Who made the ‘American Idol’ Top 30? Season 24 cuts nearly 100 hopefuls during brutal Hollywood Week
‘Hollywood Week’ just pulled the rug out from under nearly a hundred dreamers. ‘American Idol’ Season 24 slashed its lineup from 127 hopefuls to a tight pack of 30 during the March 2 episode. And let’s just say the judges did not waste time handing out reality checks. At the judges’ table, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan sifted through performances with raised brows and crossed arms, sometimes leaning back in their chairs with satisfied nods, and other times second-guessing song choices. The second half of ‘Hollywood Week’ came in hot. Contestants who survived earlier rounds now had to prove they weren’t just lucky.
Some, however, didn’t just survive; they thrived. Bryan practically beamed over Jesse Findling, who not only impressed him vocally but apparently stirred up a little friendly envy, too. Then there was Rae Boyd, who stepped into bold territory by taking on a track by Demi Lovato, and earned the panel's appreciation. By the end of the episode, the pool had shrunk dramatically. Some contestants breezed straight into the Top 30 thanks to strong performances throughout ‘Hollywood Week.’ However, others had to sweat it out in sing-offs, fighting for those final spots. And now? The Top 30 is set.
The ‘American Idol’ Top 30
Here are the singers still standing:
Makiyah
Jordan McCullough
Lucas Leon
Bella Emry
Madison Moon
Keyla Richardson
Braden Rumfelt
Chris Tungseth
Jake Thistle
Tianna Roberts
Philmon Lee
Brooks Rosser
Daniel Stallworth
Kutter Bradley
Bryant Thomas
Jesse Findling
Julián Kalel
Sheldon Riley
Brianna Yancey
Kiera Howell
Kyndal Inskeep
Hannah Harper
Ruby Rae
Jacquie Lee
Brenna Brigman
Rae Boyd
Genevieve Heyward
Abayomi
Michael Garner
Chloe Lauren
Eliminations in Episode 6
These contestants saw their ‘Idol’ run come to an end in the penultimate elimination round just before the final trim:
Jayson Arendt
Matty Reynolds
Kitti Taye
Landon Hughes
Julianne Post
Jackie Bluebird
And when it was time to lock in the final Top 30, the following hopefuls were also sent home:
Jakob Stobaugh
Trace Casanova
Mor
Julia Sienna
Lanii
Roelle
Trew the Star
Grant Satterfield
Jayson Garner
MaryJo Young
That’s the tough part about this show. Talent alone doesn’t shield you. Some singers who stumbled early couldn’t quite recover. Others delivered solid vocals but failed to create a magical moment. The judges didn’t hold back their thoughts either. There were gentle critiques, and then there were blunt ones. When a song choice missed the mark, they said it. When someone shone, they made it clear. ‘American Idol’ airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with episodes airing on Hulu the next day for anyone who needs to rewatch the highs and lows. Episode 7, titled the ‘Ohana Round,’ is set to premiere on March 9.
