'American Idol' contestant wows judges — then drops to one knee in unforgettable Season 24 moment
Love was in the air in 'American Idol' on Monday, January 26. Along with stellar performances and unexpected moments, 'American Idol' Season 24 kicked off with a surprise marriage proposal. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the season welcomed back the judging trio of Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie for the auditions round. The highlight of the episode came when a contestant took the opportunity to propose to his girlfriend. The moment caught everyone off guard, leaving the judges wide-eyed in amazement and creating a heartwarming 'Idol' moment.
The contestant in discussion is Bryant Thomas, who surprised the judges by performing Phil Collins' 'Against All Odds' from behind a pillar, hiding his face, as per Entertainment Weekly. By the end of his performance, Thomas stepped in front of the judges at Idol University, impressing them all. Underwood praised him, saying, "Your voice is outrageous. It really is, even over there, behind a pillar. You can feel just so much emotion and life in your voice." Bryan also praised Thomas for his "really soulful voice," while Lionel Richie said, "I think we got ourselves a hit record here. You've got star-power vocals here, man."
After earning three yes votes and advancing to Hollywood Week in Nashville, Thomas surprised everyone by proposing to his girlfriend, Alyona. "My journey started with you and is going to end with you," he said, informing that he had planned to propose regardless of the judges' decision. An ecstatic Alyona said yes. Later, talking about his decision to compete, Thomas said, "I've been behind the scenes, and I feel like I'm made for the stage and the spotlights. So I'm ready to assume my role in the front of this boat and take us all the way home."
Notably, 'American Idol' Season 24 showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick announced new twists in the competition, including the first-ever use of social media voting. She told Deadline, "We have to meet the audience where they are. Back in 2002, when the show began, texting was the new hot thing. We also have to meet the technology where it is as well. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to vote for their favorites and weigh in from their couch with their second screen in real time."
Wolflick further said the goal of Season 24 is to attract younger viewers. "If we can get Gen Alpha and Gen Z to weigh in a little bit more in the easiest way possible, that's very exciting. It could tip the scale," she said, as per E! News. As per reports, 'American Idol' Season 24 will introduce a new Ohana Round, filmed at Aulani, a Disney Resort in Hawaii, during its three-episode Hollywood Week. Thirty contestants will perform for a panel of "industry tastemakers" including Kaniyia Brown, Terry McCaskill, Anthony Gargiula, Loren Gray, Evan Ross Katz, Cheryl Porter, Kelly Sutton, and Shirley Halperin, who will help the judges narrow the group to the top 20.
For those who wish to stay updated on the 'American Idol' Season 24 action but don't have cable, you can stream the American Idol Season 24 premiere for free using a live TV streaming service, as per Decider. DIRECTV offers a five-day free trial that includes ABC and over 90 channels, after which plans start at $49.99/month. Sling TV is a more affordable option, with its Select plan, including ABC, starting at $19.99/month.
