'American Idol' Season 22 judge Luke Bryan unimpressed by Abi Carter's Taylor Swift cover
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Abi Carter, who has been a consistent favorite on 'American Idol' Season 22, faced criticism from the judges after her latest performance of Taylor Swift's hit song, 'All Too Well,' to kick off the show. Luke Bryan pointed out that her performance was better the previous night and advised her not to get too comfortable behind the piano. The American Idol judge asked her to push boundaries and evolve as a performer, rather than relying on familiar elements in her performances, which many fans of the show have also noticed in Carter's last few performances.
Not only did Luke offer feedback, but mentor Meghan also cautioned Abi about singing a Taylor Swift song, emphasizing the difficulty of covering Taylor's tracks. Meghan felt Abi was taking a big risk due to Taylor's popularity and advised her to add more vocal flair. Additionally, Meghan suggested Abi avoid leaving too much space at the end of the song, as it's crucial to showcase her vocal abilities in a competition like this.
Luke had another piece of advice for Abi, urging her not to become too comfortable behind the piano. He noted that her performance wasn't as captivating as the previous night, saying it "wasn't shiny" and cautioned her against relying too much on the piano during her performances.
Despite the critiques from Luke and Meghan, Katy and Lionel continued to shower Abi with praise. Katy emphasized Abi's ability to captivate the audience, noting that her strength lies in drawing people in with her performances. "I don't think you need to work the stage and give us energy," Katy said, adding her desire for Abi to maintain an "angelic" presence every time she takes the stage. Lionel echoed this sentiment, appreciating Abi's efforts to push herself and encouraging her to keep pushing her boundaries in her performances.
Abi Carter is Katy Perry's 'favourite' contestant
Katy Perry was full of praise for Abi, going as far as to call her favorite contestant of the season. She voiced her confidence in Abi's abilities and expressed her wishes for Abi to go far in Season 22. Katy's words reflected her belief in Abi's talent and her hopes for her success in the competition.
“I don’t know if I’m allowed to say it, but you’re my favorite,” Katy said. “I just think you are so gifted. When you first came to us you sang a Billie Eilish song and it was just like, oh my gosh, you can do a Hillside song? This is our third time hearing you sing. The second time you could barely make a note out. So, really this is like the second time we’ve heard you sing and I’m just so glad it reminded me of the angel that you are," she added.
Abi Carter is Katy Perry's 'favourite' contestant (ABC)
Who was eliminated from 'American Idol' Season 22 Top 14?
Despite delivering outstanding performances, Jordan Anthony and Nya did not receive enough votes to secure spots in the Top 12. Jordan's remarkable rendition fell short of capturing the audience's votes, while Nya's tribute to Aretha Franklin showcased her incredible voice but wasn't enough to propel her forward in the competition.
However, advancing to the next stage are Roman Collins, Mia Matthews, Triston Harper, Julia Gagnon, Jack Blocker, Jayna Elise, Mckenna Breinholt, Kaibrienne "KB" Richins, Emmy Russell, and Abi Carter.
'American Idol' Season 22 airs every Sunday at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC and the next day on Hulu.