Best moments from American Idol Season 24 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night

American Idol Season 24's Rock & Roll night was one for the ages. In addition to some electric performances, the special also revealed the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Ryan Seacrest and Lionel Richie announced the decorated class. Billy Idol, Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan were named as the inductees. This saw deafening cheers from the audience. Another list of prominent names, Queen Latifah, Gram Parsons, Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, and MC Lyte, will all be honored with the early influence award.

Setting the tone for the episode was Billy Idol, who opened the show with judge Carrie Underwood, performing a duet of Rebel Yell with Steve Stevens. This follows the news of Billy and Steve being inducted into the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Underwood channeled her inner rock star as he had the audience swooning with her studded leather jacket and shorts, tall boots, and commanding energy as the trio performed to the all-time classic.

Adding to the evening's specialty was Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, who not only mentored the Top 11 contestants but also gave a banging medley performance of Heartbreaker and Ring of Fire. For the unversed, Benatar is a four-time Grammy winner who has sold over 36 million albums worldwide, while her longtime partner, Giraldo, has contributed to more than 45 million records sold.

The night didn’t stop there. In yet another unexpected twist, former WWE Champion The Miz crashed American Idol Season 24’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night to hype up WrestleMania 42, one of WWE’s biggest events of the year. And he didn’t just stop there; the Miz playfully wrestled host Ryan Seacrest, even lifting him on live TV, turning the moment delightfully awkward and fun.

American Idol Season 24 also delivered its first unexpected double elimination. Philmon Lee and Rae were sent home after performing Hot Blooded and MacArthur Park, respectively. The remaining contestants: Braden Rumfelt, Brooks, Chris Tungseth, Daniel Stallworth, Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, Keyla Richardson, Kyndal Inskeep, and Lucas Leon officially secured their spots in the Top 9.