'American Idol' Season 22 fans fume as Will Moseley advances to top three, claim singer lacks ‘star quality’

Will Moseley advanced to top three of American Idol Season 22
Lionel Richie drew comparison between Will Moseley's performance and the legendary Kenny Rogers (@abc)
Lionel Richie drew comparison between Will Moseley's performance and the legendary Kenny Rogers (@abc)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As Will Moseley advanced in the competition and secured a spot in the finals of "American Idol,"  several fans voiced their discontent and doubts about his abilities on social media. His performances faced criticism from many, with some questioning his suitability for the top three.

A common point of contention was Moseley's consistent focus on country-style songs throughout the competition. Some viewers felt that this limited range and lack of diversity in his song choices showcased a lack of versatility compared to other contestants. They argued that his reliance on one genre might impede his prospects of advancing in the later rounds of the competition.

In contrast, there was a growing sentiment among fans that other contestants, particularly Triston Harper, were more deserving of a spot in the final three. 

One fan said, "Will Moseley sounds like every other country singer. No talent". Another fan wrote, "Lots of comments on Emmy on here, she is America's sweetheart. The real question is who keeps voting no talent Will Moseley thru." 



 



 



 

"Basically, all the judges told Will Moseley he phoned that performance in, and he did. He’s getting dull," said another fan. "Terrible 1st song choice for Will Mosely. Screwed it up big time too. And of course the judges do nothing but rave about him!" added another fan. "Will is so boring I would have rather have had Triston in the finale." 



 



 

Will Moseley fumbles while singing

During his performance of "The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy" from "Toy Story 4," Will Moseley encountered a stumble that caught the attention of both the judges and the audience. As he sang from atop a stool, there came a point where he seemed to falter in the arrangement, momentarily forgetting the lyrics. This instance of uncertainty resulted in an awkward pause during his performance.

Despite this stumble, Moseley managed to quickly recover and find his place in the song again. However, the momentary lapse affected the overall flow of his performance, and he was unable to achieve the vocal heights of his earlier renditions.

In addressing Moseley's fumble, Lionel Richie remarked, "In country, the cracking is believable," acknowledging the authenticity that can come from imperfections in performance. Meanwhile, Katy Perry found some positive aspects, describing his performance as soulful. However, Luke Bryan had a different perspective, believing that Moseley's choice of song was strong and defended the overall quality of his performance.

Will Moseley ditches country genre during Adele's night (@abc)
Will Moseley fumbles while singing (@abc)

Lionel Richie compares Will Moseley to Kenny Rogers

In a notable moment, Lionel Richie drew a comparison between Will Moseley's performance and the legendary Kenny Rogers. Reflecting on his time producing Rogers, Richie recalled instances when Rogers's voice would crack during recordings. Richie would often urge Rogers to redo the performance, striving for a more smoother delivery.

“When I was producing Kenny, anytime his voice would crack, I would go, ‘Kenny, do it again. Kenny do it again.’ He said, ‘Lionel what are you trying to do?’ And I said, ‘Well, what I’m trying to do is get you to hear the smooth.’”

'American Idol' Season 22 contestant Will Moseley performs in Top 7 (@abc)
'American Idol' Season 22 contestant Will Moseley will perform in Top 3 (@abc)

 'American Idol' Season 22 grand finale will premiere on Sunday, May 19 at 8 pm ET on ABC.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Long-time host Julie Chen Moonves will introduce viewers to the Season 28 contestants on July 7, 2026
31 minutes ago
Dylan expressed concerns about his connection with Kenzie, leading to a tough conversation between them in the latest episode.
2 hours ago
Julie Chen Moonves says 'Big Brother' has leveled up security and you might not even spot it.
12 hours ago
The latest episode of 'Love Island USA: AfterSun' saw Caleb reveal which female islander initially caught his eye
22 hours ago
Witnessing Dylan at Fiji airport sparked a debate among fans about the possibility of him and Kenzie being the next couple to be dumped from the show.
1 day ago
America voted for the most compatible couple, and the results left the islanders stunned
1 day ago
Ciara Miller and Tefi Pessoa from ‘Aftersun’ chime in with their take on the possible winners of ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8.
2 days ago
A recoupling left one islander single before the villa voted out two more couples, cutting five contestants ahead of the July 12 finale.
3 days ago
The upcoming Episode 27 of the dating show will feature a recoupling ceremony and an elimination
4 days ago
Movie Night got tense as Sincere, Kenzie, Corbin, and others found themselves in trouble
4 days ago