American Idol Unveils Its Top 10 Vocalists
American Idol, a renowned platform for aspiring vocalists, has entered its 22nd season, culminating in the announcement of its top 10 contestants on Monday’s live broadcast on ABC. Billboard, for over a decade, has had the exclusive opportunity to conduct in-depth interviews with each finalist.
The Road to the Top: Elimination and Resilience
Emotions reached a peak on Sunday (April 19th) as the top 14 contestants showcased their talents by performing songs from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. The episode also featured an exciting reveal of the 2024 Rock Hall class by host Ryan Seacrest and esteemed member Lionel Richie. However, the two-hour episode concluded with a bittersweet moment as Jordan Anthony and Nya bid farewell to the competition.
The following Monday, the theme shifted to Billboard No. 1 Hits, a concept previously explored in seasons two and four. The episode witnessed the departure of Roman Collins and Jayna Elise, leaving the competition with a total of 10 remaining contestants.
Meet the Top 10 Contestants
Jack Blocker
* Age: 25
* Hometown: Dallas, Texas
* Musical Influences: John Prine, Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, OutKast, Tyler the Creator, White Stripes, Green Day
McKenna Faith Breinholt
* Age: 25
* Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
* Musical Influences: Adele, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift
Abi Carter
* Age: 19
* Hometown: Indio, California
* Musical Influences: Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, My Chemical Romance, Paramore
Julia Gagnon
* Age: 20
* Hometown: Guatemala City, Guatemala
* Musical Influences: Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo
Triston Harper
* Age: 15
* Hometown: McIntosh, Alabama
* Musical Influences: Johnny Cash, Charles Johnson
Kaibrienne
* Age: 20
* Hometown: Ogden, Utah
* Musical Influences: Katy Perry, Adele, Carrie Underwood
Kaleb Lee
* Age: 22
* Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
* Musical Influences: Bon Jovi, Journey, Whitesnake, Queen, Ed Sheeran
Mia Matthews
* Age: 18
* Hometown: Gadsden, Alabama
* Musical Influences: Dolly Parton, Kelsea Ballerini, Kacey Musgraves
Will Moseley
* Age: 23
* Hometown: Hazlehurst, Georgia
* Musical Influences: Bob Seger, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Blackberry Smoke
Emmy Russell
* Age: 34
* Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
* Musical Influences: Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus
The journey toward the ultimate title continues, and these 10 talented individuals will undoubtedly captivate audiences with their exceptional vocal abilities and unwavering determination.
