As soon as I walked on the stage, it was like ‐‐

oop, throat went dry and everything.

I was like, "Whoop. Oh, God."

I don't know. It's just nerve‐racking.

I don't know, y'all. Come on, y'all.

I don't know. Too far to go.

I'd rather keep swinging on that one.

While Christian awaits her fate,

Chayce Beckham hopes to show the judges

that raw country talent

can come in all shapes and sizes.

Bobby: Your genre's country.

When I saw you, I didn't go,

"All right, there's a country guy."

And I thought that would set me apart a little bit.

[ Laughs ] You know, that I don't look like everybody else.

One thing I noticed when I was sitting in the group

is that everybody had boots on.

I don't have boots, so... [ Laughs ]

I looked around and, like, every single person has boots on.

As long as you sing country music from the heart,

because it's all about the message

and the authenticity of it,

you're country. Yeah.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

All right!

Hello, everybody. My name's Chayce Beckham.

I think I'm gonna be the next American Idol

because I'm willing to put in this work

and make this dream happen.

♪♪

Recently, you know, a lot of crazy things

have happened in my life.

I've lost, you know, loved ones.

I've made a lot of bad mistakes.

I've, you know, hurt people that were close to me.

A lot of ups and downs and a lot of hard times.

But ‐‐ Sorry. [ Chuckles ]

I started thinking about hard times.

♪ Beware, the night is closing in ♪

It's just been a rough, rocky road,

you know, the last year or two.

Just really trying to pull myself out of a, you know, place

that I didn't want to be in.

♪ Well, the darkness came to take my faith ♪

I thought I was at rock bottom,

but one day, I had a few drinks too many

and thought it was a good idea to, you know, try to drive home.

♪♪

And I got into a bad wreck.

I ended up on the side of the highway upside down.

When I finally, like, woke up and came to,

I just remember, like, looking up,

and there was nobody there to pull me out.

There was nobody there to be like, "Come on, dude."

That was the worst night of my life.

You know, that was the worst night of my life.

♪ Yeah, the dark led me to light again ♪

What do you think grabbed you from that dark place

and said, "Okay, it's time to get out

and search for, you know, a brighter life"?

When I survived that, I think I kind of just

had my life flash before my eyes at one point

and realized, like, "Let's do something."

This is like all or nothing for me.

I feel like everything has literally led up

to this point right here.

[ Cheers and applause ]

This song, it relates to me pretty well,

so I hope y'all like it.

♪♪

♪ Well, I bought a house at the mouth of the holler ♪

♪ A ring at the pawn shop and a crib for the kid ♪

♪♪

♪ My sweat and my wages ♪

♪ They don't seem to weight out ♪

♪ I'm getting more aches than I'm gaining in gold ♪

♪♪

♪ And if the Lord wants to take me ♪

♪ I'm here for the taking ♪

♪ 'Cause Hell's probably better than tryin' to get by ♪

♪♪

♪ You could see me on the front page ♪

♪ It'll be out tomorrow ♪

♪ A boy in his 20s shot down in his prime ♪

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Thank you, guys.

♪♪

Katy: He's good, right?

His storytelling ability is great.

Now all he has to do is kind of give me

a little animation in the voice.

We have to send wonderfully talented kids home.

All right. [ Clears throat ]

This is tough.

♪ Hey ♪ I really want to get onto that live stage.

I want America to vote.

Dude, I want to stand next to you on that live stage.

Yeah, that's what I'm waiting for. Right?

America, if you'd like to vote...

I don't even know if I hold a microphone.

I don't think do.

I think it's more like that, but whatever.

♪ Ooh‐ooh‐ooh‐ooh ♪

Luke: First of all, thank you, guys,

for fighting so hard to get to this point.

♪ Where the shadow ends ♪

Singing your heart out for us.

♪ There's a great unknown from you to me ♪

Lionel: When we hear you, we keep thinking,

"Potential, potential, potential."

♪ And you don't believe ♪

But, oh, my goodness.

It's a competition,

and we have to go through and find the diamonds.

♪ Put your trust in the light that you cannot see ♪

The time to see who makes it through

is right now, so...

♪ There's a darkness ♪ Chase.

♪ Up ahead ♪

Your journey continues.

♪ I will see you ♪

James, Christian...

♪ Where the shadow ends ♪

...it's the end of the road.

♪ There's a darkness ♪

♪ Up ahead ♪ Thank you, guys.

We love y'all. Thank you.

♪ I will see you ♪

James: Just sucks I can't continue,

but it's just part of the process.

Whoo‐hoo!

That's the best thing I could ever ask for in my life.

♪♪

I'd just be a little more confident in myself

if I went further, but...

[ Sniffles ] I mean, I'm still happy

with how far I've already went,

but I don't want to be a maid for the rest of my life,

so I'm not gonna quit.

♪ Where the shadow ends ♪

Hollywood Week is where dreams come true,

and the last few singers from our most popular genre

all have the same one ‐‐

to finally perform on a big stage.

Let's do this.

I'm Mary Jo Young.

I'm 19, and I'm from Cleveland, Ohio.

Katy: Hi, Mary Jo!

This is very bright. I feel like I'm entering heaven.

[ Laughter ] Before the San Diego audition,

I had never performed in front of anyone,

and then I performed in front of three people.

Well, four, including my mom.

Three being really, like, famous people, so...

I'm going to Hollywood!

I think I have the least experience

out of most of the people here,

and that makes me really nervous

because I might not be as comfortable on stage.

I wouldn't know how comfortable I am on stage yet,

but I'm just gonna try to do my best, I guess.

♪ Didn't even notice, no punches left to roll with ♪

♪ You want it, say so ♪

♪ I'm in my bed ♪

♪♪

♪ And you're not here ♪

♪♪

♪ And there's no one to blame ♪

♪ But the drink in my wandering hands ♪

♪♪

♪ What am I now? ♪

♪ What am I now? ♪

♪ What if I'm someone I don't want around? ♪

♪ I'm falling again ♪

♪ I'm falling again ♪

♪ I'm falling ♪

♪ I'm falling ♪

♪♪

Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ]

I hope it went well.

I'm happy that I finally performed on a stage.

That's what I'm happy about.

Luke: That is a Ferrari

that someone put 90 octane in.

If we can get 93... [ Laughs ]

Whoo! 93. Yes, sir. 93.

♪ Ooh‐ooh‐ooh‐ooh‐ooh ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

I'm here because it's what I've wanted to do.

Ever since I was a kid, I've always wanted

to have my own legacy as a musician

and leave a story.

♪♪

♪ Dark of the alley ♪

♪♪

♪ Breaking of day, yeah ♪

♪ Head while I'm driving ♪

♪♪

♪ Oh, I'm driving ♪

♪ Soft lips are open ♪

♪♪

♪ Knuckles is pale ♪

♪ Oh, it feels like you're dying ♪

♪♪

♪ Oh, like you're dying ♪

♪♪

♪ And you‐ou‐ou ♪

♪♪

♪ Your sex is on fire ♪

♪♪

Yeah!

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

Lionel: That's what I'm talking about.

That's what I'm talking about. What a special man.

Yeah, sure. That's special.

Colin: It felt rough around the edges,

so hopefully they can sympathize

with the kind of rough stuff in the beginning.

Mary Jo and Colin made it onto the big stage,

and now they wait for the results.

The next singer is hoping to make a similar leap.

Well, Claudia, there.

She and her family no stranger to voting ‐‐

something fundamental to the "Idol" process.

Let's see how the judges cast their ballots

after this performance.

I'm Claudia Conway. I'm back. [ Laughs ]

I'm sorry. Excuse me. What?

Yes. [ Giggles ] Little change.

You mean a transformation.

A transformation.

I'm Claudia Conway. I'm 16.

My audition in Ojai wasn't my best.

I was really, really nervous,

and I had these doubts in my head telling me,

"You're not ready. You're not good enough."

In my life, I'm so focused on all the noise ‐‐

people hating on me or my family online, like, on social media.

And Katy Perry told me...

You have to calm the storm that is around you.

♪ Why do I compare myself to everyone? ♪

Claudia: She believed in me,

and I could not be more grateful for that.

Now I'm just drowning it all out

and telling myself that I can do it.

Uh‐oh. Hi, baby.

This is the Hollywood shuffle.

This week, my mom came.

It is okay for you to have different views

than the people you love.

I'm rehearsing, and she's like,

"Claudia, that sounds flat."

And I was like, "What?"

I was like, "Oh, I'm sorry.

Did you just give me criticism?"

Constructive crit‐‐ No.

No, 'cause I told her to go up ‐‐

I was like, "Stay in politics. I'll do the music."

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

How important is this moment

and goal and pursuit for you

in terms of who you want to be

and your own identity?

It's the most important thing in the world to me.

I think, you know, I've been trying

to establish my own identity for a while.

You know, most people don't know that I'm into music.

Most people don't know that I'm a singer,

and it is very, very important to me.

I'm literally freaking out.

But I'm gonna keep it cool, you know?

But I'm freaking out.

I'm all over the place, but I'm cool.

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪♪

♪ How do you fall in love? ♪

♪ Faster than a hairpin trigger ♪

♪ Don't you say, don't you say ♪

♪ Don't say, don't you say ♪

♪ One breath, it'll just break it ♪

♪ So, shut your mouth and run me like a river ♪

♪ Shut your mouth, baby, stand and deliver ♪

♪ Holy hands, they make me a sinner ♪

♪ Like a river ♪

♪ Like a river ♪

♪ Shut your mouth and run me like a river ♪

Yeah! [ Laughs ]

Nice!

♪♪

I've never performed on a stage that big.

That was crazy.

It's time to find out who from this last pop line

made an impact on the Dolby stage.

♪ Freedom‐dom, freedom ♪

Katy: Hello, ladies and gentlemen.

Sometimes you don't know why you go forward

or you stay back.

♪ I was living a lie, living a lie ♪

♪ This is my confession ♪ But I hope, with this news...

♪ I was living a lie before we met ♪

...you find some form of trust.

♪ Full of dark temptation ♪

♪ There were so many nights that I regret ♪

It will happen when it's meant to happen.

♪ You gave me something that I can hold onto ♪

♪ The little light when I'm down on my knees ♪

♪♪

Congratulations. You're all in the next round.

♪ You give me freedom ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Freedom, give me freedom‐dom ♪

Kellyanne: Claudia!

Man: Whoo!

Whaaaa?! [ Laughs ]

The nerves are gone. I feel relieved.

[ Laughing ] I'm going to the next round!

♪ You give me freedom, freedom ♪

♪ Freedom I've been looking for ♪

No, no, no, no, no.

She thinks I can't sing.

♪ This girl is on fire ♪

♪ This girl is on fire ♪

Claudia: Wait, that was kinda good. That was okay.

Announcer: And as we continue along at the Dolby,

this is your R&B genre.

Yeah! Rhythm and blues!

Right on. Let's go.

Rhythm and blues.

Next up is 23‐year‐old Vahhley, who we met in Ojai,

where she auditioned with her 2‐year‐old son, MJ.

♪ 'Cause they don't know ♪

Vahhley: When I first came to my audition,

I was at such a scary, insecure place.

♪ Does anybody care? ♪

[ Voice breaking ] I'm currently homeless.

I've been homeless for eight months.

So I just wanted to do good for my son.

♪ La la ♪

MJ!

To, like, have this opportunity

and be able to maybe change my life, change his life

is, like, amazing.

A lot's on the line for you in this next performance.

Yeah, a lot. A lot is at stake.

But if you think about your son,

if you think about the situation you want to get out of,

and you put all that up on that stage?

Next up ‐‐ the world.

♪ Baby, you caught me like aaaah ♪

♪ Aaaah ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Don't you stop loving me ♪

♪ Don't quit loving me ♪

♪ Don't stop loving me ♪

♪ Must be love on the braiiiiin ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Thank you so much. All right, all right.

I feel like it went well, but I was super nervous,

so I was shaky.

Vahhley, you have the talent.

You, my dear, have put in a valiant effort.

But on this trip around,

we're going to have to say goodbye to you.

♪ 'Cause I'm a warrior ♪

This is not the end. This is just not your time.

♪ All through the night ♪

♪ And I'm won't give up ♪

We love you, sweetheart. We love you.

Whoo!

♪ I'm a warrior ♪

Sadly, Vahhley is not the only one

whose time is up after the genre challenge.

We also had to say goodbye to Tryzdin Grubbs.

It's not the time, but thank you so much.

I did all I could do and did not want to go back home. I know.

...and 15‐year‐old Brianna Collichio.

We'll see you next time.

I'm disappointed, but I'm not gonna stop, you know?

I love you, Bri.

MJ, I want you to know that even though things get in the way,

you still got to move forward.

Continue striving, never give up,

'cause that's not what life is about.

♪♪

Up next here at the stage is our most unique group.

A line from the indie‐folk genre that bring an eclectic,

creative vibe to the competition.

♪ All along it was a fever ♪

♪ A cold sweat, hotheaded believer ♪

There's a way to tell stories that are personal

and make people feel something.

♪ I threw my hands in the air, I said, "Show me something" ♪

It's a song they know, but I hope they've never heard

a version like this before.

♪ Takes me all the way ♪

♪ I want you to stay ♪

Lionel: I love the indie folks.

These kids right here, they go way out on a limb

and try to come in with something different...

That voice is so smooth.

I'm not sure, y'all.

♪ Take me to church ♪

♪ I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies ♪

♪ I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife ♪

Lionel: It's not that they're always right,

but those oddities are sometimes the next generation of artistry.

♪ Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up ♪

♪ In the morning when the day is new ♪

♪ After having spent the day together ♪

♪ Hold each other close the whole night through ♪

That quirky thing works, man.

She brought us into her little private room.

I mean, I just think that song didn't say anything about her.

They want to discover things on their own,

and that's great, but sometimes that's a big risk.

[ Feedback ]

Sorry. You're too powerful.

[ Chuckles ]

♪ You show the lights ♪

♪ That stop me turn to stone ♪

♪ You shine them when I'm alone ♪

♪ And so I tell myself that I'll be strong ♪

♪ And dreaming when they're gone ♪

♪ 'Cause they're calling, calling, calling me home ♪

♪ Calling, calling, calling ♪

Katy: She was quirky. Mm‐hmm, mm‐hmm.

Some of that stuff takes you out of the moment.

Yeah. See, always remember that whatever you do,

you have to take the audience with you.

Ooh, it was, like, shaky, a little bit shaky.

It wasn't my best,

but I knew that that was my only moment there

and that I needed to take hold of that, so...

[voice breaking] I'm glad that I did.

These people don't completely know who they are.

Someone who's traveled far and wide to discover who he is

is street performer Murphy,

a one‐of‐a‐kind spirit

who intrigued the judges at the San Diego auditions.

♪ Send me down the line all by myself ♪

♪ Just like you do ♪

If I can get you to peel back some layers

and give us the artist inside, we can walk a long way together.

You've done a lot of playing all over the country, right?

Yeah. Street corners, busking different places.

Yeah. [ Chuckles ] All too many.

My dad couldn't sing at all,

but he always told me I could.

He told me you can be anything you want to be.

And I believed him.

It was a large part of the happiness of my childhood.

I was around 17 when my father passed.

Things were tight.

I basically went around couch‐hopping

and trying to find work, and I did.

And I worked a job that I hated.

So I got around with busking.

I knew that's what I wanted to do.

And I told myself I've got to go.

If I don't, I'll never be what I want.

You know, and so I went up across America,

started playing and that felt good.

I hitchhiked. I walked.

I'm not gonna say being homeless isn't hard,

but that was my choice, my freedom for many years,

and it's helped my music greatly.

The only way to get good at something is to do it,

and if you can push yourself to make your passion your job,

then you should.

It was all about choices.

Even today...

you know, that's ‐‐ that's what music means to me.

It means I have a chance to...

you know, I just...

I have a chance to make something better.

Music has been a savior to me.

Over the last seven years, I've traveled this country

and I've been able to make my way

because I've been who I am.

And I'm not gonna stop,

and I hope you can help me on this journey of mine.

All right, Murphy, let's go.

[ Applause ]

♪♪

♪ Like the pine trees linin' the windin' road ♪

♪ I got a name, I got a name ♪

♪ Like the singin' bird and the croakin' toad ♪

♪ I got a name, I got a name ♪

♪ And I carry it with me like my daddy did ♪

♪ I'm livin' that dream he kept hid ♪

♪ Like the fool I am and I'll always be ♪

♪ I got a dream, I got a dream ♪

♪ They can change their mind, but they can't change me ♪

♪ I got a dream, I got a dream ♪

♪ And you know I can share it if you want me, too ♪

♪ If you're going my way, I'll go with you ♪

♪ Movin' me down the highway ♪

♪ Rollin' me down the highway ♪

♪ I'm movin' ahead so life won't pass me by ♪

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

Lionel: He's got so much gift.

I tried to connect.

I'm hoping that we'll have a moment where it breaks out.

Well, the moment is now, Lionel Richie.

Now the judges need to make some tough decisions

for the indie‐folk genre.

♪ I can see the future ♪

Katy: We all know...

♪ Painted in my eyes ♪

...that music is a message.

You guys are the messengers.

So I appreciate this genre so much ‐‐

the people that go the road less traveled.

And it's fun being a messenger.

♪ This is where we come alive ♪

What's not fun sometimes is competing for that.

♪ This is where we come alive ♪

If I call your name,

please step forward.

♪ Braving the unknown ♪

Wyatt.

♪ This is where we come alive ♪

♪♪

Murphy.

♪ I can feel it rising ♪

♪ Golden waves of sound ♪

EmiSunshine.

♪ We're shakin' the horizon ♪

Lizzy.

♪ Like thunder on the ground ♪

♪♪

Front row...

♪♪

...you will still be delivering the message.

♪ This where we come alive ♪ Luke: Congrats.

♪ Out of the shadows ♪

Lionel: Congratulations.

♪ And into the light ♪

I can't believe I did it!

Oh, man!

Like, I thought they'd hate me.

[ Squealing, laughing ]

Oh, my gosh.

[ Crying ]

♪ This is where we come alive ♪

We're gonna the next round. I'm so excited.

This is the worst dancing ever, but, hey, we made it.

We're going.

♪ This is where we come alive ♪

Up next to hit the stage, it's the rock genre,

and only nine contestants here in the mix.

They may be small, but are they mighty?

[ Vocalizing intro to "The Final Countdown" ]

♪♪

Althea: I think rock is absolutely the best genre.

Man: I feel like I have that rock star spirit in me

when I get on that stage.

Woman #4: I like to rock.

It makes you want to dance. It makes you want to move.

Rock out, brother. Absolutely, bro.

I love your nose piercing. Thank you. Thank you.

My grandmother would beg to differ,

but, you know... It looks real nice.

Thank you. I appreciate that.

I appreciate that. My name is Beane.

I'm 23, and I am from Beantown ‐‐ or Boston.

Katy: Hi.

In my first audition,

it seemed like all the judges

were leaning towards a no,

but I think just something about my personality

got me a yes from Katy and Lionel.

You're the new modern day Mister Rogers.

But you may not be American Idol.

Luke held out on his no, which is good.

Keeps a fire under my ass.

Fire under my butt.

[ Chuckles ]

Yeah? I don't know where the line is there.

♪ Electric boots, a mohair suit ♪

♪ You know I read it in a magazine, ohh‐oh now ♪

♪ B‐B‐B‐Bennie and the Jets ♪

♪ Yeah, Bennie and the Jets ♪

Oh!

Beane: I don't know what more I could have done,

so I definitely gave them my heart,

and I hope that's enough to keep going.

Yeah, he got me. He got me on that one.

Like, sometimes it comes in the disguise of Mister Rogers.

♪ B‐B‐B‐Bennie and the Jets ♪

[ Laughs ]

So as Beane leaves the judges smiling,

will it be as beautiful a day

for his neighbors in the rock genre?

Most of the time, if you're singing, you're where?

My bathroom, literally with my hairbrush

imagining I'm on stage. [ Chuckles ]

What a leap from your bathroom to the big stage

at the Dolby Theatre. Yeah.

Are you understanding how big and how cool that is?

I don't think I've processed that.

So, for my first audition,

like, the judges' comments were so surprising.

I think she's the damn winner of "American Idol," period.

If I make it through today, it will definitely reassure me

that my last audition was not an accident.

This means everything.

♪ Well, don't spend your life in sin and misery ♪

♪ In the House of the Riiiising ♪

♪ Suuuun ♪

[ Cheers and applause ] There you go, girl!

Thank you.

So Casey may have proven her first audition

was no accident.

That was awesome.

That definitely want better than I expected.

Towards the end, they stood up.

And one of our youngest contestants

sure is a big act to follow.

♪ I'm no longer slave to fear ♪

I'm feeling a little bit of nerves here and there

for Hollywood Week.

I want this... bad.

♪ I am a child of God ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

Althea: You know, I'm away from my daughter for the first time.

Going through my daughter getting sick,

I did not think that she would still be here.

She has a genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis,

and she had a liver transplant in 2020.

If you told me at the beginning of the year

that this is where we would be,

I would've thought you were crazy.

♪ What you waitin' on, girl? ♪

♪ I know that you're trying ♪

♪ Everything's gonna be okay ♪

♪ Baby girl ♪

We've been through so much this year

and if she gets to see me sing and be on "American Idol,"

like, you know, she'll know you can do anything.

♪ Don't you hang your head low ♪

♪ Don't you lose your halo ♪

♪ Everything's gonna be okay, baby girl ♪

Katy: Nice! Thank you.

There it is!

So as Althea leaves the stage

hoping she's rocked her way into the judges' world,

it's time for our smallest group to get the big news.

♪ I wish I could remember every second we had ♪

So, you guys chose to be the rock genre,

and we really enjoyed your performances.

Sadly, one of you did not make it through.

And...

♪ One by one ♪

...this was a very, very close decision for us.

♪ I'm not gonna lose you now, keep you in my life somehow ♪

If I call your name, please step forward.

♪ Even when the lights go down, down ♪

♪ I could never lose you now ♪

Christian.

♪♪

Brother...

you're the only one that's not gonna make it through

in this group.

♪ Oh, I'll keep you in my life somehow ♪

Hold your head high.

♪ Even when the lights go down, down ♪

We're proud of you.

♪ I'm not gonna lose you now ♪

Back row, congratulations.

You're going through to the next round.

♪♪

Everything happens for a reason, so I'm at peace with that.

Yeah!

They got me all nervous,

so I'm happy to be on the other side of that.

You did it!

Oh, my God. I'm so happy for you.

Mommy made it through the first round!

I am here to be an example for my daughter.

Katy: Some people don't fight for it.

She really was like pulling for herself.

Can you say "excited"?

Excited. [ Laughs ] Excited!

♪ I'm not gonna lose you now ♪

Through the day and into the night,

many singers have been tapping into their spirit

to make it into the next round of the competition.

Amanda: ♪ Rise up to the light and... ♪

You are going forward.

I made it through, Katie.

You're going forward. Congratulations.

Amanda: ♪ Yeah ♪ Katy: Congrats.

Y'all made it. You're going through to the next round.

Amanda: ♪ Watch the heavens open up ♪

Killed it, man.

Congratulations.

I made it!

Amanda: ♪ Spirit ♪

You're going to the next round.

Amanda: ♪ Can you hear it calling? ♪

Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! I did it!

I did it. I did it.

You can breathe now. [ Laughs ]

Amanda: ♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Your destiny is comin' close ♪

♪ Stand up and fiiiiight ♪

Okay!

[ Cheers and applause ] Wow.

You'll be joining us for duets.

Oh. That just happened.

Yo! [ Chuckles ]

Oh, my God. [ Screaming, laughing ]

While these singers celebrate their victories,

the last singer of the night gets ready to take the stage.

♪ Shine bright like a diamond ♪

I'm Willie Spence, I'm 21 years old,

and I'm from Douglas, Georgia.

All my life, I've grown up singing.

That's my passion. That's my dream.

♪ We're like diamonds in the sky ♪

In 2017,

I decided to post me singing "Diamonds" by Rihanna

and it went viral.

♪ Shine bright in the beautiful sea ♪

♪ I choose to be happy ♪

It's like I woke up one morning

and it was, like, over 5 million views.

Seeing all the comments and all those likes, that pushed me

to move to Hollywood to chase my dream.

And I felt like my career was getting ready to take off.

And then all of a sudden...

I found out my mom, she had a stroke.

That was really the worst moment in my life.

I just knew that I had to move back home with her.

You had to be strong back then, and you had to come

and you had to take care of me.

It was you who made sure I got the help that I needed.

And I thank you,

and I'm so very grateful for it.

You only get one mother.

I would do the same thing again and again and again.

♪ I walk on the road that you started ♪

Willie: I'm just glad I'm seeing you happy,

and that's what makes me happy.

You have a second chance to go back to "American Idol."

So you stand up on that stage

and you sing all that God has given you to sing.

I love you, Mom. I love you.

♪ In case you don't live forever ♪

Me going back to Hollywood is definitely a second chance.

I got this.

I feel like now I am ready to fight for this.

This is what I was born to do.

♪ 'Cause all of me ♪

♪ Loves all of you ♪

♪ Love your curves and all your edges ♪

♪ All your perfect imperfections ♪

♪ So give your all to me ♪

♪ I'll give my all to you ♪

♪ You're my end and my beginnin' ♪

♪ Even when I lose, I'm winnin' ♪

♪ 'Cause I give you aaaaaall of me, yeah ♪

[ Laughs ]

♪ Katy, I give you aaaaall, all of me ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Thank you.

♪ Hope is a train on a one‐way track ♪

♪ When you've lost your way and you can't get back ♪

Your career is right there for you.

♪ And when the sky is falling all around ♪

I don't even wanna waste any more time.

Luke: Let's do it. Let's just do it, right?

Katy: Let's do it.

♪ My heart, it beats for you ♪

We'll see you doing duets. You're going through.

♪ I'll be there for you ♪

[ Cheers and applause ] Whoo!

Thank you. Congratulations.

You killed it, man.

You know, that it such old‐school well done.

♪ I'll be there for you ♪

Willie: I'm just ‐‐ I'm so full of emotion right now.

I could cry.

I feel like God has given me a second chance

to do what I have to do.

And I'm so grateful to even be here.

I was born for this.

♪♪

Ryan: All right, now that the genre challenge is in the books,

the remaining contestants who have made the cut

have been brought back into the theatre

for some game‐changing news.

♪♪

Luke: Congrats.

You have survived the genre challenge

and now we go into the duet rounds.

Do you have your mind set on somebody here in this room?

You do? Well, you better think again.

Sometimes we like to throw a curveball.

Yes, yes, you read the old script.

Yeah, it's not going to happen like that.

There's a new script in town, honey. This is the old script.

The old script was that we let you pick your partner.

♪♪

The new script is now...

♪♪

...uh, we are gonna do it.

♪♪

My ‐‐ My fellow judges and I have decided

we are going to pair you all up.

The way we see it...

one can go through, both can go through,

or neither one of you can go through.

We're going to let you leave...

now.

Let's go pick some partners.

Don't you just feel sick to your stomach?

This is insane.

[ Chuckles ] I, like, can't even believe that that just happened.

I'm not gonna be able to sleep until I find out

who my partner is ‐‐ at all.

Please, please, please don't mess this up for me.

I love you, guys.

I'm just ready to see who it is. Who's ‐‐ Who's the lucky soul?

[ Laughs ]

>>>>oakislandtk www.opensubtitles.org