Breanna Nix, a 25-year-old Texas mom who made it into the top 7 of “American Idol” season 23, vied for viewers’ votes again on May 11, 2025. It was the first of two Disney nights, during which Nix had to perform a tune from Disney’s vast song catalog. Viewers had less than two hours to vote for their favorites during the show, determining who would make it through to the top 5 of season 23.
SPOILER ALERT: Do not continue reading if you do NOT want to know whether Nix made it into the top 5.
Voting closed during the final commercial break, and the results were handed over to host Ryan Seacrest to reveal which members of top 7 would advance to the top 5. So did Nix make it through? YES, she made it through to the top 5!
Breanna Nix Admitted She Was Feeling ‘Stressed’ Before the Live Episode
The contestants got to spend time with their families in between filming at Disneyland on May 6 and 7, but were back in Hollywood on May 8, “hitting it hard” in the studio, 25-year-old Breanna Nix shared during an Instagram Live that day.
“I feel a little bit stressed, just to be honest with you guys,” she admitted after her Disneyland trip with husband Austin and their four-year-old son, Emerson. “Even though Disneyland was so fun, it took a couple days off (from rehearsals) and we have four songs to sing Sunday and Monday and then we have the finale, which is like, right after that. It’s like seven songs that we have to learn.”
Nevertheless, Nix said that she’ll “never forget” getting to take her little guy to Disneyland, writing in an Instagram post, “Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this trip happen — and a huge thank you to American Idol! Disneyland was seriously incredible. We made the best memories and had such a magical time we’ll never forget. ❤️💕”
Breanna Nix Overcame Struggles With Weight & Substance Abuse
Nix went through a major physical and emotional transformation in the years before auditioning for “American Idol,” including losing over 100 pounds.
Nix’s audition for judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie struck a chord with many viewers as Underwood implored her to never describe herself as “just” a stay-at-home mom, noting that it’s “the most important job.” Sharing her person journey to self-love with “Idol” viewers throughout the season, Nix has revealed how much she’s achieved, from losing weight to overcoming substance abuse.
“Emerson was a blessing I didn’t know I needed,” she told producers of her son in a pre-taped segment. “I was overweight my whole life, always the bigger girl. Right after I had my son, I was over 315 pounds. I just remember being in the delivery room and just looking down at him knowing that, if I wanted to be the best mom that I could, this lifestyle was not going to work. I decided to lose weight.”
After shedding 120 pounds, keeping herself accountable by posting her progress on social media, Nix became a health coach to others online. But weight wasn’t the only thing Nix overcame before appearing on “American Idol.”
During the April 27 episode, Nix told celebrity mentor James Taylor that music had always been “an outlet” as she dealt with “the things that I was going through, dealing with depression and drugs and alcohol.”
“Music saved me,” she told Taylor, and he replied, “It sounds so parallel to my experience. It was a lifesaver for me.”
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Did Breanna Nix Make the Top 5 of ‘American Idol’ 2025?