Luke Bryan might've just named the 'American Idol' Season 24 winner after show-stopping standing ovation
Hollywood Week just rolled right into Nashville and did not waste any time in turning up the heat on ‘American Idol’. There, 127 contestants stood backstage adjusting in-ear monitors, mumbling lyrics to themselves, and trying to pretend they weren’t nervous about singing in front of 1,500 people. And this time, there was a live band that filled the room with music, which is thrilling if you’re used to it and downright frightening if you are not. For many of these singers, it was their first experience performing with live musical backing.
![Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan grooving during Braden Rumfelt's 'American Idol' Season 24 performance [Image Source: YouTube | @americanidol]](https://d2xyxq01uvku0q.cloudfront.net/421ab19a-45e3-4dd8-acc9-b168a733edd6.png)
Meanwhile, at the judges’ table, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie looked equal parts entertained and stressed. Because here’s the thing: this is where the big cuts begin. Auditions are hopeful, but Hollywood Week is brutal. Some contestants rose to the challenge like they’d been rehearsing for this exact night since kindergarten. Others looked nervous to take the stage before a live audience. Then there was Braden Rumfelt. The 22-year-old from Murphy, North Carolina, walked in with confidence and walked out with the room buzzing.
Before he even sang a note, viewers learned he’d undergone two knee surgeries within the last year. That brought not just physical pain but mental strain too. During his intro segment, Braden spoke openly about developing contamination OCD during recovery. “It’s really debilitating,” he admitted, “I’ve made huge strides to getting a lot better. Hollywood Week — that’s good for me. I can focus on putting my energy into something that is real.” And then he sang. Taking on Sam Smith’s ‘I’m Not the Only One’ is no small task. Braden didn’t overdo it. He let the melody breathe, and his performance was smooth, controlled, and confident.
The crowd stood up before the last note even faded. Back at the judges’ table, Luke didn’t hesitate. “We knew you were special in your audition,” he told Braden, pointing out how well the song choice suited him. After Braden exited the stage, Luke leaned toward Carrie and Lionel and dropped a line that immediately raised eyebrows: “He may win.” That’s not the kind of statement you toss around lightly this early in the season. But Luke said it anyway. Of course, Braden wasn’t the only one moving forward. By the end of Episode 5, several contestants remained in the running for a spot in the Top 30 of Season 24.
Bryant Thomas, Keyla Richardson, Makiyah, Jordan McCullough, Madison Moon, Roelle, Trace Casanova, Hannah Harper, Philmon Lee, Lucas Leon, Kiera Howell, Abayomi, and Michael Garner all advanced past this first Hollywood hurdle. Still, the episode saved one more twist for the next Hollywood Week episode, which is set to air on March 2. Jake Thistle, Brianna Yancey, and Braden Rumfelt were all left hanging as the credits rolled.
