With just two weeks left before the season 23 finale of “American Idol,” the remaining top seven contestants are in for a wild ride of travel, intense competition, and rapid eliminations.
At the end of the live episode on May 5, 2025, host Ryan Seacrest revealed which six contestants received the most votes that night, in no particular order — Slater Nalley, Gabby Samone, Breanna Nix, Thunderstorm Artis, Jamal Roberts, and John Foster. Of the bottom two, Mattie Pruitt and Josh King, judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie opted to save 16-year-old Pruitt, sending King home after an emotional journey on the show.
There was no time to rest after the May 5 show, Roberts revealed in a brief post-show Facebook Live, as the contestants had to hit the road for Disneyland.
‘American Idol’ Top 7 Will Spend This Week Prepping for Disney Shows With Lin-Manuel Miranda
Shortly after the May 5 live show wrapped, the contestants had to quickly finish packing so they could be transported that night to Disneyland, Roberts shared in a brief post-show Facebook Live, which is about an hour-long drive from where “Idol” is filmed in Hollywood.
For the first time, “American Idol” will air two Disney Nights, instead of just one, airing back-to-back on May 11 and 12.
“They’re all taking an unforgettable trip to Disneyland Resort,” Seacrest told viewers during the May 5 show. “They will experience all the park has to offer plus they’ll be mentored by a true Disney icon.”
That mentor, for both nights, is Lin-Manuel Miranda, who not only was the mastermind behind the Tony-winning Broadway musical “Hamilton,” but who has starred in and composed music for many hit Disney projects. Miranda starred in 2018’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” composed multiple songs on the 2016 “Moana” soundtrack, voices the character Gizmoduck in “Duck Tales,” and wrote the soundtracks for 2021’s “Encanto” and 2024’s ““Mufasa: The Lion King.” Among Miranda’s accolades, according to Broadway World, he’s won a Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and five Grammy Awards, and two Oscar nominations.
“This year we’re doubling down with a two-night event, with songs from the “treasured Disney catalog” and Mother’s Day dedications They’re all taking an unforgettable trip to Disneyland Resort, they will experience all the park has to offer plus they’ll be mentored by a true Disney icon,
“I know my way around a Disney song, and I’m here to help,” Miranda said in a pre-taped announcement of his mentorship role on the show.
Miranda will work with the contestants on their song choices from the vast Disney catalog and will appear live in-studio during the May 12 show, per ABC. That night, 2023 “Idol” winner Iam Tongi will also appear, performing his new rendition of “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from the live action “Lilo & Stitch” movie, hitting theaters on May 23.
‘American Idol’ Path to the Season 23 Finale
DisneyContestants will be dropping like flies over the next week and a half. On May 11, viewers will have less than two hours to vote for their picks to move onto the top five, sending two contestants home that night. Those five finalists will then perform twice on the May 12 show, per ABC, aiming to get into the top three by the end of the night.
The top three, as in past years, will all get to return to their hometowns for celebrations and performances. Some cities are already making homecoming plans in hopes their hometown heroes will be among the top three that week.
The three finalists perform multiple songs during a live episode on May 18. If past years are any indication, viewers will likely be able to cast votes overnight to determine the winner. On the May 19 finale, the third place finalist will be announced midway through the star-studded show, with guest performances still to be announced, and the winner will be revealed in the final moments of the episode.
Comments
Final 2 Weeks of ‘American Idol’ 2025: Who’s Left & What’s Next